Part 4 of: Hollywood and Higher Education: Teaching Worldview Through the Stories We Live By
If imitation is the highest form of flattery, then we are constantly flattering the people and communities who have transmitted their “scripts” to us… for good or for ill.
by Gary David Stratton • Senior Editor
Crash, 2006 Academy Award-winner for Best Picture, provides a powerful metaphor for why worldview change is so difficult.Crash follows a stellar ensemble cast through multiple story lines, most of which explore deeper and deeper levels of worldview.It is one of my favorite films for helping students explore “memes” and the “inciting events” that evoke worldview transformation journeys. [1]
In 1961, literary critic extraordinaire René Girard first introduced the idea that we borrow most of our desires from other people rather than developing our personal desires from scratch. Girard developed his highly influential concept of memetic borrowing throughout his long career, branching out from literary theory into theology, philosophy, and psychology. (See René Girard: The Greatest Christian Intellectual You Never Heard of.) [2]
Then in 1976, Oxford zoologist Richard Dawkins made the idea of memetic borrowing more palpable when he coined the term meme (short for the Greek root of “imitate”) to convey the idea of a single “unit of cultural transmission, or a unit of imitation”(in the same way that a gene is a unit of biological transmission.)[3] In Dawkins’ memetic theory, memes jump from “brain to brain via a process which, in the broad sense, can be called imitation” (p. 192). Since Dawkins’ initial publication, the field of Memetics has grown both in influence (it helped birth the idea of “viral marketing”) as well as skepticism as to its value as a theory of cultural evolution.
Staying on Script
The concept of memes is a useful interpretive key for helping for understanding why our worldview is so resistant to change. As memetics proponent Susan Blackmore explains, “Everything that is passed from person to person (by imitation) is a meme. This includes all the words in your vocabulary, the stories you know, the skills and habits you have picked up from others, the games you like to play, the songs you sing and the rules you obey.” [4]
In other words, like actors in a screenplay, we all follow “scripts” provided for us largely from outside of our own self-awareness. (Think of the role of “Tradition” in Fiddler on the Roof.) If imitation is the highest form of flattery, then we are constantly flattering the individuals and communities who have transmitted their “scripts” to us. Our worldview is so deeply rooted within us that we glide through thousands of “preconditioned” decisions each hour, following the cultural and philosophical scripts provided for us by the stories that have shaped us. We simply do what we do without giving a great deal thought as to why we do it. (See, Casablanca and the Four Levels of Worldview.)
These “scripts” exert such a powerful influence on our daily lives that it normally takes a significant “crash” to reexamine them. These crashes—unexpected events or decisions, often called “inciting events”–are a common devise in nearly all (good) films, but they are particularly evident in Crash. Writer/Director Paul Haggis predicates Crash on the simple premise that no one in Los Angeles deviates from the script of their daily “commute” without a crash.
In the words of Crash’s narrator, Det. Graham Waters (Don Cheadle):
WATERS: In L.A., nobody touches you. We're always behind
this metal and glass. I think we miss that touch so much,
that we crash into each other, just so we can feel something. .
Officer Dan Ryan’s racially-charged traffic stop ends horrifically for Cameron and Christine Thayer
Officer Ryan’s Scripts
One notable story line traces the interplay between LAPD Officer Dan Ryan (Matt Dillon), and socialite Christine Thayer (Thandie Newton). In one of the film’s early scenes, Officer Ryan gropes Christine in a racially motivated traffic stop. Later, he heroically risks his own life to save Christine from a burning car. In each case, he is unreflectively following “scripts” (memes) transmitted to him by the best and the worst of police culture. Only the “crash” of a life-and-death encounter with Christine jolts him into a completely new script of tolerance and understanding.
Ryan’s first “script” is rooted in the story of his father’s relationship with the African-American community. As a young man Ryan watched his father dare to treat his African-American employees with dignity only to lose his business to the city’s affirmative action policies. Now, his father suffers in agony from what Ryan fears is prostate cancer, and the one person standing between him and the specialist he needs is a no-nonsense African-American insurance adjustor named Shaniqua Johnson (Loretta Devine).
RYAN: I'm not asking you to help me. I'm asking that you do this small thing for a man who lost everything so people like yourself could reap the benefits. And do you know what it's gonna cost you? Nothing. Just a flick of your pen.
SHANIQUA: Your father sounds like a good man. And if he'd come in here today, I probably would've approved this request. But he didn't come in. You did. And for his sake, it's a real shame! [To security guard.] Get him the hell outta my office!
