Consider unwilling being forced into becoming an orphan due to a civil war; consider when reading this these are important human beings in both “Lost Boys of Sudan” and “God Grew Tired of Us” that take us on a journey of merging into a new culture. The 'Lost Boys' were created for young males in South Africa who were affected by the civil war in confidence to find new life in America. During their five years long journey the 'Lost Boys' overcame starvation, sought protection from dangerous diseases, survived wild animal attacks along with attacks from rebel soldiers, all while creating close netted connections. Catastrophic war and destruction typically tear connecting items apart, but in this particular situation, it brings our two pivotal films together. There are multiple reasons why you should watch both films. Not only do they teach American’s how other cultures perceive us, but also can give a new meaning the word identity.
Subsequently reaching sanctuary, for a few of the 'Lost Boys' it was only the beginning of a new life. These two films are identified as documentaries; I will classify how the two films cover documentary traditions in pursuit to making an unbiased film. There are two modes identified in the films including a corporatist transnational view also known as (globalization) and adversarial transnational. Using course concepts, I will classify how both films use these two documentary modes. I will also include how these two films can help lower diversity in diverse cultures. Consequently, these are two separate films that simultaneously cover the same topic, I will also explain key similarities and differences. “The lost boys of Sudan” (2003) and “God Grew Tired of Us” (2006) are two fantastic films, that display how culture and identity play enormous roles in how culturally different humans perceive other cultures.
The purpose of creating a documentary is simple; to be educational and informative, to interpret the actuality in front of the camera, the use of non-actors, and involving specific location shootings. The first thing people must understand when watching a documentary is that these are not actors but actual people and actual events. Although these are all true factors of a documentary, you cannot confound a film on its basic qualities. A documentary can be comical all the way to a horror film, the possible are limitless.
Documentaries often cover refugees striving for independence. “One way in which refugees speak back to discourses of power is by using their stories to communicate a sophisticated sense of audience awareness. As Perry observes, the "Lost Boys of Sudan", "transformed" their own storytelling practices throughout their displacement because as they "began to resettle in other countries, the audience and purpose for their storytelling changed” (MacDonald). In this cite it identifies how actual is the American Dream? Is American the “land of the free” or is that an identity we placed on ourselves?
In “God Grew Tired of Us” the main people are Panther Bior, John Bul Dua, and Daniel Abol Pach. The motion picture “Lost Boys of Sudan” the young men include Santino Majok Chuor and Peter Nyarol Dut. To understand the purpose of these two films better, we must first comprehend the situation from a Dinka perspective.
The Second Sudanese Civil War lasted from 1983-2005. The war was between its central Sudanese government and the Sudan people personal Liberation Army. Study shows there was about two million Dinka boys orphaned or murdered during this period. The Lost Boys was created to help cushion the severity of the war by saving young boys in South Sudan, and in a social experiment she how they would react to a new environment.
There are several definitions and applications to the world culture. What exactly is culture and why is it such a huge conservation. With culture comes perceptions, every human has the right to critical judge another human due to social values; but does this justify? Dwight Atkinson and Jija Johnson collectively had an interesting comparison for culture in the class room. “Commonly used to interpret individual students’ behavior via the assumed traits of their ational/cultural groups, culture has been severely critiqued for its top-down—that is, deterministic, essentializing, and stereotyping—character” (Atkinson). In both films we watch as several 'Lost Boys' attend college, which also challenged them due to cultural differences in a new university?
Corporatist transnational sometimes called (globalization), films are an essential mode to creating a documentary film. Modes discussed in film study can be defined as a broad, but identification method, or manner, that is not tired exclusively to a particular form or genre. Corporatist transnationalism usually involves universalist commodity fetishism which essentially means to produce by trying to sell a certain product. It also includes fragments and isolating which frequently involves "nation" with "self". There is also a myth that some individuals believe corporatist steal
meaning to sell.
I believe after watching both films I can identify "God Grew Tired of Us" as a corporatist film. “God Grew Tired of Us” is an enchanted film filled with adventure and condemns the audience to embrace an uplifting inspiring story. I believe this film gives the story a softer credential to the Sudan Civil War, more than it should. The authors of ‘Journal of American Folklore’ also agree stating that “research on their language, their rituals, and their traditional occupational practices as well as their music and song, has been sparse to nonexistent or inaccurate” (Saltzman).
