Dead Poets Society Belonging
“Relationships are essential in shaping our identity”
Relationships are essential in shaping our character as influences from both parties challenge and change our ways of thinking, and subsequently affect our behaviour. Key relationships explored in Peter Weir’s film Dead Poets Society, Josh Schwartz’s The Ties that Bind from the television series, The O.C and Tim Winton’s short story Commission reveal how different types of influences can shape an individual. Relationships between Todd and Neil and Seth and Ryan examine how beneficial influences play a role in shaping our identity, enabling one to establish a sense of belonging. Negative influences in a relationship shape our thinking in a way that often hinders our development as a character, …show more content…
as revealed in the father-son relationships in Dead Poets Society and in Tim Winton’s Commission. Influence in a relationship which challenges conventional thinking also yields change in one’s perspective of society manifests into action and a new sense of self, as shown in the relationship between Mr Keating and his students.
Positive influences in a relationship encourage a development in one’s character, which assists in establishing one’s sense of belonging. In Dead Poet’s Society, Neil and Todd build a friendship which although begins as distant, deepens into an intimate friendship. Neil brings Todd out of his bubble of isolation through his confident and outgoing nature. Todd’s Birthday is a key scene representing the development in their relationship. Neil incorporates Mr Keating’s teachings to inspire Todd to look at life in a new perspective, as shown when he uses humour, saying “this desk set wants to fly!” and taking a new stance on Todd’s present. The positioning of the two characters at the beginning and at the end of the scene highlights the growth of their relationship from being initially alienated, representative of when Todd crouched below Neil in the dark shadows toward the side of the frame. At the end, he rises to Neil’s level and they appear in the same shot together, symbolic of his newfound confidence as opposed to his previous isolation. In effect, Todd’s change in becoming a stronger, assertive character emanates from Neil’s beneficial influence.
Similarly, The Ties that Bind explores the power of positive influence in the close friendship between the two protagonists, Seth and Ryan. Reflective flashbacks on past events which foreshadow and heighten the climax of the episode give us an insight into the progression and depth of Seth and Ryan’s relationship since the beginning of the season. Seth expresses the change in his perspective of Newport, his home, saying [referring to Ryan] “Before he got here, I was the biggest loser- this place was hell for me…when he showed up, I had less reason to flee- Newport became kinda alright.” His initial hatred of Newport attributed to his sense of isolation completely transformed due to Ryan. Likewise to Neil and Todd, Seth enables Ryan to attain a sense of belonging as an outsider into an unfamiliar setting. Humour is a technique incorporated through dialogue, displaying Seth’s influence on Ryan. Seth’s good-humoured and unique personality has a positive impact on Ryan’s usual brooding, serious self. The effect of their relationship on their actions is epitomised in Seth’s act of fleeing of his home when Ryan eventually leaves Newport, signifying the loss of his sense of identity without Ryan in his life. Therefore, as seen in these two texts, relationships comprising of positive influences are essential in shaping one’s identity through the changing of one’s thinking and behaviour.
Negative influences in a relationship shape our perspective of our life and of others in a way that often hinders our development as a character. The distant father-son relationship in Dead Poets Society arises from Mr Perry’s dominance over Neil, impeding Neil’s pursuit for his ambitions and his own sense of individuality. During the family scene after Neil’s performance, his father stands dominant over his son, who is seated in the corner of the room, as though trapped. This positioning coupled with high-angle shots of Neil and low-angle shots of Mr Perry emphasise Neil’s inferiority and entrapment under his father’s authority. In the scene before his death, the camera predominantly focuses on his hand, placing an emphasis on his body language as a display of Neil’s only mode of control in his life. The effect of Mr Perry’s overbearing control over Neil amasses in the action Neil can control: taking his life. Hence negative influence in a relationship hinders growth in a character; this is evident through ones thoughts and actions.
Negative influences shaping and inhibiting our development in identity also occurs in the short story Commission. Bob’s previous alcoholism damages the paternal relationship between him and Vic, engendering Vic’s intense emotions of anger and disappointment towards him. When they meet after twenty seven years of estrangement, Vic’s character has already been wrought by his sense of abandonment from his father. In a flashback, Vic compares his past perception of his father to a divine figure when he reminisces, “Honest Bob. I believed him. He was Godlike.” However, this is strongly contrasted to his present impression, through powerful imagery such as “…poisoned by lies” and “drunks and junkies… they’ve eaten you alive,” which illustrate Vic’s current emotions of frustration and bitterness. As a result, Bob’s negative influence on Vic’s disposition shapes him to become resentful, while limiting his ability to be open-minded. As we later find out, there was a legitimate reason behind Bob’s behaviour, which Vic was unwilling to consider, as represented by their estrangement of twenty seven years. Thus through these two texts we are exposed to the damaging consequences of negative influences on one’s identity.
