The Color Purple By Jessica Stiffarm
Last night I watched the movie The Color Purple by Steven Spielberg. This movies main focus is how women especially African American women are mistreated. They are treated as slaves, and as property. The main focus was on a young girl named Celie how has controlled, beaten, and raped by her father. The only thing that Celie had was her little sister Netty. But Celie ws separted from her sister Netty, soon after having the second child from her father, who also took both her children away. Then Celie was forced into a marriage with a very abusive husband. Her husbands name was "Mr.", who only caused more strive to Celie's life. But not long after Netty came to stay with Celie to get away form the abuse from thier father. Although that didnt happen because Netty soon was forced to leave, after she refused to let "Mr." take advantage of her. So Celie's last freedom was taken when she lost her sister. But things started to look up when along came a singer, who "Mr.' feel in love with and started to focus all his attention to the singer and didnt beat Celie when the singer was around. But as time went on Celie started to admire the singer, and they became friends and eventually helped Celie to work up the couragge to leave her abusive husband. Anoth er thing that helped give Celie strength was Mr.'s son getting married to an large, independant, outspoken lady. She showed Celie that you have to overcome your struggles. But little hope that Celie had was lost when Harpers wife was placed in jail for years, and forced to become a nany of the town mayor, after she punshed him(the mayor) in the face. But eventually Celie is finally reunited with her sister Netty, and her two children.
This movie has many ties to the subjects we cover in class. For example, the mistreament that African Americans face. A great example is when Harpers wife(african american woman) gets slapped by the white town mayor, and no one reacts or seems to even care. But after she gets slapped, she then proceeds to punish the mayor in the face and she is instanly crowded by the towns people who are primarily white. They begin yelling and screaming at her, then the town cop pistol whips her in the face. Harpers wife is then sent to jail and then becomes the mayors nanny anyway. This is a great example of how african americans were mistreated. Another subject that is displayed throughout the movie is how women are mistreated, and are looked at as a piece of property. Although many things have changed as to how women are treated, are I still bieleve are society is male dominated. I ' m not saying that men still abuse and control women , I just think that many things still show that men have more dominance.
Media journal post by Jessica Stiffarm
Comments
The Color Purple is a book written by Alice Walker. You should check it out. Her writing is excellent. At least I think so. The Temple of My Familiar is my favorite of her novels.
Posted by: Ann Schrempp | February 27, 2007 3:13 AM
Even though the film also had other issues about race and gender it was very controversial within the African-American community when it came out. Though it was a great film, it brought issues that African Americans were did not want to be aired out for the whole society to see. Issues like, domestic abuse, incest, homosexuality, and just how it perceived black men in general. I think people felt like it wasn’t doing anything to help the African American, especially African American males’ image in America. It was helping kind of increasing all those other stereotypes about Black people. I think people who are not black really don’t see this as a black issue but it kind if is.
Posted by: Wadzanai Msimbe | March 2, 2007 4:43 PM
The movie written by Steven Spielberg titled The Color Purple, sounds like it may have taken place in the early 1900's. It also sounds like the setting may have been in the southern United States. Although, male dominence and the mistreatment of african american women may still be occuring, I think that when viewing this particular film, one needs to take into account the location, environment, and time frame in which the story line is taking place. These are all important factors to consider when trying to comprehend why the main character, Celie, was put through such a brutal upbringing and why she was forced away from her family and children only to be thrown into a meaningless marriage. This was and era of oppression and degration of women, and unfortunately, they were extremely mistreated. Celie was viewed as nothing more than an object and housewife. Although inequalities between men and women still remain, I would like to think that we have come a long way since the early 1900's.
Posted by: Rita Weiss | March 2, 2007 6:50 PM
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