This is the more Hollywood-sanctioned version of the 'Lost Boys' compared to my other documentary “Lost Boys of Sudan”. Produced by National Geographic and directed by Christopher Dillon Quin the spontaneous team created a warm-hearted film, but down played the serious reactions created by the misshaping’s of the Dinka boys. National Geographic heart was in the correct position by giving the Dinka boys a voice, but main intentions were the create revenue. In an article written by Michael Koresky his review gave me supporting content “From the excitement of using electricity and the intimidation of a supermarket, to loneliness, homesickness, and cultural alienation, Quinn's haunting film captures the full spectrum of emotions that come with being a stranger in a strange land” (Koresky).
Brady Witthoft from ‘Forced Migration Review’ agrees that “Lost Boy articles are overwhelmingly sympathetic and compassionate but tend towards sensationalist stereotyping. Coverage has pulled heart strings, got ‘Lost Boys’ on the Oprah Winfrey show and generated an outpouring of donations and assistance. However, it has also dehumanized individual members of the group. Articles gloss over the circumstances in which each of the boys left home but give the impression they were forced to flee when their communities were attacked by forces loyal to the Araband Muslim government of Sudan” (Witthoft).
This film idolizes the propaganda tradition for documentary norms. I would classify this film propaganda because of the focal importance of viewpoint, with a political regard. Quin did generate an informative film but the comedic side of the film despondently down plays the importance of the 'Lost Boys'. "God Grew Tired of Us" won the Grand Jury Prize and the Audience Award both in 2006. Great camera work with an inspirational goal, this film had all the characteristics of a new exciting type of documentary. This is a shot at creating a new documentary because it does not leave an excess of cynicism and disgrace in the audience mind. With such great accomplishments the audience is misled into falling for the warm and happy side of the film they fail to realize what is actually taking place in the Dinka culture.
By definition adversarial transnational films reassert diversity, deconstructs modalities, and strives for global community. In the film, “Lost Boys of Sudan” the main purpose of the film is to understand a dissimilar culture better and to become less judgmental. “Lost Boys of Sudan” is an educational documentary to strives to tell the entire story of the Dinka boys. Being more instructive than informative, the information covered in “God Grew Tired of Us” was not a heart-warming story, only true-life events.
The males in “Lost Boys of Sudan” often find themselves confronted with an abundance of alienation of their new American suburbia. Why would a film strive to show the truth instead of having the determination to make an income? In the film it is apparent the lost boys often reminisce about life in Sudan, they miss the traditions and norms that formed their identity in Africa. Although living conditions in America is more superior to Sudan that does not necessarily signify that America is better than Africa. In this adversarial film I believe there is an emphasis to articulate a devastating story without expecting honor or glorification.
The films consistently point out the cultural differences and the importance of tradition. Joseph Cuneen and Kevin Doherty created an article to highlight the differences “Adjustment to life in the United States is not easy. Work at menial jobs like fastening gaskets and waiting tables is long and demanding. What they miss most, ultimately, are the cultural values of their communal Dinka life. At one point they are asked by local authorities not to travel in large groups — an African homeland custom — because they are scaring local merchants. Loneliness sets in and each struggles to balance his new identity with his old.” (Cuneen).
Individualism to me is the belief of being independent and self-reliant. Compared to collectivism, which is the principle of giving a group main concern over each individual within it. Individualism is a huge factor of American life. In American is important to be independent, we are born into a world where you are expected to be better than the next individual is; or you will not succeed. Being independent is huge in America; we will do whatever it takes to become the best. America is a “dogs eat dog” type of world only the smart and adventuresses survive. America divides itself into three different social classed; high, middle, and low. We place titles on individuals deliberately based on income. Barriers are placed on particular genders and races; so we already have a perception about an individual without even having a conversation.
