A Social Analysis Of Anti-Racism In John Lee Hancock’s The Blind Side
CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of Study
Literature comes from the word littera (Latin) which is the smallest element
of alphabetical writing (Klarer, 2004:1). This definition looks simple in describing
what literature is all about, because not all written works can be considered as
literature. In Additional, Klarer (2004:1) states:
“The definitions, therefore, usually include additional such as
‘aesthetic’ or ‘artistic’ to distinguish literary works from text of
everyday use such as newspaper, legal documents or even scholarly
writing.”
Based on the brief description above, being a form of written works of
recognized artistic value is known as one of literature characteristic. Wellek and
Warren (1956: 94-95) states that literature represents life. Life is, in large measure, a
social reality, even though the natural world and the inner or subjective world of the
individual have also been objects of the literary imitation. Literature is an expression
of society. It means that in literary works, we can find phenomena of life in the
society because literary work is the reflection of life.
Literature has been widely known and used by many people all around the
world. The term literature refers more to imaginative works. Literature is the
expression of feeling, passion and emotion caused by a sensation of the
interestingness of life. It also has a direct relation of actual life. It reflects an actual
experience such as social, philosophical and moral concern. Literary works are the
1
result of thought and a reflection of a culture, therefore in many literary work narrate
about the human interaction with human beings and their environment. Basically, the
kind of literature are only prose fiction, poetry, and novel but recently in the 21th
century the film is accepted as one of literature. According to Klarer (2004:53)
states:
“At the beginning of the twenty-first century, it impossible to
neglect film as a semitextual genre both influenced by and exerting
influence on literature and literary criticism.”
Film, like literature, can employ the dimension of time in a variety of way.
The terms plot, time, character, setting, narrative perspective, and style emerge not
only in the definitions and characterizations of the genre of novel, but also function
as the most important areas of inquiring in film (Klarer, 2004:14). Literary works in
the form of a film genre of fiction was eventually revealed as a category of literary
works based on the resulting effect for the audience. A literary work has an elements
of entertaining. When the movie was produced to meet the needs of community in
the filed of entertainment, literature has undergone a similar development. In the life
media, a merge between two distinct creativity even considered new shades in the
field of entertainment. It can be seen with the advent of films based on the story in a
literary work. Review of the research literature on it is own in the film can be
discussed through film or text scenarios, which can be focused on the analysis of the
character figures, character, plot elements and setting the time and place, and that the
issue of who wants to be appointed by an author through the film.
Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary states that film is a series of moving
picture recorded with sound thet tells a story, shown on television or at the cinema.
Film is one of the human creations. Some films are fictitious and some are based on
2
true stories. It only offers entertainment but also gives message to the watchers. Most
films concern much with the ordinary people and their problems in society. Film also
concern much with characters. Besides that, watching a film very influential, because
we can understand as well as realize the real condition and life of the society
described in the film. This is what makes the author using the film as an object of
research. The film used is a film by John Lee Hancock titled “The Blind Side”.
According in Film Art by Bordwell and Thopson (2012: 57) states:
“Many meaning of films are ultimately ideological; that is, the
spring from systems of culturally specific beliefs about the world.
Religious beliefs, political opinions, conceptions of race or sex or
social class, even our most deeply seated nations of life-all these
constitute our ideological frame of reference.”
From the explanation above it can be summarized that the film portrayed a
systems of culturally specific beliefs. This beliefs is embodied in anti-racism in
social life as expressed in John Lee Hancock "The Blind Side". The term anti-racism
is commonly defined as the policy of challenging racism and promoting racial
tolerance.
Racial discrimination is one of the worst social problems that still exist up to
this very moment in every part of the world. It can be defined as the mistreatment of
a group of people on the basic of race, color, and religion. Racial discrimination is
also the belief that race accounts for differences in human character and that a
particular race is superior to other. This problem is very serious because it always
leads to destruction, not only to certain human being but also to the society.
According to Schaefer (2012:269) states:
“The term racial group is used to describe a group that is set apart
from other because of obvious physical different. White, African
Americans, and Asian Americans are all considered racial group in
3
the United State. While race does turn on physical differences, it is
the culture of particular society that constructs and attaches social
significance to these differences.”
Racism in the past was really bad. Especially in southern parts of the US like
Mississippi and Georgia. Blacks were discriminated and enslaved in the early 20th
century. Some were brutally beaten by their master or over seers for not working
hard enough, for disobedience, or for insubordination. They were, however, almost
never imprisoned for any length of time or hanged ( the lynching came later)
(Persell,1987:238). During this time the underlying economic, legal, and political
contexts of race relations were changing, resulting in a different moral and
ideological climate. The tension between equal rights and segregation grew
intolerable. In 1963 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, lead the March on Washington,
where he proclaimed to more than 200,000 blacks and white assembled at the
Lincoln Memorial,”I have a dream….of an America where blacks and white can
walk together as equals” (Persell,1987:239).
