Society In Dead Poets Society

In many dictionaries society is described as a community of people living together in a group or nation. Even though it may simply mean that; society is one of the sociological terms derived from a Latin word “socious” meaning friendship or companionship. It is a large grouping sharing the same cultural, social and geographical location. Society consists of people and their mutual awareness and interactions with each other, it is a network of social relationships. Society can be shown as a group of unique individuals who share the same culture and social structure, the members of the society may have different ethnic groups but they share the same society. Society is not a constant it can never stay the same it always changes with the people.

Sociology is defined as a “systematic study of human society” (Macionis 583). The 1989 film Dead Poets Society features multiple sociological themes and issues. The main themes shown in this film are deviance and role conflict. These themes do not apply to every character, some characters even show neither of these theme, but with the main characters there is multiple examples provided through their lives.

In the movie, Mr. Keating can be seen as the perfect persuader. There are four elements to having a good persuasive speech--the speech itself, the audience, the resources, and you-- and Mr. Keating utilizes all four of these tools to persuade the boys. His resources are mainly a variety of poets, such as Whitman, Thoreau, and Tennyson, to back up his own thinking. His audience is probably classified as the easiest to persuade because they are all young and impressionable adolescents seeking guidance at this stage in their lives. They don't know their paths in lives; all that they know up to this point comes from listening to their parents and teachers. The boys had been able to experience seventeen years of life on earth but that is still too early for them to make any value judgments on how the world works or how they can contribute to

This essay intends to examine different aspects of Social Psychology in the film, Dead Poets Society. Released in 1989, this film provides a look at the culture of an Eastern preparatory school, and how a charismatic leader can utilize minority influence to inspire a mass of students. Interactions between characters exhibit many phenomena evident of social psychology, such as how a person can influence a situation and vice versa; social influence; conformity; situational strength; the human need for individuality and to be unique. These different types of interactions all define Social Psychology, and are exhibited in every unique situation.

Transcendentalists in the 1830s challenged society’s normality. They broke stereotypes and began not depending their actions according to others. Director Peter Weir and Author Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote about transcendentalist’s ideals of education to rebel against commonly accepted behavior. Transecdiliasts assured and trusted themselves that the outcome is for the better. Similarly, in the film, Dead Poets Society, Mr. John Keating teaches an English class navigating the class through the uncertainties of life. The boys in Keating's class, discover themselves and begin to live life focusing on their passions. “Self- Reliance,” is an essay about expressing your individualism and overcoming the social expectations in life. Together they both share the fundamental virtues that to a live successful life with no regrets, one must trust their self-identity and carpe diem.

Ralph Waldo Emerson, a leader of the Transcendentalist movement in the nineteenth century, once expresses his opinion on nonconformity when he wrote, “To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.” His words express what many people have aspired to be. These words from Ralph Waldo Emerson highlight the idea of nonconformity which is one of the main pillars of the . Humans, having naturally social instincts, find it challenging to risk going against the crowd for fear of isolation, so Transcendental ideas can be difficult to execute amid the pressures of society. Ideas from this movement, particularly nonconformity, are some of the main themes in Dead Poets Society directed by Peter Weir. While Neil’s character in Dead Poets Society initially displays characteristics of Ralph Waldo Emerson’s Transcendentalist ideas from “Self-Reliance,” he fails to continue his Transcendental endeavors proving that while Transcendentalism is possible, society ultimately causes individuals to conform.

Human beings are individuals. Individuals with their own bodies, facilities and inalienable rights who live in a society. Society by definition is a body of individuals living as members of a community (Dictionary). Therefore logic will lead you to understand that individuals are the basic building block from which all societies are formed and without individuals, society would cease to exist. This provides a clear answer to the decades-old question, which is more important the individual, individualism, or society, collectivism. If individuals make up society how is it possible for society to be more important than the individual?

In today’s world, people deal with the constant struggle of finding whose needs are more important. Individuals, and individualism itself, claim to have their life be there’s, and they can do whatever they please, however, when people put society’s needs before theirs, they are doing their good for society, and everyone around them. Society’s goal is to move the human population forward in a positive direction, and to help everyone instead of just one person. In today’s world, individuals must look at society, and social needs to fulfill their own needs, giving the needs of society more of an importance to all.

