Film Assignment Mudbound
1) The title of the film Mudbound serves as a metaphor for the living conditions of all the characters. They are each tied to the land, tied to the traditions of the American South, and tied to the racial and gender stereotypes of the period. Choose two of the main characters and describe and discuss how they are “bound” by expectations of who they should be, and connect that bondage to things that we have discussed in class such as Jim Crow laws and sharecropping.
2) Laura McAllan would probably not have described herself as a racist in the blatant sense that Pappy McAllan was racist. But Laura’s relationship with Florence Jackson was horribly one-sided. Describe how Florence came to work for Laura and discuss the problems that you perceive in the relationship. Was Laura’s racism better than Pappy’s? Worse? Do you see Laura as racist at all? Why or why not?
3) The troublesome interracial friendship between Jamie McAllan and Ronzel Jackson was based on their war time experiences. Describe their experiences in the war and discuss how those experiences changed their attitudes toward their homes and families.
4) To me, Henry McAllan is perhaps the most problematic character in the film. Although not as overtly racist as Pappy, he used his position as a white male to dominate every other character in the story. Describe some of the relationships between Henry and women and People of Color. Give some examples of how he dominated his environment.
5) The time period of this story is after the Second World War; the late 1940s. Although that may seem like a LONG time ago to you as a college student, this remains within the lifetime of people still living. President Trump for instance was born in 1946. Using specific events from this film discuss the ways that you think America has changed or remained the same since the 1940s. Consider the racial and gender issues that lie at the heart of Mudbound, as well as the political systems that allowed those issues to remain in place for so long.