“We walk away from our dreams afraid that we may fail or worse yet: afraid that they will succeed.” (IMDB, 2000, p. 1). This quote comes from the movie Finding Forrester, a film about two unlikely friends who challenge life's obstacles together; thus, promoting that following one's dreams may lead to a strong transformation of characters, settings, and conflicts through a plot. The movie starts in the busy streets of New York City, and transitions to the run down public school attended by Jamal Wallace. He is an intelligent young man with a passion for writing that he keeps hidden to “fit in” with the rest of the crowd. That is until Mr. Bradley, the head of a private school in the area, offers him a full scholarship to attend their facility …show more content…
and play for their basketball team. During this time, Jamal not only befriends a closed-off and shy man living in a nearby apartment, but also finds a friend who shares his passion for writing. Throughout the movie, Jamal transitions into life at the private school with the aid of his friend-turned-writer, William Forrester. This friendship allows both of the main characters to transform in some way. Later in the movie, Mr. Forrester instructs Jamal through his previous writings, an innocent idea leading to great turmoil. Both characters limits are challenged when Jamal is questioned about the integrity of his writing and Forrester must demonstrate his evolution to aid Jamal. Therefore, as settings change, individuals have the opportunity to be transformed through difficult times in their lives. Through unexpected friendships that are created, individuals have the ability to be changed. An example seen in the movie is by examining how Jamal acts when accused of plagiarism. Although he could easily have cleared his name by explaining his friendship with William, he keeps his promise of secrecy and moves forward, ready to deal with the consequences. The two are highly unlikely friends who meet in a rather odd situation, yet still seem to become closely bonded due to their shared love for writing. This friendship challenges both of them, and shapes each to meet the other’s needs. This transformation is what influences Jamal to keep his promise to William, a task that would definitely be difficult to follow through with. According to Levy (2000), this movie is able to show how dependent Forrester becomes of Jamal, a kid who evolves from an intrigued fan to a loyal student with little assistance (p.1). This improbable friendship not only helps to shape and evolve Jamal into a better student but also into an altogether more successful person. The statement also sheds some light on the relationship between the two characters, and how dependent they are on each other. Furthermore, Jamal and William realize the value of their friendship when Jamal takes Forrester out for his birthday. This experience shows William that Jamal is a caring individual who truly wishes the best for him; thus, allowing William to let go of his inhibitions and go along with the teen boy’s plan. After Mr. Forrester has an anxiety attack, Jamal then takes him to the Yankee’s field where they both realize what difficulties the other has faced. This experience changes the way Jamal is able to see the world around him as well as grows more respect for Forrester. As Movielocity states in their article (2001), “Family isn’t always what you’re born with-sometimes it’s the people you find, sometimes it’s the people who find you” (p. 1). This explains how unexpected friendships have the ability to affect and change an individual. The two friends met in less than ideal circumstances, yet still became bonded together. They took the form of what the other most needed at the time. For Jamal, a mentor to assist him in pursuing his passion, and for William, a friend who would push him outside the walls he built so long ago. Consequently, individuals may be evolved by the addition of new friendships. Difficult times in one's life may push them to change according to their situations.
