Antisemitism and the Gentleman's Agreement
Anti-Semitism and the Gentleman’s Agreement
Cultural diversity includes opinions, appearances, values, and beliefs, as well as the categories of race, ethnicity, social class, gender, sexual orientation, and disability (Koppelman, 2011). One method of understanding cultural diversity is through films. Films are often used as vehicles to reveal, discuss, and explore relationships, conflicts, lessons, and/or history. In an attempt to analyze the cultural diversity portrayed in a film, I have chosen to watch and analyze “Gentleman’s Agreement”. The analysis of the film will take place in four parts: (1) conflict between minority and majority groups; (2) film’s perspective in approach to the problem of anti-semitism; (3) types of prejudice and/or discrimination portrayed; and (4) an example of an exchange between characters illustrating prejudice. In conclusion, I will express my personal thoughts and lessons learned. Prior to moving into the analysis, it is important to understand that history is full of prejudice toward and hatred of individuals and groups of individuals due to their religion, race, culture, and/or background. One such example is known as anti-semitism, which is prejudice, hatred, and discrimination against Jews (Koppelman, 2011). The topic of anti-semitism is explored in the 1947 film drama known as the “Gentleman’s Agreement”. The film stars Gregory Peck as a widowed journalist who moves to New York City with his son, Tommy, and mother, to establish himself as a writer at the Smiths Weekly Magazine. Peck’s character, Philip Schuyler Green, is hired by John Minify, a magazine publisher, to write an anti-semitic series. In order to understand the depth and effect of anti-semitism, Green pretends to Jewish. He asks his family, fiancée, and best friend to keep his secret of actually being a Christian as he assumes the “Jewish identity” of Phil Greenberg. His intent is to live as a Jew for six months.
Cultural diversity includes opinions, appearances, values, and beliefs, as well as the categories of race, ethnicity, social class, gender, sexual orientation, and disability (Koppelman, 2011). One method of understanding cultural diversity is through films. Films are often used as vehicles to reveal, discuss, and explore relationships, conflicts, lessons, and/or history. In an attempt to analyze the cultural diversity portrayed in a film, I have chosen to watch and analyze “Gentleman’s Agreement”. The analysis of the film will take place in four parts: (1) conflict between minority and majority groups; (2) film’s perspective in approach to the problem of anti-semitism; (3) types of prejudice and/or discrimination portrayed; and (4) an example of an exchange between characters illustrating prejudice. In conclusion, I will express my personal thoughts and lessons learned. Prior to moving into the analysis, it is important to understand that history is full of prejudice toward and hatred of individuals and groups of individuals due to their religion, race, culture, and/or background. One such example is known as anti-semitism, which is prejudice, hatred, and discrimination against Jews (Koppelman, 2011). The topic of anti-semitism is explored in the 1947 film drama known as the “Gentleman’s Agreement”. The film stars Gregory Peck as a widowed journalist who moves to New York City with his son, Tommy, and mother, to establish himself as a writer at the Smiths Weekly Magazine. Peck’s character, Philip Schuyler Green, is hired by John Minify, a magazine publisher, to write an anti-semitic series. In order to understand the depth and effect of anti-semitism, Green pretends to Jewish. He asks his family, fiancée, and best friend to keep his secret of actually being a Christian as he assumes the “Jewish identity” of Phil Greenberg. His intent is to live as a Jew for six months.