Griffith himself claimed that he had no political or ideological intent. Some simply accept Griffith's total denial of racist intent. Some specify the 'unconsciousness' of his racism. Others argue that Griffith's portrait of the Reconstruction Era and of Black people in it is essentially accurate. Explain your answer.
Some people read the film as intensely nationalistic.
Explain your answer. Discuss the representation of each of these types in Griffith's film and explain what you think we are meant to understand about each. Griffith's film makes powerful use of music. Discuss the use of music in the film and explain the effect it has on the viewing audience. Daniel Bernardi, ed.