American History X: Analysis of Lighting and Color
American History X
"American History X" is divided into two color schemes, black and white, and color, these schemes symbolize the before and after of Derek Vinyard's life. The film is about the life of an "idol" skinhead and D.O.C. member Derek Vinyard, and how his life of hate and racism has affected his family and himself. Throughout the movie the importance of color and lighting is obvious, because it divides the movie into two fused worlds of Derek. Some of the movie is shot in black and white to show that, at that point in time, Derek was a racist Nazi, and only saw people in terms of their skin color, black and white. The remainder of the film, shot in color, symbolizes that Derek sees the whole world, and sees people as people, not as black, white, yellow, or brown. He understands that D.O.C. isn't really worth all the pain and anguish that he's been taught. The lighting of the characters also changes in "American History X" because Derek's face gradually becomes fully lit when he becomes aware of the fact that the Nazi movement is wrong and he needs to get both him and his brother Danny out of it.
"American History X" opens with the credits over a black and white beach. I think the ocean symbolizes Cameron Alexander, the organizer of all the white power groups from the United State's west cost, and how he, like the waves of the ocean, is very give and take'. As in you have to sacrifice some to reach the common goal. The ocean also seemed like it was in layers, and how Cameron was the collective ocean and was using the young, disconnected youth skinheads to build himself up. The next scene is one of the most intense of the whole film, Derek is woken up by his brother Danny to find out that three "niggers" are breaking into his car. Derek runs outside with a gun and kills one right outside his front door, he ends up just shooting the one breaking into his car and chasing after the one driving away. In this scene Derek is only wearing his white boxers and
"American History X" is divided into two color schemes, black and white, and color, these schemes symbolize the before and after of Derek Vinyard's life. The film is about the life of an "idol" skinhead and D.O.C. member Derek Vinyard, and how his life of hate and racism has affected his family and himself. Throughout the movie the importance of color and lighting is obvious, because it divides the movie into two fused worlds of Derek. Some of the movie is shot in black and white to show that, at that point in time, Derek was a racist Nazi, and only saw people in terms of their skin color, black and white. The remainder of the film, shot in color, symbolizes that Derek sees the whole world, and sees people as people, not as black, white, yellow, or brown. He understands that D.O.C. isn't really worth all the pain and anguish that he's been taught. The lighting of the characters also changes in "American History X" because Derek's face gradually becomes fully lit when he becomes aware of the fact that the Nazi movement is wrong and he needs to get both him and his brother Danny out of it.
"American History X" opens with the credits over a black and white beach. I think the ocean symbolizes Cameron Alexander, the organizer of all the white power groups from the United State's west cost, and how he, like the waves of the ocean, is very give and take'. As in you have to sacrifice some to reach the common goal. The ocean also seemed like it was in layers, and how Cameron was the collective ocean and was using the young, disconnected youth skinheads to build himself up. The next scene is one of the most intense of the whole film, Derek is woken up by his brother Danny to find out that three "niggers" are breaking into his car. Derek runs outside with a gun and kills one right outside his front door, he ends up just shooting the one breaking into his car and chasing after the one driving away. In this scene Derek is only wearing his white boxers and