"gangster" is not black

Hoyt 2022-04-20 09:01:08

Having just finished watching Gangs of New York, I couldn't wait to express my opinion. I neither start with the film's story structure nor explore the historical themes of the film. I just wanted to say something that might be overlooked.

German philosopher Wyhenge once pointed out in "The Psychology of'As If" that human beings live by some false goals that do not exist in reality. We think that the universe is an orderly entity, and based on this false conception, all kinds of behaviors are carried out, in fact, the universe is disordered. We have created a false God and pretended that he was a real person. Where is there any objective God in Kesh? Although these things are empirically false, we do not doubt their authenticity, and our thoughts and actions are influenced by them.

A. Adler, the founder of "individual psychology", saw from the concept of White Hunter: what drives human beings to make various behaviors is human's expectations for the future, not its past experience. Although such goals are false, they enable human beings to behave according to their expectations. Not only is the individual often unable to understand the purpose of his goals, but sometimes he does not even know what their goals are, and therefore such goals are often subconscious. A. Adler called one of these false goals the "ideal of the self," by which the individual can gain a sense of superiority and maintain his dignity.

It seems to me that both Armstrong and Bill have a false god in their hearts, their respective fathers, and their thoughts and actions are influenced by it. Although Bill's father is not seen in the film, it is not difficult to hear "my father..." from his mouth. In comparison, Armstrong's impact is obvious. The image of their father's "God" created by them based on their past experiences is worshipped and imitated without negation. In the early stage of the film, Armstrong, who only wanted revenge, was portrayed as a "god" (that is, priest: Warren) by his friends (Munk) and enemies (Bill).

Armstrong and Bill, each inherited the will of their fathers and fought for it became their expectations. I can't say whether they really understand the meaning of these goals, but it can be said that they are inherited and imitated without discrimination. Perhaps they will stand up and retort that they know what they are striving for in terms of freedom, justice, and equality. Maybe they're talking about the American Constitution, not what their goal is. They take the expectations of others as their own ideals, and enjoy the joy of struggle and a sense of superiority. And they were proud of it, chanting that we were free, just, and equal. But in fact, they are only the spiritual slaves of others.

That's why gangsters are not black.

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Extended Reading

Gangs of New York quotes

  • Killoran: Monk's already won by three thousand more votes than there are voters.

    Boss Tweed: Only three? Make it twenty, thirty. We don't need a victory. We need a Roman triumph.

  • [speaking of Bill the Butcher]

    Jenny: When I was twelve years old, my mother was dead, and I was livin' in a doorway. He took me in. Took care of me, in his way. After they cut out the baby... well, he doesn't fancy girls that's scarred up. But you might as well know in your own mind that he never laid a hand on me until I asked him to.