Influences which challenge the traditional way of thinking yields change in one’s perspective of society and self, evident through one’s actions.
In the film Dead Poets Society, this is displayed effectively in the teacher-student relationship, through which Mr Keating encourages his students to break out of the conformed nature of the school and develop their own individual way of thinking. Keating teaches his students the phrase “Carpe Diem,” meaning “seize the day,” urging them use every opportunity that life presents to them. Its repetition throughout the film highlights its significance in influencing the viewpoints and actions of the students. He constantly stresses to them to formulate an individual view on their learning and the world, for example, when he states “The world looks different from up here… Come see for yourself! ...you have to look at it in another way.” He expresses this idea through the symbolism of standing on a desk to see the classroom from a different perspective. Another key idea in his teachings is revealed through the quote, “Swim against the stream,” underlining the concept of breaking out of conformity. This idea is clearly revealed through the scene in which he asks the students to rip out the introduction of a textbook which teaches them how to read poetry, a direct representation of liberation from the school’s traditionalism. Keating’s influence proved to have challenged the student’s way of thinking, however, results in both positive and negative consequences. Todd ultimately finds his own voice in the final scene when he stands on his desk to support Mr Keating, whereas Charlie finds himself expelled due to his impulsive, rash actions. Thus a relationship in which one is influenced by a challenge of the conventional definitely gives rise to a new sense of
individuality.
These three texts clearly demonstrate how influences in a relationship challenge or change our ways of thinking on both a personal and a societal level, consequently affecting our actions. Through the relationships between Neil and Todd, as well as Seth and Ryan, we are presented with the beneficial impact of positive influences in a relationship on one’s personality, clear through a change in mindset and behaviour. The relationships between Vic and Bob and Neil and Mr Perry highlight the detrimental effects of negative influences on one’s sense of identity, revealed in the characters’ consequent alienation and deterioration of self. Finally, atypical influences give rise to a change in an individual’s character and worldview, manifest in one’s actions. Therefore, relationships are essential in establishing a sense of self, shaped through influences between the two parties and displayed through one’s mentality and behaviour.
Relationships are essential in shaping our character as influences from both parties challenge and change our ways of thinking, and subsequently affect our behaviour. Key relationships explored in Peter Weir’s film Dead Poets Society, Josh Schwartz’s The Ties that Bind from the television series, The O.C and Tim Winton’s short story Commission reveal how different types of influences can shape an individual. Relationships between Todd and Neil and Seth and Ryan examine how beneficial influences play a role in shaping our identity, enabling one to establish a sense of belonging. Negative influences in a relationship shape our thinking in a way that often hinders our development as a character, …show more content…
as revealed in the father-son relationships in Dead Poets Society and in Tim Winton’s Commission. Influence in a relationship which challenges conventional thinking also yields change in one’s perspective of society manifests into action and a new sense of self, as shown in the relationship between Mr Keating and his students.
Positive influences in a relationship encourage a development in one’s character, which assists in establishing one’s sense of belonging. In Dead Poet’s Society, Neil and Todd build a friendship which although begins as distant, deepens into an intimate friendship. Neil brings Todd out of his bubble of isolation through his confident and outgoing nature. Todd’s Birthday is a key scene representing the development in their relationship. Neil incorporates Mr Keating’s teachings to inspire Todd to look at life in a new perspective, as shown when he uses humour, saying “this desk set wants to fly!” and taking a new stance on Todd’s present. The positioning of the two characters at the beginning and at the end of the scene highlights the growth of their relationship from being initially alienated, representative of when Todd crouched below Neil in the dark shadows toward the side of the frame. At the end, he rises to Neil’s level and they appear in the same shot together, symbolic of his newfound confidence as opposed to his previous isolation. In effect, Todd’s change in becoming a stronger, assertive character emanates from Neil’s beneficial influence.
