Crash, Coordinated By Paul Haggis Essay

Communication is important in our lives as it enables us to interact with one another, and allows us to form and build upon relationships with other people. However, when communication is not effective or colored by personal biases, it may lead to conflict. In the movie Crash, the characters are faced with a number of social issues, born from their inability to communicate with one another as well as their perceived notions of racial and cultural biases. Through the interactions between the characters this film allows us to understand how interpersonal communication affects individuals be it with strangers, friends, or family.

Racism, and ethnocentrism can be a significant factor in determining if an individual can maintain a healthy interpersonal relationship. Both racism and ethnocentrism can be barriers that affect competent cross- cultural communication. Crash (Schulman & Haggis, 2004) is a film that has characters of very different natures. The characters may be involved in conflicts due to the differences in genders, cultures and races. As these strangers in the film crash into each other, you may notice that racism and ethnocentrism can really affect the way the characters are able to build a strong and healthy interpersonal relationship. In Crash (Schulman & Haggis, 2004) the character Officer Ryan is constantly in conflict with others due to racism and ethnocentrism. He has been an officer and with the force for 17 years. However, he seems to be extremely racist when he encounters African Americans. Officer Ryan is a typical looking American male, the movie portrayed him to be “tall, dark and handsome.” However, he is also out-spoken and seemingly arrogant. Ryan seems to have that “better than the rest” attitude, it is evident through the way he portrays himself in the movie. If he overcomes these barriers he would be able to establish some positive relationships. Officer Ryan also seems to have accumulated anger and false assumption about those around him. For example, when he pulled over Director Cam and his wife Christine, he was angry with their racial difference and made false

* This article talks about the racism issue that the author had to deal with, he tells us a personal story that he had to went through because he is a black men.

Discrimination, racism, classism, prejudice and more plague today’s society. These horrible issues do not affect one race, sexes, class, ethnicity, or age group; these issues affect all races, both genders, all ethnicities, and all age groups. For this film analysis, I have chosen to discuss the racism portrayed throughout a three-time Oscar award winning movie called Crash.

African Americans have been facing a lot of problems despite the rigorous activism against racial profiling by law enforcement. In 2011, Nicholas Peart, a 23 year old black male, made headlines when he wrote an opinion article in the New York Times, describing the maltreatment that he had been subjected to under those that are supposed to protect and serve. He gave an example of a time when he went out to grab some burgers at a common hang out spot to celebrate his eighteenth birthday with his cousin and some friends, and while sitting on a bench after seeing the place was closed, police officers came and ordered them to get on the ground, while another officer held a gun to him. In another instance, Peart wrote that he was stopped and frisked after leaving his grandmother’s home and on the way to the bus stop.

In life, you never know if you can see the person you may see on the sidewalk or even across the stress. But, in all realities, that person may have a connection to your life. They can be your future spouse, boss, or the murder who may kill your loved ones. In the movie Crash, everyone has connected to each other in a different or common way. The film takes place in Los Angeles, where minorities are dealing with racial tensions while living in the city. The film broadcasts live of many individuals from different socio-economic classes, which they have life-changing experiences during challenges with prejudices and stereotypes. The film shows interpersonal communication which is “The ability to process and gain information between two or many people” (William 20). The film follows the lives of many resides of different races, social class, careers. The group main character in these groups is John Ryan and Tom Hasen who are Caucasian LAPD police officers. Cameron and Christine Thayer who are a young African American couple. Peter and Anthony who are young adults African- American car thief’s. Farhad who’s an Prussian business owner. Daniel who’s an Latin American locksmith. Lastly, Shaniqua Johnson who an African American administrator.

Sociology is the systemic study of human society and social interaction. Sociologists study human societies and their social interactions in order to develop theories of how human behavior is shaped by group life and how, in turn, group life is affected by individuals (Kendall, 4). The movie Crash (Haggis, 2005), is full of many sociological issues, such as race, social class, and gender. Crash makes you see how group life is affected by individuals and how human behavior is shaped by group life.