What is a society? A society is an arrogate of lots of people living within an ordered community. That is until one individual decides to start chaos. If he is stronger then the rest of the community, he will begin benefitting off the weak regardless of fairness. The result is an ongoing conflict between both parties. The strong and the weak. Could one individual change their society? Although we all live according to society, people need to realize the bad in society. Therefore, someone needs to stand up.

The Dead Poets Society focuses on society’s oppression and how it affects individuals. There are many sociological factors that are seen in this movie such as, strain theory, symbolic interactionism, and conflict theory. This movie opens people’s viewpoints of life and brings them to a new perspective by showing these sociological factors and how they take place.

The wave and dead poets’ society respectively show the struggle between the concepts of individuality and conformity. The book and movie adopt different techniques and concepts to help deliver their messages. These include the similar themes in both such as the use of a school setting, the teacher figure who encourages students to either conform or rebel and individual characters struggling to be themselves in a conformist setting.

The dictionary states that society is “People working together for a common purpose; companionship.” (Webster dictionary, 685). In theory, a society is perfect and without fault. In reality society has many impurities. Edgar Allen Poe states as much in his various poems and short stories. Edgar Allen Poe displayed the struggles and impurities in society through his writings.

Tradition, Honor, Discipline, and Excellence. Those are the four pillars in the film The Dead Poets Society, which takes place at Welton Academy, a prep school located in Vermont, 1959. The Headmaster of the school is Mr. Nolan, who is very strict and traditional leader. The film focuses around a group of boys that attend Welton, who later reinstate the Dead Poets Society (DPS). The boys are Neil Perry, Todd Anderson, Charlie Dalton, Richard Cameron, Pitts, Meeks, and Knox Overstreet. Two of the lead boys are Neil Perry and Todd Anderson. Another main character is Mr. Keating, who is the new poetry teacher at Welton Academy. He encourages his students to become their own individuals and seize the day. Mr. Keating is an alumni of Welton. When the boys find his old yearbook, they discover that he was in the Dead Poets Society, which leads them to confront him on what it is. Mr. Keating reveals that it was made by people dedicated to sucking the marrow out of life, that they would read poetry together and let it drip from their tongues like honey. The boys decide to start their own DPS. Neil is a very outspoken and charismatic boy, who is the leader of the DPS. Todd, Neil’s roommate, is very quiet and shy. Each boy struggles with individuality. Both of them are very dynamic, changing drastically throughout the film. The Dead Poets Society focuses on the social issue of personal voice and independance and how gaining it or losing is can change a person.

Many poets and directors believe in the concept of living life to the fullest. In this quote, by Sir Henry David Thoreau, he shows that we should live life to its fullest and make sure we make our mark while we still can, so people remember us. In the Movie," Dead Poets Society," a group of students from the Welton Prep School are moved by the teachings of their English teacher, Professor Keating. He teaches the boys to be their own boss, leaders and not followers. This quote relates to the movie because this quote tells what Keating wants to teach his kids. Many events take place during the movie that asks whether or not Professor Keating's teaching are appropriate, it is also questionable whether or not he

Society may be defined as a group of people living in agreement, having the same moralistic and judicial rules and standards. To live in a society, one must accept these standards and adopt them as their own. For example, living in the United States indicates that you respect the life, liberty and property of each individual, and you decide to accept the punishment if you violate any of these natural rights. Although one may not always agree with these standards, they choose to make sacrifices for the well-being of others. Society is responsible for creating an image of the ideal person, family, environment, and way of life. Our modern day society has dictated its own definition of beauty, happiness, and success. It seems society has accidentally tied these three together, and since these definitions are not universal, different societies may assign different meanings to each concept. Unlike societies explain why there are so many contrasting beliefs and viewpoints throughout the world today. The growth and morals of society are exclusively dependent on those who choose to be a part of something greater than them. Societies tend to grow only when people come to an understanding to be involved. Society is an accumulation of majority rule and the goals of the majority.