Salt of the Earth

First of all, may I present this awesome and fantastically literal picture that I found via Google Images? Salt of the earth...get it?

Anyway.

Salt of the Earth is a fictional film based on the true story of a zinc miner strike in New Mexico. The miners are fighting for better working conditions and racial equality, and when their wives join in the strike they add better living conditions to their list of demands. Ultimately the film becomes a story of the struggle for gender equality as well; the women want to join the in strike, but the men are adamant that the wives stay out of it. According to Rob Waring’s article, the conflict is able to come to a satisfactory conclusion when the two groups fighting for social justice decide to work together instead of competing.

The articles talk about the difficulties that occurred in the making of this film, including threats of violence, the deportation of the main actress, and the fact that several of the filmmakers had been blacklisted by the industry; in fact, Herbert Biberman was one of the infamous “Hollywood Ten” and spent six months in prison prior to making this film. The film was edited in secret in various “safe houses” because a) people in the business were instructed to have nothing to do with the film, and b) the filmmakers were afraid that someone would try and destroy their footage. The entire filmmaking process was basically every filmmaker’s worst nightmares all rolled into one horrific experience; in addition to the previously mentioned difficulties, only a handful of theaters in the country would show the film, and from the time they made the film in 1954 to the time Aljean Harmetz wrote his article for The New York Times in 1986 the filmmakers only made back $100,000 of the $250,000 they spent on production.

One aspect of the reading that caught my attention was when Harmetz stated that the fact that the film was blacklisted was what turned it into a cult film and ultimately caused the increase in popularity in the 60s, 70s, and 80s. This struck me as funny because a few days ago I saw the movie Howl directed by Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman and starring James Franco, and I noticed huge similarities in the two situations. Howl is about the famous poem of the same name written by Allen Ginsberg. When the poem was published, it was viewed as obscene, and the publisher was brought to trial for publishing it. The trial was basically to determine whether or not the poem had literary value. Ironically, it was the trial that caused the poem’s popularity; people would have probably read it anyway, but the publicity caused by the trial brought the poem into the spotlight and made it available to more readers. The same sort of thing happened with Salt of the Earth; the blacklist label was what made it popular. This sort of occurrence seems to be a pattern among the arts; persecution of a work of art usually tends to be the key to its success.

Shaking Up Salt

       The articles discussed the effect of this film on American society surrounding the whole production of Salt of the Earth from pre to post. It was considered communist propaganda before it got a chance to show in American theaters in 1954. This was a tumultuous time for the country with McCarthyism breathing down everyone’s back, it even seeped into the most influential industry of film. This caused filmmakers to point fingers at their colleagues that had nothing to do with communism but also could be charged with being one themselves. This had an effect on filmmaking and many films being censored or blacklisted because assumptions of communist propaganda. 

     

     It is interesting because even after Herbert Biberman was in jail for six months and blacklisted in Hollywood, he continued to make a film that brought no profit for himself or the other filmmakers that joined him. This project was obviously meaningful for him and his whole crew for the struggles they endured to get the film processed even getting the film shown in theaters. The film addresses issues that were based on events that had happened in New Mexico from 1950 - 1952. It addresses social and political issues in a mining town that a company Empire Zinc Company pressed inequality to the Mexican American and Anglo workers and their wives and the problems that arrived during the fifteen month strike. 

      This film deals with issues of inequality with the men that work in mining and the women that also want to stand up and strike against the injustices that the company have brought against their family in their living conditions. This appears to be the core of the American Dream to be able to voice your opinions and stand up for what you believe is right and just. It seems odd that this film was blacklisted as communist propaganda before it even was seen by the American people based solely on the credentials as branded by the U.S. House Committee on Un-American Activities of the writer Michael Wilson, the director Herbert Biberman, and the producer Paul Jarrico. In addition brings up issues of feminism and the wives taking up a substantial role in the strike aiding to the eventual end of the strike and the company giving in to the demands of the workers. This is impressive because this film as well deals with racial inequality of the Mexican American workers. 

      The film used mostly non-professional actors and additionally people that were involved in the actual strike in New Mexico. This made me think of it as a neo-realism film because of certain groups preserving this film as a part of history.  It reminded me of the Italian film The Bicycle Thieves  by Vitto similarly in having non-professional actors star in the film that brings a sense of realism to the story.

        Certain questions that were raised in my mind were that this film tackles many issues dealing with inequality in workers, women and race that were shocking at the time of the release that was not embraced by our own culture but by European culture. It is also interesting how the Czechoslovakia government used this film as propaganda then suddenly striped it away from the public. It brought a light of American life that Europeans did not see much of in the Hollywood films that were released in that era. I am interested to see on how this film tackles all these issues of inequality.


