HIGHER LEARNING
US, 1995, 127 minutes, Colour.
Omar Epps, Kristy Swanson, Michael Rappaport, Jennifer Connolly, Ice Cube, Jason Wiles, Tyra Banks, Cole Hauser, Laurence Fishburne, Regina King, Busta Rhymes, Randall Battinkoff, Morris Chestnut.
Directed by John Singleton.
John Singleton made a big impression with his first feature film, The Boys in the Hood in the early 1990s. He maintained a high profile with two other films, Higher Learning and Poetic Justice. his later films were more thrillers including a remake of Shaft as well as Four Brothers.
This is a film about American college campuses in the mid 1990s. It focuses on three characters coming for their Higher Learning to a Californian college. One is a very WASP-type American girl, led by Kristy Swenson. Another is an African- American athlete on a scholarship, played by Omar Epps. The third is a young man from Idaho, impressionable, who comes under the influence of a white supremacist group on campus. Is played by Michael Rappaport.
The film intercuts the three stories and introduces a number of other characters who have influence on the protagonists, including Jennifer Connolly as a feminist, Ice Cube as a rather sardonic intellectual and revolutionary student. There is also a professor, played rather sardonically by Laurence Fishburne.
The film reflects races at the time, moves for understanding between the races, and the malevolent effect of the white supremacists.
1. The title? American students in College? The US, 1990s? Ironies? The truth?
2. Columbus College, the irony of the statue of Columbus, his reputation, for the Indian population? African- Americans? The college locations, the campus, the green, apartments, sharing, the lecture room, bars, parties? Songs and musical score?
3. John Singleton and his African- American perspective? His career and films?
4. The cast, at this stage of their careers, their futures?
5. The 1990s, American colleges and African- Americans before the 1990s, after? In retrospect?
6. The focus on the three main students, their arrival, enrolling, dormitories and apartments, their experiences at College and the intercutting of the three stories? The connections?
7. Malik and his story, Omar Epps? Sports student, issues of scholarships, his cocky attitude, yet not wanting to fight, his being sacked by the sport’s coach, reading for the Professor, the discovery of his debt? Going to the accounts section, the plea, going back to the coach, the deal? His work and exercise? Sharing apartments? Wayne and his grubbiness? His talking to the Professor? The challenge to work harder at sport and study? Reading books? Fudge’s urging Malik to read for himself? African- American issues? The parties, socials, the girl at athletics, his liking her, romance? The influence of Fudge? The clashes with Remi, abuse, racist? The shootings, his girlfriend and her death, his tenderness and grief, going to the tower, confronting Remi, the police holding him back, watching, the interrogation, seeing Remi kill himself?
8. Remy’s story: from Idaho, from Boise, gawky, wanting to get out of Idaho, sharing his room, his complaint about the loud music and wanting to study? Going out, the loner, his attitudes towards the young man after the rape? His being targeted by the racist group? Talking with him, shaving his head, joining them, interaction with the other members, the meetings, his study, repeating the slogans, getting the gun, his explanations of himself, as white supremacist? The attack, the clash with Malik, his rage, his speeches, going to the tower, taking aim, shooting the students, the confrontation on the steps, fighting Malik, the police, killing himself?
9. African- American issues? The character of Fudge, his influence, intelligence, clash with the police, the treatment of black groups compared with white groups, defying them, his friend with the dreadlocks, the shootings?
10. The white supremacists, Nazis, the big man, his violence, the more cautious members, the shootings and the aftermath?
11. Kristen and her story, white, WASP, from California, her arrival, sharing the room with the black girl, early arrival and getting the better side? The talk with her roommate, sharing, learning? The parties, the white girls, friendships? Being humiliated in class, her poor father, having to get a job? The flirts, the parties, drinking, the attempted rape, her reaction and resistance, deciding not to report, people questioning her leading the man on, motivations? Going back to the party with her roommate, the defiance? Continuing her studies, relationships? Her encounter with Taryn? Going to the meetings, not having anything to say, changing, different consciousness? Taryn and support of the invitation, sexuality? Kristin’s friendship with Wayne? The collage and images of kissing Wayne and kissing Taryn? Organising the peace party, shootings and blaming herself with Malik at the end? The bonding of black and white?
12. The professor, his attitudes and behaviour, political science, his list, challenging Malik to read it out? His lectures, waking the sleeping student? His discussions in his office with Malik, smoking his pipe, encouraging Malik? Present at the shootings, shielding the students?
13. Issues of sexuality, flirting, the provocative behaviour of the girls, clearing attitudes the mend, exploiting the girls, the rape sequence, the young man and his excuses, the reactions of the other men, his not knowing how to apologise?
14. United States, the 1990s, African- Americans, whites, race issues, the references to Indians, Asians, Hispanics?
15. The story in retrospect? The later consequences and changes?
