The two works we examined in class this week, Amiri Baraka' Dutchman and Ryan Coogler's Fruitvale Station, have common themes and remarkably similar endings. At the end of both works we find young Black men--both with promising futures--killed at a too early age by a White man and a White woman. Both of these murders take place on a subway or mass transit system but on opposite coasts of the U.S. and as the result of circumstances separated by more than 50 years.
For your blog entry this week, explain your reactions to Fruitvale Station and how the film left you feeling: angry, sad, confused, something else? Why do you think Koogler (the director) choose the details he included in the story? What did he hope to achieve by sharing this information about the main character?
If you are interested, make some comparisons between Dutchman and Fruitvale Station. This is not a required part of your analysis, but thinking about this may help you with your drama paper assignment. How are the play and film similar--apart from the nature of the deaths in both works. Do both authors have similar objectives in writing each piece? How much has changed for the better or worse from NYC of the 1960's as Baraka saw it and the contemporary San Francisco Bay area we see in Coogler's Fruitvale Station.
Your entry should be at least two complete paragraphs of 4-5 sentences and you should try to address an idea or theme raised by someone who has posted before your entry.
Some more background that may be of interest to you.
Link to Forbes Discussion of Fruitvale Station
Fruitvale station is primarily an example of how black African American men are single out in our society, whether they are innocent or guilty of the law. This film was so sad to look at, and it made me angry. A black man in society remains a target in the public eyes, whether he thrives to do good or not. In the film Fruitvale station, Coogler’s was trying to displays this message. He portrays the messages by showing details of a young black male that seem to be in a struggle in getting his life together. Coogler’s portraits his main character as someone who is fighting with the ups and down of life. At one point his life seems like it is not going anywhere, he gets lock up in a jail cell and hurts the people that cares for him.
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand, he was given a chance to start a new life, but no matter what happens, he seems to become the victim of society. Coogler’s supports his details by giving details, such as how the main character daughter pleaded with her father for the fears of his life, while his mother tries to stare him away from something she thought was harmful to her son into something she thought was a safe environment for him. In addition, during the film, we saw the young man struggling to make the right choice to come out from his old ways to become a better person. Consequently, in the end the message was clear to us that no matter how good you are, or you try to change, your fate as a black man is determined by unruly society in which justice is hard to carry out. Thus, many innocent black man lose their life everyday because of how our social or culture environment.
I also wanted to add that Oscar was a family man even though he did not have a job he still supported to put food on the table for his family. Now his daughter is without a father figure and she will probably portray the police as a killer to minority people.
DeleteI agree Oscar was a family man even though the way he got the money for his family wasn't the best he still did what he had to do.
DeleteI do agree that no matter how hard a Black man does thrive to do good that bulls eye will always be a factor.
DeleteFruitvale Station left me feeling a little sad but more so angry. I felt this way after watching the film because it's mind blowing how the film ended. I just couldn't believe how rough the police were with those young men. They treated them as if they were animals. I also felt that because the young men were black the police thought they could get away with the abuse. It really shows you how unprofessional and unethical the police were handling the situation. I honestly believe that if those young men were white the altercation would have took a completely different route.
ReplyDeleteThe reason Koggler(the director) put those specific details in the film because as he was capturing the day of his life, it also tells how loving and caring he was. It also showed how he wasn't perfect but was doing things to change his life around. he trying simple trying to be a better man and take care of his family. I felt what the director tried to achieve by sharing this info about the main character is this can easily be an other black male. It also seemed he wanted to show his audience that there are many people out there who are actually going through the things Oscar but this is one of some many untold stories.
Criminal or Rescuer? For blacks living in this country this is a real life dilemma. In most horror stories the character who is going to be killed is usually unappealing, unattractive and eventually the audience finds him worthy of death. This was not the case. We watch this "not so perfect," young man, fighting to fix the wrongs in his tragic life only to encounter a brutality which seems unworldly; out of the scope of normal human beings. Still reeling a bit from it all.
