Bully By Lee Hirsch: Film Analysis

To begin this essay, it is essential to define some key terms. The Nature-Nurture debate argues whether our behaviour is as a result of our biology (such as our genes or neurochemistry), or if our behaviour arises from learning from others. For the purpose of this essay, a bully is defined as “a person who uses their strength or power to hurt or frighten people who are weaker” (Oxford Student’s dictionary, 2007). It is essential to investigate why bullying occurs and how to prevent it as bullies as well as their victims are likely to develop mental health problems. Children and adolescents who bully often develop increased levels of negative mental health outcomes in adulthood, as shown in Copeland, Wolk & Angold et al’s (2013) study; 9.4%

Some people don 't believe that bullying is such a big issue in the world, they think it 's just ‘boys acting like boys’ or ‘girls being girls’. However, when a bully is around they are the ones that draw the line and decide what is fun and what is a gesture that is “intentionally hostile.” A bully is a bully because they get what they want which gives them power; power which enables them to only see the good it brings them and not others.

People live for one thing and that is happiness, but how can someone go through day-by-day with being bullied that’s the biggest issue we are facing in the school systems these days. The studies and evidence is proved with videos, post on social media or even being a part of it is another thing. Overall, bullying is sometimes viewed as a perspective of how kids act when they feel the need that they are neglected, jealous and are emotionally distressed in a certain situation. This problem can also arise with the top person wanting to act as the overall top dominator to show that they are better and everyone should follow their lead, but we see these days as another problem that a lot of bystanders. People are feared to tell what they have seen

The documentary, “Bully," is an incredible film which follows four teenagers through their struggle with bullying and discrimination. This film was very eye-opening to those who did not experience bullying to that degree and made it easier to understand the common issue of bullying and discrimination in our middle and high schools around the nation. It also brings attention to how poorly schools discipline discrimination.

When children are pushed to commit foolish activities or suicide because of bullies, one can tell there is something wrong with the way situations are being handled in our society. The documentary, Bully, presents countless examples of the effects of bullying and how poorly circumstances are managed. Through instances resulting in juvenile detention or taking one’s own life, the documentary displays various ways kids deal with torment. As we follow the lives of five different youths suffering at the hands of their peers, we see just how much these kids go through with little to no support.

The film Bully, was an eye opening dcumentary about the obstacles a child endures groing up. in the documentary, the children will ask for help by asking the teachers, school staff, however nothing was being done to prevent further bullying in the future. most parents believe they are sending their kids to learn and be safe in school, when in reality they are getting bullied mentally and physically, these words and actions will affect these children in the long run. This documentary relates to childhood becuase many children suffer some type of bullying growing up. In the documentary Tyler Long was a victim of bullying both physically and mentally and committed suicide, this goes to show that teachers and principals would not do anything but

Every day parents send their children to school, assuming they will be safe. Although many are safe, there are also many that are bullied on a daily basis. In reviewing the definition of the word “bullied,” it fundamentally is unwanted aggressive or harmful behavior with a perceived power imbalance that is directed onto those individuals that are weaker to intimidate them to gain something they want (www.stopbullying.com, 2012).

from his peers. Nonetheless, these atrocities fail to be discerned and treated by the school

Bullying has changed and become a more frequent trend over the years. Adolescents get bullied through social media and in person. In some cases there are not many people who speak out and help the person being bullied. While there might be some peers who hesitate to speak up, “[i]f no one speaks out against the bully, the bystanders interpret the lack of response as an acceptance of the behavior” (Finkelstein). When no one stands up for the victim, silence is an encouragement for the bullying to continue. Students don’t realize how speaking up for someone can make a great difference, even if it’s only one person. While children are mostly aware of what bullying is, they don’t completely understand it “[b]ullying can take many forms, including

The most important issue of bully always got away from the situations and did not gotten any noticed at all is because there will always bystanders choosing not to report or tell the authorities in charge (HuffingtonPost, 2014). The reason bystanders does not intervene is because they think that someone else instead of him or her will step in to stop the bullying (HuffingtonPost, 2014). Within the school compound, students believe that only adults are able to take full responsibility to intervene the bullying from happening as they feel that they do not have the power to do so (HuffingtonPost, 2014). However, almost all bullying cases occurs when adults are not present at that situations so the assailants are free to do whatever they want.

Bullying starts off as an act of survival. Bullying is instilled in the social, economic and education realms as the capitalist society unconsciously tells us that success and wealth go hand in hand (Donegan, 2012). This idea has been inculcated as a survival tactic from a very young age. For instance, as soon as a child enters school, he or she is taught to be the best they can be. Later, this idea develops into a competition to get ahead to the point that students have to resort to violence to be above the rest (Donegan, 2012) .

The documentary film Bully, gives a voice to the millions of kids who suffer in silence. In my opinion, the film Bully’s purpose was to bring to light the ignored and hidden reality of the prevalence and effects of bullying. In most cases minimal action is taken against the bully and dismissed as “kids will be kids” until its too late. It was hard to watch how bullying effects the victim physically, psychologically, and emotionally. Alex like many students were seen as suitable targets and alienated for being different. Many of the victims who are bullied in the film are ideal targets in which they are perceived as vulnerable, defenseless and worthy of compassion (Lecture notes week 6). Bullying also impacts the families of the victim.

In Chapters Three and Four of The Bully, the Bullied, and the Bystanders, internationally recognized speaker and author, Barbara Coloroso (2010), explored the roles of the bullied and the bystanders when bullying occurs.. In Chapter Three, she smashed any stereotypes of bullied children as being weak, a loser, or as having somehow “asked” to be bullied (p. 41). She clearly established that any child can be a target (pp.42-43) and explained how shame can prevent a child from asking for help (pp. 47-49). Then she outlined warning signs of a child who is being bullied and factors that play into “bullycide” or violence (pp. 49-61). Meanwhile in Chapter Four, she emphasized the important role that the bystanders play in bullying. She noted that

Bullying should not be dealt with because a bully free society is not attainable. Some say that reaching a bully free society is not viable because to do so you must reach a “Utopia” which is “unrealistic and unachievable” (Kalman). Unfortunately, a “Utopia” is not achievable, so we must deal with bullying with all our strength and potential to prevent it from happening. A bully-free Utopia is impossible because bullying has become “the norm” and has grown to be recognized as “socially acceptable” (Casserly). Since a bully-free Utopia is unattainable we must use all measures to stop bullying from occurring and spreading like “wildfire”. Contrasting to why a Utopia is not possible, “Ladakh, is a region in which there is no bullying.” However, Ladakh is not a true Utopia (in which death is not present); it is a bully-free Utopia. A bully-free society can be created by practicing “wisdom” and “moral principles” (Kalman). Although, opponents of anti-bullying activists say that bullying should

Bullying is a universal issue that can be found in schools worldwide and it has become an increasing pressing issue within the current school system. It can be said that bullying begins during the earlier stages of primary school and then continues through to secondary schools. According to the NSPCC (2014), bullying is defined as “a behaviour that hurts someone.” This type of behaviour can involve an individual engaging in name calling, threatening another individual as well as physically abusing them, for example hitting, throwing or punching someone. This suggests that bullying can occur physically or verbally. On the other hand others may argue that bullying is a systematic abuse of power (Rigby, 2002, in Dupper, 2013, p.9).