Twilight Los Angeles

The following blog details the play Twilight Los Angeles and its overall themes, messages, and implications.

This text is largely about several things, but it is important to highlight the most crucial ones.  A big one is the manifestations of what has happened, as demonstrated by the different characters.  Each person tells a story of how their lives were affected, whether through a physical injury, a loss of a family member, or property damage (as seen, for example, in Richard Kim's narrative where his mother is shot).  This text also seeks to prove that not everyone was outraged by the outcome, questioned the system, and failed to believe in justice.  One character goes so far as to say that "I believe that there is an extraordinary justice" (90).  While this is just one person's voice, they are speaking for others that adopt the same thought processes.  Next, one comes to understand that individuals come to question everything they once knew and believed in as a result of the riots.  But the reader also learns that not every result of the riots was negative--an essential fact to comprehend.  For Reginald Denny, the aftermath demonstrates his incredible gratitude for the heroes that saved his life (110).  It also becomes apparent that no one was spared.  Everyone was affected on some level, whether on a small or very large scale.  This demonstrates the wide-sweeping effects of the riots on so much of the city, and, in turn, the country.  Perhaps the most important textual claim is that "everybody in the street was not a thug or a hood" (161).  People tended to rely on this portrayal of the situation without understanding that individuals behaved in ways they thought necessary in order to protect themselves and play their part in an attempt to bring justice to the situation.  Next, the reader sees both the literal and metaphorical distance between so many people and the brutality.  A vast number of citizens had never been to South Central and really had no concept of what it was truly like (208).  Lastly, Twilight Los Angeles tells the reader that this is an incredible period of transition, and one contingent upon a move towards change and progress.

The argument is made through a series of interviews that seek to shed light on an incredibly complicated situation.  In interviewing a broad group of people, the narrative demonstrates varying viewpoints, but also commonalities that can be drawn across the board.  Through this particular style, it becomes clear that everyone has some vivid memory of the events and can be understood as a part of the larger tale.  A common narrative is created when people come together to form the story of what exactly happened.

Next one can consider the implications and assumptions of what is being said.  The first one lies in the fact that not only black people were affected and involved.  This is demonstrated in the fact that a Korean man had his store destroyed in the riots.  It seems that sweeping generalizations came out of these events, one being that there was a general consensus surrounding the decision to employ violence as a tactic.  But in reality, not everyone was pro-violence (89).  An important claim is grounded in the fact that heroes were all over the place in these scenarios, as demonstrated by a woman running over to help a bleeding stranger (92).  Perhaps one of the most moving statements is in the call to humanity when Judith Tur says that "people are people" (97).  This is a base statement, but encompasses so much of what has happened.  As addressed before by the distance between South Central and Hollywood, so many people have no idea what violence really looks like.  This is implied in Reginald Denny's narrative where he states that, "does anyone know what a riot looks like" (104)?  People may claim to, but when it comes down to it, many people actually have no idea what violence really is or means.  Next the reader sees a manifestation of the reality that history repeats itself, especially when people fail to learn from it.  The riots of '65  could have been an important lesson, but because people did not alter their attitudes, it happened again (130).  In terms of politics, the narrative sheds light on the reality to keep everything in a little box (163).  While people sought to address the situation, it was done so in a tidy manner to avoid further complications.  In the interview with Dean Gilmour from the Coroner's office, an important statement is made.  Through his dialogue, one learns that it is impossible to know the full magnitude of the situation.  People cannot know the real number of how many died, were hurt, and suffered.  For this reason, it becomes that much harder to bring justice to the situation.  This speaks to the need for closure on behalf of everyone involved.  The story ends with images of violence and brutality that are present in the minds of many.  And while there is some semblance of hope, these images will probably always remain.