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Individualism vs conformity the left
Individualism vs conformity essay
Individuality vs conformity thesis
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The statement that conformity and tradition are in opposition to individualism and defiance of authority is very true in The Dead Poet Society, and even more so in today’s society in general. One can walk into any high school and see this is true. In a typical high school, people seem to have very much in common, especially in dress, hair style, etc… which is in opposition to individualism in and of itself. People are so caught up in conforming to how society says they should live their lives, it really tarnishes the spirit of individuality human beings are meant to have.
The movie The Dead Poet Society, even further exemplifies the statement that conformity and tradition defy individualism. In the story, the students have a new English teacher named Mr. Keating, who breaks e...
...e culture does not support free-thinking or expression, as seen by the banning of books and mindless entertainment. In the novel, people who express individuality and question life, they are seen as a threat. Clarisse McClellan, who was one of these people, eventually disappeared. In the novel, those go against conformity are in danger. Our society, while less drastic, processes in a similar way. Due to the spread of media, conformity is more widespread than ever before. Now with a touch of a button, everyone knows what is popular around the globe. We have encouraged ourselves to conform to certain ways in order to be favored by the masses. While we still express individuality, we express it in a narrow spectrum that will not cause others to ridicule or question us. In our society, conformists are normal, and those expressing individuality may be seen as outcasts.
The movie, Dead Poets Society truly captures the essence of the conformities that children are facing. The difference is letting the hourglass run out of time, or making the best of time, facing tough challenges along the way. Todd Anderson makes the best out of his time thanks to the teaching of Mr. Keating, his beloved English teacher. From a misunderstood adolescent to a courageous man, Todd shows his true colors and releases the inferior thoughts stirring up in his developing, young body. In the end, romanticism crushes idealism with power and envy, showing the eye-opening ways that a teacher can contribute to such a tightly wound academy such as Welton.
In what ways do I choose to conform? In what ways do I choose not to conform? How do I express my individuality? What do I think the poet is saying about conforming? These are the questions asked from today’s poem called Non Conformist by Angela Shelf Medearis. After thinking about this question, I realize that I conform to many of the rules my parents give me but I don't always conform to what my friends say. For example, when my mom says to empty the dishwasher, I do it, not because I enjoy the work, but because I live in our home and our family, so I should contribute to helping out. However, when my friends tell me to do something such as wearing certain types of clothes, I don't always conform to what they say because I don't always like
Today’s society as well as the majority of our schools can definitely improve on how it encourages creativity and individuality in today’s youth. A lot of the time, it’s hard to do this, but with smaller classrooms, more qualified and devoted teachers, and more cooperation from the students, everyone’s needs could be met, and students would receive a better education. Many of today’s schools have no tolerance for anything that may go against the “norm.” Schools today can allow for individuality and differences in students, but they either choose not to or are not aware that anything is wrong with the way they do things. In Melville’s, Billy Budd, there are examples of this stifling of individuality. The crew members on board the “Avenger” are made to all conform and follow orders without question. Through Claggart, the men’s individuality and rights as people are taken away through fear. No matter what anyone is trying to accomplish, satisfying everyone is almost always impossible. It is no different in today’s school system, satisfying everyone is difficult. Students are not allowed to express themselves as freely as they should. This is not the case in all schools, but it is Especially since incidents like those at Columbine High School, schools now view acts of individuality and creativeness as those of malicious intent. There is a kind of intolerance for those who act differently from the majority. Ever since the two boys from Columbine murdered their classmates, everyone has been extremely cautious about everything from actual death threats, to mere heated discussion between classmates. It is almost to a point of overkill.
Many people often say it but probably do not realize that society is a game where one has all the liberty to make their own choices. Whether these choices lead to rise or fall, old or new, it all has a determining effect on the future of not only one’s life but society as well. Through Tim O'Brien's The Things They Carried, Joan Didion’s essay, Slouching Towards Bethlehem, and Shakespeare’s King Lear, they all compare and disagree on the ideas of societal power or reputation, resisting the norms, and the ideas of social unity.
