The Psychological Paradigm of Anger as shown through the Motion Pictures of Falling Down and Crash.

The Psychological Paradigm of Anger as shown through the Motion Pictures of Falling Down and Crash The Psychological Paradigm of Anger in "Falling Down " and "Crash " Introduction

Because racism and violence play a crucial role in any determination , or appraisal of American society , or American social history , an expectation has arisen among film-critics and audiences of films alike , that American movie-makers will deal with the issues of racism and violence at a serious , cinematic level . Two films which address this expectation with varying levels of cultural and sociological insight are Joel

Schumacher 's 1993 film , Falling Down , and Paul Haggis 's 2004 film Crash . In each case , the films forward what can only be construed as cautionary themes involving the idea of race and racial integration in America . Central to the impact of both films is the idea of a "failed democracy " or a "failed system " which is integral to the sense of alienation and anger which is depicted fictionally There is an underlying sense , in both films , that individualism , itself may contradict the doctrines of democracy individualism , which is in any case , frustrated by the racially "tainted " democratic society portrayed in the films

Both films attempt to connect the abstract notions of freedom and individualism to a dynamically depicted and "realistic " vision of modern society . The following discussion will focus not only on the extraordinary sense of realism which is used as an expressive (and thematic ) device in both films , but on the propagandistic aspect of both...