The Birth of a Nation (1915): A Video Essay

DISCLAIMER: I am in no way promoting the message of this film in this video, nor am I a supporter of its message. My goal is to educate on the importance and controversies of the film and do not support the depiction of African Americans found in it. Thank you and enjoy.
Jared Ross reviews The Birth of a Nation, starring Lillian Gish, Mae Marsh, Henry B. Walthall, Miriam Cooper, Ralph Lewis, George Siegmann and Walter Long. Directed by D.W. Griffith.

[@lokiofasgard69]

It’s a shame that so much innovation and craftsmanship was used on this

[@RollOnVlogs]

Hatred for other races really inspire white people.

[@reb7855]

🥱

[@elleinda6278]

A wonderful video and beautifully articulated, thank you!

[@ImJaredRoss]

Thank you so much!

[@jacksonbartak5864]

Stumbled upon your channel today. Really like your analysis of this movie. Despite its racism and moral abhorrence, it is culturally significant.

[@ImJaredRoss]

Thank you so much! I hope to do some more of these analysis videos in the future.

[@Lookfishlamp]

The moment someone says - "don't watch this because of this reason". Makes me question their biases and makes me want to watch it even more so. I mean they obviously watched it how else would they know

[@iuliapoo9192]

This was a very useful & insightful video. Thank you !!

[@ImJaredRoss]

You’re welcome! I’m glad you liked it, I’d like to do more videos like this in the future

[@MrJ-dc3yz]

Don't run and hide this movie. Racism isn't fiction, it's alive and kicking.

[@cammyman32]

I loved your video on this film! I thought that your points that you brought up were very good and well-justified! I give this a full two thumbs way up!

[@ImJaredRoss]

Thank you so much for watching!

[@cfbilly70]

The impact of this film is amazing, it will forever be talked about for good and bad reasons. The story in this film is one of the Civil War and a big part of that war dealt with racism. When I watch the film, I dispise the racism and don't agree with it's message, but also it reminds me of the truth. Aside from this major controversy it is amazing and for me it is clearly one of the best movies ever made. You should just score this film, it is a film after all, 9/10 for me. Great review.

[@cfbilly70]

@@theinvisibleman2070 thank you so much for correcting this minor autocorrect mistake, my life is so much better now. I hope yours is too! Sheesh.

[@elvirajhonson9396]

Even if the message is terrible I find it to be realated to Nat Turner

[@agentspaniel4428]

Today, this movie could be used as a learning tool to teach about what the pro confederate ideology is all about

[@TheShadowpolarbear]

Great video!

[@solomoon3083]

There is nothing, as far as I am concerned, beautiful about this film. The definition of beautiful is: pleasing the senses or mind aesthetically. Whomsoever find this beautiful, is the WHOLE PROBLEM. AND IT PERSISTS TODAY. THIS VERY DAY.

[@roberteaston6413]

I live in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. In the early 1970's the Canadian government wanted to promote bilingualism. They extended the French network across Western Canada. Men would stay up late to watch the French network not because they had an altruistic desire to learn French and wanted to reach out to the Francophone community but because they showed films from France that had naked women in it. Unbelievably the French network showed The Birth of a Nation twice. I do not know what this movie had to do with promoting French culture. Also nobody in Canada protested the showing of this movie. Americans who come to Canada complain that Canadians are docile. Americans say that we put up with nonsense that they would never tolerate. By the way Americans were also upset that the French network would show movies from France that had naked women in it.

[@anthonycrnkovich5241]

Be glad you stil have the freedom of choosing to watch or not watch something. NOBODY should dictate that.

[@BigDaddy-w3o]

I'm been saying make a moving about them depicting them and let see how they are toward it.

[@Thechacha380]

absolutely agree with everything you said. great video !

[@cyrene7784]

I can't sit through the film for more than 15 minutes. Not because it's so disgusting, which it is, but because it's just awful. It's sooo boring. 😖

[@ImJaredRoss]

That’s okay, it’s not a film for everyone. Silent films are an acquired taste and the films also three hours.

[@Lookfishlamp]

there is a directors cut that has all his original ideas included . Like Greedo fires first. etc. Also giant lizards in the background

[@mavhunter8753]

I agree with everything said in this video.

[@romanmichalek4758]

Everobody, inclusive in school should be shown, like in german schools the nurenberg rally, educate your children

[@whateverman3876]

theres a reason for something to happen. the movie shown why they were a thought of as that and people in those generation saw it and agreed with it. it wasn't about there color but there culture and what they were doing. what im trying to say theres more than what you have heard or were taught.

[@wserthmar8908]

The anti-war theme of BoaN is very important and almost the central one

[@avillianchillinskrillian]

huh? it's racist propaganda. Not complicated.

[@pira707]

@@avillianchillinskrillian why would they propagandize?

[@cyrene7784]

Whatever, man. 🙄

[@janaethomas1163]

The reason this happened is bigotry, propaganda and oppression… What culture are you referring to because this reads a lot like you think the depictions of enslaves and newly freed black peoples was accurate.

[@whizkybent]

This film was a prophecy