       One word that I stumbled upon in the references which I have mostly likely have seen before in one of my high school english classes seemed revelvant to the piece as a whole which was diachrony. The dictionary definition of diachrony is concerned with the way in which something, esp. language, has developed and evolved through time.  Which makes sense for this film because over time the value of this film was recognized the American people as a cult film that started almost a decade after it was made. This film was casted as communist propaganda and over time that judgement was made false.  

Angelina Jolie couldn't handle this "Salt"

First off, here's a picture of my cat helping me take notes on the reading.

Reading the articles about Salt of the Earth makes me really eager to see it. I want to see what the controversy surrounding the film was really about. Much of the objection to the film had to do with the history of many of the members of the film's cast and crew. At the height of McCarthyism, much of the crew had been blacklisted by the studios. The US House Committee on Un-American Activities had already subpoenaed director Herbert J. Biberman and sentenced him to 6 months in jail. I was surprised to learn that all this happened before the film was made. Pauline Kael of Sight and Sound called Salt of the Earth an obvious Communist propaganda film. I really wonder what the film's reception would have been like if the blacklisting had not happened. Would the government, the reviewers, and potential film goers have objected to the film if they didn't already think of much of the crew as Communists? Considering the time period, I wouldn't be too surprised if they would have, but I look forward to seeing the film and getting a better perspective. After all, the film had to be edited secretly, so people were obviously objecting to it before the film was even finished! Most people probably didn't see it anyway because it was only shown in twelve theaters across the country! I really admire the filmmakers for going forth with a project they believed in despite the wide hatred they faced. I am not surprised that the film has gained popularity in more recent decades. After all, the best way to bring attention to a film seems to be to reject it. As I said before, I look forward to seeing this film so I can get a better perspective on the drama surrounding it.

Salt of the Earth response

These articles address a chaotic and confusing time in cinematic as well as American history. The film Salt of the Earth, directly address issues that were affecting a wide variety of American citizens during the mid 1950s. These issues include equality for people of all race and gender, and how society reacts to a strike dealing with these issues. In America at this time, McCarthyism was at its peak, and everyone was afraid of being accused of being a communist while still fighting for equal rights. The film was sponsored by the International Union of Mine, Mill and Smelter Workers, which had already been accused of having Communist dominated leadership. Along with that, several of the producers were also accused of being severely left wing and some had already been "blacklisted." In the film, men (specifically Mexican American men) fight for equal rights from their employer, and they also resist the desire of their wives to fight for these rights and picket along side them. The film was shown in very few places at the time of its production, but it was shown in Prague as propaganda to show how bad America was. This backfired on the Czech government, because it really just showed the people that even the poorest of Americans had more than they did, and they were even allowed to strike! Once the film was released and started to sell copies, it became more popular than it might have originally because it was banned, and people always want to know what the big deal is. It is now considered "culturally relevant" and is preserved at the MOMA.
There were several things about the film, and the way that the American government reacted to it that seemed really strange to me. First of all, I thought it was ridiculous that in the film, the main character is fighting on a picket line for his own rights as a Mexican American man for equality, but he himself fears his wife getting involved because of her gender. It just seems so backwards to me that he would fight so vigorously for his own rights, while in a sense oppressing his own wife in the same fashion as his employer was doing to him. It's actually really frustrating! Also, the whole idea of McCarthyism in American society is really fascinating to me because it makes such little sense. People weren't striking because they wanted everyone to be paid the same all over the world; they were simply fighting for the opportunity to be paid the same as someone of a different race who was doing the same exact job as them. Also, it seems to me that if the government didn't want people to react to the film at all, they should have just ignored it completely! Banning it for being a communist film only makes it intriguing to people, because they want to see what makes it so bad. I also think that it really sucks that all of the amateur actors and the director and producers etc got such a raw deal on the whole thing. The film was banned by the government right after they made it, so they didn't get any recognition or money from it, and now it is recognized as a film of cultural significance and people watch it all over for different reasons. I just think it's really unfair!

A Film Worth a Lot More than a Grain of Salt.

Made by several blacklisted filmmakers, including Michael Wilson (writer), Herbert J. Biberman (director), and Paul Jarrico (Producer), Salt of the Earth is a movie about the struggles and subsequent strike of Miners in a fictional village in New Mexico: Zinc Town. Within this, however, is a fight for Women's Equality. As the Mexican descended cast stands for their rights as men held equal under the law, they try to keep the women out of it. There is violence. That violence begets more violence, but everything eventually comes to a satisfying end.

