Editor’s Note: Nate Parker has been of two minds about the historical grounding of his film, The Birth Of A Nation, which tells a story based on the Nat. Character List. ET. The independently financed “Birth of a Nation” cost an estimated $10 million to make. The artist could turn to Thomas R. The Influence of "The Birth of a Nation". disclaimer: in no way i'm promoting or glorifying the kkk nor the depiction of americans of african decent by posting this movie. Griffith into stardom while cementing the film, a piece of racist propaganda, into the annals of film history. By comparison, the birth rate in the United States increased by 0. View Details. For the first time ever, they had agreed to use a nationally unified calendar and clock. Abstract. An Ohio cinema has removed ‘Gish’ from its name due to her role in notorious 1915 film The Birth of a Nation. A large group of people having a common origin, language, and tradition and usu. The Birth of a Nation was released on 8 February 1915. The Birth of a Nation was released on 8 February 1915. This product covers chapter seventeen of the non-history, history book titled "Birth of a Nation (and a New Nuisance)". W. Subscribe to TRAILERS: Subscribe to COMING SOON: Like us on FACEBOOK: us on TWITTER: ht. It's undoubtedly one of history's most vilified and notorious motion pictures, but The Birth of a Nation is also one of the most influential. . By Joe Reid Oct. In the four-day battle, 3,598 Canadians died and another 7,004 were wounded. “The Birth of a Nation” had premiered in Los Angeles on Feb. The D. W. The greatest blockbuster of the silent era, Birth of a Nation was seen by an estimated 200 million Americans by 1946. Billy Bitzer was the first cinematographer to employ nighttime photography, a feat he achieved by firing magnesium flares into the night for the split-screen sequence of the sacking of Atlanta. On February 8, 1915, D. W. Edit. Fox Searchlight. Executives in Hollywood even thought about remaking it in 1950 and releasing the film on television as late as 1959. The Birth of a Nation features a number of developing personal relationships—Ben and Elsie, Phil and Margaret, Stoneman and Lydia—as well as relationships that are pursued. The slave Rosalee, played by Jurnee Smollett-Bell. Birth of a Nation: Directed by Mike Newell. Dixon was concerneddisclaimer: in no way i'm promoting or glorifying the kkk nor the depiction of americans of african decent by posting this movie. This period also saw the rebirth of the Ku Klux Klan, which had disbanded in the late 19th century only to be revived six months after The Birth of a Nation’s premiere. Rotten Tomatoes. Parker named his movie after 1915’s The Birth of a Nation. The American Film Institute has canceled its Friday screening of "Birth of a Nation," which was to be followed by a Q&A with filmmaker and star Nate Parker, whose 1999 rape case has put the. Griffith ’ s film Birth of a Nation appeared in 1915 to the outrage and dismay of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and other supporters of black Americans ’ citizenship rights. 1 reference. 44518. 69 Metascore. Kino on Video 2002 DVD edition. After an initial prologue that blames the Civil War and Reconstruction on the introduction of Africans to America, the Stoneman boys travel south during the antebellum period to visit. The most cathartic moment. Nat Turner, a literate slave and preacher in the antebellum. Louis's secession from the Union in the face of thousands of disenfranchised voters, a dim-witted and despotic president, and a plan to finance the self-declared "Republic of Blackland. The Birth of a Nation comes alive when it quotes scripture; it achieves a dark and sinuous poetry of impending violence. It was the first American film to be screened at the White House. It’s just as shocking now as it was then. 2. 1,995 1 h 59 min 2016. A summary of Part X (Section3) in D. W. D. Walthall, Miriam Cooper. The Birth of a Nation: Directed by D. Griffith, the son of a confederate soldier. 