Please enable JavaScript.
Coggle requires JavaScript to display documents.
Grand Canyon (1991 film) by Jeremy Peck (Visual Culture Connection (Davis…
Grand Canyon (1991 film) by Jeremy Peck
Significance with regards to Racial Ideologies
People of all races have the power to
positively influence
your life.
It is common for people to form stereotypes and avoid those who are seen as
'different.'
People of all racial backgrounds are part of the same human race and if we are
accepting
of each other, our planet can prosper.
Visual Culture Connection
Davis
(Steve Martin) works as a movie director and one day he is robbed and shot in the leg.
This experience causes him to use
less violence
in the films he directs because the violence can negatively impact the watching population.
The identity construct of
race
is closely related to this moment because Davis realizes that most 'dangerous' characters are played by actors who belong to racial minorities.
This correlation can result in the audience becoming more
prejudice
towards minorities.
Relevant Art:
James Newton Howard
Howard made the musical album that accompanied Grand Canyon which included a song titled,
"You White?'"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Cu_L4zsa2c
Howard has always been accepting towards
minorities
.
After discovering that his father was
Jewish
(long after his death), Howard began practicing the religion in order to grasp a better understanding of his family's history.
Also, Howard played as part of Elton John's band. This shows his willingness to work with
homosexuals
(a different type of minority but important nonetheless).
Relevant Historic Events
Three years prior to the release of Grand Canyon, Congress passed the
Civil Rights Restoration Act
, which expanded the reach of nondiscrimination laws within private institutions receiving federal funds.
One year after the release of Grand Canyon, the Supreme Court upheld a University of Michigan Law School policy stating that
race
could be one of the factors that colleges consider when selecting students.
Personal Connection
My first best friend, who I met at my preschool, was an African American boy named Zakk. Our skin colors were different but we had very
similar interests
and goals.
Becoming friends with Zakk taught me that it is not acceptable to form pre-conceived judgements about other people. This was engrained into my brain at a very young age.
Impact on Me
'Ideology'
was the term for my Research Flashcard. I defined it as 'visually theorizing.'
This movie confirmed my ideology that prejudice is unnecessary when first meeting someone.
Grand Canyon cause me to consider my current social network. My friend groups were much more diverse racially when I was younger.
How Do I Fit In
I can relate strongly to the character named
Mack
. We are both white and seem to have been raised in somewhat wealthy families.
As part of America's racial majority, I have not faced the same
challenges
as people who belong to lower levels of socio-economic status.
Connecting to Mack reminded me to give everyone the opportunity to be a part of my life. Racial stereotypes are both inaccurate and unfair.
Social Implications
I learned from Grand Canyon the fact that humans tend to gravitate towards socializing with others who seem
similar
to us in some way.
Similarities can cause people to connect at a faster rate with one another. It can be argued that there is a definite link between familiarity and feelings of comfort.
Connections can also be made between people even if nothing can be related to on the physical surface.
Relevant Contemporary Artist
Kara Walker
Over the decade following the release of Grand Canyon, she is best known for exploring the raw intersection of race, gender, and sexuality through her iconic,
silhouetted figures
.
Link Title
"Artists."
Art21
, art21.org/artists/.