During my first official semester at Collin College, I was assigned to watch a movie for my United States History class. I initially chose the film Lincoln. After watching the first few scenes, I became overwhelmed with emotion due to the raw brutality and bloodshed. Ultimately, I decided on another movie and did not complete the full cinema. I am grateful that I have been presented with the opportunity to engage again with the work for this Fine Arts class. The two hour and forty-minute long film, Lincoln, was directed by the renowned Steven Spielberg. Spielberg is profoundly recognized for works: E.T., Jaws, Jurassic World, etc. Two of my all-time favorite cinemas happen to be directed by Spielberg, Schindler’s List, and The BFG. Steven Spielberg uses lighting, symbolism, colors, camera angles, and other film strategies to portray President Lincoln’s term in office and his battle to ratify the Emancipation Proclamation during the 1860s.
The opening battle scene is a flashback to the unmerciful Battle of Jenkins Ferry. Shortly after the action scene subsides, two freed black soldiers approached President Lincoln, acknowledging his efforts to abolish slavery for all African Americans. Two young white males approach Lincoln, and one begins to recite the Gettysburg Address. He fails to remember the entire address front to back. Lincoln refers to the young men as boys and advises them to find their company.
Meanwhile, one of the two freed black soldiers had stayed back to complete the rest of the Gettysburg Address the white boy had forgotten. The African American man began to render the incomplete address, as he slowly wandered away to find his own company. Another film technique used by Spielberg is the soft light-hearted piano sounding in the background. This film tactic conveys a sense of appreciation the African Americans had for Lincoln.
Directly following the serene music scene, Lincoln begins to describe his recent dreams using the flash-forward film tactic once again. A visual of Lincoln’s hazy dream appears on the screen as he describes to Mary, his wife, the opportunity to abolish slavery with the newly proposed Thirteenth Amendment. Mrs. Lincoln wears a coat, and the collar is purple. Purple, in this case, indicates royalty and power. Lincoln’s nightmare consisted of him on his own aboard a vessel heading toward the shore, but he explains that everything surrounding him is dark. The dreary mood of the vision could be foreshadowing that something corrupt is coming.
Spielberg uses a medium close-up to focus on Abe’s troubled expressions after observing two pictures of three young African American boys who appeared to be slave workers. As he is holding up the two photos, there is an ominous presence, created by the flames coming from the fireplace in the background. Next to Lincoln is his youngest son sleeping on the ground beside him. After viewing the old photos of the young enslaved boys, he carries his son to his bed. Shortly following is a brief flagpole dedication followed by a short and sweet speech Lincoln delivers. To end this scene, Lincoln sits down with the Secretary of State Seward to discuss possible prospects for passage of the Thirteenth Amendment. While reviewing said prospects, Secretary of State Seward forcibly snags the teacup from the American American servant. His actions reveal racism and the overall hesitancy towards the new Amendment passage. Documents scatter the table during the deliberation. The spread represents how uncoordinated, disorderly, and complicated the war is. A meeting is hosted by Stevens, Chairman of the Ways & Means Committee. Lincoln’s intentions, during the debate, are gravely questioned.
Throughout the film, Spielberg uses clothing to represent social classes. The costume designers for the movie intentionally clothe wealthy white American men and women in purple to exemplify a dominant status and royalty along with the color white for purity. Conversely, African American slaves who are owned by the most prominent white leaders wear ratty foreboding clothing with tares to emulate a sense of strife and misery.
The next significant shift happens when Robert Lincoln returns from Harvard to visit the Lincolns in scene five. In scene six, Robert struggles to find time to devote to his father due to a conversation Lincoln is entangled in discussion with Preston Blair, who has news about peace talks. Robert quarrels with his father, Lincoln, to permit him to serve in the military in the seventh scene. During the eighth scene, The Grand Reception is held. Mary Lincoln, dressed to the nines, greets the leading Radical in a white princess ball gown.