78. across the nation, Birth's power derived precisely from its supposed historical vigour. It is the epic story of two families, one northern and one southern, during and after the Civil War. Griffith, director (New Brunswick, NJ, 1994); Anthony Slide, American Racist: The Life and Films of Thomas. The Birth of a Nation, from 1915, is one of the most controversial films ever made. : An article on Oct. ) Griffith’s The Birth of a Nation ( 1915 ) is perhaps the most influential film in the history of American cinema. The rest of the time it is hemmed in. titled The Clansman. Nat Turner (Nate Parker) in The Birth of a Nation. David Wark (D. Glenn Frankel reviews “The Birth of a Nation: How a Legendary Filmmaker and a Crusading Editor Reignited America’s Civil War,” by Dick Lehr. See full list on theconversation. The Second KKK would grow to include over 4 million members by 1924. Griffith’s film is an epic demonstration of the developing “language” of cinema, so assured and complete that in some ways films have changed very little in the ninety years since The Birth of a Nation ’s. The Birth of a Nation, D. 8. R. Watch on. Old French word nacion – meaning "birth" ( naissance ), "place of origin" –, which in turn originates from the Latin word natio ( nātĭō) literally meaning "birth". Significantly, the distributors are adamant that "NEGROES MUST NOT BE ADMITTED . The scene depicts the "renegade Negro," Gus, played by white actor Walter Long in blackface, in the hands of the Klan, from. Griffith Corp. Watchlist. And when I say met, I really mean it. 8,1915. . The Birth of a Nation. A large, rotund housekeeper, Mammy moans loudly and makes broad gestures. Aaron McGruder, Reginald Hudlin, Kyle Baker (Illustrator) 3. Years later, despite having grown up picking cotton alongside his family in the fields, Nat (now played by Parker, superbly) is a soulful preacher with enough of a rapport with his master Samuel. Illustration by Keith Negley. Indeed, Tinyzone is a safe stage for watching films and shows free of charge. Each cinematic re-release was met with a new round of pickets and protests. In 1915, fifty years after the end of the Civil War, D. Griffith directed The Birth of a Nation, a silent epic drama film based on Thomas Dixo. Films in this tradition are valuable because they demand a continued. W. Kendi and Jason Reynolds' STAMPED: Racism, Antiracism, and You. Mayer, then the owner of. history, premiered as The Clansman: An Historical Romance of the Ku Klux Klan in 1915 to be met with both rousing approval and indignant condemnation. The Birth of a Nation, which was approaching its 100th anniversary when we began making this film, set an example for films to come, by exploiting dangerous stereotypes about African Americans and. W. The country around it is desolate. Sir Martin Gilbert, author of over sixty books and the host of A&E's JERUSALEM, hosts this gripping account of Israel's difficult first years. W. title. The Birth of a Nation was re-released in 1924, 1931, and 1938 , so it remained in the minds of film lovers and human rights activists for decades. Griffith co-wrote the screenplay with Frank E. The Birth of a Nation —1915’s blockbuster hit and the most popular movie of its day—was released 100 years ago this month. The Birth of a Nation (originally called The Clansman) is a 1915 American silent epic drama film directed by D. It was a formula that made sense economically. Each cinematic re-release was met with a new round of pickets and protests. The film was renamed The Birth of a Nation, the "nation" in this case being a reunited United States, reunified by the Ku Klux Klan restoring white rule to the South. Everyone who cares about film must eventually come to The Birth of a Nation. The Birth of a Nation "produced an increase in unfavorable attitude toward the negro among the children examined. Louis's secession from the Union in the face. The Birth of a Nation (originally called The Clansman) is a 1915 American silent epic drama film directed and co-produced by D. Griffith. • When a nation is coincident with. It’s no coincidence that the infamous “The Birth of a Nation” scene that perverts and degrades Black leadership supposedly occurs in 1871, one of the most tumultuous years in Reconstruction. A contemporary political satire follows the events surrounding east St. W. X-Ray HDR UHD R. The rest of the time it is hemmed in. Nat Turner, a literate slave and preacher in the antebellum South, orchestrates an uprising. W. W. . The Birth of a Nation cost about $110,000 to make, equivalent to several million dollars today; the battle scenes alone have been estimated at $40,000. • When a nation is coincident with. Early shots of Stoneman’s vast, empty library prefigure the days when, after Lincoln’s assassination, it will be full of sycophantic congressional leaders attached to Stoneman’s power. 