This is demonstrated in the movie through William Forrester’s actions at the writing contest. This issue, Crawford questioning the integrity of Jamal’s paper, is something neither one of them blame directly on themselves, thus making the solution not evident. After a huge fight breaks out between the two, Forrester arrives at the school to help Jamal. Forrester is not a social person and it takes all the courage he has to aid his friend. This situation is quite difficult, yet Forrester is able to pull through in the end showing his transformation as a person as the movie progresses. According to Movielocity (2001), “Compelled to look past skin color and suppositions, Jamal encounters not only his first fan, but a mentor who will challenge and change him forever, and Forrester has his first reason in years to emerge from his self-imposed solitude (p.1).This is a time with some racisms in affect, so Jamal is used to being looked down on. The issue of Jamal leaving his backpack not only ends in friendship but also causes life changing transitions and evolutions. If Jamal had not been dared to break into Mr. Forrester’s apartment, none of these events would have been given the chance to occur. At the end of the film, Jamal finds himself transformed shortly after the death of William Forrester. This comes as a shock to Jamal, a boy who is used to being walked out on, and he must learn how to …show more content…
cope with this major loss in his life. It is expected that Jamal would take this situation quite hard, as most other would in his place. Yet, he is able to use the knowledge Forrester granted him and fuel his feelings into writing. Jamal is able to use this tragedy as a motive to writing the foreword of William’s second, and last novel. As Levy (2000) stated in his article, “Mike Rich places outcasts in crisis, forcing them to confront their relationship to society and it’s rules” (p. 2). This statement explains that characters must confront their issues and exhibit their change in order to conquer these difficult situations. There is no easy way out, one must transform themselves to achieve what they desire. Furthermore, one may be shaped through difficult times in their lives. A change in setting has the ability to transform one in their full potential.
This can be seen when Jamal changes from the public school to the private school. Jamal is finally able to express himself and let his talents show at the new school. Without the pressure of fitting into the “bubble” everyone expected out of him, Jamal shows the teachers at the school that he truly deserves to be there; thus, creating new found confidence from his change of setting is what shapes him into the individual he is at the end of the book, a strong, independent, and truly talented young man. According to Levy (2000), “the true point at which everything changes in the movie is when the prep school recruits Jamal for his talents in basketball and academic achievements. Once he seeks help from Mr. Forrester to adjust in his new environment, he is able to realize what this transformation can do for him” (p. 2). This demonstrates that the turning point is when Jamal is introduced to a new atmosphere. The school is much different than his old school and he uses his relationship with Forrester to aid him through the transition. In addition, when writing in Mr. Forrester’s apartment, Jamal has all the power in the world with only a pen and paper, yet in Crawford's office he finds himself blocked. The apartment is not only where Jamal realizes his passion but is also gives him opportunities as well as how he channels it to express his true self. This change is highly evident when he is then
forced to write in Crawford’s office. The environment is different leading to a negative experience, bringing Jamal back into his boxed up self. Movielocity (2001) stated in their article “Forrester’s apartment, full of dusty books and the sound of the typewriter, quickly becomes the place where the two writers meet, laugh, argue, learn, and dedicate themselves to the one thing that binds them together - a love for the written word” (p. 2). This article is saying that Forrester’s apartment is where the writers learn and grow together; therefore, making the change in location act as a way to evolve both men's personalities and writing habits. Thus meaning, one may find themselves transformed when introduced to a change in setting. Ultimately, through the addition of new friendship, Jamal and William were both able to change into a better form of themselves. They pushed each other's limits and brought the barrier of each comfort zone down. How an individual deals with difficult situations or conflicts shows their character, and if done properly, has the ability to be shaped the individual. Jamal and Forrester realize more about themselves through the plagiarism incident. Changing the setting also has the ability to show individuals how they can be changed. These three simple elements to writing a story add together when conveying the theme of the piece. A change in setting gives individuals the ability to transform with the aid of unexpected friends even through difficult situations. A writer, a young, african american boy, and one shared passion. Two highly different people, both able to transform the other through three elements of a story. Yet, an extremely real story that can connect to people of all ages, races, and cultures.
The novel Makes Me Wanna Holler discuss the problems of the black Americans from an insider prospective. When I say black Americans, I mean from the cultural issues, fatherhood, family, and how blacks working class families are anything, but lazy. Nathan recalls his troubled childhood, rehabilitation while in prison, and his success with the Washington Post. The novel helped me understand the mindset of black males and why some choose to be affiliated with gangs. Additionally, I learned that bouncing back from a hardship time help you regain strength because Nathan went threw a lot. However, I did not relate to the novel, but I understood the concept of it. The title of this book speaks out loud about the inner struggle that he dealt. I did relate to the racial incidents and wanting to work early to have the best appearance. I actually did enjoy the
In the film Finding Forrester, their was a big conflict between Jamal and Mr. Crawford. Mr. Crawford and Jamal had their difference though out the film. Their were lots of problems that Mr. Crawford had against Jamal. The conflicts were based Jamal race, and his intelligence.
