The discourse communities of science and law fell under Swales’ criteria as they had members with set goals and ways they spoke to each other within their own discourses. The members had their own prejudices and convictions that bled over into their professions/discourses. These communities of law and science have enormous impacts on society. The fact that at that time, they were wielded by people who wanted to oppress other races than their own led to ideas such as segregation, Jim Crow laws, and even increased KKK members. These events dominated social life at that time and reverberations are still very much felt today. It’s one thing to have dangerous and racist convictions among a non-important discourse community like a sewing club, but in law and science…that’s extremely toxic to many people.
Griffith uses Iris and blue filter to portray the dreariness of the situation in the south. The viewer is supposed to sympathize with the woman and her family for the horrors they endured by the Union soldiers.
Lydia is portrayed as sexually predatory, and possibly insane. She rips her clothes off, licks her fingers, and spits at the man who left the house. She realizes she can seduce/corrupt the congressman and he succumbs to Lydia because he is weak. Griffith wants his viewers to believe that all bi-racial people are wicked and whites who don’t believe his views are themselves weak.
Griffith shows the ascension of Silas Lynch by the Congressman due to the meddlings of Lydia. Griffith tries to show that race amalgamation is a blight that will destroy the south. I feel like Griffith did this particular scene through typage and costume. Silas, the Congressman, and Lydia all have aspects of their characters that are foreboding.
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