DeleteGreat point! The director is manipulating your feelings by showing u these desrails ..is this fair ? Or is it consistent with what we expect from Hollywood?
DeleteMy reaction to Fruitvale Station was repugnance. Although we live in an aberrant world, where more of the wrong thing is happening as a norm, there comes a point in time whereby redundancy starts to serve no purpose and accomplishes nothing. Koogler was brilliant in his directorial juxtaposition between the young man’s daily activities; his struggles and emotions and the awareness of the clock ticking on his very life. The voyeuristic aspect of the film indulged me and gave me an up close and personal glimpse into his life; as if I were riding beside him in his car or walking with him down the aisle of the grocery store where he recently lost his job and quietly anticipating this man’s untimely and gratuitous death. The momentum and suspense is typical Hollywood fodder; and a typical portrayal of classic horror films; creating a build up to his demise; an association with the victim and an intimacy with the family and other players in the story as a whole. For cinematic purposes, the audience sat on the edge of their seats, waiting for the next glimpse around the corner.
ReplyDeleteHowever, socially, do we need to continue to focus on the problem? Is watching “real life” murder scenes lessening the frequency and occurrence of these egregious acts? The sentencing of the police officers (or lack thereof); the actual pictures of the deceased and his family, all served as ticket selling carnage for box office receipts and produced no real social design.
The film lacked any real inference to an applicable solution. Leaving the viewer saddened, lost, angry, frustrated with no real destination to deposit any of those feelings, nor their residual effects. More anxiety toppled with more anxiety is not the pertinent and appropriate response any longer. This is not entertainment; but further exploitation in another sense for the purpose of monetary gain and reward.
Lolita..good insight..interesting point about the film's resolution...is the film a call to action? What do u think the director wants to happen after u watch the film?
DeleteMy thoughts and anger on the Fruitvale station was a really lost for words. How can a police officer mistaken his Taser gun with a service weapon. They both have different weight ratio's . I think that officer shot Oscar purposely and knowing that he might get away with murder .The conviction that was handed down on that officer is a slap on the wrist. That whole police station should be stricter on "rules of engagement" only time you need to pull your weapon is when you feel that your life is in danger. In this case no one was in danger there was at least dozens of officer's that responded about a fight on the subway. Oscar and his friends was not armed so the officer should not pull his weapon or his Taser out . There was enough man power to handcuff him. However this is a Hollywood film so I believe some facts were not true, but the evidence show on cell camera that Oscar had about 5 officer's on top of him. That shows excessive force.
ReplyDeleteExcessive force was definitely used. Good point Lawrence! The film was angering and irritating as it was so obvious that the police officers were the ones out of control. The filming of the five officers on top of Oscar added an eerie feel as you get the idea that this was a REAL LIFE event. Of course some things were Hollywood specialized, the fact remains that we share a planet with individuals who are capable of such scary and dark behavior . . . just because.
DeleteI agree, the police officers involved should have used a better sense of judgment. Not one officer was able to bring a calm and rational atmosphere to the scene. I would question the training of these officers, or was this simply another case of racial profiling. Although, the young men were a bit rowdy, it was the responsibility of the officers to maintain a level of professionalism and professional judgment according to the law.
DeleteIn many countries..China, Japan , the UK...police do not carry guns . Would that be a reasonable option for the US?
DeleteI agree with Shewina that the police should have better judgement.
DeleteThe Dutchman
ReplyDeleteA beautifully written script with an ebb and flow of interchange charged with momentum and expectation. The story begins softly and subtly; slightly reminiscent of a love story; or at the least a meaningful encounter. As two individuals meet on a train, as strangers often do, it becomes apparent that their meeting is neither happenstance nor coincident. The dialogue is giddy with its back and forth; its rhythmic banter and, titillating anticipation. Every line leaves the reader (or viewer) interested and eager for more. An unusual and curious aspect of the story is the interracial boldness displayed by both individuals. Breaking away from social norm; Baraka exhibits a rebelliousness in his writing, as the couple become familiar quickly and publicly. Touching, flirting and insinuating sexual attraction, the reader is captured and determined to finish and explore this odd couple’s grand finale. Does he take this strange white woman home for a charged sexual encounter?
