District 9 is a plethora of visceral examples of racism and discrimination using a science fiction narrative as a vehicle for these themes. With a stranded nation of aliens often refereed to by the derogatory term of "prawns" due to their psychical appearance practically imprisoned within a refugee camp (District 9). The main character of the film a journalist who witnesses and instigates essentially the murder of children as well as multiple cases of violence against the alien refugees is by a twist of fate transformed and genetically level into one of them and hunted and subjected to the same persecution he placed upon them and hunted by mercenaries as due to having alien DNA he can now use the alien technology which is largely desired by the military. Through this one scene demonstrating the use of the weapons is at first used on a pig carcass then afterwards a live alien prisoner. However unrelated and perhaps even unintentional the portrayal of African voodoo culture within within a group of Nigerian arms merchants who are depicted as sadistic barbarians who consume the flesh of the aliens believing to give them strength which has lead to criticism of the film itself betraying its own intentions, this also lead to the film being banned under orders from Dora Akunyili the minster of information for Nigeria.
Sources:
- http://www.wired.com/2009/08/xenophobia-racism-drive-alien-relocation-in-district-9/
- http://www.sacsis.org.za/site/article/343.1
- http://www.theguardian.com/film/2009/sep/02/district-9-labelled-xenophobic-nigerians
- http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/06/movies/06district.html?_r=0
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