‘At the heart of On the Waterfront is an exploration of how individuals are products of their environment.’ Even though individuals can be products of their environment, other factors can influence the ways in which our lives will be lived. Every individual has their own views on what they should be like, all aspiring to be a particular person, but our environment can change how an individual will go about achieving this. Our environment does not stand in isolation; everything that is encounter on a daily basis can influence our being, such as our socio-economic status and our up-bringing. In the film ‘On the Waterfront’ we see how these factors can influence one’s life. All the characters are from the same environment but they are all different in their own unique way, some think that it is ok to stay “D and D” and others think that, that is wrong and everyone should use their voice.
This idea connects with the core text, “The Power of One” because many of the characters have the desire to stand against oppression. Given that my audience will be well informed, I will use formal language suited to my purpose. “A desire to resist oppression is implanted in the nature of man.” Oppression is the exercise of authority or power in a burdensome, cruel, or unjust manner. Several people are always oppressed in many countries all over the world. Some people have tried and done something about it and others have stay hidden.
My understanding of this essay is: What make us all human is our ability to think on our own, using our minds to understand our situations, interact with our surroundings, and to make decisions concerning our daily lives. To take away our ability to do any of these, would be forcing us into a state of oppression. “For the more the oppressed can be lead to adapt to that situation, the more easily they can be dominated.” (Freire, 218). Is this truly fair for humanity? Who really wants to be dominated?
The problem now, is that people feel too much of themselves. Everyone wants to be independent and an individual but they have to see that one day they’re going to need assistance from someone else. We would rather criticize and attack instead of rationally discussing our differences of opinion. We see this every day in our culture. Our community as a whole loves to be argumentative.
I see that many people have the right to have their own say in this country and have the same responsibility as other do. But the government plays a big role in society because they censor many things that they hide from the people supposedly to keep us out of danger which at some points I believe they do this to make decisions without the people say and our opinions. We can say we are free and do what we want but at the same time we also see that the gov’t has a say in every little thing we do in our lives if they suspect you with anything they will look more into your personal life and hold you responsible for the
"All conditioning aims at that: making people like their inescapable social destiny." People need to be show something that is against what they have been focusing on to truly understand the world. I truly believe the old saying, "a human believes everything they hear unless they have some reason not to." What makes something write in society? Your own concepts make something socially
In our society today, our everyday lives are governed by a set of laws and rules inwhich we view as the correct way to act. Our daily lives are based on this, and even the effect how we act around one and other. However, those who step away from these 'Norms' are viewed as weird, strange and different by the conforming majority. These individuals who break away from these social nomalities risk being prosecuted, but why do they do this? What compels them to resist these pressures and follow there own independant path?
A person can have multiple, different identities. But people prioritize one particular identity over all others like what I did. It decides people’s world view, how they treat others and their status in society. I have many identities so is there one that can dominate my life? I think no identity should be prioritized over another.
Looking back, I realize that we have been raised in a society that substitutes a person’s lifestyle and personal choices to a stereotype. Since we cannot readily change how society thinks, individually we should think of other people’s feelings before we say something to them. We should not let how other people view us keep us from living our everyday
Conformity Essay From the moment we are born we enter a society where it is the norm to conform and obey. From a very young age we learn that if we do not obey then we will suffer the consequences for these actions. People within society have a desire to be accepted and to belong; whether to a group or a family this social influence can change our thoughts, feeling and even our behaviour. So can we truly be an individual or are we pre-defined by a set of social boundaries? As much as we like to think of ourselves as individuals, the fact is that we're determined to fit in, and that frequently means going with the flow.