JOURNAL ARTICLE

The Clansman, the Lynchings, and Enduring Racial Violence in Performance.

  • Published In: Crime, Media, Culture, 2025, v. 21, n. 3. P. 412 1 of 3

  • Database: Communication Source 2 of 3

  • Authored By: Ollington, David 3 of 3

Abstract

The article examines how performance art can incite racial conflict, focusing primarily on the early 20th-century play *The Clansman* by white supremacist Thomas Dixon and its connection to a 1906 triple lynching in Springfield, Missouri. *The Clansman* portrayed the Ku Klux Klan as heroic during Reconstruction and depicted Black characters in racist stereotypes, contributing to heightened racial tensions that culminated in the lynching of three innocent Black men shortly after the play's performance. The article also draws parallels to contemporary controversy surrounding Jason Aldean's 2023 music video "Try That in a Small Town," which features racially charged imagery and has sparked public outcry. Both cases illustrate how artistic expressions can provoke strong, divergent reactions and reflect broader societal issues of racism and violence.

Additional Information

  • Source:Crime, Media, Culture. 2025/07, Vol. 21, Issue 3, p412
  • Document Type:Article
  • Subject Area:Social Sciences and Humanities
  • Publication Date:2025
  • ISSN:1741-6590
  • DOI:10.1177/17416590231223788
  • Accession Number:186081062
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