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).
Crash is one of my favorite movies. The film takes the viewer through a rollercoaster of cultural stereotypes demonstrating not only how these stereotypes affect us but also how they affect other people's lives. Every time I watch this movie, it makes me reconsider past situations where I could have reacted differently. It is easy to judge others when we do not know their story. This movie, uncomfortable to watch some times, is more than a movie. It actually displays real life situations that unfortunately are very common.
It is so much easier to watch "escapist" entertainment than "confrontist" art. (Not that I don't like a good movie escape now and then.) Movies like Transformers 3 have their place, but they'll change us like Crash.
Andres,
You are right! "It's easy to judge others when we don't know their story "This movie takes the viewers in a personal journey with every character to see what their lives are like on a daily basis, their values and personal experiences. After this movie my worldview changed I understand that just because I have not experience it does not mean it’s not happening.
You are so right in saying it is hard to know where people are coming from. An expectable behavior in one community may not fly in another. The people in the Midwest can easily isolate themselves from unfamiliar behavior or worldviews of others. In cities like New York, Boston, or L.A. it is not as easy to distance oneself from the crashes of others. This is one of the reasons I enjoy exploring the culture in large cities and other countries as well.
What I learned from Crash and the idea of memes is the difficulty in changing the worldview of a society. In crash we saw all of the turmoil and tragedy that was experienced only to change a few worldviews. Then at the end of the movie we see the same, original worldviews being played out in a different character, Shaniqua Johnson. To think that the vat majority of people have a lot of the same views because they are imitating people and spreading those worldviews to one another coupled with the idea that it takes a major "crash" to change the worldview is daunting. As people imitate one another their behavior becomes accepted and normal; whether or not it is moral. This also helps point out the importance of always doing the right thing. It would be easier for people to imitate your good, moral actions rather than having to experience a "crash" in order to come a better worldview.
Great point. It is is better to live a live worthy of others following than just a live. This is very instructional because we do affect others very much. A kind word or action to a stranger may not change the world but it may change that persons worldview just a little. They may think there is hope again when that feeling has been lost. I don't think changing your worldview always requires a "crash" but I know for some people it does.
Yes, agreed.
"It's better to live a life worthy of others to follow than just a life"
Drifting each day and following the "memes" been part of the daily routine without thinking why we do this the way we do; does not seem like fully living to me and yet, I’m part of if every day. Change is difficult and for that change consciousness has to be reawakened.
I think it's especially more difficult to change worldviews that are created by imitation because people don't realize that they are flawed or that this is the story they are living. I have known people in my life that have spouted a racist comment or attitude, yet professed not to be racist. They may not every truly evaluate or question their worldview until a 'crash' challenges it.
I wonder how many times we look at people's actions and see only the actions which differ from our own. It seems that the actions which make us different are what cause us to study others. These differences become what we are drawn to. For me, this is hard to not focus on. I need to be cautious to not emulate the behavior of those who I do not share the same worldview with.
I saw Crash when it first came out and it waas good to see it again. It's interesting to see the extremes of racism in this movie. I went to a tiny school up north that was full of white Scandinavian kids, needless to say racism wasn't really an issue because there was no one to be racist towards. It's hard to believe there are people out there who can have so much hatred towards a person just because of their skin color. I'm glad that in the end Christine and Ryan were able to change their worldviews for the better. It's too bad it took such a dramatic event to do so.
I grew up in a similar situation where there wasn't anyone to be racist towards so it wasn't prevelant, and that does make it hard to see the way some people act. I wonder if people like you and I would change our worldview if we had a negative "crash" that would make us think differntly about racism much like Christine and Ryan did in a positive manner.
In some of the cases, I don't know if I think it is as simple as hatred toward another race, as much as it is the acceptance of a stereotyped worldview that was never challenged. Most of these people found, when challenged by a 'crash' that they did not truly have hatred in their hearts. In a sheltered society, such as the one you were raised in, the worldviews we are taught on subjects like racism are rarely challenged….and in cities like LA, the stereotypes seem to be often perpetuated. I agree that it is unfortunate that it takes a 'crash' to challenge this worldview, but that is so often the case.
I love this movie. After I watched it for the first time I decided to purchase it. I have watched it several times since and each time I enjoy it more and more. I think it does a fantastic job at portraying how real racism and prejuduce actually still exhist in daily life.
Like many others, I had not watched the movie since it originally came out. There was definitely a clear message on prejudices that exist and influence people’s decisions and lives. I was most impacted by the stories of Officer Ryan (Matt Dillon) and Officer Hansen (Ryan Phillippe). Early in the movie, it seemed obvious who were the prejudiced and the morally upstanding characters. I guess from my point of view, both of these characters did not change their worldviews as much as they revealed their true worldview during the inciting events. That said, I agree their worldviews were forever changed by the events they experienced and can relate to that on a personal level.