Then, the script takes an unexpected twist as the sarcasm and taunting from our white female commuter becomes increasingly hostile. She takes lightness and salaciousness and transforms it into negativism. She begins to degrade and demean our male commuter with racial epithets and assumptive slurs. Over familiarizing and instigating simultaneously, the reader is left puzzled and disturbed. Eventually the author reveals our white commuter’s unvarnished and sinister intent. Exciting hatred and spewing racism, Baraka unveils layer after layer of pent up hatred and uncontrollable fury, from both parties.
Finally, our male commuter fights back. Shockingly, Baraka expresses raw, unadulterated loathing and rage in this fascinating piece. The male commuter transmutes right before our very eyes as the frightening, black angry man, feared by all of white society then and now; he commences to incite the very taboo all blacks (and especially black men) endeavored to repudiate. The author unleashes a torrent of murderous dialogue, perhaps speech every black individual may have said secretly or wanted to say. Our male commuter becomes seduced and enticed into a social quagmire, as the very tangent he espouses gives justification to his murder.
Dark and ugly this tale. Unexpected, and seemingly unrealistic, our female commuter stabs the young man and instructs the other commuters to drag his body off the train and remain silent accomplices.
Another twist but the same horror story; things have changed in the sense that this deleterious energy called racism is now clandestine and not as conspicuous. And while murder is done more commonly by representatives of authority, such as the law, the obsession remains.
Fruitvale mirrors the issues of police brutality on young African American men. I was sad an angry to see Oscar Grant III lose his life for something that was not that serious. I was especially angry because the police would not have made such a dreadful mistake on a white young male. The saddest part of this film was that the others involved in the fight, which happen to be young white men were not dealt with in this manner. I believe they were targeted; no questions were asked, instead the officers were very aggressive they acted as if they were handling animals.
ReplyDeleteI thought the director showed compassion by including personal details of Oscar’s life. He allowed the viewers to see his heart and his compassion he had for his family and friends. Often times African American, men are stereotyped because of their appearance; therefore, they are not given a chance to live freely. Oscar Grant had dreams of make a better life for his family and child, which was all taken away in one night. The details shown about Oscar’s life by the director, also allowed us to see beyond the color of his skin and see a human being created by God, who deserved a chance at life.
Fruitvale Station is a film dramatizing the real-life case of the young unarmed black man shot in the back by a white police officer in 2009. It's a common message, often heard in film and life in general. Oscar Grant played by Michael Jordan is a clear representation of a large percentage of men in the black community; ex-convicts, fathers, boyfriends, drug dealers just trying to survive in a dog like life. In my opinion Oscar was neither a hero nor a villain; he was mainly a product of this society. Many would say he is a thug, a drug dealer and he deserved whatever he got; but very few people would look at the other side of the story, a young man raised in an environment where all male figures lived a lifestyle they deemed to be the norm. This young man did what he thought was right in order to sustain his family and be a good father to his daughter, he did not lose his humanity by doing this and therefore did not deserve to get a bullet in his back, by a man hired to protect and serve.
ReplyDeleteThe film feels much longer than its 85 minute running time, in part due to the muffled dialogue which is often difficult to understand. It is ironic that the crucial moment in the train in the early hours of January 1, 2009, when Oscar and Sophina are on their way to San Francisco to watch the fireworks, is sparked by one of his earlier acts of kindness. That expression 'No good deed goes unpunished' comes to mind. Also not only is Oscar’s life a mirror of the lives of young men today but his mother is a true representation of the wives, sisters, daughters and mothers of black men who are imprisoned. This longsuffering mother is also a beautiful example of strength, stability and love—encouraging calm in explosive situations, boosting spirits and doing what she can to keep her family together. She also pushes for prayer. She tells Oscar that she'll keep praying for him (even if she stops visiting).
