Examples Of Conformity In Dead Poets Society

The film, “Dead Poets Society,” directed by Peter Weir, is a classic example of conformity versus nonconformity. Its main appeal is in the passionate acting of Robin Williams, who plays John Keating, an inspiring teacher with unusual methods. Inspiring co-stars Robert Sean Leonard and Ethan Hawke play Neil and Todd, students enrolled in the school Keating teaches at. The film is set in a very strict all boys school that has many rules and guidelines, yet undoubtedly the boys, inspired by Mr. Keating, begin to rebel against the structure and authority. Peter Weir uses a number of film techniques to develop this theme of conformity versus nonconformity. The importance of these techniques is revealed in the film through the use of setting, sound
and lighting, as well as, camera angles. Through these methods, the audience is able to further understand that within the strict confines of conformity, one may find great truths in being an individual.
The general setting of, “Dead Poets Society,” is Welton, an all boys school in rural Vermont, New England in the late 1950s. At the beginning of the film the viewer gets the first glimpse of the school; its sturdy stone structure and high interior walls and ceilings, shown in high angle camera shots emphasize the power and authority of it. The dullness in color of the building and the rigid angular shapes of the school’s architecture gives the viewer a sense of formality and discipline. Later, the audience sees the students of the school dressed in the same, dull, grey-colored school uniform moving around in classrooms, corridors and dormitories that seem claustrophobic. This
effect emphasizes how the school acts as a restriction to the boys in order to maintain order and discipline. It also shows the loss of individuality, as the boys are seen blending into their surrounding environment. Another significant setting in this film is the cave where the boys host their Dead Poets Society meetings. Although the cave is small and seems cramped, shown through Weir’s use of low lighting and close-up camera shots, it is an environment with the capacity to accommodate the boys’ poetic discoveries and assertion of their personal freedom. The cave allows them to express themselves in ways that would never be accepted within the school, such as reading poetry they wrote about women and chanting verses. The isolation of the cave and the smoky, atmospheric eeriness developed in the film suggest how the actions of the boys are somehow forbidden. The setting and clever use of camera work in this film strongly help to emphasize the theme. Weir further develops the theme in, “Dead Poets Society,” through the use of sound and lighting.
Mr Keating inspires his students to look at things in different ways and in doing so, asks them to rip out the introduction in their poetry textbooks. Hesitant at first, the classroom is soon filled with the sounds of pages being torn out and excitement amongst the students. The audience soon learns that Mr. Keating is a former student of Welton and tells the boys of the secret club him and his friends were in. Crouched around Mr. Keating, the boys’ faces light up when they learn of the Dead Poets Society. Another scene shows Neil finding Mr. Keating’s old poetry book in his room; the music playing during this scene is the same music playing when Neil commits suicide. This film technique of foreshadowing through the use of music connects the influence of the Dead Poets Society and Neil’s final moments longing for personal freedom. His yearn for individuality results in a fatal outcome-death. The Headmaster, not wanting his school to close because of a suicide, blames Mr. Keating and the Dead Poets Society, and fires him. There is a scene where the boys are arguing over who’s to blame for the whole situation and the camera shot shows Todd in the dark, at the back of the room, but when he stands up for Mr.Keating he moves forward into the light. This is a good use of lighting by the director, it shows Todd, in his quiet, dark, conforming state, coming into the light and expressing
himself. Finally, Weir uses camera angels to effectively emphasize the theme of conformity versus nonconformity. Neil’s father and the school’s headmaster are some of the films characterizations of authority. While Neil longs to try out for acting, his father refuses to listen and demands that Neil forget about it. The scenes where he talks with his father are always close up shots of Mr. Perry, giving him a more authoritative look. In the final scene of the film, the audience is shown a perfect union of authority and nonconformity. Now fired, Mr. Keating enters the classroom full of students where the headmaster, Mr. Nolan, has taken Keating’s place. The camera shows Mr. Nolan on one side of the room and then switches to a shot of Mr. Keating on the other side. By not having the two teachers in the same camera shot, it emphasizes the great difference and expanse between the two; Mr. Nolan represents conformity and Mr. Keating represents nonconformity. Todd, longing to say something, but afraid to in front of the headmaster, sits squirming. Just as Mr. Keating is leaving, he bursts out that he was forced to sign the paper that got him fired. The camera angle closes in on Mr. Nolan’s outraged face as he silences him. As Mr. Keating gets to the door, Todd seizes the moment and stands on his desk in defiance and proclaims, “Captain, My Captain!” The whole class looks at him and begins to boldly join him as Mr. Nolan screams at them to, “sit down!” Mr. Keating is smiling, knowing that the bold poetic energy he aspired to pass on has been received by some of his students. The scene ends with a shot of Todd still standing on the desk, his eyes agleam with confidence, the legs of the other students blocking the view of the rest of the class. Although Mr. Keating has been fired, the spirit of nonconformity lives on in the students as they rebel against the head authority of the school. Mr. Keating’s message of seizing the day is left resonating with the viewer as the scene of Todd standing on his desk with his fellow students fades away. The use of film techniques such as, setting, sound and lighting, and camera angles presented in, “Dead Poets Society,” enable the audience to better understand that in the strict confines of conformity, one may find great truths in being an individual.