Anger is a big part of life. In Crash, individual characters' anger also reveals broader truths about society. As scholars in ethnic and postcolonial studies point out, throughout history, people that have been subject to prejudice, displacement, and harassment often push back against their oppression with anger and defiance. Anger is ubiquitous in Crash—it is depicted not only as a reaction, but as a motivating action for many of the character’s choices. Instead of acting upon their emotional impulses in a "rational" way, many of the film’s minority characters displace their anger onto other vulnerable members of society. For example, Officer Ryan, who is aggravated with his father’s deteriorating condition, takes out his anger on healthcare representative Shaniqua Johnson. After voicing his hatred of African Americans to Johnson, Ryan uses his power to harass and violate other African American characters—most notably, Christine Thayer. Additionally, Farhad’s anger concerning his destroyed store culminates in Daniel’s attack.
Aside from the film’s emotional subject matter, Crash also produced polarizing emotional reactions from the audience. Those who praise the film often ascribe their intense reactions to the character's relatability. If audience members are able to identify with a specific character, they are more likely to defend or support their actions. In this way, viewers who praise the film often find themselves relating to the characters for their personal, emotional behavior rather than on the basis of their race. Thus, many viewers find themselves somewhat implicated in the plot. On the other hand, many viewers have strongly critiqued Crash as giving a superficial treatment of prejudice. Critics argue that many of the characters lack emotional depth or complexity and are merely reduced to archetypes of their prescribed racial or ethnic group. By producing intense emotions and polarizing in its viewers, the film reproduces the intense emotions that it aims to depict.
