What should be done about Gone With the Wind?

[Burgund-1]

Gone with the Wind is a classic film released in 1939 that adapts the 1936 novel of the same name by Margaret Mitchell. The novel/film tells the story of Scarlett O'Hara, the daughter of southern planters in antebellum Georgia, and covers her story throughout the antebellum era, the Civil War, and Reconstruction. Now the movie is considered one of the greatest films every produced, but it is fraught with a number of issues with its story and content. Of course when I say this I refer to how both the film and novel propagate the myth of the Lost Cause of the Confederacy(Basically the idea that the south fought for states rights, honor etc and was only defeated due to overwhelming power.) Not only that but the film also implies that slavery was a benign institution, as evidenced by how the slaves within the film seem to be content/how the film never portrays slavery in an explicitly negative light. Now my question to you NSG is as follows: Given that in recent years there has been a push to remove/reevaluate confederate memorials, monuments, southern history etc...What do you think should be done about Gone with the Wind? Do you believe that it should be banned from sale/public showings/do you think the film is southern propaganda? Or do you feel as if the movie should remain freely available/is fine as it is? Personally I feel that the film should be recognized as an important piece of cinema, but should perhaps be reevaluated for some of its more controversial elements.

[Kowani]

The whole “southern propaganda” issue should be taught in schools, and a disclaimer be put in all showings of the movie.

[Nakena]

It must be considered to be in the historical context of its time. Birth of Nation is a similar case, but obviously more obscure.

[Nanatsu no Tsuki]

Revisionism blows. Take the movie in the historical context. There’s really no need to over analyze it.

[Burgund-1]

I have to admit, you guys are surprising me with your answers thus far.

[Saiwania]

It's true that its probably neo-Confederate propaganda, but it is said to be a good movie for its time.

I don't like it because its way too long and the pacing is a bit slow. I can only get to the intermission before stopping. Maybe I'll see the later half eventually.

[Gun Manufacturers]

Gone with the Wind is a classic film released in 1939 that adapts the 1936 novel of the same name by Margaret Mitchell. The novel/film tells the story of Scarlett O'Hara, the daughter of southern planters in antebellum Georgia, and covers her story throughout the antebellum era, the Civil War, and Reconstruction. Now the movie is considered one of the greatest films every produced, but it is fraught with a number of issues with its story and content. Of course when I say this I refer to how both the film and novel propagate the myth of the Lost Cause of the Confederacy(Basically the idea that thefilm south fought for states rights, honor etc and was only defeated due to overwhelming power.) Not only that but the film also implies that slavery was a benign institution, as evidenced by how the slaves within the film seem to be content/how the film never portrays slavery in an explicitly negative light. Now my question to you NSG is as follows: Given that in recent years there has been a push to remove/reevaluate confederate memorials, monuments, southern history etc...What do you think should be done about Gone with the Wind? Do you believe that it should be banned from sale/public showings/do you think the film is southern propaganda? Or do you feel as if the movie should remain freely available/is fine as it is? Personally I feel that the film should be recognized as an important piece of cinema, but should perhaps be reevaluated for some of its more controversial elements.

I don't believe anything should be done about Gone with the Wind. Yes, the film ignores how wrong slavery was, but a movie is significantly different than a monument on public land.

[Kragholm Free States]

In general, I think the education system should devote a lot more time to history, and go into far more depth when teaching it - although I am generally inclined to believe it should place a little more emphasis on the history of one's own nation, so I don't necessarily think the whole world needs to teach schoolchildren about the American Civil War. Oversimplification of complex events due to time constraints is probably the biggest flaw with history (and many other subjects) in modern schools. If we want people to understand the issues with Gone With the Wind, we cannot simply say "this is propaganda" and be done with it. Teach American children about the American Civil War, in depth. Then, when they watch the film, they will compare it with what they know of the real history of the era, and in doing so recognise its inaccuracies.

We certainly shouldn't ban the film. Banning things is stupid and never works.

[The Blaatschapen]

Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn.

[Valrifell]

If it's showing up in a cinema history class then provide the context in which it was made and why it's still importsnt in the history of cinema. But, you know, with disclaimers that it's a product of it's time.

[Page]

Acknowledge and understand the film's idealistic portrayal of slavery and the South. Apart from that, there is nothing else to do. Works of art can still be appreciated and enjoyed while also being subjected to fair critique.

[An Alan Smithee Nation]

Why it's the most successful box office film of all time remains a mystery to me. So many better films have been made.