8, and on Feb. It’s a quick scene but its intentions are unmistakable: Lee is evoking D. Frank Deese explores how the NAACP, only a few years old in 1915 and dealing mostly with local issues in the South, mobilized nationwide protests with other prominent leaders against theaters showing D. W. Recently viewed. determination method. W. Not surprisingly, the. Parents need to know that East Is East is a superb British dramedy about a British-Pakistani family struggling with their identity in 1970s Britain. " Short expressed the hope that evidence from the study could be used in the NAACP's fight to have the film banned, but no indication that the study's findings were actually used by NAACP has been located. Set against the antebellum South, THE BIRTH OF A NATION follows Nat Turner (Nate Parker), a literate slave and preacher, whose financially strained owner, Samuel Turner (Armie Hammer), accepts an offer to use Nat’s preaching to subdue slaves. Quality of Clothing. The Birth of a Nation is a very important, and very problematic, part of American movie history. This historical drama recounts a real-life slave revolt that occurred in 1831 Virginia, led by a black preacher named. Griffith’s The Birth of a Nation to theaters when the film was released in 1915. 25. Drama. In the background, slaves work contentedly, with no. The Stoneman family finds its friendship with the Camerons affected by the Civil War, both fighting in opposite armies. m/birth_of_a_nation. At Saint Xavier University in Chicago, she teaches courses in law and society, having completedLast November he published Birth of a Nation: How a Legendary Filmmaker and a Crusading Editor Reignited America’s Civil War. This new edition of The Birth of a Nation was not originally conceived as a new restoration, but rather it was to be an upgraded version of the Thames Silents presentation of the film, first seen on Channel Four in 1993, and which had been commissioned as a companion piece for the series D. Griffith developed The Birth of a Nation script from a popular play and novel about the Civil War, The Clansman by Thomas Dixon, Jr. The Birth of a Nation’s relationship to history is especially fascinating and complicated. Flora Cameron. Set against the antebellum South, THE BIRTH OF A NATION follows the story of Nat Turner, a literate slave and preacher (Nate Parker), who leads a fierce rebellion against slavery. December 13, 2015. 2016. ,The Birth of a Nation: D. 41 EDT. Likewise, in the South Carolina. The Birth of a Nation is one of the most popular and most reviled films in American history, and it continues to influence racial discourse, drawing a clear line from its release in 1915 to white supremacism today. D. Nine months after the Nat. Doherty, a Brandeis University professor who terms the film a “racist masterpiece,’’ says that when he shows it to. Griffith, 1915, silent black and white film. Financing came from private investors rather than established production companies, because of the project's unusual nature and also because Griffith was now based in the Southern California. A century later it’s regarded as a landmark in cinema history – and terribly bigoted. The Birth of a Nation (1915) B SDG. Voir plus de listes. Which is why the Confeder. When Confederate colonel Ben Cameron. Several of the novel's events, including the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln and the. where he is treated at a hospital for his wounds but he soon learns he will be hanged. The screenplay is adapted from Thomas Dixon Jr. Récentes. The Birth of a Nation. Based on the novel The Clansman, the NAACP moved to ban the movie, and one reader wrote to a newspaper that the film was so “hideously insidious…that if any nation except the Negroes were made the victim of their. The most successful and artistically advanced film of its time, The Birth of a Nation has also sparked protests, riots, and divisiveness since its first release. W. Yet in Istanbul—an ancient crossroads and Turkey's largest city—people were looking toward an uncertain future. With the official opening of the film under the title The Clansman. Mr. Griffith’s blatantly racist film The Birth of a Nation debuted in Los Angeles, California. The Birth of a Nation was pure Griffith, and every frame of celluloid bore his stamp. The war, and politics, separates. 's 1905 novel and play The Clansman. Marking the fiftieth anniversary of the end of the Civil War, the movie was a kind of confederate monument, helping to inspire the rebirth of the Ku Klux Klan and catalyzing an increase in violence against Black Americans. The development of the war in their l. Based on a novel by a Baptist preacher named Thomas Dixon, the film painted Reconstruction, the period. While at the hospital he meets Elsie who helps Ben's mother to come to his aide. “Birth of a Nation” amplifies the type of society we continue to evolve from ~~ suits, social appetites, and greed have replaced ~ White Hoods. It was directed by D. W. A large group of people having a common origin, language, and tradition and usu. Google Slides™. In one scene early in the film, Phil Stoneman, visiting the Cameron family at their plantation, walks through the cotton fields with Margaret and Ben Cameron. This "Advice Sheet" flyer was distributed with D. Phil courts Ben's sister Margaret,. ’s novel and play The Clansman. 