In this movement, the anti-racisms attitude is clearly visible. The attitude of
anti-racism grows as the development era. In the 20th century, racism is opposed. But
in fact racist views was still held by number of communities in America. Such a state
is reflected in the Film “The Blind Side”. Some of the American community in the
film there’s a pro against racism and there is also an anti-racism. The movie shows a
lot of anti racism. It shows how a woman from an all white family could take in this
poor, big, troubled black teenager. It talks about how the students changed from
being scared around Mike, to accepting and embracing him in the community.
Despite a few nasty conversations with her friends, her and her family let Michael
stay with them and end up adopting him. His life changed from being a homeless
4
teen with no future to having a new home, family, and education. All because of
Leigh Anne breaking all racial barriers.
In The Blind Side there are many scenes to hint at the concept of racism.
From "The Blind Side" I learned that helping one another is an important part of life.
1.2 Problem of the Study
Based on background of the analysis above, the problem of analysis are:
1. How is anti-racism portrayed through the character of Leigh Anne?
2. What are the impacts of Leigh Anne’s anti-racism on her social life and the
community around her?
1.3 Objective of the Study
The objective of analysis is statements about activities and objects that are
going to be found based on the problem of analysis.
1. To get an overview of the anti-racism portrayed through the character of
Leigh Anne.
2. Know the impact of Leigh Anne’s anti-racism on her social life and the
community around her.
5
1.4 Scope of the Study
The scope of the analysis limited to Leigh Anne as the main character in “The
Blind Side” and the focus of this thesis. In my analysis in this character I limited her
describe anti-racism perspective and the impact of her actions on her social life and
the community around her, so that the analysis is not going too far from the topic of
the discussion.
1.5 Significance of the Study
The significance of this analysis contains theory and practical intention.
Theoretically, it may enrich the knowledge about literature especially film. This
analysis is expected to make the readers understanding characterization of the film.
Since it is one of the most important things in shaping and developing the figure in
the story of film. This analysis is expected to be able to increase the knowledge of
the reader about the film and how social life is still a lot of racism action.
6
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of Study
Literature comes from the word littera (Latin) which is the smallest element
of alphabetical writing (Klarer, 2004:1). This definition looks simple in describing
what literature is all about, because not all written works can be considered as
literature. In Additional, Klarer (2004:1) states:
“The definitions, therefore, usually include additional such as
‘aesthetic’ or ‘artistic’ to distinguish literary works from text of
everyday use such as newspaper, legal documents or even scholarly
writing.”
Based on the brief description above, being a form of written works of
recognized artistic value is known as one of literature characteristic. Wellek and
Warren (1956: 94-95) states that literature represents life. Life is, in large measure, a
social reality, even though the natural world and the inner or subjective world of the
individual have also been objects of the literary imitation. Literature is an expression
of society. It means that in literary works, we can find phenomena of life in the
society because literary work is the reflection of life.
Literature has been widely known and used by many people all around the
world. The term literature refers more to imaginative works. Literature is the
expression of feeling, passion and emotion caused by a sensation of the
interestingness of life. It also has a direct relation of actual life. It reflects an actual
experience such as social, philosophical and moral concern. Literary works are the
1
result of thought and a reflection of a culture, therefore in many literary work narrate
about the human interaction with human beings and their environment. Basically, the
kind of literature are only prose fiction, poetry, and novel but recently in the 21th
century the film is accepted as one of literature. According to Klarer (2004:53)
states:
“At the beginning of the twenty-first century, it impossible to
neglect film as a semitextual genre both influenced by and exerting
influence on literature and literary criticism.”
Film, like literature, can employ the dimension of time in a variety of way.
The terms plot, time, character, setting, narrative perspective, and style emerge not
only in the definitions and characterizations of the genre of novel, but also function
as the most important areas of inquiring in film (Klarer, 2004:14). Literary works in
the form of a film genre of fiction was eventually revealed as a category of literary
works based on the resulting effect for the audience. A literary work has an elements
of entertaining. When the movie was produced to meet the needs of community in
the filed of entertainment, literature has undergone a similar development. In the life
media, a merge between two distinct creativity even considered new shades in the
field of entertainment. It can be seen with the advent of films based on the story in a
literary work. Review of the research literature on it is own in the film can be
discussed through film or text scenarios, which can be focused on the analysis of the
character figures, character, plot elements and setting the time and place, and that the
issue of who wants to be appointed by an author through the film.
Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary states that film is a series of moving
picture recorded with sound thet tells a story, shown on television or at the cinema.
Film is one of the human creations. Some films are fictitious and some are based on
2
true stories. It only offers entertainment but also gives message to the watchers. Most
films concern much with the ordinary people and their problems in society. Film also
concern much with characters. Besides that, watching a film very influential, because
we can understand as well as realize the real condition and life of the society
described in the film. This is what makes the author using the film as an object of
research. The film used is a film by John Lee Hancock titled “The Blind Side”.
According in Film Art by Bordwell and Thopson (2012: 57) states:
“Many meaning of films are ultimately ideological; that is, the
spring from systems of culturally specific beliefs about the world.
Religious beliefs, political opinions, conceptions of race or sex or
social class, even our most deeply seated nations of life-all these
constitute our ideological frame of reference.”
From the explanation above it can be summarized that the film portrayed a
systems of culturally specific beliefs. This beliefs is embodied in anti-racism in
social life as expressed in John Lee Hancock "The Blind Side". The term anti-racism
is commonly defined as the policy of challenging racism and promoting racial
tolerance.
Racial discrimination is one of the worst social problems that still exist up to
this very moment in every part of the world. It can be defined as the mistreatment of
a group of people on the basic of race, color, and religion. Racial discrimination is
also the belief that race accounts for differences in human character and that a
particular race is superior to other. This problem is very serious because it always
leads to destruction, not only to certain human being but also to the society.
According to Schaefer (2012:269) states:
“The term racial group is used to describe a group that is set apart
from other because of obvious physical different. White, African
Americans, and Asian Americans are all considered racial group in
3
the United State. While race does turn on physical differences, it is
the culture of particular society that constructs and attaches social
significance to these differences.”
Racism in the past was really bad. Especially in southern parts of the US like
Mississippi and Georgia. Blacks were discriminated and enslaved in the early 20th
century. Some were brutally beaten by their master or over seers for not working
hard enough, for disobedience, or for insubordination. They were, however, almost
never imprisoned for any length of time or hanged ( the lynching came later)
(Persell,1987:238). During this time the underlying economic, legal, and political
contexts of race relations were changing, resulting in a different moral and
ideological climate. The tension between equal rights and segregation grew
intolerable. In 1963 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, lead the March on Washington,
where he proclaimed to more than 200,000 blacks and white assembled at the
Lincoln Memorial,”I have a dream….of an America where blacks and white can
walk together as equals” (Persell,1987:239).
In this movement, the anti-racisms attitude is clearly visible. The attitude of
anti-racism grows as the development era. In the 20th century, racism is opposed. But
in fact racist views was still held by number of communities in America. Such a state
is reflected in the Film “The Blind Side”. Some of the American community in the
film there’s a pro against racism and there is also an anti-racism. The movie shows a
lot of anti racism. It shows how a woman from an all white family could take in this
poor, big, troubled black teenager. It talks about how the students changed from
being scared around Mike, to accepting and embracing him in the community.
Despite a few nasty conversations with her friends, her and her family let Michael
stay with them and end up adopting him. His life changed from being a homeless
4
teen with no future to having a new home, family, and education. All because of
Leigh Anne breaking all racial barriers.
In The Blind Side there are many scenes to hint at the concept of racism.
From "The Blind Side" I learned that helping one another is an important part of life.
1.2 Problem of the Study
Based on background of the analysis above, the problem of analysis are:
1. How is anti-racism portrayed through the character of Leigh Anne?
2. What are the impacts of Leigh Anne’s anti-racism on her social life and the
community around her?
1.3 Objective of the Study
The objective of analysis is statements about activities and objects that are
going to be found based on the problem of analysis.
1. To get an overview of the anti-racism portrayed through the character of
Leigh Anne.
2. Know the impact of Leigh Anne’s anti-racism on her social life and the
community around her.
5
1.4 Scope of the Study
The scope of the analysis limited to Leigh Anne as the main character in “The
Blind Side” and the focus of this thesis. In my analysis in this character I limited her
describe anti-racism perspective and the impact of her actions on her social life and
the community around her, so that the analysis is not going too far from the topic of
the discussion.
1.5 Significance of the Study
The significance of this analysis contains theory and practical intention.
Theoretically, it may enrich the knowledge about literature especially film. This
analysis is expected to make the readers understanding characterization of the film.
Since it is one of the most important things in shaping and developing the figure in
the story of film. This analysis is expected to be able to increase the knowledge of
the reader about the film and how social life is still a lot of racism action.
6