Although I thought the use of the N Word in the movie was appropriate now I am highly offended that Tarantino is using the N Word in real life. For me, now he has gone too far. What do you think?
By Victor Trammell
Screenwriter and director Quentin Tarantino has always been known as an unapologetic, wickedly humerous, and ingenious film maker. His electric personality is in perfect concert with the types of movies he creates.
His latest blockbuster, Django Unchained (starring Jamie Foxx) is a runaway hit. However, the film has been highly controversial for its constant use of the N-word. There are also critics that don’t take too kindly to seeing a white film maker create a movie about slavery.
Last night at the Golden Globes award ceremony, Tarantino was shocked to find out that his latest film won an award for best screenplay.
Backstage after winning, he was asked by the press about the film’s controversial theme and the script’s constant use of the N-word. In typical Tarantino fashion, he dropped the N-bomb publicly while talking to the media. He also defended the film’s use of the word saying:
“They think I should soften it, that I should lie, that I should massage. I would never do that when it comes to my characters.” (The Hollywood Reporter).
Tarantino went on to elaborate and explain that he should not be criticized for being historically accurate. He also used the n-word to make a point during his moment with the press both before and after the show. He was not quoted on his use of the word, but shocked onlookers when he said it
“I think it’s kind of ridiculous, because no one can actually say with a straight face that we use the word more than it was used in 1858 in Mississippi. So since they can’t say that, what they’re basically [saying] is I should lie,” Tarantino said. “I should pretty it up. I should lie, and I don’t lie when it comes to my characters and the stories I tell.”
Spike Lee is among the many critics of the film. Before the film hit theatres, Lee publicly stated that he would boycott the movie. However, some have defended Tarantino’s artistic expression. Freedom of expression is clearly a right granted to all by the U.S. Constitution. Another black film director Antoine Fuqua (Training Day) shared his support for Tarantino at last year’s Hollywood Film Festival. Fuqua quoted:
“I don’t think Quentin Tarantino has a racist bone in his body. Besides, I’m good friends with Jamie Foxx and he wouldn’t have anything to do with a film that had anything racist to it. We’re supposed to find some truth in films and if you set a film in the 1850s, you’re going to hear the word ‘n****r,’ because that’s the way they spoke then, and you’re going to discuss slavery because that was part of the reality.” (The Hollywood Reporter)
Tarantino also stated that slavery is still in existence in the United States via the use of drug laws. The 13th Amendment of the United States Constitution states that slavery is legal if you’ve been convicted of a crime. Tarantino claims that many black men are still slaves after being convicted on faulty drug laws from the past.
“Drug laws put so many black males in jails,” he said to Rolling Stone Magazine. “The way private and public prisons trade prisoners back and forth. It’s like they are not even hiding it anymore.”
Posted By: DAVID JOHNSON
Wednesday, February 13th 2013 at 11:13PM
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