Similarly, The Ties that Bind explores the power of positive influence in the close friendship between the two protagonists, Seth and Ryan. Reflective flashbacks on past events which foreshadow and heighten the climax of the episode give us an insight into the progression and depth of Seth and Ryan’s relationship since the beginning of the season. Seth expresses the change in his perspective of Newport, his home, saying [referring to Ryan] “Before he got here, I was the biggest loser- this place was hell for me…when he showed up, I had less reason to flee- Newport became kinda alright.” His initial hatred of Newport attributed to his sense of isolation completely transformed due to Ryan. Likewise to Neil and Todd, Seth enables Ryan to attain a sense of belonging as an outsider into an unfamiliar setting. Humour is a technique incorporated through dialogue, displaying Seth’s influence on Ryan. Seth’s good-humoured and unique personality has a positive impact on Ryan’s usual brooding, serious self. The effect of their relationship on their actions is epitomised in Seth’s act of fleeing of his home when Ryan eventually leaves Newport, signifying the loss of his sense of identity without Ryan in his life. Therefore, as seen in these two texts, relationships comprising of positive influences are essential in shaping one’s identity through the changing of one’s thinking and behaviour.
Negative influences in a relationship shape our perspective of our life and of others in a way that often hinders our development as a character. The distant father-son relationship in Dead Poets Society arises from Mr Perry’s dominance over Neil, impeding Neil’s pursuit for his ambitions and his own sense of individuality. During the family scene after Neil’s performance, his father stands dominant over his son, who is seated in the corner of the room, as though trapped. This positioning coupled with high-angle shots of Neil and low-angle shots of Mr Perry emphasise Neil’s inferiority and entrapment under his father’s authority. In the scene before his death, the camera predominantly focuses on his hand, placing an emphasis on his body language as a display of Neil’s only mode of control in his life. The effect of Mr Perry’s overbearing control over Neil amasses in the action Neil can control: taking his life. Hence negative influence in a relationship hinders growth in a character; this is evident through ones thoughts and actions.
Negative influences shaping and inhibiting our development in identity also occurs in the short story Commission. Bob’s previous alcoholism damages the paternal relationship between him and Vic, engendering Vic’s intense emotions of anger and disappointment towards him. When they meet after twenty seven years of estrangement, Vic’s character has already been wrought by his sense of abandonment from his father. In a flashback, Vic compares his past perception of his father to a divine figure when he reminisces, “Honest Bob. I believed him. He was Godlike.” However, this is strongly contrasted to his present impression, through powerful imagery such as “…poisoned by lies” and “drunks and junkies… they’ve eaten you alive,” which illustrate Vic’s current emotions of frustration and bitterness. As a result, Bob’s negative influence on Vic’s disposition shapes him to become resentful, while limiting his ability to be open-minded. As we later find out, there was a legitimate reason behind Bob’s behaviour, which Vic was unwilling to consider, as represented by their estrangement of twenty seven years. Thus through these two texts we are exposed to the damaging consequences of negative influences on one’s identity.
Influences which challenge the traditional way of thinking yields change in one’s perspective of society and self, evident through one’s actions.
In the film Dead Poets Society, this is displayed effectively in the teacher-student relationship, through which Mr Keating encourages his students to break out of the conformed nature of the school and develop their own individual way of thinking. Keating teaches his students the phrase “Carpe Diem,” meaning “seize the day,” urging them use every opportunity that life presents to them. Its repetition throughout the film highlights its significance in influencing the viewpoints and actions of the students. He constantly stresses to them to formulate an individual view on their learning and the world, for example, when he states “The world looks different from up here… Come see for yourself! ...you have to look at it in another way.” He expresses this idea through the symbolism of standing on a desk to see the classroom from a different perspective. Another key idea in his teachings is revealed through the quote, “Swim against the stream,” underlining the concept of breaking out of conformity. This idea is clearly revealed through the scene in which he asks the students to rip out the introduction of a textbook which teaches them how to read poetry, a direct representation of liberation from the school’s traditionalism. Keating’s influence proved to have challenged the student’s way of thinking, however, results in both positive and negative consequences. Todd ultimately finds his own voice in the final scene when he stands on his desk to support Mr Keating, whereas Charlie finds himself expelled due to his impulsive, rash actions. Thus a relationship in which one is influenced by a challenge of the conventional definitely gives rise to a new sense of
individuality.
These three texts clearly demonstrate how influences in a relationship challenge or change our ways of thinking on both a personal and a societal level, consequently affecting our actions. Through the relationships between Neil and Todd, as well as Seth and Ryan, we are presented with the beneficial impact of positive influences in a relationship on one’s personality, clear through a change in mindset and behaviour. The relationships between Vic and Bob and Neil and Mr Perry highlight the detrimental effects of negative influences on one’s sense of identity, revealed in the characters’ consequent alienation and deterioration of self. Finally, atypical influences give rise to a change in an individual’s character and worldview, manifest in one’s actions. Therefore, relationships are essential in establishing a sense of self, shaped through influences between the two parties and displayed through one’s mentality and behaviour.