Thursday, May 6, 2010

American Skinheads Documentary

Ok so I have just watched a very2 interesting documentary (that i have recorded) about American Skinheads on National Geographic channel. Although their conflict is much more heavier then my subject issue, I could still relate it to my project.

Here`s a little bit of info about the documentary.

The American Skinheads spreads their culture through music. Throughout the entire documentary, it shows a lot of footage about the community jamming together and even their oi! oi! music gigs. They seek young white adults to be recruited in their community. What surprises me most is when they show these skinheads even have martial art lessons for self defense! (and they can really kick some a**)They really train like soldiers.

They interviewed couple of skinhead followers,leaders and experts such as the human right activist and sociologist of some university. One of the expert said that i find interesting is that these skinheads have excellent skills in PR which consist of talking to people to recruit, handling promotions and events of their community for their goal of racial dominance.

They use music and new media such as the internet as their most important tool in recruiting. They even produced their own video game where players get to shoot and beat up other races in the game. A book titled 'Turner Diaries' where racial issues being stressed out was even been distributed.

In the documentary, the director focuses more on getting into the skinheads perspectives rather then others. There are only 2 experts thats been interviewed to get their opinions, and more then 5 skinheads that's been interviewed. This is what I`m trying to achieve with my documentary where I`m trying to balance fair perspectives by both side of the rempits and public or society. I won`t be able to interview any expert though)

In the interviews the skinheads stresses out that they are not racist but its the feeling of power & control (I have a feeling the rempits I`m going to interview will say the same thing).

They claim it does not start with racism but power and it`s all about love for their race. They also interviewed an ex member of the community where he was beaten up because he wants out from the group. The ex member claim that in the 1960s, skinheads are not racist towards other race, they just living up their beliefs in what they deserve to get. He label it as a traditional culture and he practice that culture until today with his other fellow mates. They claimed, the skinhead group that are not racist is called 'SHARP'. They claim a lot of negative things have been thrown to them because of the bad image other skinheads community have portrayed. It`s pretty much the same with the rempit issue, where group of motorcyclist will be considered as rempit and society hates them because of the bad behaviour of the rempit community.

Well, obviously my documentary won`t be good as the one i just saw. But I could use some of the features and elements that they use in the documentary.





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