Dramatizing Solomon Northup’s narrative through the 12 years slave movie (2013)‎

Abstract EN

Calling upon the content analysis method, this paper argues that the 12 Years Slave Movie (2013) which is based on the Twelve Years Slave: Narrative of Solomon Northup (1853) has been dramatized through the focus on violence.

After a close examination, the severity and amount of violence that the movie exhibits were pointed up.

It has been revealed, thus, that the British filmmaker Steve McQueen dramatized Northup's Narrative visually through an intensive projection of emotional and physical violence by inflicting them upon the characters of Solomon and Patsey.

By doing so, he triggers the audience to not only sympathize with the slaves but also to empathize with them.