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Ryan’s bitterness is no match for Shaniqua’s commitment to company policy
Dan’s frustration creates unstated presuppositions of injustice, anger and retaliation against all blacks that are only reinforced by the worst elements (memes) of LAPD culture. Dan never examines the cultural, philosophical, or mythical basis of his decision. He never asks how his father’s story, and the “racist meme” in LAPD culture shape his actions. He simply acts. With horrific brutality, he uses his power as a police officer to abuse Christine.
Click here to watch scene: Traffic Stop from Hell (Warning – Disturbing content)
In an instant, Christine’s life is shattered. Now part of Officer Ryan’s story of racism has deeply impacted Christine‘s story. His actions fill her with unspeakable anguish. Her personal life disintegrates in anger and confusion. Her relationship with her husband, Hollywood director Cameron Thayer (Terrence Howard) begins to spiral out of control as she begins to act out a “reverse racism script” she barely understands, but which her husband knows all too well.
CAMERON: You need to calm down here.
CHRISTINE: No, what I need is a husband who won't just stand there while I'm being molested!
CAMERON: They were cops! They had guns! Where do you think you're living, with mommy and daddy in Greenwich?
CHRISTINE: --Go to hell.
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An unexpected crash brings Officer Ryan and Christine face-to-face in a fiery wreck
The Crash
Ryan and Christine’s new scripts begin with a crash (literally). Christine’s SUV crashes and flips. Gasoline spills everywhere. She is trapped in a burning car with a malfunctioning seatbelt and no hope of escape. No hope, that is, except Officer Dan Ryan. First to arrive on the scene, Ryan quickly springs into action following the hero script written for him (the meme transmitted to him) by the best of LAPD culture.
Then comes the real crash. Christine and Ryan face each other in an inferno that threatens both their lives. Christine suddenly recognizes Ryan and responds according to the script provided by the personal, cultural, philosophical presuppositions of her story. Despite the approaching flames, she refuses Officer Ryan’s frantic attempts to help her.
RYAN: Lady! I’m trying to help you!
CHRISTINE: #&$% you! Not you! Not you! Somebody else! Not you!
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Transformed by their encounter (at least for a moment) Officer Ryan pulls Christine to safety
Momentarily confused, Dan suddenly recognizes Christine, not just what she is, but who she is, that she too has a story separate from his. The screenplay reads, “Ryan looks into her face and sees her pain and humiliation, and knows he was the cause of it.” His worldview begins to shift.
Full of shame, he begins to treat Christine with the dignity and respect he never afforded her in the ill-fated traffic stop. But to no avail. As the flames envelope the car, it is obvious that there is nothing to be done for Christine. Ryan’s partner begins to pull him to safety before it’s too late. The secret that could ruin Ryan’s life will die with Christine.
Suddenly, against all odds, Ryan completely rejects his racist script (meme) and fully embraces his heroic script. Kicking off his partner he dives back into the burning car, risking his life to save the same woman whose life he so carelessly degraded just a few days earlier.
Against even greater odds, Christine rejects her hatred script and accepts help from the man she has hated with archetypal passion. Her worldview shifts as she accepts his now dignified help and heroic rescue. Everything they thought about one another is changed in an instant; everything they thought about themselves is changing as well. As they weep together in a rescuers embrace both characters hover at the edge of transformation.
Click here to watch Unwanted Rescue scene. (Warning: explicit language.)
CHRISTINE throws one look back over her shoulder – hate filled with fear and gratitude.
RYAN watches her, equally confused, overwhelmed and embarrassed by his feelings.
As the scene ends it is clear that Ryan and Christine have each entered a new story–a story that will alter their future value and belief system, personal practices, and decisions. Their scripts (memes) change because they crashed into each other’s stories with sufficient force to jolt them out of their culturally transmitted roles. Christine returns home to reconciliation with Cameron (who has been in his own transformation journey). Ryan returns home and begins to treat his father with a new tenderness and dignity.
Snowfall in L.A.
Cameron Thayer (Terrence Howard) watches flames rise to meet a once-a-century snowfall
Paul Haggis’ masterpiece, concludes with the most unlikely crash of all—a once-a-century snowfall in Los Angeles. The snow is as unimaginable as a worldview shift. It is also symbolic. For decades, snowfall has served as a favorite Hollywood metaphor for “something is changing.”
As the audience considers this final image, they are challenged with the questions:“Will we continue gliding through the thousands of “preconditioned” decisions we make each day, or will the “Crash” of this movie cause us to reexamine them deeper levels? Will we dare to change?”
And as we rise we see the twisted chaos of the intersection, the cars and people and the (now freed) Illegals disappearing into the maw of the churning city. And it starts to snow.
FADE OUT.
