Daniel O’Neil
Professor Greene
Film 301/314
July 06, 2008

Conflict Between Cultures
Midterm: Question #1


Martin Scorsese depicts New York in the mid-nineteenth century as a melting pot for all races and ethnicities in his film Gangs of New York. Clearly all the races and ethnicities do not get along. Also it is very clear that there is more thane one dominating race that is prevalent in New York during this period. Scorsese show’s us during this period that you have Irish immigrants still coming into the United States, African Americans who have made their way north primarily into New York, and many other European-Americans who call themselves native-born American because they were born in the United States. Yet, despite the vast amount of different racial and ethnic back rounds coming together in New York at this time, Martin Scorsese’s Gangs of New York the main conflict is not one of color (black/white) as it may be viewed today, but rather cultural heritage, conflicts between native-born Americans and Irish-American immigrants. Through the use of the setting, stereotyping in the entertainment/media industry, and political corruption, Martin Scorsese depicts a multi-racial mid-nineteenth century New York that emphasizes cultural conflict as apposed to color conflict to cotemporary viewers.
In the film, the setting is used to give more importance to one group of characters than the other. Scorsese focused on the 5 Points, which is now known as Manhattan. He primarily focused on the native-born Americans and the Irish Americans, but he did show that were African-American and Asian Americans who made up the 5 Points.
The native-born Americans were presumably of British back round. They controlled 5 Points, and had the most influence though out. The native-born Americans were very territorial and scrutinized any other race or ethnicity to maintain their power. They did this by harassing, heckling, belittling and sometimes killing other races or ethnicities. Within the movie, the native-born Americans occupied such spaces as; political offices, taverns, theaters or cinemas and many other establishments that drew in money or power. By occupying all this space, it gave them a tremendous advantage over any other race or ethnicity in the 5 Points. In the main square of 5 Points most of the people depicted here have white skin and there are not many people of color, showing that color was not the main issue. Their biggest issue was the Irish Americans.
The Irish Americans were constantly coming to the United States in mass numbers weekly. Immediately after they arrived, they signed the documentation which made them Americans citizens. *Scorsese showed the Irish Americans as desperate for new life, which can be seen in this clip of the coffins that were being unloaded onto the harbor next to the incoming immigrants. In the film the Irish could be seen all over5 Points doing the hard labor jobs that no one else wanted to do, or seeking refuge in the Catholic Church.
The Church gave the Irish hope and helped them keep their determination strong through there arduous struggle of gaining acceptance as an American. They were compared to the blacks by the native-born Americans and used as negative entertainment purposes throughout 5 Points. An interesting quote form “The Wages of Whiteness Irish-American Workers and White Racial Forman” by David Roediger was, “ The evil ‘race’ that plagued the Irish Catholic immigration was white and British, not black and African.” This quote shows that the conflict was of cultural differences, not that of race or ethnicity. Although different ethnicities are seen in the film, the main settings take place in spaces that are primarily occupied by native-born Americans and Irish Americans.
Scorsese shows us how the media and entertainment industry played a role in keeping the separation amongst all cultures in the 5 Points area, but primarily with the Irish and native-born Americans. The theatre or cinema was run by native-born Americans. This is clear in, Gangs of New York when all the natives are amused by the belittling acting’s on stage toward the Irish and blacks. Scorsese uses the theater to show viewers that it only added fuel to the fire for native-born Americans to hate the Irish.
Another way in which the entertainment industry shows that there is separation amongst the cultures is the newspaper. I’m referring to the part in the movie where William Cutting takes his gang to confront Amsterdam has a mob of his own. They meet in front of the Irish Catholic church. The seen is captured and publicized by the local newspaper. With this picture in the newspaper, it shows the division amongst the two cultures and may have been a contributing factor in the conflict as well. In “Scorsese on Scorsese” Martin Scorsese mentions a seen toward the end of the movie where, “ the rioters tried killing the newspaperman, Horace Greely.” I think the rioters were sick and tired of the newspaper commenting about what was going on in 5 Points as well as other news such as the war.
The last entity of the entertainment or media that contributed to the conflict amongst the two cultures is billboards and or posters. A specific poster of billboard that I am referring to is the one that is hanging on the wall of William Cutting’s tavern which reads “Native Americans beware of foreign Influence.” This sign could also be seen at the sheriff elections. The slogan used here by the native-born Americans is rather ironic because the true Native Americans could be saying the same thing. The message is clearly promoting anti-Irish, in this case. It adds and perpetuates the division amongst the two cultures.
The last contributing factor to the two cultures conflict is politics within 5 Points. Immediately after arriving to New York, you see Democratic politicians perusing the Irish immigrants for a vote. The politicians used them because they needed more votes and nobody of color was allowed to vote. Irish Americans were not seen as colored so they automatically reaped some benefits for being white. In Thomas A. Guglielmo’s article, “No Color Barrier” he basically says that Italians whiteness gave them countless advantages over “nonwhites” in housing, jobs, schools, politics and every other meaningful area of life. The same goes for the Irish during this time period. The only thing they had working against them was their culture. While taking advantage of their color they used it to run for political positions or voted for those politicians who would help their cause. This drew more conflict from the native-born Americans because they felt like they were losing control and power. Eventually both cultures come to some sort of an understanding, which you do not see in the movie, but is know through common knowledge.
Martin Scorsese definitely showed us the conflict between the Irish and the native-born Americans. Through the setting it was clear who was the dominating race and the opposing race. I think the Irish were the more opposing race, simply because of their skin color. There was already one dominating white race in this city of 5 Points. Then all of a sudden another European culture comes along to reside in the same city. The natives may have felt a little threatened. They tried to down the Irish anyway they could through the entertainment industry or just by word of mouth. Their downfall, if you would like to call it that came when the Irish got more involved in politics. The Irish had the exact same rights as they did so it was only a matter of time before things leveled out.

