Milk Film Analysis

Throughout literature, most novels incorporate an adventure and an exploration theme about the hero journeying to find their path. In the novel Song of Solomon, by Toni Morrison, it begins depicting Milkman as a feeble dependent character that relies on his friends and family for all of his needs. However, as the novel progresses the view of Milkman develops into an independent figure through a journey. Milkman’s personality and mindset shift as the purpose of the journey diverts away from gold and greed. He comes to realize what’s important in the world and begins exploring what really matters; his race, family’s homes, and identity in the world.

Films are a great way of communicating a message to the viewers. One of the most

The first element of oppression that shows up in the film Milk is a defined norm. As described by Pharr a defined norm is, “a standard of rightness and often righteousness wherein all others are judged in relation to it.” This means that an entity, whether it be a business, a group of people, or a single individual; with influence in society has claimed or passed down a certain way of living that is considered “normal”. A common example of this is the classic societal “status quo”, which has evolved many times over the centuries from decade to decade, from generation to generation. During Milk’s campaign he was never treated as an equal or given the same respect as his counterparts, instead he was mocked and

But one of the important issues discussed in hot debates is the Gay marriage that has recently been permitted in the States. This was a real change in the whole country; many people welcomed the idea because they believe in total freedom of the human being and citizens’ liberties. But other groups mostly coming from religious backgrounds stood against what has been restructured in the amendment concerning this point. The debate will never come to an end simply because proponents and opponents will see it from different angles and no one will decide who is right and who is

In the Toni Morrison’s critically-claimed novel, Song of Solomon, the protagonist, Milkman, goes on a journey to uncover his “people.” Macon, Milkman, Dead III has no identity, ambition, or passion for he is lost and has no idea who he is or what he wants. As Milkman discovers his family’s mysterious and largely unknown past, Milkman discovers something much more: himself. Only through his investigation into his father’s family does Milkman finally find his lost identity.

A situation an individual will commonly find themselves in is their expectation to live up to a standard imposed. However, this individual is often faced with the dilemma of being unable to achieve said standard due to some circumstance that limits their ability to attain it. As a result, an individual traps themselves in a vicious cycle of trying to live up to an impossible standard, only inflicting anguish and despair upon themselves as they fail to attain it. However, in Toni Morrison’s The Song of Solomon, escape from this situation is shown to be possible. The Dead family falls into the exact same predicament Morrison symbolizes the constraints imposed on the characters by their societal expectations, ultimately resulting in the desire

After nearly one-hundred and fifty years of living in the New World, the colonists were anxious to be separated from their mothering country, England. Thomas Jefferson and other colonists got together to write an official document called the Declaration of Independence in July of 1776 to send to King George III. This document stated how the colonists were being treated unjustly and how independence should be granted to the citizens. The Declaration of Independence promises natural rights for all men, however, some rights such as suffrage, are not realized for some disenfranchised groups.

Macon Dead III, commonly known as Milkman, is Ruth and Macon’s son. He is born the day when Mr. Robert Smith suicidal flies off the hospital’s roof and for that reason he is the first black baby born in the usual unmerciful, racist No Mercy Hospital in 1931. As the son of Ruth and Macon Dead, he is part of the upper black society in a wealthy, privileged family. Grown up under these circumstances, Milkman has a traumatized father since his father witnessed the murder of Jake, Macon’s father, trying to protect his land which is in the way of powerful white people as a young guy. Thereby, his family becomes “a victim of social violence and racism in the hostile south of the USA” and this event leaves a deep impression in Macon’s character (Gomez R. 118). So Macon had never experienced a happy childhood and since his mother died in childbirth, he has never had somebody caring for him. Consequently, Milkman grows up without a model father or loving husband.

The Civil Rights Movement gained traction around the 1950s, paving the way for many other oppressed groups. These groups fought for different rights, but they still had a similar struggle to the original movement. One of these groups is the Gay Rights Movement. The comparison between the black civil rights movement and the gay civil rights movement is “typically a sensitive subject, even among liberals” (Williams). Some people believe that it is unfair to compare a fight for marriage to a fight to gain equality in every aspect. If they step back and see the bigger picture, they could tell that the structures are very similar. The Gay Rights Movement is similar to the black Civil Rights Movement.

Toni Morrison’s novel Song of Solomon is an examination on the importance of self-identity in African-American society and the effects of a name. Names and labels are used to describe and symbolize people, places, and things, serving as a brief definition of the subject. Toni Morrison uses this definition in order to analyze the effects redefining or naming had on African Americans heritage and culture after their emancipation. Throughout the story, the central protagonist Macon Dead III or Milkman, searches his family’s history to reclaim his past and recreate himself. America’s history of slavery and it’s lasting effects have allowed African-American society and cultural identity to be dictated by the white majority. Although the horrors

The future of same-sex marriage has long been a question in the United States; on June 26, 2015, under the U.S. Supreme Court decision of Obergefell v. Hodges, the country finally got an answer. In a five to four decision, the Supreme court determined that under the Fourteenth Amendment, marriage between same- sex couples is legal in all fifty states. Under this decision, states that had previously banned same-sex marriage will have to recognize and permit same-sex marriage within their boundaries. The U.S. Supreme Court decision in Obergefell v. Hodges is a landmark decision that will not affect same-sex couples throughout the nation, but also every aspect of our society. Having been hired by a sociologist who wants to study the effect of

Economic privileges generally blind people to the unfavorable social conditions of their community, as wealth is commonly used as a method of physical escape. As a result, many of those belonging to this socio economic strata continue to live under the illusions of an idealistic identity, as they fear to uncover a past that may disrupt their supposed utopian lifestyle. The rare amount of people who defy and challenge the blindness evoked by economic privileges are usually awarded with a mental awakening in which they will uncover a social purpose beyond the pursuit of materialistic wealth. In the Song of Solomon, Toni Morrison explores the social transition of Milkman, a privileged individual, through the use of a spiritual awakening. Due to

Some people spend their whole life's hiding from the people they love because they are either unsure or scare to not be accepted. Many men in the film fund themselves invisible and alone, because they had to stay silent about their sexual orientation. Even if families do not agree with homosexuality they should strive to make each other feel like they would accept each other either ways. Also, parents and children both should look further into educating themselves and each other on the reasons for different sexual orientations. Being educated that not everything is black and white, or concrete can open up a greater understanding of things likes sexual

There once lived a man who believed that the government should insure equality for all citizens: gay, straight, black, or white. In 1977, he became the first openly gay elected official in the United States to win a seat on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. This human rights leader was Harvey Milk and today represents a symbol of gay liberation all over the world. Milk was born on May 22, 1930 in Long Island, New York to a Jewish family. Milk worked at his families retail clothing business during high school and enjoyed playing football and singing Opera music (Cava,2008). As a young boy, Milk was made fun of for his big ears and long nose. It wasn’t until his teenage years that he realized he was gay. After High School, Milk studied

LGBT/ same-sex marriage is one of the most heated and controversial debates in our current society. Unlike the past thousands of years whereas marriage was defined as a legal union between a man and a woman, now the concept of marriage has been extended to a broader context. “Homosexuality” in most cultures is viewed as a disgrace, and it is often considered as a great sin from a religious aspect. But now our society has evolved, we gained clarity and reasons. We are now able to acknowledge and accept people who are different whereas we use to enslave and discriminate people who were a little different. But still, it seems we have a long way to