-
Essay / Social Issues in the Film Boyz N' The Hood
Throughout the 1992 film "Boyz in the Hood," John Singleton takes a closer look at urban black America in South Central, Los Angeles. Tre, Ricky and Doughboy are the main characters of this film who grow up together in their neighborhood or as they called it “the neighborhood”. All three characters struggle with different internal issues, which helps them grow as young men. First there is Tre, a good student who dreams of continuing his studies by going to university. With the guidance of his father, Furious Styles, Tre learns responsibility and character. Then Ricky, an exceptional athlete trying to get a football scholarship to USC, believes that sports is his only path to greatness. Ricky's brother, Doughboy, is an all-around gangster who associates with violence, alcohol and crime. Doughboy, which means drug dealer, on the contrary maintains a strong sense of pride. Doughboy, Ricky and Trey, along with their parents, are told from childhood to adulthood. These characters were raised in a very deviant community, but there were many reasons why they didn't all become deviant. Throughout the film, these characters were given numerous opportunities to engage in deviant behavior, as some did and some did not. Their behavior and personality have been determined by many factors and theories studied by sociologists. These theories include social control or conflict theory, effects of capitalism, and labeling theory. This film also shows why class is not determined by race. As this deviant society is exposed to these theories, a normal society can better understand why this deviance is created. Say no to plagiarism. Get a custom essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”?Get an original essayIn this film Boyz n the Hood, director and screenwriter John Singleton depicts such social deviance that afflicts Doughboy and his friends, it can be explained using a deviance framework called conflict theory. Deviance conflict theory explains that engaging in deviant behavior is an attempt to combat unequal access to social and economic resources and opportunities enjoyed by those in power who exercise social control. Deviant behaviors are the result of social conditions. Although the story is entirely fictional, the living conditions in South Central Los Angeles shown in the film are extremely factual. South Central LA is known for its urban decay and street crime. South Central is considered the center of gang violence and poverty in the city of Los Angeles, as it is the birthplace of many famous gangs such as the "Bloods" and the "Crips". As well as an area with low-income minorities. Tre's father illustrates this in the film by telling him, "If you want to talk about guns...why is there a gun store on every corner here?" - For what? - I'll tell you why. Like there's a liquor store on every corner here? Why ? I'll tell you why. Like there's a liquor store on every corner here? - For what? - I'll tell you why. Just like there is a liquor store on every corner in the black community. For what? They want us to kill ourselves. You go to Beverly Hills, you don't see this shit. They want us to kill ourselves. The best way to destroy a people is to remove their ability to reproduce. » Dalton Conley, in You May Ask Yourself, describes social control theory as a concept that refers to the way thoughts, feelings,people's appearance and behavior are changed. regulated by social systems. Tre's father shows how people who exert social control in these systems find ways to maintain and increase their power. Already troubled by the sound of guns that riddle Crenshaw's neighborhoods and the bright lights of helicopters that patrol at night, many African Americans find it extremely difficult to escape such harsh conditions in a society based on capitalism. . Those in power in a capitalist society enforce these conditions to ensure that the rich stay in power. Capitalist societies depend on “competitive forms of social and economic interaction and substantial inequalities in the allocation of social resources.” Due to the inequalities faced by African Americans in a capitalist society, economic security is not guaranteed. Often, many African Americans in South Central Los Angeles are forced to compete, as they must "fend for themselves, finding the best opportunities available to support themselves and their families." One of the most damaging structural elements of the film is the black family itself. . The film exposes the growing dismissal of the Black family in South Central, Los Angeles. The film shows this in the way Brenda Baker (Tyra Ferrell) finds it necessary to favor her younger son (Ricky Baker) over her older son (Darin "Doughboy" Baker), because the economic structure (capitalism) that dominated. his family's situation forces him to favor him (from his point of view). For Brenda, Ricky, who is a star student-athlete with great potential to become not only a superstar student-athlete, but also a professional athlete, is her family's only hope of achieving a more favorable position within the capitalist economic system. Brenda's lack of economic and social opportunities in South Central Los Angeles with an absent father forces Brenda to favor her children. Darrin becomes his “trash” and Ricky becomes his financial investment. Unfortunately, at the end of the film, Darren and Ricky die, symbolizing the importance of family unity and the harmfulness of a capitalist society. The idea of labeling and misrepresentation of African Americans is something that Singleton also addresses in this film. . Singleton points out that African Americans are generally misrepresented by society and the media. In Boyz N the Hood, the main characters all represent someone from the African-American community. Although all personalities may be different from each other, they have one thing in common: they are connected by social issues that affect their lives. An example of the labeling theory in this film is Brenda, Doughboy and Ricky's mother. His outlook on life and his general lack of interest culminate in the paths taken by his two sons. The family plays an important role in the labeling process of young people. Rick and Doughboy come from different fathers. Doughboy's father is portrayed as uninspired and lazy, two qualities which are reflected in his own lifestyle. Brenda tells Doughboy, "You're not shit, you don't do shit, and all you're going to do is shit." All you do is eat and sleep and shit. With Ricky, it's a different story. She grabs Ricky while stroking his cheek and says, “You look more like your daddy every day.” I always knew you would amount to something. To Doughboy, she repeats: "you're not shit, just like your daddy." She reacts so well to Ricky because she sees him as her ticket out of South Central LA. She thinks he will go to college and be.