At the end of this film I got angered, I remember all the cases of black young men, unarmed who are killed by police officers of different race. After I watched the movie and did some research I discovered that the police officer who killed him said in court he only meant to use a Taser on the man, and pulled the gun by mistake. The jury convicted him of involuntary manslaughter, and he served 11 months of his two-year sentence. This to me is ridiculous and stupid and all I can question is when are we as a black community going to be considered equal to the rest races of this world, when are our humanity going to be valued and when are the label of being called a minority going to diminish. This film makes me pray that one day people with dark skin can feel free to make and invent themselves and be able to make decisions freely, decisions that shape who they are and who they will be; because to many times their story ends mid-sentence without their characters ever having time to fully form.
Fruit vale station a movie with an important story to tell, one of a man whose own story should've had chapters and chapters left. It tells us all that our decisions matter. It reminds us of how unfair life can be. It instructs us to look at every single soul around us as a person, not a statistic or a color. And it insists that time should never, ever be wasted. Because none of us knows how much time we have left.
The viewing of the film Fruitvale left me very sad and disturbed. At this day and age we still have to deal with racial and stereotype issues. I have sons and as a mother I would also be so hurt and offended by the brutal way in which Oscar was treated. The cops got very aggressive from the start. That brutality needs to stop and they should be held accountable for those actions. In this case they did, some got fired and the cop who killed Oscar "Mehserle" was charged. However, the time he did I feel was to short considering he took a life.
ReplyDeleteFor what I read in the Forbes comments, also some scenes of the movie are not true facts like the Pitbull getting killed by the car. I did read in another source that the Pitbull was used as a symbol of unjustly feared young black man. We all deserve a chance.
The director worked with the family to put the film together therefore Oscar's character is probably not 100% who he was. Oscar had a criminal record since young and also seems that he had a very bad temper. For whatever reasons of that may be we all must take responsibilities of our actions, behavior and we must make adjustments in life to better ourselves at all levels for a better society. That does not mean or justifies however the way Oscar's life was taken and how his friends were treated. Oscar's case is only one of many happening every day around the world.
Maybe the director is just trying to send a message to society or our legal system; to show the world that incidents of racial nature and police brutality continue to happen and regardless of laws and rights we still violate them. Would the film help? I am not sure, it happens so often in different forms.
Is so very sad for his family but more so his daughter who probably still does not understand why is her father gone, there is nothing that can justify his death and that will be one of her challenges growing up.
Fruitvale fairly recent event and Dutchman 1964 have one thing in common, society remains sick and ignorant. They can't get pass skin color and race.
I am part of minorities (Latin) and I experience racism very often, some look down on me due to my Hispanic background or my accent. Working hard and being a decent person is not enough to overlook my being Hispanic.
Pure ignorance!
I felt upset after watching Fruitvale Station. Even though he wasn’t the best man in the world he was trying to get everything together. Right as he was trying to attempt that his life was cut short because of a cop not doing his job correctly. The cops were extremely rough and felt that just because they were behind that badge they could get away with anything. Koogler chose what he chose to show in the film to explain what kind of man he was. That even though he wasn’t perfect he was important to the people he had in his life. I believe he hope to achieve compassion for the main character.
ReplyDeleteDutchman and Fruitvale Station have similarities. In Dutchman we have a young black man lead on and then had his life cut short. In Fruitvale we have a young black man who was taken advantage of and had his life cut short. Although they were both set in different time periods they both show the difficulties that young black men have to deal with. Racism is still bad today the only difference is that it isn’t shown as obvious as it was back in the day.
Personally the overall Message that I picked up from the movie Fruitvale Station is that we need to open our eyes, a lot of us are blind and naive we choose not to see the illusion that has been designed to give us a sense of freedom, but in reality we're still very much in shackles, and we need to emancipate ourselves from them.