“All our dreams can come true if we have the courage to pursue them.” This quote from Walt Disney addressing the concept of achieving dreams is very accurate, and can be seen throughout literature today and in the past. Dreams can give people power or take away hope, and influence how people live their lives based upon whether they have the determination to attack their dreams or not; as seen through characters like the speaker in Harlem by Langston Hughes and Lena and Walter Younger in Lorraine Hansberry’s A Raisin in The Sun.
In the initial chapters of the novel, Malcolm depicts his life in an extremely shortsighted way. Experiencing childhood in a relatively small, but racist town (Lansing,Michigan) he was accustomed to a troubled life. Racial tension built up hatred within his town folk, often times fearing for his life and the lives of his loved ones. He was, in fact, academically inclined enough to potentially become a man of
William helps Jamal find himself in his writing, and Jamal prospers into quite a good writer. The help didn’t really stop there, either. Jamal would tell William all about his day and Does anyone really like to be stereotyped? Does anyone want to be looked at and automatically judged just because of the way they look, by their skin color, their hair type, or even the type of clothing they wear? Finding Forrester is a film that, in my opinion, perpetuates stereotypes.
Coates is tells his son about achieving The American Dream, the difficulties he seen and experienced due to racism, and unfair/injustice ways. His book shows how racism makes The American Dream difficult to achieve, how the environment we live in affects us and how the roots of black people has an impact on our lives today.
He begins to live a different type of lifestyle and comes out of his shell. First Malcolm discovers the nightlife of Roxbury and he begins attending lindy hops. His partying eventually leads him to drug abuse, hustling, an interracial relationship with a white woman, and burglary. He was going down the wrong path and was ironically becoming the stereotypical black man who found himself living a life of crime. He became a shadow of his former self “he has no religion, no concept of morality, no civic responsibility, no fear--no nothing” (pg.
The movie Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy is based in the 1970s. It depicts the highly male dominated broadcast team and shows the shake up when a woman is hired as a reporter and has aspirations of becoming an anchor the television station. The particular scene shows Ron Burgundy is flustered because Veronica Coringstone is impeding on his masculinity. Burgundy exemplifies hegemonic masculinity by explaining he is a man and a professional, when Coringstone says he his acting like a baby he takes offense and explains he is a man and he his ultimately better than a women because indeed he is a man. Burgundy states, “'I’m a man who discovered the wheel, and built the Eiffel Tower out of metal and brawn. That's what kind of man I am. You're just a woman with a small brain. With a brain a 1/3 the size of us...It's science (Robertson, McKay, 2004). The clip also depicts Burgundy’s desire for Coringstone to be the typical submissive female he is used to. The articles will identify the gender stereotypes and access if they are true or false based on the research.
