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Compare And Contrast The Help And Remember The Titans

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“How do Boaz Yakin and Tate Taylor depict historical content to develop the theme of racism in Remember the Titans and The Help in similar and different ways?”

Introduction
Remember the Titans is a 2000 American sports film directed by Boaz Yakin, set in Alexandria, Virginia. The film is based on the true story in 1971 of African-American coach Herman Boone. Set in the time during segregation, he tries to integrate a racially divided school football team putting the fundamentals of footballs great tradition to the test. In contrast The Help is a 2011 American period drama film, directed by Tate Taylor, based on the best-selling novel of the same name, written by Kathryn Stocket. Set in Jackson, Mississippi during the civil rights …show more content…

In Remember the Titans we witness Coach Boone fighting for civil rights, signifying the image of an outsider integrating into a foreign white team as their coach. Director Boaz Yakin, uses techniques to strengthen Coach Boone’s character where the initial hate and disrespect towards him succours the development of a meaningful arc. The disrespect and aggression is employed when a brick is thrown through his house window, threatening him with the derogatory coloured comments calling him “Coach Coon”. The pressure of quitting was not felt and heroically he encompasses the journey with Yakin emphasising Boones evocative discipline and determination forcing integration amongst the segregated football team. This technique is employed when we witness Coach Boone stepping up, pushing equality for the players in a determined strike to stop racial abuse for good. His actions initiate the forced building of friendship and acceptance when he forces both races to get to know and accept each other at the camp. Yakin heightens the themes of overcoming racism when Boone rallies the troops together to support their team mate during a sad time. Instinctively, the implicit segregation is evoked further bringing unity to the team, Coach Boone emerges as a ‘hero’ to both the coloured and white community.

Similarly, The Help’s Aibileen, initially reluctant, puts her life at risk to tell her stories; as she does she builds up her courage, feeling compelled to express

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