Examples Of Symbolic Interactionism In The Gangs Of New York Movie

955 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Symbolic interactionism basic tenets

Gangs of New York takes place in 1863 in New York City. This movie shows how conflict can make or break a whole entire city. It is a story of a vendetta as a family legacy set against the historical background of the ethnic feuds in New York City. The three major perspectives can are shown a considerable in Gangs of New York. The conflict theory is shown between the conflict with all of the gangs and, main characters. The symbolic interactionist theory, can be shown through all of the symbols depicted in the movies, especially those related to “Priest” Vallon. And the functionalist theory can be shown through the uproar of the draft, and how the gangs operate the five points. Conflict is the predominant sociological theory presented in …show more content…

Symbolic interactionism means symbols create meanings. A symbol is a thing that represent or stands for something else, especially a material object representing something abstract. The first symbol we encounter is “Priest” Vallon telling Amsterdam to leave the blood on the blade. This could mean many things such as you cannot wash away your sins, the blood is a badge of merit on the blade, and the blood remains on the blade and not on your hands. Making you guilt free. This symbol most likely means that you cannot wash away your sins since there is a religious theme presented in the movie. The club that Walter “Monk” McGinn uses to slaughter people throughout the movie is a symbol as well. Every time he get his club, there is going to be a fight scene with him involved. The marks on Monk’s club show that he is a powerful person and, that he should be intimidating because of the sheer amount of people that he has killed. Later in the film Amsterdam digs up the blade that killed his father, his old razor, and the medallion he gave him. These all bring up strong memories of his father. Especially the medallion and the blade. The medallion remind him of who his father is and what he died for. The blade he saves because, it is the blade that killed his father. When he find the blade this just adds to the fire that is already burning inside of Amsterdam for revenge on The

Show More
Related

  • Ca Twiste a Popenguine

    345 Words  | 1 Pages

    The different groups of friends were completely different from each other. There was the group that wanted to be popular and get all the girls with a party, and there was a group that had all the music records that the other needed. That was the group that was trying to make money as well. Both parties also wanted girls. The fact that these two groups had seemingly presented themselves as gangs shows how much they wanted to be apart from each other. The gangs symbolized the separatism of the youth. The catch to their separateness is that they really needed one another to get what they wanted. The one group needed music and the other group needed money. They ended up making a deal with each other, which was conspired by Bacc. The fact that they were able to come together like that symbolized that they really should be together.

    Read More

  • Empire Strikes Back Analysis

    893 Words  | 2 Pages

    There is a deep seated hatred between rival gangs, which makes it difficult for the gang’s members to let go. Gangs became a source of income for some people, which made it difficult for many young African Americans to escape the gangs. Significance: This film shows how the police saw activist groups such as the Black Panthers and the U.S. Organization as a threat, which led to repression despite the Civil Rights Movement. This repression leads to anger and hatred and the need for a sense of belonging amongst the African American community.

    Read More

  • Analysis Of Jumped In By Jorja Leap

    879 Words  | 2 Pages

    The book emphasizes the idea of how difficult it is to leave the gang lifestyle. There are frequent cases of relapse by individuals in the book, who were once out to again return to gangs. This case is brought by what gangs represent to this in the book and what leaving entails them to give up. The definition of gangs presented to the class was, three or more members, share name, color, or affiliation, or must exist in a geopolitical context. To members associated with gangs, this definition can include your family members, neighborhood, everyone that they associate with. Take for example Ronnie from Jumped in by Jorja Leap it states,” Ronny’s role models are gangbangers. His family is a hood. His mentors are older homies in county jail.”(102). Ronnie and other gang members like him do not

    Read More

  • William Stuntz's The Collapse Of American Criminal Justice

    1387 Words  | 3 Pages

    In chapter one Stuntz discusses the rise of violence in the early nineteenth and twentieth century, and the arrival of European immigrants, along with African Americans heading north. This also caused a drift between all immigrant groups, young immigrant males began to have rival gangs, also along with no care from the government. In the early

    Read More

  • Symbolism in How I Learned to Drive by Paula Vogel

    3187 Words  | 7 Pages

    Symbolism can be defined as “the representation of a reality on one level of reference by a corresponding reality on another” (“Symbolism” 564). The word symbol comes from the Greek word "symballein," which translates literally into “to throw together” and suggests the combining of two unrelated worlds. Much...

    Read More

  • 38th Street Gang Research Paper

    871 Words  | 2 Pages

    1-The story tells, Real facts occurred in the 1940s, where it was a racist society. Gangs were scattered throughout the cities, and regions, and the streets. To live, you have full get away, or belonging to one of them. You should help the gang members that they were right or on falsehood. Also, it is a kind of bigotry, not much different from intolerance, national, ethnic, and sectarian That were prevalent in American society. in fact, it is the inevitable result of this society. When the corruption becomes prevails, injustice and lawless prevails too, and justice will disappear.

    Read More

  • Symbolism in A Worn Path by Eudora Welty

    1548 Words  | 4 Pages

    When using symbolism in a story, in a movie or in life in general it helps you understand the meaning of it and lets you get deep inside the topic for a better understanding. Symbolism is a person place or thing that can be interpreted in a different way. A example of symbolism can be related to the religious world. Many people see a tiny edible piece as just another item to eat, but Catholics that attend church see it as a religious piece that symbolizes the body of Christ. You will also see symbolism when you see a navy blue star or when you see a eagle face, a football fan may look at that star as The Dallas Cowboys Team and the eagles head as the Philadelphia Eagles Team.

