American History X is a great film that delivers a very strong message about deviant behavior. The story of Derek Vineyard and Danny inspires a lot in terms of changing the deviant behavior through various social concepts. The film shows good application of these theories and it involves the audience into a gripping tale of the change one hoes through to fight deviance and get through the tough journey of correcting oneself and choosing the right path. Deviance is the term that s used for the type of behavior that does not comply or rather, goes against the norms of the society. Crime is an evident example of deviance and this has been used in a great way in this film. The film revolves around Derek who chooses to leave the path of deviance …show more content…
The gang wants to bully and demoralize the other people by making them suffer because they are under conflict about the stature of the races in the society. Racism is a base of conflict that has been used to project the conflict theory of deviant behavior in this storyline. This is the structure of deviant theory in this situation. Labeling theory of deviance suggests that when one is labeled constantly on the basis of any minority it gives rise to deviant behavior in order to prove the strength of the minority. The minority has been labeled so by people for a long time. They have been labeled because of their race. The gang is labeled anti-social because of their criminal behavior which turns them further to deviance. The use of the labeling theory can be seen being implemented very judiciously …show more content…
It is full of drama but it does not leave the facts behind regarding deviant behavior. Not only it provides a take on deviance but it also suggests that anything can be corrected if one positive step is taken to that direction. This movie has a strong appeal to those who choose deviant behavior over peace and are behaving anti-social. This film should be watched by every young person at least one so that they can understand the psychological turmoil one goes through after they commit something to harm others just to prove a point. It is never too late to choose the right way and Derek shows that very precisely. I would love to watch this film again as it gives a very positive vibe to me and I have learnt a lot from
On the TV show, The Movie Show, David Stratton described the film as a “bold and timely film about the stolen generations.” The film is so highly rated for its amazing plot, the well-used mise en scene and the film techniques including the camera work and sound.
Deviance is described as “the recognized violation of cultural norms”(Macionis 238). While deviance can include crime, it is not always such. Deviance can mean trying to sneak into a hospital room, desperately searching for someone like the character of Benny in the movie Benny and Joon. Or it could be preforming on the streets for people to watch. Deviance isn’t always a criminal act. The movie Benny and Joon gave several examples of deviant behavior portrayed by the three main characters, Benny, Joon, and Sam.
The first thing about this film that caught my eye from a sociological perspective is that the society in the film is not depicted as a “perfect society” as most films do, instead it shows the real conflicts that society had back then with certain subjects. The film shows us the prejudices, and misconceptions that people had about things like sex, and homosexuality at the time.
This movie was inspiring and encouraging to anyone who is struggling with something. Overcoming his controversies in life became the main point of the movie. Knowing that this movie was based upon a true story inspires the people even more.
The Structural Strain Theory is a theory of deviance that explains deviance as the natural outgrowth of the values, norms, and structures of society. Amer...
the term is used by Edwin Sutherland in Hensli’s book to indicate that “people who associate with some groups learn an ‘’excess of definitions” of deviance, increasing the likelihood that they will become deviant”. This theory also implies the fact that individuals who commit deviant acts are influenced by primary groups (family’s members) and intimate social contacts (friends). An adolescent growing up in a family with racial issues and racial hatred (have racist behavior) or in family where they have illegal activities such as selling drugs or criminal activities will be much more influenced until becoming the final product (racist, criminal or drug dealer) of these families. Contrary to the previous situation of an adolescent, others adolescent may not be affected because they restrained their desire to take the bad path. According to Foucault, “instead individuals are controlled by institutions. Contemporary society is characterized by the lack of free will on the part of individuals because institutions of knowledge, norms, and values, are in place to categorize and control humans”. In this situation, the external control composed of police officers or authority figures have more affect and influence while responding to the adolescents who behave outside of the norm. If they need to be punished, then the actions should be taken.
There were two overall messages in this film, the first is that deviant acts are done by many factors in a person’s life or community. The second was the importance of everyone in The United States having the health care insurance, to be able to receive the necessary surges or treatments to continue living their
... supremacist gang, to rioting in an Asian owned grocery store, to finally brutally murdering someone. We observe as family ties become increasingly strained in every way, the viewer can easily conclude that Derek’s racism as well as his eventual influence on his younger brother ultimately contributed to their own downfall. As controversial as this movie maybe for the offensive language and brutal violence, it is a movie that deserves to be seen, and even discussed. It really provides insight into some factors within society that cannot be contained by the law or even deterred by even the harshest punishments. Even though American society is becoming more modernized as time goes by in terms of tolerance, racism will unfortunately always be prevalent in society and inevitably it will also lead some individuals to violently express their distorted mentalities.
First, I will talk about deviance by analyzing the term to the scene where Oscar Grant is consuming illegal drugs and considered the
Different sociological theories have been put across in describing deviant behaviors. They include: cultural transmission/differential association theory; control theory; labeling theory; structural strain theory/anomie theory; subcultural theories; and medicalization of deviance (Sociolog...
American History X (1998) illustrates how segregation is aggravated by missing father figures as well as the herd mentality of the characters in the film. German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche’s concept of the herd mentality states that people need a concept or a worldview to adopt in order to give meaning to their lives. This herding of people who choose to adopt this certain ideal or ideals in effect causes the stifling of individual thoughts or creativity because everyone chooses to think a certain way (Floyd). This mindset that people are attracted to is not always chosen or forced but is rather seen as an obligation because of loyalties certain people have to others.
Labelling theory outlines the sociological approach towards labelling within societies and in the development of crime and deviance (Gunnar Bernburg, and D. Krohn et al., 2014, pp. 69-71). The theory purposes that, when an individual is given a negative label (that is deviant), then the individual pursues their new (deviant) label / identity and acts in a manner that is expected from him/her with his/ her new label (Asencio and Burke, 2011, pp. 163-182).
Labelling theorists interpret deviance not as a set of characteristics of individuals or groups, but as a process of interaction between deviants and non-deviants.
This film really focuses on the characters. Their thoughts, anger, distress, and mistakes become part of your mistakes. This deals with a father’s s priority and how he will achieve that priority by using unethical ways like torturing an innocent man. Bringing up child abduction and torture are
Deviance is the sociological concept of behavior which violates the standards of conduct or expectations of a group or society. Functionalists explain deviance as a common part of human existence, interactionist look at everyday behavior to explain deviance, and conflict theorists argue that people with power define deviance.