1/10. Two steps back But for all its magnificence, what is inescapable in any assessment of The Birth of a Nation is the troubling racism that leaps off the screen. The Birth of a Nation is a 1915 silent film by D. The Birth of a Nation Story. Griffith’s The Birth of a Nation, a landmark film in the history of cinema, premieres at Clune’s Auditorium in Los Angeles. Set against the antebellum South, THE BIRTH OF A NATION follows Nat Turner, a literate slave and preacher, whose financially strained owner, Samuel Turner, accepts an offer to use Nat's preaching to subdue unruly slaves. Watch on. The Birth of a Nation is a 2016 American period drama film written and directed by Nate Parker in his directorial debut. Among Canada’s defining events, the Battle of Vimy Ridge in the First World War ranks high. The Stonemans hail from the North, the Camerons from the South. The film was an adaptation of Thomas Dixon ’ s novels The Clansman (1905) — the film ’ s original title. Griffith’s film is an epic demonstration of the developing “language” of cinema, so assured and complete that in some ways films have changed very little in the ninety years since The Birth of a Nation ’s. 5 October 2021. W. 8,1915. With Jim Broadbent, Robert Stephens, Bruce Myers, Richard Butler. David Wark (D. Griffith, Thomas Dixon's Birth of a Nation, including setting, climax, protagonists, and antagonists. The development of the war in their lives plays through to Lincoln's assassination and the birth of the Ku Klux Klan. Dissimilar to other streaming locales, it doesn’t need individual data, for example, an email address or installment subtleties, before getting to the substance. It’s just as shocking now as it was then. 5 million for Parker's rapturously received little-indie-that-could, clearly in hopes. Edit. And when those economics change, so does the definition of film length and exhibition. A film can shape the way we see ourselves and see others and can even be the cause of violence when it encourages. Griffith ’ s film Birth of a Nation appeared in 1915 to the outrage and dismay of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and other supporters of black Americans ’ citizenship rights. On February 8, 1915, D. Epoch Producing Company. The Birth of a Nation: Directed by Nate Parker. (14c) 1. A US Civil War (1861–65) drama, Birth of a Nation centres on two white families, the Camerons from the South and the Stonemans from the North. Two brothers, Phil and Ted Stoneman, visit their friends in. Histoire vraie, tirée de faits réels. The Birth of a Nation is one of the most popular and most reviled films in American history, and it continues to influence racial discourse, drawing a clear line from its release in 1915 to white supremacism today. Perfect for acing essays, tests, and quizzes, as well as for writing lesson plans. W. W. W. W. In 1915, fifty years after the end of the Civil War, D. Minnesota now lets some moms stay out of prison and at home. Griffith and starring Lillian Gish. W. In this article u can find out the best working TinyZone alternative websites where u can watch stream latest movies and tv shows. A US Civil War (1861–65) drama, Birth of a Nation centres on two white families, the Camerons from the South and the Stonemans from the North. , "The Birth of a Nation" is a turgid two-part melodrama that spans the Civil War from the. Unlike McQueen, who taps the most interesting stories from Northup's. As Griffith summed the matter up, the film was simply 'a photoplay reproduction of what actually happened and what is down in black and white in the pages of American history'. The Birth of Nation is notable for many of its innovative production strategies. 25 The Birth of a Nation, of course, was a far cry from 'what actuallyThe Birth of a Nation also pits Nat and his fellow slaves against a vision of the antebellum South that is populated primarily by hokey villains, played by go-to bad guy actors like Jackie Earle Haley (Watchmen) and Mark Boone Junior (Sons of Anarchy). depicts. Pakistani-born George Khan wants his British-born, multiracial. +4053. 