In Africa it is sociably acceptable to be a collective human being. In Africa, resources are low and jobs are not as abundant as compared to American. Sudan individuals are focused on the culture, or the importance of keeping their traditions alive. In the Hofsted country comparison, it is noted that America has a score of 91 in individualism compared to a lower 65 score for South Africa. Why is it more important to be less individualistic in Africa than America? Does being more collective mean you have a higher sense of culture, or does a lower amount of individualism create a better identity?
Rebecca LeFebvre and her team conducted a resource about individualism and collectivism involving emotion and they found. "The concept of affect in decision-making is one that arises when emotions such as fear are particularly strong. Affect enables a person to make decisions quickly in the face of danger, but can also cloud judgment. We studied the relationship between feelings of threat and decision processing from data on the Arab/Israeli conflict as well as local U.S. conflict situations such as neighborhood crime. They found that when people felt threatened, their decision process was dominated by emotion, not logic or rational considerations. Their findings showed that the stronger the level of threat, the more belligerent the policy choice; the lower the level of threat, the more pacific the policy choice. They argued that even though logic has as role in decision-making, much of the process is driven by emotion” (LeFebvre).
It is apparent in both films that the lost boys encounter often conflicts interacting with Americans. In “God Grew Tired of Us”, there is a particular scene where one of the boys expresses their frustration with how Americans react with one another. Yes, is it true you cannot randomly talk to a stranger without their consent in America. Often parents teach their children at a young age to not talk to strangers, obviously, there are several meanings to this but what is it really teaching our children. As adults in America it is found extremely weird or stranger to be friendly to a complete stranger, why are Americans like this?
I believe there are both good and bad aspects to individualism and collectivism. I do not believe there is a median between the two you are either individual or collective. There is a phrase “do it yourself” but there is also a slogan “if you can’t beat them join them”. The negatives to being an individualism is it is not fair for those who aren’t as privileged but have high potential, lobbying is created from the government being persuaded by the rich, and a not having a common direction with society. There are also positives like having control of your own actions and destiny, you rely largely on yourself, and wealthy people tend to attract to individualism because they want to be independent.
Similar to individualism there are equally positives and negatives. Some negatives include some of the people can be less motivated than the rest of the group, knowing they will receive the same achievements as the group, a lot more government control, and progressive taxations was created meaning the more money you make the more taxes you pay. Some positives are equal opportunities, can reach a goal faster in a group, and individuals have equal opportunities. Being a collective team player can create great thing when the entire team has a combined viewpoint, but is often complicated without persuasion.
“The lost boys of Sudan” (2003) and “God Grew Tired of Us” (2006) are two fantastic films, that display how culture and identity both play enormous roles in how culturally different humans perceive other cultures. Both films mutually point out cultural differences in America and South Africa intentionally or un-intentionally. Using course concepts, I was able to separate the two films contextually rather off emotion. Using my primary sources as the actual films their self, I included tons of secondary sources; that gave a keen filmic analysis. Individualism and collectivism are two major issues covered in my comparison. Along with the definitional breakdown of corporatist transnational and adversarial I was able to compare these two films with a unique insight.
With the conception of the 'Lost Boys' it was apparent that American’s need to improve its cultural Identity. These films highlight the importance of having a high cultural identity ‘Lost Boys’ are recognized as one of the most successful refugee resettlement programs in U.S. history. "An annual report to Congress by the Office of Refugee Resettlement illuminates that the ‘Lost Boys’ have responded particularly well to the expectations they faced in U.S. resettlement. Of those surveyed, 86% of the ‘‘Lost Boys’’ were employed, while the employment rate for non-‘‘Lost Boys’’ refugees was 55% (ORR, 2003). Moreover, 65% of the ‘‘Lost Boys’’ surveyed were attending school, nearly 79% were fluent in English, and as of the survey none of the men surveyed relied solely on public assistance for their income” (Mckinnon).
I believe there should be more social experiments like this one. During my research I learned an abundance amount of information related to the American life; how are we as Americans really represented. Why do we as Americans act so defensive toward people different from ourselves? America is proclaimed as the ‘land of the free’ which includes the ‘American Dream’ but how factual is this? How does it feel watching a totally diverse culture associate itself with our American norms? What we distinguish as normal was extremely different in the Dinka culture and vise versa. These are all questions we should ask ourselves, in the pursuit to becoming more culturally diverse.
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