Paul Haggis directs the movie titled Crash . The movie produced in 2004 illuminates the critical topics that have been subject of discussion for many years. Perhaps, American society is more diverse than society in the world. Protection of fundamental freedoms and economic mobility has influenced people from different parts of the world to come to America. Seemingly, the American dream has gained worldwide recognition. Any person who comes to America will find a different culture from theirs. With the majority population being the whites, the minority population is constituted of blacks, Latinos, Asians and Native Americans ( Downes, Rock, & McLaughlin, 2016 ). The history of blacks and the whites in the US is controversial, painful and at the same time, it holds the flame of hope. The black populations have been victims of racial injustices and prejudice for centuries, a fact that attributes the large percentage of the black population living in poverty compared to their white counterparts according to multiple kinds of research that have been conducted.
Haggis demonstrates how race, ethnicity, gender, and class play an instrumental role in shaping the lives, actions, and behaviors of different characters. The main theme that emerges in the film is racial bias. Apparently, every move that the characters take is racially inclined. As such, a viewer might be prompted to examine deeply the racial motivations illustrated in the movie. In reality, the film Crash shows, precisely, what is going on in the current American society. As much as the society is espousing the notion of racial equality for all, the notion remains to be a theoretical dream.
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Practically, the society is grappling with racial issues that are steadily increasing. For instance, in the inaugural scenes of the film, the audiences are treated to the confrontation between Farhad who is a Persian businessperson and the owner of a gun store ( Haggis, 2004 ). The proprietor of the gun store refuses to sell to Farhad and ends up calling him Osama. It is presumed that every person knows whom Osama is, therefore by referring to Farhad as Osama, the gun store owner shows how people think of the Persian. Another incidence that shows racial prejudice is the statement made about the Latinos. Daniel who is a locksmith is suspected to be friendly to the Latino gangs and would probably make a copy for the gang members to rob the house. This misguided perception about people from a different race is epitomized at every sequence of the movie.
The film characterizes the social deviance in many ways. The social deviance is illustrated in two aspects including formal deviance and informal deviance. For instance, when gun storeowner spews racial slur at Farhad or when Ryan insults Shaniqua Johnson during the call inquiry, it is clear that the parties have transgressed from the societal norms. The transgressions are, however, minor compared to other aggravated crimes that are committed by a different character in the movie. For instance, Antony and Peter are criminals who take advantage of their racial portrait to commit various felonies. The corrupt police officers are also contravening the laws that they are mandated to protect and enforce. The serious crimes committed by the characters are categorized as formal deviance, which generally attracts legal measures such as punitive justice or rehabilitative justice.
The film shows that social cohesion is eroded beyond repair in the American society. The aspect of race and ethnicity motivates the social bonds that are formed. Whereas it is expected that diverse society should be integrated, it is unusual to see the level of social disharmony and disintegration. All the racial groups in the movie are seemingly operating independently. However, no member of the society can exist independently. Circumstances and situations may force a person from one ethnic group to seek the services of a person from another ethnic group. The interaction between the two individuals from different racial backgrounds shows the level of social cohesion ( Downes, Rock, & McLaughlin, 2016 ). In the film, all racial groups treat each other with suspicion and distrust. For instance, Antony and Peter notice the discomfort in the face of Jean Cabot when she comes across them in the street. Arguably, Jean Cabot is uncomfortable in the presence of two black men due to the portrayal of their race. The blacks are depicted as hardened criminals. According to the Labelling theory, the black men in the movie behave as the society around them expect of them ( Tittle, 2018 ). As such, it is no surprise to see Antony and Peter going against the societal goals by acting as rebels. The societal goal is for the people to work hard in a free environment and make life a success. However, the success of some individual is premised on the unsanctioned mechanism.
Seemingly, stigmatization of people from different ethnic group affects their social-identity and self-concept ( Tittle, 2018 ). A character like Farhad develops aggressive tendencies due to the cruel treatment he receives from the society. In addition, Antony and Peter accept the label the society has given them and utilize every chance they get to commit more crimes. Conclusively, the movie Crash has an appropriate title considering how the characters are clashing with each other. Paul Haggis highlights a fundamental issue that is affecting the society with the motive of challenging the entire society to change its methods and techniques for dealing with diverse groups. The perception that has been developed in people of different gender, race, ethnicity, and class influences how they behave. Social deviance and control are critical concepts that must be espoused for the society to be unified and integrated.
References
Downes, D., Rock, P., & McLaughlin, E. (2016). Understanding deviance: a guide to the sociology of crime and rule-breaking . Oxford University Press.
Haggis, P. (Director). (2004, August 19). Crash. [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FAOrwctRM3A
Tittle, C. R. (2018). Control balance: Toward a general theory of deviance . Routledge.