Making it in an American Capitalist Society

Daniel O’Neil
Professor Greene
Film 301/314
July 06, 2008
Midterm : Question #1


Spike Lee and Martin Scorsese are world renowned directors whose work reflects the communities they come from. Many of their early works focus on their own ethnic back round, culture and location each is from. They both seem to use their protagonists to show some of their personal views on different aspects of life. The protagonists in Spike Lee’s Joe Bed Stuy’s Barbershop and Martin Scorsese’s Raging Bull, both experience challenges and obstacles while trying to succeed in an American capitalist system. Problems both characters face include: the legal system, family(spouse) and both their own inner conflicts.

Both protagonists in these films face the obstacle of getting around the law. In Joe Bed Stuy’s Barbershop, Zach is operating an illegal numbers running operation out of his barbershop. While this is taking place, he is not only putting himself at risk of getting caught, but everyone in the community that is participating in this illegal activity. In the clip here, it shows how Zach is using his shop and advertising number running. It also shows how many people participate in this extravaganza. The protagonist Jake in, Raging Bull also faces problems with defying the legal system. He throws a boxing fight to advance in American capitalism. The outcome from throwing the fight is he gets suspended for two years, but he does get to fight the champion to promote his boxing career. This signifies what Aaron Baker means in “Class and American Boxing Films” when he wrote, “Films about prize fighting speak more directly about capitalism and class…because the present both forceful representations of self reliance and the drive for wealth.” Another problem he faces with the law is he introduces a fourteen year old girl to adult men who apparently slept with the girl. He then is arrested and is forced to do some time in prison. This can also be seen as an outcome of his pursuit of capitalism because it took place in his night club and may be interpreted that he prostituted her out. These are some of the examples that both characters used to try and get around the law in pursuit of American capitalism.

The next obstacle faced by the two characters trying to achieve success, is that of dealing with their spouses. In Bed Stuy’s, Zach’s dilemma is he wants to make his wife Ruth happy but business is not going well at the barbershop. Ruth wants to move to Atlanta, which makes Zach feel like he needs to satisfy her wants, so he decides to take on the number running business which brings in a lot of clientele. He then steals the money and tries to move to Atlanta but his plan backfires on him. Ruth wanted Zach to get the money an honest way, not illegally. Ironically, Houston Baker points out, “It is finally a combination, it seems to me, of her desire for money and the south…that forces Zach to give up his idealism and enter the numbers game.” Jake’s problem with his first wife in Raging Bull, is she had a problem with Jake leaving for his fights because she thought that he was out there chasing women, but in all actuality Jake was chasing down his dream of being champion and making it in an American Capitalist Society. In this clip it shows Jakes wife complaining about him leaving all the time. It also shows how bad , their relationship is due to his absence as a husband. This is just another obstacle in these two characters lives that prolong or deny their dream of making it in American capitalism.

The biggest challenge that the two protagonists have to overcome is their own inner conflicts. Their inner conflicts definitely interfered with their success and goals in making it in an American capitalist system. An example of Zach’s inner conflict is seen by him wanting to make his wife happy and maintaining his values by not using chemicals in anyone’s hair, but still wanting to make money. Zach gives in and breaks his values anyway by first letting the numbers running business take place, then by stealing the gamble money. As Spike Lee stated in That’s My Story and I’m Sticking to it, “should he acquiesce or make a stand?”(pg. 25) This makes apparent some of the inner conflict Zach was forced to deal with to make it in an American capitalist system. Jake also has inner conflict that gets in the way of his dream to make it in the capitalist system. His biggest inner conflict was whether or not to throw his fight to get a chance at the belt. Jake felt that he was never going to get a chance at the belt so he got desperate. He was presented with an offer that he really didn’t want to take, but felt he paid his dues and he deserved it. After getting the fight he wanted, it seemed as if his life took a toll for the worst and he slowly started to lose everyone around him. His insecurity is also a key factor in the destruction of his own life. This clip demonstrates his breakdown that he had when he was locked up in prison. This is where his choices eventually led him. He regrets a lot of the choices that he has made for himself. The inner conflicts for both characters were the toughest challenges to overcome, to achieve success in both of their lives.
Through the use of these characters, Lee and Scorsese illustrated some of the many challenges faced by people trying to survive in the American capitalist economy. Unfortunately, it seems that for Zach and Jake the obstacles presented by the law, their family, and their inner conflicts proved to deter their success in climbing the money ladder and holding their desired spot in the American capitalist system.