What I learned from Crash about how hard it is for worldview/story to change. Every character in this movie had some level of racism. I don't think some of the characters where even aware that they were racist, in fact it seems that some of the characters that were racist saw themselves as being above such an act. Racism is something that is learned from those around us at a very early age and is therefore very difficult to change as an adult. If racism is part of a child's upbringing, it takes a conscious effort by that child to overcome racism as an adult. One thing I found interesting about this movie is the characters that changed from villain to protagonist and from protagonist to villain. Crash leaves the viewer really thinking about the world around them and the role that racism plays in their life.
The worldview change that was the most interesting for me to watch was that of Matt Dillon's. He was portrayed as a racist, but as his story and background was explained it was easy to understand how he ended up that way. Watching him transform into someone who would risk his life for another that he thought so little of in the beginning was pretty powerful. His worldview shift was so clear to see in the look exchanged between he and Thandie Newton as she was helped away from her burning vehicle. I know my worldview is constantly evolving based on my experiences and because of those experiences I am becoming more tolerant of the differences in everyone I encounter.
I agree, i think that may worldview is constantly evolving. i think that you have to be constantly evolving in today's world, if you don't i don't think you would make it very far.
I agree that Matt Dillon's story was one of the most interesting to watch. Even though we didn't directly experience his childhood upbringing, I imagine he was a much less cynical person earlier in life. I kind of thought his change was more like Rick's from Casablanca, where he got back on track.
Great point Jessica, it was refreshing to see how Dillon's character showed that he had a heart during the car accident scene by saving Newton's character and risking his life while doing it.
In the end, Officer Ryan was able to do the right thing. He was able to put his racism and stereotypes away in order to save a life. Change happens rapidly in the movie but real life is another story. Our experiences are key to the development of our worldview and our tolerance towards others and other cultures.
You almost need to watch this movie a few times to catch all the intertwined stories. The movie would lead you to think the two black boys in the beginning had been sterotyped and treated as if they were criminals and they up and pull out a gun and steal a car. This movie had more tragic stories than good stories although there were some like Bullucks and Dillions charactors were a shift in the right direction.
It is not as much about black or white or about rich or poor, as it is about good or evil. Evil are no bias and color doesn't matter.
Great comment, one of the things that I like about this movie is that they show stereotypes and racism from different angles. Evil thoughts do not have cultural boundaries.
I saw this movie when i first came out a really liked it, but had not seen it since. I had forgotten how good of a movie it was. While the message of the movie is about racism and and prejudice, i thought there was an underlying message of the movie. That we can be so blinded by our worldview and our ideas that we often forget or are insensitive to others worldviews. I think the movie shows people that our actions, whether good or bad can affect people lives in ways that we never think of.
I agree, I thought there was a message on how our actions/decisions affect so many others. Kind of reminded me of dropping stones in a body of water. You have the outward ripple effect of the stones…with the different rings eventually overlapping and meeting, some ripples cancel others out, while some join and increase the effect.
Earnie, your analogy of the positive and negative amplification of the ripples is great. All of us react differently, positive or negative, but it also creates an environment that can be very difficult to understand as we are not watching just one rock being thrown and reacted too.
I agree with your comment. Sometimes we do not realize how powerful our actions are. A gesture, a facial expression, and our words carry meaning and this meaning can have a great impact (positive or negative) in other people’s lives.
I agree with your comment. We have to first be reflective and responsible for our own thinking and actions because it will impact someone. The silent affects we have on people is so powerful and we have to be mindful. This movie was a great reminder.
Well put Nate. In some ways Crash and It's a Wonderful Life are similar in that aspect – they reflect the actions and reactions that our life choices have on the people around us. Intended or not.
This was the first time I had ever seen this movie. I thought it was somewhat confusing in the beginning, because there were so many different story lines to follow. It was very disturbing to watch, as it seemed all too real. I know there are stereotypes embedded in all of us, and I believe it has to do with our experiences and how we were raised. I thought the storyline between Officer Ryan and Christine was a true portrayal of how your worldviews/ stories can change. My truck was broken into yesterday and my purse was stolen. My story changed drastically, as I originally was pretty trusting and would not worry about someone breaking into my car. It was locked, and my personal belongings were hidden. After this happened, found myself watching everyone that walked by and suspecting each of them. Although I found it difficult to watch, I also found it to be a very valuable movie. There were so many lessons that could be learned about the way we handle our stereotypes, and deal with our feelings in certain situations. I found myself wondering how I would have reacted if I was in the same situations these characters.