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Political Aspects of 12 Years A SlaveBy Charlotte Sista C Ferrell

I believe that the movie, Twelve Years A Slave, is an excellent example of a political film with historical significance for Americans of all races. 1

Film Summary

12 Years A Slave is about the real life struggle of Solomon Northrup, a free black man kidnapped, sold into slavery and renamed, Platt.

The movie depicts Solomons /Platts determination to live, regain his freedom and reunite with his family regardless of what it takes, even admonishing other slaves not to despair

When all hope seems to be lost, after 12 years, a chance encounter with an abolitionist leads to Solomons freedom and reunification with his family

12 Years A Slave is about the real life struggle of Solomon Northrup, an accomplished fiddler, and free man from New York, who was kidnapped and sold into slavery.

The movie depicts the true spirit of Solomon, who refuses to give up his dream of one dayregaining his freedom. Even when Solomon is sold from his original slave master, played byBenerdict Cumberbatch, to Edwin Epps (Michael Fassbender), notoriously known for breakingthe will of slaves, he refuses to be broken.

He also tries to encourage the other slaves on the plantation, notably Patsey (Lupita Nyongo), a fellow slave he befriended, not to be broken or give up either.

Eventually, after 12 years of enslavement, an abolitionist from Canada, Bass (Brad Pitt) assists him in regaining his freedom.2

Notable Views and Reviews

12 Years a Slave' doesn't see slavery as a trial that men must overcome on their way to being men, but as a systemic evil that leaves those in its grasp with no good choices. (Atlantic, 2013)

This film is a reflection of one mans journey and a peoples journey in and out of hope It forces you to ask yourself, What would I do? (TIFF Press Conference, 2013)

Film Summary ConcludedThis movie portrays the love-hate relationship slave owners had with their property - love for the wealth; hatred for the contradictions to their pious pretentions

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Field Queen/Abused Mistress

Patsy is a valuable producer and love object; although violently against her will. (Love hate situation of slavery itself) (TIFF, 2013)

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STEVE Mc QUEEN- DirectorBorn, Oct. 9, 1969 in London

Heritage: Grenadian and Trinidadian

Education: Hammersmith ,W. London College, Goldsmiths, U. of London, then NYU TSSCH (not experimental enough)

Britain's highest art award, The Turner Prize.

Appointed Cmdr. of the Order of the British Empire in 2011 for Queen and Country

Queen and Country commemorated the deaths of British soldiers in Iraq. Their portraits appear as a sheet of stamps. (datab.us, 2015)6

Artist/Director Steve McQueen

Steve McQueen Concluded

In at least three places in the film, Solomon says he wants to live, and in talking with people eating on the porch, he says he doesnt just want to survive, he wants to live. In several of his interviews he asserts his interest in social justice and notes that he experienced discrimination and racism as a child.

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Directors Film Similarities

Hunger and Shame as well as 12 Years a Slave take the audience out of their comfort zone.

Hunger is based on the true story of Irish Republican Army member, Bobby Sands, who leads the inmates of an Irish prison in a hunger strike.

Michael Fassbender stars in all three filmsComposition layers of detail, as in Mc Queens painting and installation art

Sista Cs Political Me Views In what ways are this film political?

It evokes all senses in imagining the contradiction of praising a woman for her profitable labor but threatening her life for going off to get soap to bathe. The whole situation is foul: the fake Christianity, rotten marriage, shaky financial status. (soap clip already shown),

It portrays a historically under-portrayed reaction by a slave to being goaded. Solomon fights and whips a slave overseer , Clip: I did as Instructed- a slaves uncharacteristic reaction)

The film provides a long, piercing look at the violent reaction to Solomons action and fear of others to get involved. Clip: Tiptoeing with a rope follows. Note the Camera angles; normalcy against life struggle. The site of the infraction in frame with Solomon as he hangs.

A Slaves Uncharacteristic Reaction

Tiptoeing with a Rope. What would you do?

Consequence of a slave whipping a slave overseer. McQueen likes to use physicality and has said, You use your body to die. (Wigon, 2009)12

Concluding Thoughts12 Years a Slave presents views /voices of four types of black women during slavery: mother, field hand, and mistress.

It demonstrated that as property, slaves could be loaned out to other owners to satisfy a debt and that officials, such as judges, managed the transactions. The Epilogue communicated that once Solomon regained his freedom he was not able to present his case in court but he participated in the Underground Railroad and Abolitionist movements . He helped others to live.

McQueen positioned his characters in situations where you can imagine the pain, despair, greed or anger and are forced to ask , What would I do?

March 1859 the largest auction of slaves was held in Savannah Georgia. 429 persons were sold in 48 hours. It was dubbed the Weeping Auction because it tore apart so many families. In the film a woman, separated from her children and sold along with Solomon tells him to let me weep after he admonishers her for crying. ( Holmes journal, date unknown)13

Works Cited12 YEARS A SLAVE Press Conference | Toronto International Film Festival - YouTube Sep 7, 2013 - Uploaded by TIFF. Web. 9 June, 2015Berlatsky, Noah. 12 Years a Slave's Reminder: Slaves Didn't Win Freedom by Being Manly. The Atlantic.com, Entertainment.21 Oct., 2013. Web. 4 June, 2015Holmes, Annette, The Weeping Time: Butler Slave Auction. GlynnGen.com/slaverec. Web 5 June, 2015Queen and Country:- A Project by Steve McQueen. Artfund.org. Web. 11 June, 2015Weiner, Jonah, The Liberation of Steve McQueen, Rolling Stone Magazine, 3 March, 2014. Web 24 May, 2015Wizon, Zachary, You Use Your Body to Die: An Interview with Steve McQueen.mobi.com/notebook. 27 March, 2009. Web. 6 June, 2015