The Blind Side Sociocultural Analysis

Socio-Cultural Perspective on Youth
In the film The Blind Side (2009), the society is depicted into very classist categories. There is a clear distinction between the rich and the poor, as it can be seen when comparing Michael to MJ and Collins. Looking distinctly at their education, a difference in quality based on their class is very clear. When Coach Cotton discusses Michael’s transition into the elite school he states, “he’s a brave kid for wanting to come here, for wanting a quality education, an education denied to him by the poor quality of school he attended” (2009). Right from the beginning of the film, this sets the tone of the difference between the upper and lower class and establishes the way the society is categorized. Through

As discussed in lecture, there are certain characteristics society attributes to certain races, which becomes apart of how Michael self identifies. Throughout the film there are examples of how the people around Michael racialize him. The first time he stays at the Tuohy residence, Leanne makes a comment to her husband about her concern of him stealing something. This highlights the stereotypes the characters associate with Michael’s race, which is something that he would have had to grow up dealing with on a daily basis (2009). The constant racialization Michael would of faced in a dominantly white society has a clear negative impact on his personal feelings about himself. Baker (2013) gives many examples of how racism, “significantly impact[s] the social and mental well being of youth by influencing their ability and willingness to trust, to form close relationships, and to be part of a social group” (p.82). This statement reflects many of the personal characteristics that can be seen in Michael’s personality throughout the film. An obvious example of this is seen in his attempt to form a relationship with the Tuohy’s. Due to the abandonment he faced as a child and his racialization, it is clear that although Michael wants to form trusting relationships, he hesitates to do so. As he becomes more comfortable and realizes the Tuohy’s do not have racicalized opinions about him, I think he is then able to form

Although I do not think all youth are viewed in this discourse, I think those of Michael’s social class are viewed in this way. Raby (2002) states in her research, “discourses are deployed unevenly between adolescents of differing social locations” (p.426). This supports my belief that not all youth in the film are depicted as social problems, however Michael and youth who share a similar social class with him are seen in this way. Leanne does not see Michael through this lens, and does not view him as a social problem like many do. Her friends however, express that they have this view of Michael and disapprove of what Leanne is doing in terms of supporting him and even adopting him when it comes to that point. At the beginning of the film, teachers also show they see Michael as a social problem. They do not believe he is worth the effort it will take to educate him. Instead of blaming the school Michael attended due to his social class, they look at him as the issue and as the social problem. This discourse is highly prevalent amongst the members of the society and directly reflects on how they react to Michael. This also affects how Michael views himself. The discourse in which others apply to Michael is not something he would be able to avoid acknowledging. I believe this had a negative effect on Michael and is why at first he may