Movie reflection

Original 1939 poster for Gone With the Wind

My Honest First Impression

I’ll be honest I had never seen Gone with the Wind before this, and I didn’t really know what to expect. I’d heard it was “a classic,” but usually when I hear that, I think old, slow, and overly dramatic. And yeah, that’s pretty much how I felt watching it. I can respect its place in movie history but personally it just didn’t click with me.

My First Reaction

From the opening scene, I could tell this movie was from another time not just because of the clothes and accents but the pacing. Everything moved so slowly. I found myself waiting for something exciting to happen and it just didn’t. I know it’s supposed to be an epic story of love, loss and survival but to me it felt more like a very long soap opera. I actually had to check how much time was left a few times, which probably says enough.

Two of cinema’s most iconic characters

Still, I have to admit, the set design completely impressed me. The costumes, the giant houses, the war scenes all of it looked so real and carefully done. For a movie made in 1939, the production quality blew me away. It really did feel like stepping back into the 1800s. The accuracy and attention to detail in how they portrayed that era were probably my favorite parts.

The Characters and My Lack of Connection)

I wanted to connect to the characters, but I just couldn’t. Scarlett O’Hara, played by Vivien Leigh, was frustrating. She’s selfish and dramatic almost the entire time. I know she’s supposed to be strong and independent, but I just couldn’t bring myself to like her. Rhett Butler, played by Clark Gable felt more interesting but even he came off as arrogant.

Mammy, portrayed by Hattie McDaniel, was honestly the only character who stood out to me. She had personality, humor, and common sense, unlike most of the others. Even though she didn’t have a huge role compared to Scarlett or Rhett, she felt like the only one who actually kept the story grounded. McDaniel’s performance was so powerful that she became the first African American to win an Academy Award she won Best Supporting Actress in 1940 for this role (Academy Awards Page). That moment was groundbreaking, even though she still faced discrimination; she wasn’t even allowed to sit with her white co-stars at the Oscars ceremony.

One of the film’s most famous scenes

The Good and the Bad

Even though I didn’t enjoy watching it, I can see why Gone with the Wind is so famous. The movie looks incredible, the cinematography, the grand scenes, the costumes, all of it feels like a huge accomplishment for its time. It won ten Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director (Victor Fleming), and Best Actress (Vivien Leigh) (IMDb Awards Page). For a film that’s over 80 years old, that’s impressive.

But at the same time, it’s hard to ignore how outdated it feels. The way the movie romanticizes the Old South made me uncomfortable. It completely ignores the real horrors of slavery and instead presents this picture-perfect version of history that obviously wasn’t true. It felt strange to watch a movie that treats such a dark time like a backdrop for romance.

My Final Thoughts

To be completely real I probably won’t ever watch Gone with the Wind again. It’s just too long, too slow, and too far removed from what I usually enjoy. But I can appreciate what it accomplished. For its time, it was groundbreaking. The film captures the style, fashion, and mindset of its era almost perfectly. It’s like looking at a time capsule something to study and respect, even if you don’t love it.

Watching Gone with the Wind in 2025 was like walking through a museum beautiful, detailed and fascinating but not something I’d go back to for fun. It’s a piece of film history that deserves recognition for what it achieved but for me personally, it just didn’t hold my attention. I respect it but I didn’t enjoy it.

EOTO Presentations, Pro-Slavery vs. Anti-Slavery

Abraham Lincoln presenting the Emancipation
Proclamation to his cabinet in 1862.

Reflecting on the Pro- and Anti-Slavery Debate

During class, we explored different perspectives on slavery through video presentations and research, focusing on both the pro-slavery and anti-slavery arguments that defined the Antebellum period. These discussions helped me understand how deeply divided the United States was morally, politically, and economically before the Civil War.

Portrait of John C. Calhoun,
a leading defender of slavery and
 states’ rights during the Antebellum era

John C. Calhoun and the Defense of Slavery

One of the most striking figures we studied was John C. Calhoun, a politician who became the intellectual architect of pro-slavery ideology. Calhoun wasn’t just defending slavery out of habit he built an entire political philosophy around it. He claimed slavery was a “positive good,” arguing it benefited both enslaved people and society. Through his ideas about states’ rights and the “concurrent majority,” he gave the South constitutional justifications for protecting slavery and even for secession. Learning about Calhoun helped me see how ideas and politics were used to disguise cruelty as order and morality.

