The Angel Island Immigration Experience
In the movie Discovering Angel Island: The Story Behind the Poems, particular examples demonstrate the psychological effects of the Angel Island immigration experience on Chinese immigrants and Chinese Americans. During his 1937 imprisonment, Dale Ching describes feeling alone and isolated while brutal interrogation sessions filled immigrants with dread and despair (KQED, 2010).
In addition, Chinese immigrants have significantly suffered from constant interrogation and harassment by the immigration service (KQED, 2010). This made them feel like uninvited guests, which could lead some to depression. This hurt the emotional state, as prolonged confinement in uncomfortable conditions could even lead to requests to be sent back to their homeland. This instance highlights the struggles, anxieties, and fortitude of those who went through the immigration procedure on Angel Island, revealing the prejudice and exclusion that prevailed at that time.
Analysis of the Japanese Relocation Film
Intended Audience and Central Message
The film’s intended audience is the American people, particularly those residing on the West Coast during World War II. The main message of the movie is that it was essential to relocate Japanese Americans to protect American security. It highlights that although most Japanese-Americans were loyal, their expulsion from the West Coast was necessary due to the threat of sabotage and espionage (U.S. Office of War, 1943). The movie also highlights the government’s attempts to manage the relocation thoughtfully and fairly.
Effectiveness as a Propaganda Tool
This film was a compelling piece of propaganda used by the U.S. government to obtain the support of American citizens for the Japanese internment process. The film highlights the perceived security risks faced by Japanese Americans during World War II, contributing to its effectiveness as a propaganda tool (U.S. Office of War, 1943). By stressing the need to safeguard the nation, the film appeals to patriotic sentiments and instills viewers with dread.
Japanese American Perspectives from the Time Period
Japanese Americans from that era would have responded differently from those in the current period to this movie. Given that the movie minimizes how their constitutional rights were violated and the difficulties they faced, some viewers might have felt subjected to injustice. Others might have enjoyed the movie’s attempt to highlight the evacuees’ collaboration with government organizations and the loyalty of Japanese Americans (U.S. Office of War, 1943). Nevertheless, many Japanese Americans would see this movie as a type of propaganda that attempted to normalize and excuse the harsh treatment of their people during the war.
References
KQED. (2010). Discovering Angel Island: The story behind the poems [Video]. YouTube. Web.
U.S. Office of War Information. (1943). Japanese relocation [Film]. U.S. Office of War Information.