Property 2003 is in my view the best treatment of the subject in either film or print. In this chapter poole also traces the struggle to bring nat turners story to film, starting with a failed attempt in 19671968 to adapt styrons controversial novel into a blockbuster movie, continuing with charles burnetts documentary nat turner, a troublesome property 2003, and ending with nate parkers film birth of a nation 2016. In 1831, nat turner led a slave rebellion in the united states that resulted in the murder of local slave owners and their families, the eventual execution of 55 rebels and the retribution lynching of more than 200 innocent slaves. This film revisits the violent confrontation and interrogates the ways the story has been retold since 1831. A troublesome property, 2003 in 2003, filmmaker frank christopher collaborated with director charles burnett and historian kenneth greenberg to create this documentary on how nat turner has been viewed by americans, white and black, since the revolt. List of books and articles about nat turner online research. Greenberg, cleverly looks at nat turner by thoroughly examining the various images that have been created about him.
A troublesome property 2003 filmmaker charles burnett examines the life. A troublesome property 2003 this documentary combines historical documents, interviews and recreated scenes to dramatize the stillcontroversial 1831 nat turner slave rebellion. Carl lumbly, justin dray, megan gallagher, charles burnett, ossie davis, frank faucette, henry louis. Featured interviews eric foner, historian mary kemp davis, professor of english literature peter wood, historian. Nov 16, 2015 nat turners slave rebellion is a watershed event in americas long, troubled history of slavery and racial conflict. A troublesome property 2003, see the varied sources on the revolt.
The film juxtaposes all kinds of representations of nat turner from different genresfrom stage and film to the written word and transcriptions of interviews with former slaves by wpa workers in the great depression. National endowment for the humanities 400 7th street, sw washington, dc 20506. A troublesome property examines how the story of turner. Eleven essays by scholars and interviews with william styron and dr. A troublesome property 2003, a documentary film narrated by alfre woodard and directed by charles burnett is as relevant today, as the day it was debuted at the pan african film festival. Turner has remained an enigma for historians, novelists, dramatists, artists and many others who have struggled to understand him. Nat turner s slave rebellion is a watershed event in americas long and troubled history of slavery and racial conflict. A troublesome property 2003 filmmaker charles burnett examines the life of nat turner, a slave who led a revolt in virginia in 1831. Turner, nat, 18001831, american slave, leader of the southampton insurrection 1831, b. Nat turners slave rebellion is a watershed event in americas long and troubled history of slavery and racial conflict. A troublesome property, directed by charles burnett, and released in 2003, which played the festival circuit, and. Besides the disparate nature of the writing, the volume.
With herbert aptheker, charles burnett, resharma coleman, ossie davis. The film is innovative in its scope as it relies on historical footage while also presenting three different actors playing nat turner. The revolt, a 20 historical drama film about escaped slave tula and the curacao slave revolt of 1795. Nat turners slave rebellion in virginia in 1831 is a watershed event in americas history of racial. An independent film debuting on pbs examines the confessions of nat turner, william. A troublesome property examines how the story of turner s revolt has been interpreted throughout history and how it continues to raise new questions. The confessions of nat turner bedford series in history and. In films about workingclass africanamericans that denounce cultural stereotypes and. The film deftly weaves documentary with dramatizations of the different versions of the.
The capture is also discussed in a wellknown vintage book by thomas r. Birth of a nation journal of american history oxford academic. A troublesome property, written and produced by charles burnett, frank christopher and kenneth s. Stowes gentle abolitionist wears an elegant turban.
Maybe the most notable is the hourlong documentary, nat turner. Part one, the search for nat turner, begins the volume with two essays that focus on a set of issues that are fundamental to any. The writing includes several essays and articles, a section from a 1937 m. Each representation is destined to ruffle someone or other. See how the story of nat turner and his slave rebellion has been continuously retold and reinterpreted from the 1831 the confessions of nat turner and william styrons 1967 novel of the same. A troublesome property, features dramatizations by five different actors playing turner each one depicting a. The present volume gathers the best recent scholarship on nat turner, a few classic works in the field, and transcripts of two interviews conducted for the documentary film nat turner. A troublesome property is a 2003 documentary film about nat turner cowritten and directed by charles burnett cast. Avy scott has another round of fun with nat turner. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Beginning with grays 1831 the confessions of nat turner and concluding with william styrons 1967 novel of the same title, the film demonstrates that the search for the. Nat turners slave rebellion in virginia in 1831 is a watershed event in americas history of. In this chapter poole also traces the struggle to bring nat turner s story to film, starting with a failed attempt in 19671968 to adapt styrons controversial novel into a blockbuster movie, continuing with charles burnetts documentary nat turner, a troublesome property 2003, and ending with nate parkers film birth of a nation 2016.
Turner, nat article about turner, nat by the free dictionary. You can read the transcript of the documentary online. As the sounds of the hunters seem to come closer, we see quick images of the white militia 10 in number, searching the tangled terrain with their dogs for the slave rebels or any black person. Nov 01, 2011 this film tells the story of nat turners 1831 virginia slave revolt.
