12 Years A Slave Analysis
Film Analysis Essay: 12 Years a Slave
In 12 Years a Slave, audiences across the nation witnessed Steve McQueen’s depiction of the hardships of the African American Solomon Northup. Steve McQueen’s inspiration was Solomon Northup’s 19th century memoir, 12 Years a Slave. This novel told the heart wrenching story of an educated and free African American who was kidnapped and sold into slavery in the south in 1841. Throughout the film, Steve McQueen successfully portrays the tribulations of Solomon Northup through the unrelenting imagery and description of the story that gives the film an ability that makes the audience feel like they are experiencing the story with Solomon Northup. This film is a work of art that successfully gave audiences across the world a deep understanding of the life of a slave.
The film begins with Solomon Northup’s daily life as a freed African American in New York. Northup lives with his wife and two children. Being an educated African American with great musical ability, Northup is able to gain connections within his community. He had several white friends who trust and love him dearly. One of his acquaintances who introduces him to two men that offer Northup …show more content…
McQueen brings to light the sadism of slavery in the Americas for the modern world. This film takes a well-known novel and transforms it into a work of art that modern audiences can understand and learn from. McQueen takes the audience deep into the life of Solomon Northup bringing out every single detail of his life almost making the movie seem like an exaggeration. When in reality, the story is extremely accurate of slave life and how slaves were treated on a plantation in the 1800s. By bringing the characters to the big screen Steve McQueen makes the life of a slave easier for one to
In 12 Years a Slave, audiences across the nation witnessed Steve McQueen’s depiction of the hardships of the African American Solomon Northup. Steve McQueen’s inspiration was Solomon Northup’s 19th century memoir, 12 Years a Slave. This novel told the heart wrenching story of an educated and free African American who was kidnapped and sold into slavery in the south in 1841. Throughout the film, Steve McQueen successfully portrays the tribulations of Solomon Northup through the unrelenting imagery and description of the story that gives the film an ability that makes the audience feel like they are experiencing the story with Solomon Northup. This film is a work of art that successfully gave audiences across the world a deep understanding of the life of a slave.
The film begins with Solomon Northup’s daily life as a freed African American in New York. Northup lives with his wife and two children. Being an educated African American with great musical ability, Northup is able to gain connections within his community. He had several white friends who trust and love him dearly. One of his acquaintances who introduces him to two men that offer Northup …show more content…
McQueen brings to light the sadism of slavery in the Americas for the modern world. This film takes a well-known novel and transforms it into a work of art that modern audiences can understand and learn from. McQueen takes the audience deep into the life of Solomon Northup bringing out every single detail of his life almost making the movie seem like an exaggeration. When in reality, the story is extremely accurate of slave life and how slaves were treated on a plantation in the 1800s. By bringing the characters to the big screen Steve McQueen makes the life of a slave easier for one to