Next post in the series: It’s a Wonderful Worldview: Frank Capra’s Theistic Masterpiece
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See also:
Hollywood and Higher Education: Teaching Worldview Through Academy Award-winning Films
Casablanca and the Four Levels of Worldview: Why Everyone Meets at Rick’s
Fiddler on the Roof: Worldview Change and the Journey to Life-Interpreting Story
Bungee-Jumping to Eternity: The Existential Angst of Dead Poets Society
Deep Culture: Is Winning an Oscar a Reliable Indicator of a Truly Great Film?
If you Live it, They Will Come: The Blind Side and Better Faith-Based Filmmaking
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Related Posts:
Using Zombie Movies to Teach Politics, by Daniel W. Drezner
The Joker Is Satan, and So Are We: René Girard and The Dark Knight, by Charles Bellinger
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Notes
[1] Paul Haggis, Cathy Schulman, Sandra Bullock, Don Cheadle, Matt Dillon, Jennifer Esposito, William Fichtner, and Brendan Fraser. Crash. (Santa Monica, Calif: Lions Gate Entertainment, 2005). All quotations from, Crash. Story by Paul Haggis; Screenplay by Paul Haggis, and Robert Moresco. (Bob Yari Productions, Bull’s Eye Productions, Blackfriar’s Bridge & the Harris Company, 2004).
[2] René Girard, Deceit, Desire and the Novel: Self and Other in Literary Structure (Baltimore: Johns Hopkins Press). See also, Cynthia Haven’s excellent mini-bio in the Stanford Alumni magazine, “History is a Test: Mankind is Failing it.” See also, Michael Kirwan, Discovering Girard (London: Darton, Longman & Todd, 2004), The Girard Reader, James G. Williams, Ed. (New York: Crossroad, 1996), Mimesis and theory : essays on literature and criticism, 1953-2005 (Stanford University Press, 2008.)
[3] Richard Dawkins, The selfish gene (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1976). See also, Robert Aunger, Darwinizing culture: the status of memetics as a science (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2000). Kate Distin, The selfish meme: a critical reassessment (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2005). Robert Boyd and Peter J. Richerson, The Origin and Evolution of Cultures (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2005).[4] Susan J. Blackmore, The meme machine (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1999), p. 16. “So, for example, whenever you drive on the left (or the right!), eat curry with lager or pizza and coke, whistle the theme tune from Neighbours or even shake hands, you are dealing in memes. Each of these memes has evolved in its own unique way with its own history, but each of them is using your behaviour to get itself copied” (p. 16).
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Have you notice in centering around two car accidents, a carjacking, vicious workplace vandalism, and the suspicious shooting death of one police officer by another, the drama is set against the backdrop of a racist LAPD and Los Angeles justice system. Drama at the highest level!!! Do anyone see a hero or protangist or villian in this…please help me.
There are many protagonists in this movie because it has so many stories intertwined. The problem is there is not much charactor development for obvious time constraints of a couple hour film. Don Cheadles charactor is arguably the charactor that links all the stories together. Dillons charactor is also one. Ryans charactor is a little easier to see the charactor arc.
Hero's, in my opinion no one stood out. Villian I would have to say is not a person but society, culture or prejudices.
I found it very difficult to answer the questions. The movie was all over the place. I just picked someone, and it was the Police Officer. Sometimes you just gotta guess!
I had a hard time with this movie too Dre. I am right there with you.
I did not pick this movie as my choice this week. I have seen it a few times and after reading Gary's worldview article I have a different opinion. This movie made my heart and mind confused as to why we have to have these issues. I liked how Gary spoke of Scripts passed on by others and we have to crash in order to understand why we see the word as we do. We will continue through the thousands of pre-conditioned decisions we make everyday or crash. My transformation currently is more understandable for me because of these movies and our study of worldview. Wow how we all have such a tough time because of our scripts. Sometimes I wish my parents would have had this type of education so they could have taught me more about the world. I guess since we have this opportunity it could be the time God is calling us to teach our youth about this issue and bring His way into our decison making.
Although I did not care much for this movie I believe it did do a good job bringing up the topic. As Andre stated before me wether you admit it or not racism is a part of all of us. It may not be portayed like Sgt. Ryan often times it is more of an uncomfortable feeling usually based on a sterotype created by society as seen in Bullocks charactor and reaffirmed by Ludacris charactor. The movie did a good job spreading the resposibility among all groups not just demonizing one (50 year old bald white men) as so many do. I thought this was interesting because as I have several asian friends and they do not have to kind of words about other groups of asians just as cheadles squeeze didnt care for being called mexican in the movie. It showed racism as more of a cultural issue rather than a color issue.