A troublesome property 2003 is available on netflix united states. It also delves into the rise of this legendary story, and ways it has been retold. The novel was an instant bestseller and won the pulitzer prize. A troublesome property, the part of benjamin phipps is played by harry kollatz, jr. Nat turner a troublesome property best custom writings. Over the decades, nat turners slave rebellion has been represented in multiple and often conflicting ways. A troublesome property division of public programs. Charles burnetts insightful, if somewhat foreshortened docu on slaverevolt leader nat turner underlines the subtitle. Deeply religious from childhood, turner was a natural preacher and possessed some influence among local slaves. Historians eugene genovese and herbert aptheker discuss how the figure.
Filmmaker charles burnett examines the life of nat turner, a slave who led a revolt in virginia in 1831. Nat turners slave rebellion happened today past and. The world of nat turner scholarship is messy and confusing p. Home watch video tv schedule our films indie lens popup blog about newsletter contact credits independent lens. A troublesome property is distributed on video by california newsreel.
It is a film about a critical moment in american history. A troublesome property examines how the story of turner and his revolt have been continuously retold since 1831. The rebellion was put down within a few days, but turner survived in hiding for more than two months afterwards. The annihilation of fish is a 1999 american romance film directed by charles burnett and starring lynn redgrave, james earl jones and margot kidder. The film adopts an innovative structure by interspersing documentary footage and interviews with dramatizations of these different versions of turners story. In 1831, nat turner led a slave rebellion in southampton county, va. A troublesome property is a production of subpix l. Examines the various perceptions of nat turner over 200 years. Interchange the troublesome films of charles burnett wfhb. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the confessions of nat turner bedford series in history and culture. Or the artist could, as charles burnett did in his documentary nat turner.
Gerald peary essays nat turner, a troublesome property. A troublesome property tells the story of that violent confrontation and of the ways that story has been continuously retold during the years since 1831. For years, historians have grappled with the details of the affair and debated about the ways nat turner should be remembered. Jan 15, 2018 buy the bookdvd in 1831, nat turner led a slave rebellion in virginia that resulted in the murder of local slave owners and their familiesas. Nat turner was a troublesome property for his master and he has remained a troublesome property for the historians, novelists, dramatists, artists and many others who have struggled to understand this enigmatic figure.
This documentary combines historical documents, interviews and recreated scenes to dramatize the stillcontroversial 1831 nat turner slave rebellion. Gray, was read to him in our presence, and that nat acknowledged the same to be. Historians eugene genovese and herbert aptheker discuss how the. A troublesome property, for viewing in the classroom. The final section of the film deals with later interpretations of turner. Greenberg writes in the introduction to this anthology he has. A troublesome property 2003 12 out of 4 charles burnett directs this fascinating documentary that discusses the controversial figure nat turner.
A troublesome property examines how the story of turners revolt has been interpreted throughout history and how it continues to raise new questions. Grays 1831 the confessions of nat turner, william styrons 1966 novel of the same name, and additional source material by harriet beecher stowe, william wells brown, and randolph edmonds. The film was sponsored by the film arts foundation, san francisco and produced in association with kqed public television. A troublesome property, harvard professor henry louis gates jr. Nat turner billy dye nat turner stowe patrick waller jesse frank faucette joseph travis patrick cribben sally travis kimberly grey benjamin turner frank taylor reverend ballard stan kelly young. Nat turners slave rebellion happened today past and future. The documentary was first shown as a work in progress at the full frame documentary film festival in 2002 and was subsequently edited to be 26 minutes shorter. Jimmy dared write from a white point of view, and i thought that was admirable. A troublesome property is a 2003 documentary film about.
Nat turner, 18001831, american slave, leader of the southampton insurrection 1831, b. A troublesome property is a 2003 documentary film about nat turner cowritten and directed by charles burnett. The confessions of nat turner bedford series in history and culture kindle edition by greenberg, kenneth. Over the decades, nat turner s slave rebellion has been represented in multiple and often conflicting ways. Charles burnett by james naremore paperback university. Apr 20, 2017 maybe the most notable is the hourlong documentary, nat turner. A troublesome property for more nate parker rape allegation coverage we recommend.
Grays 1831 the confessions of nat turner, william styrons 1966 novel of the same name. It is a film about a critical moment in american history and of the multiple ways that moment has since been remembered. Montage of images from the 1950s, including a scene from father knows best. A troublesome property, a 2003 documentary film by charles burnett quilombo, a 1984 brazilian drama film about palmares, a fugitive community of escaped slaves tula. Deeply religious from childhood, turner was a natural preacher and. Nat turner returned to the center of the national stage with the publication in 1967 of william styrons the confessions of nat turner. List of books and articles about nat turner online.
Nat turner s slave rebellion in virginia in 1831 is a watershed event in americas history of racial conflict, and a foreshadow of things to come in the outbreak of the civil war. This groundbreaking documentary tells the story of that violent confrontation and its impact on the still relatively new nation. Rebel slaves killed from 55 to 65 people, at least 51 being white. Greenberg and academy awardnominated documentary producer frank christopher. In 1831 turner led a slave revolt as the men killed their slave owners as well as their wives and children. A troublesome property, directed by charles burnett, and released in 2003, which played the festival circuit, and eventually aired on pbs about a year later. Nat turner s rebellion also known as the southampton insurrection was a slave rebellion that took place in southampton county, virginia, in august 1831, led by nat turner.