You’re on the stage in front of the whole classed tensed and jittery, eyes squeezed shut so unbreakably that there are shapes being stamped into the darkness. Whatever pops into your mind, you rapidly blurt out in search of what you will say next. As you walk down the path of literature, you get lost in the world of poetry. Where do you go next? Dead Poets Society directed by Peter Weir is a film that teaches teens to seize their lives, and live them while they can. This school story is teaching a valuable lesson to a group of boys who are having trouble planning out their futures. This is all changed by a unique teacher with an interactive way of teaching. Todd is pressured into meeting the high standards of his older brother, and is unsure about what he is capable of until he steps out of his comfort zone. Todd has almost changed characters throughout the movie. The choices he makes are all caused by something that sparked him to do so.
Sylvia Plath may be one of the most remarkable and idolized modern poets of the twentieth century. Sylvia Plath had an emotional life, and a troublesome past with her father's death, insecurities because of self-doubt, a tragic break up with her husband and severe depression, leading to her suicide in 1963. These tragic events in Plath’s life played a vast part in her career as a poet and novelist, by inspiring her to create her melancholy and notorious masterpieces.
... norms emerge, and society adjusts to the fresh realities. This can result in a beneficial and necessary cycle assuming that new norms are established and a certain new level of conformity ensues. If the result, however, is just a breakdown or weakening of society, the result can become chaos. If good ultimately results, the rebel can be perceived as a hero. This may be easier to do when writing fiction like in Hamlet. In other cases, like in Gilbert’s poem, it may be necessary to take the first step in calling out the unhealthy nature of conformity, and inspiring rebellion without knowing how it may ultimately play out in society. Sandra Gilbert once said “I am not terribly interested in whether feminism becomes a respectable part of academic criticism; I am very much concerned that feminist critics become a useful part of the women's movement.” (Gilbert 464).
Conformity and rebellion are two characteristics that cannot exist without each other. If no one were to conform then there would be no set standard for anyone to rebel against. Without rebellion conformity would not be challenged. Madness comes into play when describing those that rebel against the norm. Dickinson describes anyone with a rebellious attitude as “demur you’re straightway dangerous and handled with a chain” society treats people like this because the idea of change can scare a lot of people. Many of these themes are seen throughout literature.
"The Dead Poet’s Society" is a movie about a group of kids. The conflict, characters, plot and theme are very interesting. So now I am going to tell you a little about it.
Portraying the characters rejection to conformity, American literature illustrates the distinctive following of one's own standards. From what has been analyzed previously, the authors are trying to display a message of change through the characters words and actions. Many times it is apparent that the characters are in there times of most comfort when they are acting in such that makes them their own being, stepping aside from the standards of the rest of society. Writers try to express the importance of stepping outside of that comfort zone in order to grow and develop as a human being. How will one ever know who they are if they conform to be what everyone is told to be? The biggest advocate of rejecting the norms of America is Chris McCandless.
Someone once said, “Embrace your individuality. Love what you love without worrying about judgement”. By saying this they mean, someone might not be doing what everyone else is doing by do not worry about what they think. Mr. Keating in Dead Poet Society, shows some of the same Romantic/ Transcendentalist ideas that Ralph Waldo Emerson does in Self Reliance. Two Romantic/ Transcendentalist philosophies that represent Mr. Keating beliefs the spirit of the individual and that people are inherently good and should follow their own beliefs.
...orms in one way or another destroy one’s connections with other human beings. Not only does such focus on forms defy the social nature of humanity, creating generations of socially approved outcasts, but also it severely restricts the individual’s perspective by forcing it to conform to preordained, rigid structures, thereby suffocating the blessing of human creativity. Such restriction does not belong to modern civilization alone, however; creativity never exists without limit, for every society upholds rules of conduct that its members are taught to obey. Therefore, contemporary conformity is not new but rather reborn and strengthened. Correspondingly, the task of the modern citizen is ancient, but difficult in its originality: to strike a balance between creativity and conformity, between pursuing our own diverse forms and following the accepted forms of society.
Dead Poets Society, a movie set in Welton Academy, a rigorous and elite all-boys private school, brings to life the philosophy of transcendentalism through its characters. The philosophy, which believes a person needs to find their individual, unique self and not allow the conformist ways of society to hamper the ability to have self-reliance, is introduced by Mr. Keating, the new English teacher who, through his distinctive teaching methods, exemplifies the transcendentalist idea and breathes life into it. His personification of this philosophy is not only readily welcomed by the boys, but acted upon, consequently impacting his students in a profound manner.
In contrast to the many people who obeyed society's rules and aspired to follow these standards,...