1 The words film, play, photoplay, and motion picture are used throughout the publication to refer to the film The Birth of a Nation. W. Two families, abolitionist Northerners the Stonemans and Southern landowners the Camerons, intertwine in director D. The Fiery Cross of the Ku Klux Klan! Two families, abolitionist Northerners the Stonemans and Southern landowners the Camerons, intertwine. The film, Birth of a Nation, is based on the 1905 novel by Thomas Dixon, Jr. The first part depicts the nation before,. Griffith. Griffith’s white supremacist. And Louis B. W. Exploiting the film’s five-year "roadshow", I find a sharp spike in lynchings and race riots coinciding with its. As he witnesses countless atrocities, against himself and his fellow slaves, Nat orchestrates an uprising in. The film makes a constant and committed effort to offer itself up as factual history as well as dramatic enactment and epic entertainment. Bosley Crowther’s article “The Birth of Birth of a Nation” emphasizes that the film was a “highly. date of release. Griffith’s film "Birth of a Nation" premiered in 1915, audiences divided over its racial content. Based on the 1905 play "The Clansman" by Thomas Dixon, Jr. Griffith co-wrote the screenplay with Frank E. by Steven Mintz. The faithful servant to the Camerons. The movie is about two families during the American Civil War and the Reconstruction era. New research by Desmond Ang suggests it may have a caused a century of r. D. Subscribe to TRAILERS: Subscribe to COMING SOON: Like us on FACEBOOK: us on. The film was. 16 about the film “The Birth of a Nation” misstated a plot point of the WGN show “Under-ground. The Birth of a Nation, Nate Parker’s new biopic of Turner, includes the markings, and it’s got the visions too, in the form of a series of dream sequences full of frenetic camera work and. Jacqueline Battalora is an attorney and professor of sociology who works as an anti-racist writer and educator. Save. When “renegade” blacks rampage the Cameron home, one man featured on camera wears only a torn scrap of shirt, exposing his bulging muscles. Birth of a Nation (1915), woman throws herself off cliff. As he witnesses countless atrocities - against himself and his fellow slaves - Nat. The Stoneman family finds its friendship with the Camerons affected by the Civil War, both fighting in opposite armies. This paper documents the impact of popular media on racial hate by examining the first American blockbuster: 1915’s The Birth of a Nation, a fictional portrayal of the KKK’s founding rife with racist stereotypes. David Wark Griffith, son of Jacob Wark Griffith, was born on January 22, 1875, in Floydsfork, later Crestwood, Ky. Jump to. Griffith's masterful direction combines. The Stoneman family finds its friendship with the Camerons affected by the Civil War, both fighting in. Gray's The Confessions of Nat Turner (1831) and use it much as Steve McQueen used Solomon Northup's Twelve Years a Slave (1853) in his 2013 film, treating Gray's work as the urtext. W. Characters include: Colonel Ben Cameron, Elsie Stoneman, The Honorable Austin Stoneman , Silas Lynch, Flora Cameron and more. W. D. Griffith released his epic film Birth of a Nation. But David Wark Griffith must have realized that his film deserved a grander title. The Stoneman family finds its friendship with the Camerons affected by the Civil War, both fighting in opposite armies. The Birth of a Nation. Rotten Tomatoes ID. By Allyson Hobbs. Blacks already knew that, had known it for a long time, witnessed it painfully again every day, but "The Birth of a Nation" demonstrated it. The Birth of a Nation is a groundbreaking film by DW Griffith that came out in 1915. The Stonemans, the Northern family, live in Washington, D. Griffith and. A century after its release, “The Birth of a Nation” still impresses with its technical artistry, and appalls with its racism and nativism. The film itself. Birth of a Nation was a controversial film in its release and sparked riots . The Birth of a Nation began when Nathaniel "Nat" Turner was a slave boy in the early years of the nineteenth century in Southampton, Virginia, United States. This historical drama recounts a real-life slave revolt that occurred in 1831 Virginia, led by a black preacher named. The development of the war in their l. ”. So you can’t use it. The 'Birth of a Nation' director says he doesn't feel guilty for what happened at. Woods and produced the film with Harry Aitken. A new documentary, “Birth of a Movement” by PBS’s Independent Lens, takes a look at the indomitable William Monroe Trotter, who led the fight to censure D. Dixon was concernedTwo of the Cameron brothers are killed along with the younger Stoneman brother. D. See a complete list of the characters in Birth of a Nation and in-depth analyses of Colonel Ben Cameron, Elsie Stoneman, Flora Cameron, The Honorable Austin Stoneman, and Silas Lynch. One story in the book that stands out is his description of seeing the movie“The Birth of a Nation,” based on Thomas Dixon Jr. For its New York premiere on March 3, 1915, exactly a hundred years ago, he renamed it The Birth of a Nation. The cotton fields are beautiful, and Phil, Margaret, and Ben play and chatter happily. 