Crash and the self-indulgence of white America

Robert Jensen, a journalism professor at the University of Texas, and Robert Wosnitzer, an associate producer of the documentary, The Price of Pleasure, wrote an article on the movie, Crash, which ideologically analyzes the film. The article is called, Crash and the self-indulgence of white America, and is found on the NTHPOSITION website, which includes various articles, poetry, etc. regarding politics in the United States. This article focuses on the main messages that are communicated to the audience in Crash. The writers of this article explain that Crash communicates the idea that every ethnic group in America is prejudiced through the various events that take place in the lives of the difference characters in the film; however, the writers argue that this film, "...is, in fact, a setback in the crucial project of forcing white America to come to terms with the reality of race and racism..." They explain that the main message of this film is white supremacist because it takes us away from the reality of white supremacy in America. According to Jensen and Wosnitzer, the director of Crash either intentionally or unintentionally focuses the audiences attention away from the idea of white dominance in America. Rather than blaming the white folk for the racist system that has always existed in this country, this film directs us to the idea that all ethnic backgrounds are responsible for the racial prejudices that take place. The writers mention that the racist system that exists in our country was created by white people to protect their power. By acting in a racist manner towards other groups, they are able to maintain their dominance and their power continues to grow. Jensen and Wosnitzer explain that white people leave this movie feeling better about themselves because the message communicated to the audience is the exact opposite of the truth. While everyone may expect to see a movie confronting the truth about a white-dominant society, they watch a film that shows how everyone is responsible for the racist system in America. Jensen and Woznitzer explain that if the director of this film was not going to communicate the truth that exists in our society, he should not have made the film at all.