Hey Rich – I didn't care for the movie much either, but you're right that it does a good job at portraying prejudice against all sorts of ethnic backgrounds. I feel the same way that a lot of times movies (and the media in general) focus on the discrimination against black people by white people. But, this movie enlightens us to other aspects of discrimination. I think that's a powerful tool this movie draws upon to help people of all race/genders identify with it.
Richard,
I can kind of relate to some of your Asian friends. I'm not sure why I am not offended if someone was to call me a Japanese or Chinese (I'm Hmong), but perhaps my world view allows me to believe that it could be a common mistake. I'm sure most Minnesotans of European decedent would not be offended if someone thought they were Norwegian. I could be wrong but my world view allows me to see the good in people and believe that simple mistakes were not intended in malice.
I agree, we all have some form of bias or racism and it has to do with society and the way we were raised. Growing up, my parents sheltered me and kept me away from other cultures and people of other races. I have come to realize that because of their actions I naturally formed a bias and a certain kind of discrimination. It has taken some time as an adult to change my worldview of people that have a different background or race. Now that I have 2 children of my own, I make sure to expose them to many different cultures and races as I do not want them to unintentionally form a bias or discriminate as I did growing up.
You are so right on, in America we think of racism as white against some minority but racism and even prejedices is world wide. This movie did a good job of showing how peoples worldviews were influenced by their family views for example Sgt. Ryans was partly due to his experiences and his history.
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I learned from Crash that we all can take time to reflect on our own actions and interactions with others to determine if we are living out what we would like to. This movie reflected a great deal of racism which isn't always something we in Minnesota tend to think about but is a good topic for introspection. How do my actions reveal what I truly believe? Even though I believe I am completely neutral, what prejudices have creeped into my worldview over time? How often do I think like "Jean" or react like "Officer Ryan"? Experiences that get me out of my everyday routine help me to push these areas and change any misconceptions I might have about others. Expand your worldview!
Well said Brianna – Expanding our worldview makes us realize that not everything is always as it seems.The locksmith's character shows this pretty well in the movie.
I wish it were as easy as spreading the word for people to expand their worldviews. Know what I mean? I wish it didn't have to take inciting events such as accidents, life threatening illnesses, etc…to motivate people to change. People should want to do the "right" thing and want to treat people with the golden rule – do unto others…instead, we often need life changing events to knock some sense into us.
Brianna,
The questions that you ask yourself are proof that you are aware that we are at risk of becoming something that we do not want to be. And yes, in many areas of Minnesota there is not much diversity and therefore not much of an opportunity to see other's in their worldviews. A change in our map could really do us some good.
I feel the same. Even though I see myself as being a neutral, non-racist party, I am sure there are times when I say things that stereotype people and perhaps even things that could be construed as racism. Being fair and just to all is something that all humans need to work on continually.
Great observation on challenging your worldviews by breaking our everyday routines. It's easy to become blind to our prejudices or other shortcomings if we only interact with a limited number of people or follow the same routines.
Well said, Brianna. Very few people want to believe that they are prejudiced, but I believe that most are. It may not be acted upon, and it may not be against *all* other people groups, but I think it's there to some degree or another. At some point, we all encounter someone from a group about which we have preconceived beliefs. It takes courage to look at what we honestly believe, and then choose not to act on it.
Does anyone have a story about intentionally engaging a group about which you have prejudices, but you chose to put those aside? I'm hoping at some point this year to participate in leading worship in a prison. I tend to rest in the belief that "those people" belong "in there," instead of looking at them as fellow image-bearers.
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My experience of watching the movie "Crash" felt rather like going through a cyclone. The twirl of drama, relationships, and worldviews left my thoughts spinning and all a-jumble by the end of the movie. I find myself sorting things out and trying to put the pieces of the experience in perspective today. I was challenged by the intensity of relationships and circumstances which worked through the plot of the movie. Seeing clear depiction of prejudices and biases, as well as the subtleties of worldviews which influenced the characters in conflict was a bit shocking at times. That said, I also appreciated the attempt of the film-makers to touch upon so many influential perspectives which are part of the human experience. That we could see the influence of race/ethnicity, gender bias, communication, generational or relational conflict, economics, crime, family, and political or power imbalances (to mention a few) which set the stage for interpersonal or worldview conflicts betwene the characters was key. The movie provided opportunity to not only see the characters struggling through their circumstances, but also modeled transformation as several characters acted out their willingness to reconsider or change their views and responses. In particular, the characters Dan Ryan and Christine Thayer were prime examples of this. I so appreciated the comment in the article "Crash Goes the Worldview…" which speaks to this transformation: "Ryan and Christine each enter a new story, a story with different principles, and practices, and decisions. Their scripts (memes) change because they "crashed" into each other with sufficient force to jolt them out of their culturally transmitted roles". In a manner of interpretation and application, I think that is an excellent way to explain what happens to any of us who go through a significant change in our thinking, responses, or worldviews. It takes a "crash" of some sort to force a change in our relationships, our values, or or life-principles. This movie offered many opportunities to not only watch the intense dialogue between characters but to also do some personal introspection about values, biases, "scripts" (or memes) which influence my response to life. In essence, because I typically would not have chosen to watch this movie–it provided an example of a "crash" for me–because it took me way past my comfort level–to a new understanding of many struggles people face living in this complicated world. I also came face to face with the reality of my worldviews and life-experiences which may need some adjusting (or radical transformation) so as to more realistically and compassionately relate to people in all situations.
