Rebirth Rebirth

 DJ Spooky-The Subliminal Kid (Paul Miller’s) “Rebirth of a Nation” is a commentary of DW Griffith’s “Birth of a Nation”. “Birth of a Nation” is an extremely famous film mostly because of how much progress it made for the film industry, although it is exceedingly racist. In fact the original name for the film was going to be “The Clansmen”. “Rebirth of a Nation” was inspired by Miller’s own experiences as a Southerner where he intimately witnessed the harsh racial climate of the American South. 

Miller's film is a clever remix that reimagines the original film with the addition of a few key elements like hip-hop and jazz. He also includes a lot of vocal commentary throughout the film which really changes the experience of the viewer. 

One of the key themes of Rebirth of a Nation is the power of the media to shape and reflect social attitudes and beliefs. Miller argues that Griffiths film, despite its overt racism and glorification of the Ku Klux Klan, was a seminal work in the development of film as an art form and that its influence can still be seen in cinema today. By deconstructing and remixing the film Miller challenges “Birth of a Nation's” Legacy and offers a new look on the racial dynamics and legacies of the film. 

What I thought was so interesting about Miller’s work was how ambitious it is. “Birth of a Nation” is one of the art world's most notorious anti Black successes. It is quite a disturbing move and I think it was awfully ambitious to take it on in a productive way.