of some unchanging law of the jungle.' Socialist Challenge on 1 February.
Four readers have written disagreements with the review. 'THERE is no class struggle, just one between victims That was one of the criticisms of Blue Collar made by Paul Tickell in his review of the film published in in to express strong when you survey the consciousalist solutions and the division of workers which is a central theme in the film is underscored by the phrase lifers against the new boys, the young against the old, the black against the white'. This link invites the real resolution of the situation in the possibility of workers coming together.
Thus the film is only pessimistic from an perspective. should think Gramsci's famous be- "Pessimism optimism of the will.
Most importantly, I find it deeply significant out: chooses to express his criticism of the film's supposed lack of class struggle by reference to the racist metaphor 'law of the jungle'. That the film addresses itself to such crucial questions about the ability of black and white workers to act together as the relation of the super-exploited underclass to the white proletariat, the between capitalism and racism, and the sectional interests in the workplace has CONDICLCY.
I feel this spotlights the theoretical inadequacies of white left as a whole, as well as individualist Paul Tickell bit about phrase intellect, that he what's coming. entertainingly situation.
himself when he writes:
connections film eluded him with the system and powerful individual." the suggests that action can be of use.
devoid of personality.
by other Ine mar sound-over white, them and us.
Smoke, Gerry and Zeke the morning after an all-night coke party in dly & Trades Club, NorthumberNOTTNGHAM Socialist mushroom books. Heatncote SOUTH WEST ISLE OF 44 Union St, Ryde.
College: Satursales every SWINDON supporters ser Challeng recent subruner centr the South-West, Bristol 6.
Utd are playing at home!
SOUTHEAST the Challenge I MUST take issue with Paul Tickell's review of Blue Collar.
It is unforgivable for a film reViewer to summarise the plot to the end and reveal the fate of racial, each of the main protagonists.
This is especially so with a film like Blue Collar which works excellently just on the level of a themselves. thriller — if you don't know Although I agree that the film doesn't offer any solutions to the situation it depicts, it doesn't claim to be putting forward a political programme!
What it does do is keenly and the work-force by playing off black against white and so on, so that it can continue to rule.
Tickell has also ignored a valuable aspect of the film; the way it shows, mainly through Zeke, the structural racism that black workers in the United States experience at work and in life generally. The final confrontation is most importantly and not because the individuals are racist.
I hope your readers will go and see the film and judge for unions - Gerry is an active militant, regularly attending union meetings, and was a mainstay of the pickets in the last strike.
Although Smoke is the most individualistic, in some ways he is ine most perceptive His comment that the bosses divide black and white, young and old, and that therefore unity is vital, is admirably demonstrated in a non-fatalistic way.
Although Zeke and Gerry are friends, they are divided because of their colour, which helps Zeke's compromise in accepting a job from the union. Unlike Gerry he can't ever have
----- pull-quotes -----
Centre ham 1021 43 920g Thursdays at the
Yon detaiis.
Commercial Road Precinci ding the 3am state at vee