The Birth of a Nation has a complicated relationship with power. On one hand, it claims to be anti-authoritarian, criticizing the North for exploiting its power over the South. On the other, it hypocritically supports the rampant abuse of power by white Southerners. This shows us that there's never any true ideology behind power, but simply the never-ending drumbeat of "us versus them."
Questions about Power
- Does Griffith present a consistent view about the nature of power? If so, what is it?
- How does the film relate race and power?
- Who is depicted as being "deserving" of power in the film? Does the film present a reason for this?
- What is an example of someone using power justly, according to the film? Do you agree with its assessment?
Chew on This
Take a peek at these thesis statements. Agree or disagree?
Griffith does not present a consistent ideological perspective on power, except that he believes it to belong to the white Southern aristocracy.
Griffith sees the North as the embodiment of the abuse of power, as it asserts its authority over the South without a true understanding of its culture.