The white people around Malcolm consistently views and treats Malcolm as an animal instead of the human he has the right to be. Malcolm's ambitions to change this acknowledgment drives his fight for human justice for blacks. He experiences unpretentious racism in his childhood from his family and school, who treat him in a different way from others because he is light-skinned. Malcolm foster parents and a couple of the people he encounters in school treats him different in a good manner. Malcolm concluded that these treated him wonderfully in order to show that they are not dehumanizing him and not racist. He feels that they are playing him for a fool because different, in a way that he refers to a "pink poodle." Malcolm thusly dehumanizes certain white people as revenge for the racism he has felt over the years. In Boston, he demonstrates on his white sweetheart Sophia as a status picture, seeing her less as a person than and more like a piece of property he owns. This shows Malcolm the power of dehumanization as if he was European. After years of practicing anti-white behavior for years, Malcolm finally meets white people that treats him as equal, and begins to acknowledge some white individuals as humans. This experience leads him to realize to true power dehumanization has furthering the drive to change this injustice action, once and for
It also allows people to grasp an understanding on how life really was like for a black person in this era. Malcolm’s childhood is filled with trauma and heartache. His father is killed and his mother is eventually sent to a mental hospital. His siblings are split apart and he is sent to live with a white foster family. Throughout this misery, Malcolm remains ambitious, becoming class president and preserving his goal of becoming a lawyer. The anguish Malcolm suffers through in his younger years is the direct result of racism. It is disheartening to imagine such a young child go through so much pain because of his skin color. The text strikingly displays this heartache Malcolm combats and how he copes with it. A turning point in his life is when Malcolm tells his teacher of his aspirations of becoming a lawyer and he tells him to set his sights on carpentry instead. He claims, “It was a surprising thing that I had never thought of it that way before, but I realized that whatever I wasn 't, I was smarter than nearly all of those white kids. But apparently I was still not intelligent enough, in their eyes, to become whatever I wanted to be” (page 34). In this quote, Malcolm recognizes that he is more intelligent than his peers, but since he is of darker complexion, his intelligence does not matter. In this moment, Malcolm realizes the true extent of racism in society and begins to take a step back from white people. Malcolm states, “I don 't care how nice one is to you; the thing you must always remember is that almost never does he really see you as he sees himself, as he sees his own kind. He may stand with you through thin, but not thick; when the chips are down, you 'll find that as fixed in him as his bone structure is his sometimes subconscious conviction that he 's better than anybody black” (page 29).
The film started off with Jamal being interrogated by the police by using hanging torture. Jamal was hanging with his hands tied to a rope. A Sergeant asked the person who was interrogating if he got anything out of him. The interrogator says no, and the inspector had decided to try harder by torturing Jamal more. The inspector hooks Jamal up to a battery car and threatens him to give him electric shock. He asked him how he cheated on “Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?” Jamal refused to talk because he felt very uncomfortable telling his life story to explain why he knew the answers. He had gone through tremendous obstacles that
“The Mission” is based on a true story that occurred around the borderlands of Argentina, Paraguay and Brazil in the years 1750’s according to the film and history. The Treaty of Madrid of 1750 with the Spanish and Portuguese caused both havoc and death for the people of the Guarini and the members of the Jesuits. The Jesuits, members of the church, tried to bring Christianity and civilization to the natives while keeping at peace with Spain and Portugal. The Jesuits were the teachers for the natives; Teaching them not only the Christian religion but also civilization. Father Gabriel, a Jesuit, is first introduced in the film when he is showing his respects to a former Jesuit priest killed by the natives. He walks through the South American
The Wolf of Wall Street produced and directed by Martin Scorsese tells a story of Jordan Belfort, a stockbroker living a luxurious life on Wall Street. Due to greed and corruption, Jordan falls into a life of crime and abusive activities. Belfort made millions of dollars by selling customers “penny stocks” and manipulating the market through his company, Stratton Oakmont, before being convicted of any criminal activity (Solomon, 2013). Jordan reveals behaviours and impulses all humans have, however, on an extreme level. This movie illustrates “why ethics is another tool whose importance cannot be overstated” (Delaney, 2014). Without ethics and morality, individuals can never truly live an honest and happy life.
Jamal found hope, bravery and himself when a silly dare led him to Forrester. Jamal was not the only one that discovered something through out the movie, Forrester did as well. Forester learned to share his work and mentor Jamal, after Jamal fought to be in his life. Forester learned that he needed to stop hiding from his past and live in the present. If Jamal hadn't taught Forester these lessons in life, then he would have continued to live his life broken and unfulfilled.
Forrest Gump, a romantic-comedy directed by Robert Zemeckis is as true as Gump’s famous line, “life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re gonna get”. This movie brings an unexpected amount of tragedies and crazy moments from start to finish. This movie will have you using tissues not only because it’s so sad but from crying laughing. Not only is the movie about emotion but it gives a great perspective of how life is different for each and every person in the world. This is a great movie because it brings you in emotionally, has great cinematography and great acting.