The Harsh Reality of Enslaved Life

While Calhoun and other defenders spoke about “benefits,” the reality for enslaved people was nothing but suffering. They worked from sunrise to sunset under brutal conditions, living in fear of separation and punishment. Families were torn apart in slave markets, and people were treated as property bought, sold, and traded based on age and strength. Despite this, enslaved communities developed ways to resist though faith, storytelling, and music. The Liberty of congress WPA Slave Narratives document countless firsthand accounts of these hardships and acts of resilience. Learning about their endurance reminded me that history is not only about laws and leaders it’s about human strength in the face of injustice.

Depiction of the 1627 Turkish Raid on Iceland

The Turkish Raid on Iceland

Learning about slavery also made me think about an event from my own country’s history the Turkish Raid of 1627, when North African pirates from Algiers and Morocco attacked the southern coast of Iceland. They captured hundreds of Icelanders, taking them across the sea to be sold as slaves in North Africa. Families were torn apart overnight, and many never returned home. According to the National Museum of Iceland and historical records from the University of Iceland, these events are remembered as Tyrkjaránið, or “The Turkish Abductions.” It’s strange to imagine that even in a small, isolated country like Iceland, people once experienced the same kind of fear and loss that enslaved Africans did. This connection reminded me that slavery isn’t just an American tragedy it’s a global one that has touched nearly every part of the world.

Frederick Douglass, a formerly enslaved man

Voices of Resistance and Reform

On the other side of the debate, abolitionists like William Lloyd Garrison, Fredrick Douglass and David Walker fought fiercely to expose slavery’s moral corruption. Walker’s Appeal to the Coloured Citizens of the World called for direct resistance, even violence if necessary, which terrified Southern states. Meanwhile, Garrison’s newspaper, The Liberator, demanded immediate emancipation and equality. Their courage showed me that moral change often begins with individuals willing to risk everything for justice.

Final Reflection

What stood out most to me through all this is how complex the debate over slavery really was. Political figures like Calhoun defended it as law and tradition, while abolitionists risked their lives to fight for freedom. Between these extremes were millions of enslaved people whose daily suffering fueled both sides’ arguments. Studying these perspectives and remembering stories like the Turkish raid in Iceland made me realize how fragile justice can be when law and morality collide, and how vital it is to remember the human cost of oppression everywhere.

AI vidio reflection

Reflecting on the History of Slavery

Depiction of the Atlantic Slave Trade

During class, we watched video presentations made by classmates about slavery in both the United States and the United Kingdom. These presentations helped me better understand not only the cruelty of slavery but also the strength and resilience of those who endured it.

John Calhoun and Pro-Slavery Beliefs

One video focused on John Calhoun, a man known for his strong pro-slavery beliefs. Hearing his statement that “slavery was a positive good” was shocking. While people in his time may not have called it good, they accepted it as a necessary part of life, showing how normalised injustice was in that era.

Slave Markets and Broken Families

Enslaved families being separated and sold
during the Antebellum slave trade

Another presentation explored the lives of enslaved families during the Antebellum period. Slave markets operated like livestock auctions, where people were inspected, priced, and sold. Cities like New Orleans, Richmond, and Charleston became centers of this brutal trade. Families were often separated parents from children, siblings from each other because buyers only purchased what they could afford. This part of history really struck me because it showed how people were treated purely as property, with no regard for love or family bonds.

Resistance and Escape

The videos also described the courage of those who tried to escape slavery. Runaways risked everything, facing harsh weather, starvation, and bounty hunters paid to track them down. Many used the stars to guide their way and relied on people who were brave enough to help them. Their determination represented more than just escape it was a fight for dignity and freedom.

The Abolition Movement in Britain

We also learned about the abolition movement in Britain. The James Somerset case in 1772 declared that slavery had no legal standing in England, inspiring hope for change. William Wilberforce later fought to end the slave trade, leading to major reforms like the Slave Trade Act of 1807 and the Slavery Abolition Act of 1833.

Final Thoughts

Overall, these presentations made me realize how deeply slavery shaped history and why remembering it matters. Learning about this past is not just about facts it’s about recognising the suffering, bravery, and humanity of those who lived through it.

AI Disclosure: I took notes on the videos and threw my notes into AI to organize them. I then wrote the rest adding new ideas, thoughts, images, and captions.