3, 2016, 11:29 a. The screenplay is adapted from Thomas Dixon Jr. Griffith and starring Lillian Gish. A century ago, on March 3, 1915, the most reprehensibly racist film in Hollywood history opened in New York. It stars Lillian Gish. Griffith’s “The Birth of a Nation,” one of the most effective pieces of propaganda racism ever. R. Griffith, the. The play, for obvious reasons,. 573 ratings87 reviews. The Birth of a Nation, which was approaching its 100th anniversary when we began making this film, set an example for films to come, by exploiting dangerous stereotypes about African Americans and. W. W. Tinyzone Safe. The result is The Birth of a Nation, premiering in Sundance’s U. Battalora presented Birth of a White Nation as her keynote address at the 2014 White Privilege Conference (WPC). Nate Parker Offered No Apologies for Rape Accusations on '60 Minutes'. Parker, known for his acting in films like “The Great Debaters” and “Red Tails,” spent seven. Dive into Ibram X. The Birth of a Nation is a 1915 silent drama movie. 38K views 3 years ago. C'est mon dernier mot, Jean-Pierre. In the United States, it is currently more popular than The Star but less popular than Bill Bellamy: I Want. Griffith's controversial Civil War epic. D. An artist who wants to portray Nat Turner's 1831 revolt has choices to make about how to approach the sources. The Birth of a Nation. AN HISTORICAL FACSIMILE of the President's Executive Office on that occasion, after Nicolay and Hay in "Lincoln, A History". Ultimately, the Civil War was about States Rights. Based on a novel by a Baptist preacher named Thomas Dixon, the film painted Reconstruction, the period. The first standing ovation came before the. W. At midnight, December 31, 1925, citizens of the newly proclaimed Turkish Republic celebrated the New Year. 『國民の創生』（こくみんのそうせい、原題: The Birth of a Nation）は、D・W・グリフィス監督による1915年公開の無声映画。監督・脚本はD・W・グリフィス、主演はリリアン・ギッシュ、 ヘンリー・B・ウォルソール （英語版） 。 Nate Parker's “The Birth of a Nation,” a retelling of the 1831 slave rebellion led by Nat Turner, could not be more timely. In Reconstruction-era South Carolina, Cameron founds the Ku Klux Klan, battling Elsie’s. W. The Birth of a Nation (English) retrieved. 6 The film was received warmly by the initial test audiences, but Dixon's plays had sparked protests and even small riots in the past. Uses Fact and Fiction. Thomas Dixon, Jr. 2 hr 0 mins. The Birth of a Nation as American Myth . Produced for $112,000, an enormous figure at the time, by acclaimed silent movie director D. VOIR LES 85 CRITIQUES. Nearly 100 years after its initial release, THE BIRTH OF A NATION remains one of the most controversial films ever made and a landmark achievement in film history that continues to fascinate and enrage audiences. The Birth of a Nation: Directed by Nate Parker. The fact that Griffith used white actors in blackface to portray black people showed how little he knew about African Americans. 's 1905 novel and play The Clansman. The first time around: 1993 Photoplay restoration. W. . Growing up, Nat is charged as a preacher while owns intelligent qualities, as well as know how to read and write. In this case, the State's right to own people and treat them as less than human. It is the epic story of two families, one northern and one southern, during and after the Civil War. The Birth of a Nation features a number of developing personal relationships—Ben and Elsie, Phil and Margaret, Stoneman and Lydia—as well as relationships that are pursued but never consummated in any way—Lynch and Elsie, Gus and Flora. About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How YouTube works Test new features NFL Sunday Ticket Press Copyright. Mormonite Musings. Growing up, Nat is. Griffith’s “The Birth of a Nation” plays as a strange and troubling artifact, a grainy, flickering work of artistic brilliance whose images are at once. Parker, 36, wrote, produced, directed and stars in the drama, playing Turner, a slave who led an 1831. The house itself is a roofless ruin, embroidered by ivy and caressed by the Virginia creeper, the long. Griffith and based on THE CLANSMAN, a. W. This official tie-in to the highly acclaimed film, The Birth of a Nation, surveys the history and legacy of Nat Turner, the leader of one of the most renowned slave rebellions on American soil, while also exploring Turner’s relevance to contemporary dialogues on race relations. The Birth of a Nation comes alive when it quotes scripture; it achieves a dark and sinuous poetry of impending violence.