Even so, the film was given a harsh welcome, marked negatively even before developing. Just having the blacklisted makers left the film at a disadvantage as the commands were given to stop it's showing. At least in the US. In foreign countries, the movie gained quite a bit of praise. It came back up in th 60s, the banned nature of the film giving it bigger sales here. Stores could sell it as a cult film, and, yes, there were certain people who used it as such, especially in feminist circles.

It has been argued that it was a communist film, but also that it was merely a strong feminist film. It's even been described as "simply a strong pro-labor film with a particularly sympathetic interest in the Mexican-Americans with whom it deals". Many people sought to stop the filming. There were shots fired, actors deported, and attempted sabotage. Speaking of Actors, there weren't many in the film. Most were locals, or members of the International Union of Mine, Mill and Smelter Workers (The local chapter, of course). Even so, the film seemed to have done relatively well, despite the hardships.

What really surprised me was it's popularity in other countries. It just goes to show that sometimes we react strangely as a whole. Why would the other countries watch it with such fascination? France is a given for obvious reasons, but it wasn't just them. All of Europe and parts of Asia watched it! Czechoslovakia even tried to use it as propaganda... It failed, but that's because they tried to use it to help them pass of a sack of lies. As said by Bernard Levin, writer for The Times in London, "oppressive rulers may tell their subjects lies on almost anything and have at any rate some chance of being believed, except when the lies concern their people's own lives". With the world they were living in, there was no way they could hide the positives that even the poorer Americans have in comparison (e.g. their own cars. Just saying.)

I watched a similar movie once, Matewan. It was good, and I was really drawn to their suffering. I had a period of "down with the man" -ism. Honestly. My teacher definitely regretted that choice. Well...at least, one of them did. The other laughed.

Without watching the film, I can't analyze or offer up many questions, but I do have one.

"What finally broke down the walls between the men accepting their wives equality? How was it presented?" I'll find out more about that upon watching it, obviously, but it was a question I had. One of the articles said something about the men staying home while the women kept up the strike, but that still didn't explain it entirely for me.

I believe that some clarification is in order here, actually. Cooperation is a word that most of us have a grasp on, including myself, but I feel it worth the effort to actually look at what it means, it's dictionary definition. It's always worth looking back on words you know to make sure your understanding isn't skewed. Therefore....

Cooperation: - the action of cooperating

- common effort

- association of persons for common benefit

Cooperate: - to act or work with another or others

- to act together or in compliance

- to associate with another or others for mutual benefit

So. To Cooperate, or, to act together in a common effort. Yeah, my definition was definitely a little skewed. Too many experiences getting in the way. Glad I've cleared that up. Cooperation was more like compromise in my mind.

I really would like to watch this movie, even though I already know the relative ending from the reading. I think it will be extremely enjoyable, as well as bringing up further questions and insights into the way that Films effect the world at large. Specifically by how hard the government fought to hide it. In any case, I must leave you with this thought.

How did they develop all of this in a shack? O.O

Welcome to Cinema and Social Change!

(image from newsreel.org)

Hello dear students,
Welcome (again!) to our class together. I was very happy to see all those familiar faces as well as some bright new ones. I am sorry that technical problems made the class run less than smoothly, but for the most part, I think we had a great first day.

I am writing to recap and to make sure we are all on the same page.
(BTW - this info should be in your email as well).

1. The syllabus was discussed in class. If you have anything to add/change, please email me ASAP. We will "ratify" the syllabus in next Wednesday's class.

2. Reading packets are on Kathy's desk in the Film Dept office. There are THREE stapled reading packets corresponding to the films and topics we'll be discussing in the coming weeks. Please pick them up and be sure to read the first one ("Salt of the Earth") in time to post.

3. Yes, your first post is due this Saturday by 5pm. This post will be different from the ones you will do during the rest of the semester because it will focus exclusively on the reading (since you have not seen the film yet). So, take this as an opportunity to learn how to summarize and evaluate articles, because the next posts will ask you to analyze articles and films in your writing. Also, take this as a time to familiarize yourself with the blog (try adding images, video, as well as creating/updating your profile).

4. If you would like to finish viewing the video we watched today - "Untitled Fall '95" by Alex Bag - it is available at our library! I think it is really worth seeing to the end. Again, my apologies that we had technical problems that delayed us!

5. Be aware that some big projects for the class are coming up fast. Since it is the beginning of the semester and you might not have as many pressures from other classes, please use this time to get yourself ready to tackle those projects.

Please let me know if you have any questions, suggestions, or concerns.
I am excited to share this semester with you, to learn and grow together, and to challenge ourselves to be braver, more informed, and more creative women.
Thank you for your attention, input, and patience!
- Polina

Lamps made from slides and film

I was just perusing the internet and found this awesome artist, Michael Marcovi makes these great lamps from photo slides. I want to make one now!

Here's a link to his site and some other work he does.