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America

Name: America
Director: D.W. Griffith
Released: 1924
Duration: 141 min

Representation Score

1.6/10

Minimal

1924

Director

D.W. Griffith

Runtime

141 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

D.W. Griffith’s *America* reinforces the dominant social and cinematic norms of its era. The film prioritizes a centralized, homogeneous depiction of the American Revolutionary War, focusing on established historical mythologies without challenging them. The narrative structure relies on traditional hierarchies. It lacks complexity in representing multiple aspects of identity and instead centers on a white, Eurocentric perspective of national identity. Ultimately, the film serves as a period melodrama that upholds conventional Western values and traditional gender roles without questioning the status quo.

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Category Breakdown

Does America have LGBTQ+ representation?

Minimal

The film does not include any queer narratives or non-cisgender identities. It follows the straight-centered social structures of the early 20th century.

How does America portray gender?

Limited

Women are portrayed primarily through roles of endurance and emotional labor, confined to the domestic sphere and serving as the emotional lens for the war's devastation.

How racially and ethnically diverse is America?

Minimal

The narrative focuses on white, Eurocentric perspectives of the American experience. It lacks significant racial diversity and does not explore multiple aspects of identity.

How does America represent religion and culture?

Limited

The story emphasizes traditional Western values like patriotism and the sanctity of the family. It operates within the moral certainties typical of 1920s dramatic storytelling.

Does America include disability representation?

Minimal

Characters with disabilities are used mainly as plot devices to heighten the melodrama's emotional stakes, rather than being given real depth or ability to act.

Present on Screen

Women play a central role in the film's emotional landscape, providing a lens for viewing the war's impact.

Limited or Absent

The film lacks racial and ethnic diversity, focusing almost exclusively on Eurocentric perspectives.
Gender roles are limited to domesticity and emotional labor rather than active ability to act.
There is a complete absence of LGBTQ+ representation or non-cisgender identities.
Disability is used as a melodramatic plot device rather than a nuanced character exploration.
The narrative avoids complexity in favor of traditional Western mythologies.

Official Synopsis

Lexington, Massachusetts, mid-1770s. Renegade British officer Captain Walter Butler struggles to enlist the aid of Indians against the tide of colonists rebelling for independence. Meanwhile, impoverished farmer Nathan Holden, in love with aristocrat Nancy Montague, reluctantly joins the Patriots – only to find himself at odds with Nancy's stern father and her arrogant brother.

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