Gangs of Snowpiercer

Thesis

When class divisions and ones cultural identity are pushed to the limit things can get violent, both Scorsese's Gangs of New York and Bong's Snowpiercer are prime examples of what happens when the lower class has motivation for change. When this motivation is sparked what is the outcome? Are they all screwed or is their hope for change?

Cultural Identity and Social Class

• Cultural Identity: "The definition of groups or individuals (by themselves or others) in terms of cultural or subcultural categories (including ethnicity, nationality, language, religion, and gender). In stereotyping, this is framed as terms of difference or otherness." (Oxford Reference) 
• The self-concept of a person who belongs to a particular cultural group. Also refers to our sense of belonging to a particular culture or ethnic group. (Among Us)
• Social Class: "A system for classifying the population according to social status." (Oxford Reference)
• In Gangs of New York social class may also be apparent, in that the natives see themselves in higher regard than the immigrants. They believe they own and are entitled to the land and no one else should be able to take that from them
• In Snowpiercer social class is the sole basis of the film. It is apparent from the beginning when the PSA says "everyone has their proper place." While it may not be apparent to a first time viewer at this point is does become apparent soon after the PSA.
• "Aboard the train is a microcosm of society"

"This is the Snowpiercer, one thousand and one carriages long, carrying the last of civilization through the endless wastes..."

Gangs of New York: The Butcher vs. The Immigrants

• Cultural Identity in Gangs of New York 
• In Gangs of New York cultural identity is apparent from the opening sequence, we have the (mainly) Irish immigrants beginning with "Priest" Vallon and his son Amsterdam. On the other side we have the natives led by Bill "the Butcher" Cutting.
• Amsterdam returns to Five Points and is told all of the gangs that still exist. He asks if his dad's gang "Dead Rabbits" is still around, and finds out that they've been outlawed and that name is to not be spoken.
• The Draft Riots of 1863 conclude the film describing the actions that happened via telegram with the main focus being that every African American person is being attacked and/or killed.

  

  'The Five Points in 1829' from Herbert Asbury's The Gangs of New York

Snowpiercer: The Back vs. The Front

• Social Class in Snowpiercer
• Mason's speech is when we first see the cruelty in which the back of the train is shown and why why want to overthrow or make it to the front of the train. The shoe analogy.
• Are social classes on the right track?
• The journey begins in which the back of the train begins the journey to the front of the train.
• The truth about protein blocks scene is a great representation of social class in that a man was moved from the back of the train to around the middle to make the protein blocks that the members of the back. The members of the back come to realize what they are eating, and the sight is not pretty. 
• Balance is explained, essentially why they are doing what they are doing, over fresh sushi.

  

  "Balance"

Differences and similarities between Gangs and Snow

• Differences
• The Time Abstraction
• Gangs of New York (Film) vs. The Gangs of New York (book)
• Berdichevsky; Scorsese's Gangs of New York: How the Left Misuses American History
• Are the past and future really that different?
• How relevant and real is this book?
• What does Scorsese say about the book?
• "The richness and the life of the underworld"(5:20)
• The worst slum in the World
• The book led to all his other books and Scorsese didn't know where to stop (7:20)
• Also based off Luc Sante's Low Life: Lures and Snares of Old New York
• "People trying to live together and testing democracy"
• The Endings
• A new world "Adam and Eve"
• Everyone Dies
• A new world "Friend or foe it don't make no difference now"



"The ashes from The Twin Towers were essentially still hot yet, Scorsese made them come alive again at the right time"

• Butcher and Priest buried together
• The Twin Towers
• The Soundtrack
• Similarities
• The back of the train and the immigrants
• Curtis and Amsterdam as leaders
• The front of the train and the natives
• Wilford and The Butcher
• Other Cars and Other Gangs
• The violence
• Social Class and Cultural Identity
• "How difficult it can be for different peoples to live together peacefully, without resentment or the desire for revenge"
• Similarities and Differences in Cinematography, Mise-En-Scene, Editing, and/or camera tricks

Conclusion

• What happens?
• Is there a larger concern?
• Does social class in film always have a left viewpoint?
• Does ones cultural identity really make a difference?