[Balticonia]

I think it is just fine. It represents the motives of the people at the time. Most people were of the opinion that they were fighting for states rights and honor. Most of the big slaveholders didn't even fight. And the lives of a lot of slaves were not bad lives. In the majority of cases, they were treated almost as part of the family. Just because this movie doesn't show the worst of slavery and the bad motives behind some people, doesn't mean it is bad. These slaveholders were a small minority, and I don't think it is fair to only show the side of the story that is generally promoted by the north( i.e. that most southerners were cruel, slave owning people who only fought to keep others in bondage). Now, don't get the wrong idea here. I am very glad the north won. The south was wrong in their cause and they should not have rebelled. But to only show half the story is a very bad thing and borders on propaganda.

[Rojava Free State]

Some people call gone with the wind a classic, whereas I think it's garbage. There's a part of gone with the wind where there's a group of slaves enthusiastically helping to build trenches for the confederate army and I couldn't help but shake my head when I saw that. If I was a slave and knew the union was approaching, I wouldn't be helping the CSA. I'd be running away toward the front lines to gain freedom.

And the sheer romanticism of the antebellum South is just annoying. The antebellum South was a place where wealthy elites exploited forced labor to harvest their cash crops while families of poor white people starved on the streets with no employment. And when the war came, th same elites turned to the poor whites and said "you go fight the war for my right to own slaves and not have to employ you. " keep gone with the wind around because I'm against book burnings, but if you teach it, make sure to let the kids know it's basically southern propaganda

[Rojava Free State]

I think it is just fine. It represents the motives of the people at the time. Most people were of the opinion that they were fighting for states rights and honor. Most of the big slaveholders didn't even fight. And the lives of a lot of slaves were not bad lives. In the majority of cases, they were treated almost as part of the family. Just because this movie doesn't show the worst of slavery and the bad motives behind some people, doesn't mean it is bad. These slaveholders were a small minority, and I don't think it is fair to only show the side of the story that is generally promoted by the north( i.e. that most southerners were cruel, slave owning people who only fought to keep others in bondage). Now, don't get the wrong idea here. I am very glad the north won. The south was wrong in their cause and they should not have rebelled. But to only show half the story is a very bad thing and borders on propaganda.

Mate, are you seriously defending slavery? Most slave owners didn't treat slaves as part of their family and a good number were pretty damn brutal. Part of the reason (most of it actually) that most black americans have a significant amount of white ancestry is because slave owners literally raped black women. Slavery in america and in most places on earth across history was and still is a brutal institution that dehumanizes and degrades people as nothing but forced labor. I'm beyond glad the South lost the fight

[Dresderstan]

Why it's the most successful box office film of all time remains a mystery to me. So many better films have been made.

*When adjusted for inflation*

[East Meranopirus]

Seeing as how there are many more ways to spread the Lost Cause conspiracy, Gone With the Wind isn't really a problem. I've yet to see a neo-Confederate Lost Cause person cite the movie as a reason why the South was great, because it is, after all, a work of art.

[Page]

Why it's the most successful box office film of all time remains a mystery to me. So many better films have been made.

*When adjusted for inflation*

I imagine some film snobs will shed tears when some upcoming Marvel superhero film dethrones it even relative to inflation.

[An Alan Smithee Nation]

Why it's the most successful box office film of all time remains a mystery to me. So many better films have been made.

*When adjusted for inflation*

Well of course. It would be impossible to compare films otherwise.

[Ethel mermania]

Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn.

I figured someone would be me too it. So all I have left is

I dont know nothing about birthing babies miss scarlett .

[Ethel mermania]

Why it's the most successful box office film of all time remains a mystery to me. So many better films have been made.

It was an early movie shot in color, the cinematography was gorgeous. Clark gable at his most dashing, everyone wanted to see scarlett get her comeuppance and redemption. And it is a wonderful soap opera.

[Ethel mermania]

*When adjusted for inflation*

I imagine some film snobs will shed tears when some upcoming Marvel superhero film dethrones it even relative to inflation.

Raises hand.

[An Alan Smithee Nation]

Why it's the most successful box office film of all time remains a mystery to me. So many better films have been made.

It was an early movie shot in color, the cinematography was gorgeous. Clark gable at his most dashing, everyone wanted to see scarlett get her comeuppance and redemption. And it is a wonderful soap opera.

Fiddle dee dee.

[Kowani]

*When adjusted for inflation*

I imagine some film snobs will shed tears when some upcoming Marvel superhero film dethrones it even relative to inflation.

And then others will be happy that a decent fucking film is on top. Heck, I’d even take Adam Sandler-wait. No. Hmm..

[Glaristant]

I imagine some film snobs will shed tears when some upcoming Marvel superhero film dethrones it even relative to inflation.

And then others will be happy that a decent fucking film is on top. Heck, I’d even take Adam Sandler-wait. No. Hmm..

What's wrong with Gone with the Wind? It's a fantastic film even with some of its more controversial elements. Certainly it's a far better film than most of the schlock that marvel has produced as of late.