A Deep Dive Into Norma Rae @summer24filmstudies - Tumblr Blog

"When they spoke, they spoke in one voice and they were heard and they were black and they were white and they were Irish and they were Polish and they were Catholic and they were Jews and they were one."

Reuben Warshowsky, Norma Rae, 1979

Me on My Reading of Class in Norma Rae

Scene Analysis 1.

The first scene that stood out to me was the one where Norma confronted management when one of her coworkers called her a "Fink". Shortly before this she received a promotion to supervise her coworkers on their production amount. After some time, her coworkers came to see her as the opposition. Soon silencing themselves when she came around. After confronting management, he threatened quitting but was soon demoted back to her original employment level. Norma got an inside look into moving up the company ladder and what it would cost her. She would lose the relationships of her friends but gain more experience and money for her children. Norma did not hesitate on making a decision. Management did not bat an eye on Norma's complaints or feelings toward the circumstances (Ritt, 1979, 37:14-39:10). After her quick demotion, Norma is scene joining her coworkers on the textile floor.

Scene Analysis 2.

The second scene that I appreciated the most was Reuben's speech. Norma and her coworker joined each other in a church to attend Reuben's speech. He is standing on stage at the pottem where the preacher typically would preach from. Which exactly what Reuben is doing to the audience. Preaching about his history and future with workers unions. Creating a union where everyone is one. Reuben gave a moving speech about change and the fact that it needs to come now. For everyone's lives now and the future generations to come. (Ritt, 1979, 44:25-46:38)

"I started this, and I'm gonna finish it."

Norma Rae, Norma Rae, 1979

Establishing My Approach to Reading Class in Norma Rae

My approach to shot analysis when watching this film was to look at the film as a whole and then to go back and rewatch my notated scenes. When analyzing and breaking down film, I have always found it easiest and most digestible when I watch the entirety of the film and then circle back and go again. The second, sometimes even third time, I am able to focus more on mise-en-scene and what the context of the film is. Drawing and connecting the dots in the film seems to become easier the more you watch it.

My purpose for reading "class" in Norma Rae was to be able to better grasp an understanding of the conditions that textile workers faced. I wanted to be able to understand the reasons for unionizing and how it not only affects the workers employment but how it also affects their personal and social lives. I was excited going into this film because of the personal union that Norma and Reuben created. I think it was a great idea to use a male/female relationship.

Representation such as this film presents the audience is crucial for class, classed social systems, and class contestation. You are able to see the raw effects of the textile mill in the film and the effects it has on the workers lives.

Me Creating Context for Reading Class in Norma Rae

Using author Henry Giroux's article, there is much to be drawn on in regards to the context of the film Norma Rae. This film touches on the conditions factory workers face and the desire to unionize to better their working conditions. There is not one focus on an affected gender in this film, rather the unity of men and women to overcome the struggle of the forces that oppress them (Giroux). Norma Rae provides a strong example of the working-class determination and the experiences they face. This film provides a strong representation of each class having its own cultural capital.

Sally Field never met Crystal Lee Sutton, the real-life textile mill worker. Field created the character to not only represent one person but created the character to represent all. Field explained that they shot the film in a real working textile mill in Alabama (Villanueva). So, although they did not fully suffer like the warehouse workers did, the actors and crew were able to fully immerse themselves into the daily lives of the warehouse workers.

Reading Class, Classed Social Systems, & Class Contestation in Film

If I were to give someone a step-by-step guide on how to read representations of class, classed social systems, and class contestation in film my steps would be as follows...

Notice the differences between the character in the film. Focusing on economics, employment status, material items, outlook on life circumstances. These are typically major influences that determine class status.

Notting other variables such as race, gender, sexuality. Whether or not there is sexism or racism. Takes notes on classism.

Take note of any power struggles you might witness in the film. Any time a character lusts for something another has. Specifically material goods or an unequal distribution of resources.

"I'm always fine. I'm a horse."

Norma Rae, Norma Rae, 1979

"Lights, Camera, and SOUND"

Film sounds is not just noise. It is the sound that accompanies the film and text. Film sound is not only the sound the media uses but also the sound that the audience produces (Altman). Although in this day and age, audience sound is not as common. The sounds that accompany image are just as important as the image itself. It can bring suspense and draw audience members in.

Texts, texts, and more texts.

Interpretation and understanding is the name of the game when it comes to what a text is. Texts are simply harbingers of communication and meaning (Gray). Text can come in the form of film, apps, tweets, websites, books, and other forms of media. Along with texts, paratexts might be close behind. Paratexts accompany texts to further introduce the meaning of the text (Gray). With certain types of text, intertextuality might occur as well. Intertextuality is the connection of meaning that we might have encountered in other contexts before (Gray).

Professor Clarks Intro to Simple Facts

According to Professor Clark, factual details and factual matter make up simple facts. Factual details consist of only dates that are concrete on calenders, and names of places you can find on map. Factual matter focuses on the who and what questions. Using simple facts inside texts allows the audience member to bring context to what they are reading or watching.

"We the People"

It is evident that throughout history, there has been a lack of representation in film for groups that do not fall into a very specific category. Women, homosexuals, and people of non-white heritage have made their way into film. There has been stronger representation, or image studies, for these minority groups in the media. The representation of language, art, speech, and other forms of media present audience members with a look into life from somewhere else (Bensoff & Griffin).

Encoding & Decoding

Stuart Hall presents us with the process of communication in terms of a loop. When it comes to encoding and decoding something in film, directors use this strategy to present the audience with information. Encoding essentially is the assembly of context, or the meaning of something. Decoding is the way the audience perceives the information that is being presented.

Mise-en-scene.....what is that? French?

Mise-en-scene is quite literally the aesthetic of a film. Meaning that the scenery, props, and surrounding stage scene all contribute to the theatrical production of the film (Atkinson). Some things to look for when digesting the mise-en-scene of a film are...

Character & Their Presentation

Props

Set

Lighting

Everything that is presented in a frame provides a certain aesthetic for the viewer (Hunter). Thus providing heavy emotions, and an insight into what is happening in the characters life.

Image Facts: Fact or Fiction?

Image facts are used by films to drawn on audience perspective. Image fact allows creators to influence the relationships that the image might have on the audience members mind (Bazin). This gives a factual base for the scene and provide narrative for what is to come.

"Form Follows Content"

Form is the way that something is presented to the audience (Benshoff & Griffin). Depending on the presentation of content, it might change the way the meaning is perceived. Form is how the content is expressed, and content is what the work is about. So, with that being said, film is the form that we focused on in this course.

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A Deep Dive Into Norma Rae