Gangs of New York Essay - 697 Words

Gangs of New York: A Cultural Shift Jeremiah Harrity SOCI220 American Popular Culture Dr. Nancy Wack April 13, 2013 Gangs of New York: A Cultural Shift In the movie â€Å"Gangs of New York†, we see a city changed and reshaped through cultural influence of feuding individuals with different ideas. The movie is about a young man, Amsterdam Vance, who seeks to avenge his father, who was brutally murder in a gang dispute, against his adversary Bill the Butcher. On the surface the movie seems simple enough but in the back ground we see a cultural shift as immigrants come into America. Also we see political influences and material possession such as clothing and other belongings set people apart and define the social status of the†¦show more content†¦Finally, we see political figures that used their power of persuasion to get votes. They were commoners of a higher caliber that use both sides of the spectrum to further their cause. All this came at a time of great turmoil, as the civil war is still going on and many great changes have come to America. Not only is there a mass influx due to the Irish trying to better themselves but also President Lincoln has freed the slaves and black people can no longer be considered property. Not only were they no longer servants but they were also allowed to serve in the military. The link between military service and full citizenship and inclusion is one that has had powerful resonance in our own time. The end of â€Å"Don’t ask, Don’t Tell† and the full participation of gays and lesbians in our armed forces represent, as Lincoln described the Emancipation Proclamation itself, a profound â€Å"act of justice,† a carrying forward in our time of the ideals that he and his words inspired. (Walsh, 2013) In conclusion, we take a basic movie about revenge and pull back to reveal a great historical piece about change in America. We see how immigration affects culture by introducing new a group into an environment and how people adapt to change in varying ways. Also we see how material possessions have a hug e impact on the different social classes. The saying â€Å"to the victors go the spoils† holds true in all eras. Finally, we see how politics and popular culture playShow MoreRelatedEssay on Gangs of New York1544 Words   |  7 PagesAmsterdam’s story takes place in Five Points District of New York, a filthy and dangerous part of the city before it was deleted form history. As a young boy Vallan witnessed his father’s murder at the hand of William Cutting or Bill the Butcher (Day-Lewis) during one of their many gang wars. As Amsterdam’s story progresses along side The Butcher they become inseparable, but Amsterdam had ulterior motive. Ultimately, Amsterdam attempts to betray his new found ally in order to avenge his father’s death.Read MoreEssay on Gangs of New York905 Words   |  4 PagesGangs of New York: Who’s A True American? â€Å"You can hire half the poor to kill the other half.† Boss Tweed spoke these words in reference to the Draft Riots. It shows that you can easily turn the poor against each other, if you bring money into the situation. Gangs of New York is about the separation of the Irish and the Natives, which eventually led into larger conflicts. In this film there are two important characters, Amsterdam Vallon and Boyle McGloin, who were both Irishmen in the Five PointsRead MoreGangs of New York, an Example of Naturalism Essay839 Words   |  4 PagesIn the beginning, it seems unlikely that Gangs of New York will be an example of naturalism. Unlike To Build a Fire or Open Boat, the whole story of Gangs of New York happens in a civilized area, and nobody is in a case of danger because of the nature. Naturalism is implicit in this article. But being implicit does not mean it is ineffective. Instead, the idea of naturalism within this article is more confound than other two stories we st udied before. The very first scene, a cave is hidden underneathRead MoreGangs of New York by Herbert Asbury Essay3497 Words   |  14 PagesTHE GANGS OF NEW YORK, written by Herbert Asbury, was used as the basis for the movie GANGS of NEW YORK, a gangster film directed by Martin Scorsese and starring Daniel Day-Lewis and Leonardo DiCaprio. Filmed in Rome, Gangs covers a period of New York Citys history, from the 1840s through to the bloody Draft Riots of 1863, at a time when graft and corruption permeated every level of government including the police department. The movies main plot revolves around revenge and the feuding betweenRead More Gangs of New York History vs. Hollywood Essay1120 Words   |  5 Pages nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;The movie begins in New York, in 1843, with a gang fight. 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Race is one of the biggest factors when it comes to criminalization because of what people see on the media and from what they are told. It usually is the younger generation that are viewed as criminals not only becauseRead MoreGraffiti And Its Effects On The World War I1504 Words   |  7 PagesComm 1016 Essay We see graffiti everywhere even though it is illegal. Its on trains, buses, buildings you name it there has most likely been graffiti on it. Let’s start with what the definition of graffiti is, â€Å"writing or drawings scribbled, scratched, or sprayed illicitly on a wall or other surface in a public place† (Bing.com). Graffiti can be traced back as far as world war 2 the most famous tag of that time being, â€Å"Kilroy was here† along with an illustration the artist or ‘writer’ they areRead MorePrecognitive Police, By Henrick Karoliszyn761 Words   |  4 Pagesbelieve that the this method will be the solution to many of the nations crimes. But with many different ways of precognitive policing, whos to say what is best, or maybe all methods should be used together. Karoliszyn’s idea to start off this essay discussed an awful occurrence the reader could sympathize with, â€Å"When a troubled young man named Adam Lanza stormed into Sandy Hook Elementary School and slaughtered 20 first-graders and six teachers in a small Connecticut suburb in December of 2012