Jelimb,
You provided a good amount of honesty in your post and I think that is the first step for the adjusting or radical transformation you speak about, I am excited for you.
You are right there is a twirl of drama and worldviews. I did not like the movie when I watched it a few years back because It made my heart ache and my head hurt, for I was challenged with the idea and need to ask myself: what can we do, what can be done, and why is this such a hard thing for people? All these questions contributed to my interest in Christian Ministries because I believe without Christ the possibility of understanding each other as equal brother and sisters in Christ on earth here will be impossible.
Thanks for sharing your personal journey.
Amy
Thanks, Amy! I always appreciate your candid perspectives and comments. Janet
Hi Jelimb,
Well written! I felt the same way too. Yet, I wonder, how posssible? But it's true! The hidden part of life has now come to the big screen that involves all walks of life, and those that never knew about it, has now come into reality. Many have had personal stories in connection with the examples in this movie. This is great on one hand (The transformation) but sad on the other (The radical lifestyle).
Well…these are all good points, but to me this is how society really is. Much as I don't like to talk about race. This is how it is unfortunately. Crash show us that EVERYONE has a little racism in us. I was like that, especially since I moved to the Mid-West. I was shocked when I seen so much mix couples. In Philadelphia it was a dime to a dozen. If you see an black and white or any different races together it wasn't natural. Crash so us how racist we can be. Now as Christians are we bias like in the movie Crash? Somoe are and some aren't. We live in a world that religion isn't to get people tp Christ. It's lke the "word' is here, or my pastor brings the 'word' every Sunday. Or come to my Churchand hear the 'true word'. So who church is better that the other??
Andre,
Raciam is different for each indivudual and area, as you share. Good point to relate this topic to our duty as a Christ follower. Some people do not even realize the behave in a way that is racist to different people and cultures. Fear takes over and change is hard to handle for some. Jesus was the perfect example when He challenged the Pharasies. They did not like the change and maybe this could be similar to the way others react to culture differences. Jesus was able to show the true meaning of living through His Father and in the hearts of us all not just the perfect practicing important people or the perfect blood line. Thanks for sharing
Amy
Andre – I couldn't agree more with the your line of thinking – as Christians, how are we called to be different – in all ways, but also in the area of prejudiceness and bias. I think some Christians use the Bible as an excuse to judge those that are different from them. I think Christians are often guilty of judging people who are overweight, people with different lifestyles than their own, people with tattoos, etc…I think it's especially important as Christians to examine our hearts and lives and make sure we are treating people as Christ treated them – as people that need a redeemer. Christians shouldn't feel as if they are better people than those that are not saved.
What I learned from "Crash" is that even though people may come from the same part of the country or have the same color skin, they each have their own stories which give them a different worldview. For example, Cameron and Christine even though they are married, don't realize what each other really thinks about authority, the police, or being black. I thought it was troubling that Ryan's supervisor was aware of his bias and his behavior and did not disapprove or do anything to stop it. I like to think that thoughtful people do not let the memes control them and can overcome their influences. I guess sometimes it has to be an event that changes us, like in Officer Ryan's case. Officer Graham and his brother turned out differently unfortunately. This movie has reminded me that I should be more patient and caring toward people, I do not know their stories.
Hi Becky,
You are right. Eventhough we may all come form the same place, our stories are completely different. We learn to grow from our own personal stories. Nobody undrestands our stories better than we ourselves. What we hope for is that our personal stories can make a difference in the world.
It is difficult to watch this type of movie, because i think to a certain extent everyone can relate to the way the characters are feeling. It is sad that people act the way they expect people to believe they are going to act. The example of Cameron and Christine that you pointed out Becky, was a great example of that. There isn't a certain way that you should act based on your race or status, you are who you are. Cameron chose to be himself, and not let stereotypes take over his life.