-
Essay / Authority versus Individualism: The Society of Dead Poets and Rabbits
The controlling and oppressive nature of authority can spark acts of rebellion on the part of the individual, creating underlying tensions and generating an unstable and problematic relationship. Peter Weir explores notions of discordance throughout Dead Poets Society by describing how subtle acts of rebellion can create conflict, leading to detrimental effects on the individual. Additionally, The Rabbits by John Marsden and Shaun Tan expresses how authoritarian and powerful authority compels the individual to adhere to the contradictory beliefs of the authority. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay The strictly hierarchical nature of authority leads to frustration in the individual due to unreasonable pressure to conform to unjust societal values, and therefore an increase in the possibility of potentially harmful rebellious activities, in turn creating conflict. Peter Weir's Dead Poets Society explores the volatile relationship between the two entities through its depiction of a highly traditional and conservative authority who exercises his power to intimidate the individual into suppressing creativity, however leading to subtle acts of rebellion. The unstable relationship is introduced through the setting of an incredibly uniform and symmetrical dormitory coupled with the boys singing "Parody, horror, decadence, excrement", reflecting the subtle ways in which the individual deviates from conventional values in order to to express limited originality. Likewise, authority attempts to suppress philosophies of individuality and creativity, creating a monotonous and oppressive environment in which individuals are often forced to express their ingenuity through unconventional methods. This theme is captured through Mr. McAllister's mid-shot as he tediously declares, "Agricola, agricolae, agricolas...", in contrast to Mr. Keating's unorthodox teaching, which encourages notions of "Carpe Diem." and insists that students refer to him as "O Captain, My Captain", a metaphor for his nonconforming and individualistic nature, recognizing how originality can emerge but due to the overreach of power, they force them to respect authority. Furthermore, deviating from institutional expectations and developing nonconformist ideologies results in tension and allows conflict to become entrenched throughout the relationship. This is evident through the close-ups of Charlie's face as he is paddled (and the mid-shots of Mr. Nolan emphasizing the pain the individual may suffer when caught deviating from conservative means through self-expression) and reinforces the idea. It is important to know that subtle acts of rebellion can go unnoticed if they do not escalate to a degree that they become blatantly obvious to authority. Therefore, the oppressive authoritarian body manipulates the individual to enforce superficial values, damaging their relationship and potentially causing long-term tension. Furthermore, the submissive and controlling temperament of the authoritarian entity incites the provocation of incessant community values, creating widespread conflict, with the reaction of the authority disproportionate to the capabilities of the individual. The Rabbits by John Marsden and Shaun Tan expresses this unstable relationship of authoritarian authority that forces the simple-minded and innocent individual to acquiesce in decisions. Tan's use of the juxtaposition of a black ship against a colorful and unique background establishes the naive and innocent views of the individuals, which.