Civilized
What does it mean to be civilized? By definition, a civilization is simply a culture developed by a particular society or epoch. Therefore, any groups of people that have developed their own way of life and their own culture have also developed their own civilization. By creating their own civilization and living in this civilization are they not civilized? In the movie, "Mr. Johnson," the main questions are, what does it mean to be civilized, who decides what is civilized, and if one is not civilized, what is the correct path to take in order to become so. A path, or more appropriately called a road in the case of the movie, is the ultimate metaphor throughout the whole video. Separated by a barrier of color, the people of Fada, Nigeria work with the whites to create a road, that once built serves as a means of transportation, not only of people and cargo but of ideas, other beliefs, other cultures, and above all, another world. What exactly does the road represent? The road represents many things. In the beginning of the movie, the main character, Mr. Johnson, is introduced. Mr. Johnson is not like other black men from Fada, he is in fact, "civilized" and proud of that definition. He meets his future wife, Bamu as she works; p
With this bridge, the Nigerians will indeed develop to become "civilized" just like Mr. Johnson, but look at how this "civilized" man has lost his life in such a manner that leaves a person wondering, which life is better: the civilized or the uncivilized? The method, by which Mr. Johnson is killed, is being shot by his "friend" Mr. Rudbeck. Mr. Johnson's death is quick and painless, however it is not a civil act, it is brutal and violent. Therefore, is Mr. Rudbeck civilized or uncivilized because it must also be looked at as an act of compassion for Mr. Johnson, however, how can one be civilized while performing actions of the uncivilized? There are a few glimpses of Mr. Johnson taking hold of his roots. Mr. Johnson seems to almost always take the center stage at his elaborate parties, beginning his chanting and dancing and rallying his people around him. However, he is so convinced that ways of the Englishman is the "right" way that he has already separated himself from his people to an irreversible level. His people celebrate when the road is built, but the question that needs to be asked is, why are they celebrating? For Mr. Johnson, it can be assumed that he is celebrating an achievement. He has now brought "civilization" to his people, and this act, he considers to be most likely an act of charity because as he says, "All men want to be civilized." Mr. Johnson's tone changes after he has murdered Sergeant Gollup and sits in prison awaiting his death. While he is not afraid to die, he asks himself one very important question, "What good is a road?" Well, on an obvious level, the road does provide proper means of transportation, i
Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 1113
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)
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