During the film viewed in class called “Crash”, multiple scenarios erupted that bring up ethical issues in the Criminal Justice System. These may be related to race, hate, or changing because of the job. Whatever the case may be, everyone will handle these situations differently; furthermore I will explain how I would handle these situations had I been present. The first scenario that relates to the criminal justice system is when Detective Waters and Ria arrive on scene where a white undercover police officer shot and killed a black male. It is later discovered that the black male was also a undercover agent.

Car dismantlers are not always associated with car service centers or local garages. Many auto wreckers like Auto Wreckers Brampton take wrecked vehicles to a large open field with hundreds of other cars. Workers of these wrecking yards spend much of their time salvaging usable parts for resale. If the wrecked wagon is declared a total loss by the owner's insurance company, an auto wrecking service may assume ownership of the framework. Even if there are few restored parts remaining, the metal can be sold to scrap metal dealers for recycling.

“Good look out there Bill!” yelled my friend Randall. I could hardly hear him over the roar of my plane engine taking off. I gave him the thumbs up and closed my cockpit of my C-117 Skytrain. I knew that what I was doing was one of the most dangerous things to do in the US military. My plane got even louder and started taxing down the runway while other people were directing me. I felt the rush of the plane as he started taking off.

The film Crash, written and directed by Paul Haggis, examines racial exchanges in several different ethnic groups living in Los Angeles. As the film move forward, we are able to view how each characters’ own racist experiences change their attitudes towards other races. Paul Haggis illustrates those change through the mood tone, setting, and even the music. By the end of the movie, the audience is left with a feeling of hope and an ambition to examine its own thought and actions towards others. Even though critics argue that the film Crash is stereotypically racist, the film encourages America to see past the misbelief we have of each other because empathy and self-examination is the starting place for change and the destruction of society is based on one’s choices.

Crash. One, two, no, three plates hit the floor. I could for all intents and purposes feel my spirit drain from my body as that sound rung throughout the restaurant. I paused for a moment to recollect my thoughts, looking up to see a collection of dirty plates, bowls, and pans stacked nearly a foot high on the shelf and beginning to collect around my feet as there was nowhere else to put them. With a stack of plates so tall, the grease had allowed a plate to slip and take several others with it to crash onto the stone floor. Ah yes, this was dinner hour, the busiest hour of the night, on Friday, the busiest day of the week in general, and it was my first week on the job. Straightaway came the manager, Rachel, as well as a few of my coworkers. She looked to see glass scattered

This is what you should do if you get in a car crash. First, you should stop your vehicle. “You may be penalized severely for not remaining at the scene of a crash in which you are involved.” You can get your licence taken away and fined. Second, Get medical aid. you should avoid moving anyone who appears to be seriously injured unless such action is necessary to avoid further injury” you should help everyone that looks like you can help, but if someone looks like that they need more medical help you should not move them. Third, Clear traffic. “If the crash results in property damage only and there are no injuries...” You can move the vehicles to the side of the road, or any other suitable area. Fourth, you should call the police. “If the

The film ‘Crash' directed by Paul Haggis targets a mature audience. The ‘Trust scene' is important in showing character development and displaying conflict between characters of Officer Ryan and Christine. The scene highlights the idea of redemption and character the change through Officer Ryan's character. It also helps the audience understand change in Officer Ryan's character from a racist who sexually assaults a black woman and then saving her life. This scene is successful as it develops an audience's understanding of Officer Ryan's characters and understands the key idea of redemption.

“I want to know what happened to my mother, I have a right to know” (MacDonald par. 5). This quote from a grieving daughter came about in February of 2009. As 81 year old Marie Sachse was traveling down highway 67 near St. Louis Missouri, her 2004 Saturn Ion veered off the road. Unfortunately, when the car hit a tree head on, the airbags failed to deploy essentially causing her life threatening internal injuries. Sachse was immediately taken to a nearby hospital where she passed away approximately eight hours after the crash (McDonald par. 1-4). The only explanation reporters gave was the well known flaw in various General Motor owned vehicles. Coincidentally, a recently completed list of 13 deaths, including four Saturn Ions and nine