    Read More

  • Gangs of New York

    1559 Words  | 4 Pages

    Picture Manhattan in 1860, a time before the city had been dolled up and gotten ready for the silver screen, before the glamour and allure took over. Amsterdam Vallan (DiCaprio) is a young Irish man that migrates to the USA at a young age. Amsterdam’s story takes place in Five Points District of New York, a filthy and dangerous part of the city before it was deleted form history. As a young boy Vallan witnessed his father’s murder at the hand of William Cutting or Bill the Butcher (Day-Lewis) during one of their many gang wars. As Amsterdam’s story progresses along side The Butcher they become inseparable, but Amsterdam had ulterior motive. Ultimately, Amsterdam attempts to betray his new found ally in order to avenge his father’s death. Historical accounts of events are almost always synthesized by the storyteller; in the case Gangs of New York Martin Scorsese tells of Five Points, The Dead Rabbits Riots, and The Draft Riots, but is his fictional story accurate through history?

    Read More

  • Symbolism In Inside Social Life

    1207 Words  | 3 Pages

    Chapter three of the text, Inside Social Life by authors Cahill, Sandstrom and Froyum; discusses the importance of symbolism and how each individual within society comprehends the realities which surround them. Humans have the capacity to relate, internalize and interpret in their own words; the objects they visualize, smell, taste, hear and see on a daily basis. The chapter discusses how symbolism helps regulate human life and activity; alongside forming cohesion and stability within society. For example, if humans stayed at the level of sensation, experiencing everything around them; soon all would become overwhelmed and utterly distracted. (Sandstrom, 2014). This short paper will aim to critique and analyze author Sandstroms’ chapter on Symbols and the Creation of Reality. Discussed within the paper will be points which to the reader are deemed as ones of great value; in conjunction with points which may have brought the chapter to lose its major emphasis.

    Read More

  • The Outsiders Symbolism Essay

    560 Words  | 2 Pages

    In literature, symbolism is a specific word, phrase, or action that represents a deeper, abstract meaning. Authors use symbolism to give an object or action more meaning and interest. Readers should care about symbolism since it gives the story emotion and meaning. I believe the three major symbols that S.E. Hinton uses in “The Outsiders” is Johnny stabbing Bob, Pony seeing dawn, and Ponyboy stepping in dew.

    Read More

  • Gang Violence in Philadelphia

    2395 Words  | 5 Pages

    The presence of gang violence has been a long lasting problem in Philadelphia. Since the American Revolution, gangs have been overpopulating the streets of Philadelphia (Johnson, Muhlhausen, 2005). Most gangs in history have been of lower class members of society, and they often are immigrants into the U.S (Teen Gangs, 1996). Gangs provided lower class teens to have an opportunity to bond with other lower class teens. However over time, the original motive of being in a gang has changed. In the past, gangs used to provide an escape for teens to express themselves, let out aggression, and to socialize with their peers. It was also an opportunity for teens to control their territory and fit in (Johnson, Muhlhausen, 2005). In the past, authorities would only focus on symptoms of gang violence and not the root. They would focus on arresting crime members instead of preventing gang violence. Gangs are beginning to expand from inner-city blo...

    Read More

  • Essay On Native American Gangs

    1634 Words  | 4 Pages

    Tobin, Kimberly. Gangs: An Individual and Group Perspective. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson/Prentice Hall, 2008. Print.

    Read More

  • Gang Affiliation In Always Running By Luis Rodriguez

    124 Words  | 1 Pages

    Los Angeles, the “gang capital” of the nation. Over 450 gangs in the city, some have been in existence since the 1950’s. All of these gangs combined have an individual total of about 45,000. Gang affiliation has taken a big role in the city of Los Angeles, in the last 3 years there has been a total of about 16,000 crimes, 491 of them were homicides. Gang affiliation has taken a big role in the lives of many young people, falling into drugs, and maybe in the course of committing murder or other crimes. Gang affiliation is an important role in the book Always Running and its main protagonist Luis Rodriguez. Also it may provide information on why we need fiction in our classrooms.

    Read More

  • Macbeth

    761 Words  | 2 Pages

    With the use of symbolism, or the practice of representing things by means of symbols that give significance to objects (The Free Dictionary 2011), events, or relationships, one can see that this device helps the overall plot and development of characters by showing the significance of emotions, such as guilt, by the players. Symbolism brings a lot to the overall work as it gives the readers a deeper look into the emotions brought up in the play, helps the reader associate symbols to actual meanings, and gives the story a kind of depth that would not be there without.

    Read More

  • Gangs Around the World

    526 Words  | 2 Pages

    Gangs originated in the mid 1800’s in the cardinal direction using it as a method to defend themselves against outsiders.The idea of gangs became populous, powerful, and a broad influence. But like all powers, they tend to corrupt and recognizes violence as a way of getting what they want faster than other methods.They turn violence into fun, profit, and control.Creating a situation that affects youth in today’s society.

    Read More

More about Examples Of Symbolic Interactionism In The Gangs Of New York Movie

Open Document