DeleteWatching Fruitvale Station left me with so many emotions. One emotion particular that I felt was anger. As stated, Oscar was killed at a too early age by a White police officer and it brought up so many real issues that young Black men are still faced with on a regular basis from unjust profiling to stop and frisk without reasonable cause. It hurt more because the film revealed to use that there was more to Oscar than what met the eye. He was a son, boyfriend, and father of a beautiful little girl.
ReplyDeleteThis immediately made me think of young men such as Trayvon Martin and Michael Brown who have so many layers to them and who we also feel died too soon due to a flawed justice system. These are the very reasons why I believe Ryan Coogler chose to detail his film in the way he did. He wanted viewers to see the many layers of Oscar Grant and his role and importance in the lives of others. His death made everyone stop and think about who would all be affected and left to pick up the pieces.
Watching Dutchman (1960) and Fruitvale Station (2013) and staying current with today’s news, it shows me that in the span of 54 years nothing has changed in terms of legal protection of young Black men. It also shows that society’s views of Black men are very general and biases no matter what social standing they have.
I must have seen Fruitvale station at least five times, and every time I watch it the same thoughts and emotions are stirred up. After watching Fruitvale Station, there isn't too many emotions to feel aside from anger and a bit sadness for Oscar’s family, especially if you are or have been a victim to the injustice displayed in the movie. Granted Oscar had a temper which he display a couple times in the heat of frustration during the movie, the director also portrayed Oscar as a genuine, kind hearted, family oriented, and loving individual who’s made some mistakes in his past, and he’s looking to put that behind him which automatically creates a sense of sympathy in the viewers. Now of course Oscar encounters a few obstacles in the process but overall he’s just looking for a positive opportunity that will allow him to make the transition. This happens almost every day in the Black community and more often than none the injustice creates angry, careless, reckless, and self-destructive minds, and it seems to be getting worse. What happened to Oscar in the end was upsetting especially because of the way the events took place that night. His past caught up with him and although he attempted to walk away the situation escalated before he could prevent it. What was more upsetting is the way Oscar and his friends were treated by the police, although it’s typical which is sad to say, but it’s still bothersome to watch it happen and knowing exactly why it’s happening. There’s no way to justify Oscar’s death the only acceptable action would've been for the officer who supposedly mistook his gun for his Taser to do life in prison, but unfortunately the jury felt that a couple years in prison would suffice his mistake.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, Fruitvale Station is a well displayed, real life, everyday experience for not only the older Black man, but our young black men are victims of such a legal crime. As seen in this dramatization, being in the wrong place at anytime can and will get the attention of an angry, mad, prejudice cop. Yes, this young man had a history in the criminal system, but that past did not dictate his present. He had many chances to do wrong, but was trying to do the right thing, he began putting his life in perspective. He had a baby girl that he loved and adored and was much involved w/the mother as they co-parented and I believe this would have been the woman he married, if his life was spared.
ReplyDeleteOn The View, on Friday, they interviewed a young man who was wrongly accused of stealing and because he would not take a plea, because he would not bow down to the system, he spent 3 vital years of his life behind bars. He was a junior in high school, grades were good, missed his prom, missed being the teenager he years he will never get back. He was now another statistic in the system. I do know that it's not only the blacks who are wrongly accused but it's noticed more because I believe we speak up more than the other races.
It was hearting to watch and actually, it's now showing on Showtime, I would have never watch it if this was not introduced to me in class.
My last note, I also believe we all have an inner (gut) feeling when something is not right, and I honestly feel his daughter knew even at that earlier age that something was going to happen to her dad. It was just the sadness and her questioning him the last time she saw him.
2nd Entry
I agree with Alice, I also thought of the many public cases, one being Trayvon Martin, whether right or wrong, I wasn't there, this case went terribly wrong. Why because it was a white man that killed a black young man, their (law, cops, etc.) sentiments pretty much are "Oh well, another bits the dust". They have no respect that each one (however killed) is someone's son, could be a father, a mother, etc.
Where do we go from here?