One Black Reality, Two Different Perspectives

Abstract

This document presents my work of reflection carried out for the curricular unit of Intercultural Studies, under the responsibility of Professor Clara Sarmento, a teacher at the institution ISCAP. This element of assessment, for the subject of Intercultural Studies, aims to address one of the concerns, which should be the most important and developed by students in all curricular units - Reflection. This work allows us to use an element, be it written, audiovisual or other, applying all the knowledge we have developed throughout the semester. The choice fell on the film "Django Unchained" as the element that will be the target of my reflection for a variety of reasons that are essential to the realization of this work. The first is that Quentin Tarantino is my favourite film director and, despite some criticism about the triviality of his films' messages, I consider that, in this film, he gives a strong message about the theme he portrays and that will be explained next. The second corresponds to the strength of the message of this film, as it explains and demonstrates in detail the difference of views and opinions about a reality that does not go unnoticed by the common civilian. This theme should, even today, be studied and perceived as one of the darkest chapters in the history of humanity and should continue to sensitize the masses with regard to the contours it has assumed. The paper will then be an evaluation of this chapter in world history based on the film and the representation of the theme in it. The two major points of view that are evident there will be compared, based on their characteristics and linking them to the subject matter taught. One will be the elitist, racist and deeply prejudiced view of the high society that resided in the US South in the mid-19th century. This view is demonstrated especially by Calvin Candie and interestingly one of his slaves, Stephen, who was quite an interesting case for reflection. The second view is totally contrary to this one. It will be, in this way, a more liberal, progressive view characteristic of the northern USA in the years in question, however demonstrated by the "freed slave" Django and a German dentist, Dr. King Schultz who, by bones of trade, became a bounty hunter, as he considered this task lucrative and, using his words, "only killed those who did not deserve to live".