Is Intolerance woke?

No political or woke messaging whatsoever. Focuses entirely on story, characters, fun, or escapism.

Wokeness Analysis

Intolerance (1916) is a silent epic directed by D.W. Griffith that intercuts four parallel stories spanning ancient Babylon, the time of Christ, the St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre in France, and a modern American setting to illustrate the timeless conflict between love and intolerance. The film was created partly as a response to criticism of Griffith's prior work, The Birth of a Nation, but it functions primarily as a grand historical spectacle emphasizing themes of persecution, hypocrisy in reform movements, and the triumph of personal love and charity over societal bigotry. There are no elements of contemporary progressive social or political messaging, identity politics, or representation of marginalized groups in the modern activist sense. The narrative critiques religious and reformist intolerance through historical examples, portraying characters driven by story and dramatic conflict rather than ideological agendas. The modern storyline involves a working-class couple facing injustice from hypocritical reformers, but this serves plot and character development without any forced contemporary commentary. Overall, the film prioritizes epic storytelling, innovative editing, and escapism through historical drama, with its central message about human intolerance integrated organically into the narratives rather than dominating or lecturing viewers. No evidence of indoctrination or social engineering appears in analyses of its themes or production intent.

Plot

Intolerance (1916), directed by D.W. Griffith, is a three-and-a-half-hour anthology silent film subtitled Love's Struggle Throughout the Ages. It interweaves four stories: the fall of Babylon under Persian invasion, the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, the 1572 St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre of Huguenots in France, and a contemporary American melodrama involving a young couple persecuted by self-righteous reformers. The narratives are linked by the image of Lillian Gish as an eternal mother rocking a cradle, symbolizing humanity's ongoing struggles. The film explores how intolerance and hypocrisy have opposed love and freedom across centuries, culminating in dramatic rescues and resolutions. Known for its massive sets, innovative cross-cutting editing, and ambitious scope, it was Griffith's follow-up to The Birth of a Nation and aimed to highlight universal themes of prejudice.