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Trojan War

Name: Trojan War
Director: Aaron Rahsaan Thomas
Released: 2015
Duration: 78 min

Representation Score

4.8/10

Fair

2015

TV-G

Director

Aaron Rahsaan Thomas

Runtime

78 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

Trojan War functions primarily as an institutional critique of a major American university. It succeeds in providing visibility to a racially diverse athletic landscape, centering players of color within the story of USC's rise and fall. However, the film remains confined to a traditional, male-dominated athletic framework. It lacks intentional frameworks for LGBTQ+ representation or the subversion of gender roles, focusing instead on the corruption of established power structures. Ultimately, the documentary's strength lies in its deconstruction of systemic institutional failures rather than its breadth of social representation.

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Category Breakdown

Does Trojan War have LGBTQ+ representation?

Fair

The documentary focuses on collegiate football scandals and administrative failures. There is no visible evidence of LGBTQ+ character arcs or narratives addressing non-straight relationships.

How does Trojan War portray gender?

Fair

The narrative centers on a male-dominated environment of coaching staffs and Heisman winners. It reinforces traditional masculine hierarchies rather than challenging gender roles.

How racially and ethnically diverse is Trojan War?

Good

The film captures a multi-ethnic environment by highlighting diverse athletes like Reggie Bush. It provides real power to players of color within the context of institutional scrutiny.

How does Trojan War represent religion and culture?

Good

The film disrupts heroic sports narratives by framing success through systemic corruption. It prioritizes institutional accountability over the celebration of traditional athletic glory.

Does Trojan War include disability representation?

Minimal

There is no discernible focus on visible or invisible disabilities within the provided material.

Present on Screen

Provides significant visibility into a multi-ethnic athletic landscape.
Offers a critical deconstruction of traditional institutional and heroic sports narratives.
gives real power to players of color during the investigation of program scandals.

Limited or Absent

Lacks representation of LGBTQ+ identities or non-straight narratives.
Reinforces traditional masculine hierarchies within the coaching and athletic staff.
Provides no discernible focus on visible or invisible disabilities.

Official Synopsis

When Pete Carroll took over the football program at USC after the 2000 season, the once-great Trojans were under siege. But thanks to his football knowledge, upbeat personality and recruiting skills, Southern Cal was soon back atop the college football world as home attendance skyrocketed, Carson Palmer, Matt Leinart and Reggie Bush won Heismans and the Trojans put together a 34-game winning streak. As it would be later discovered, though, the program was committing sins that would result in lost scholarships, victories and one of those Heismans. But those revelations didn’t come until after the national championship game in the 2006 Rose Bowl between USC and the University of Texas. Featuring interviews with Carroll, Leinart and others inside the USC program at the time, “Trojan War” looks at Carroll’s nine-year USC reign through the prism of that game, considered one of the greatest in college football history. It was also the beginning of the end.

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