Analysis of Because of Winn-Dixie From A Sociological Perspective - Movie Review Example

?Introduction The movie "Because of Winn-Dixie" is one of the best movies ever made particularly for children at the age between 8 and 12. The movie is rich in thematic content, life lessons, and diverse sociological perspectives. The movie revolves around a family that has just moved to Naomi-Florida. India Opal Buloni and her father have to make new friends in the new town. However, Opal finds an exceptional friend in an old dog who she finds in a convenience store. The relationship between the dog and other characters in the movie sets up the main structure in which different themes are constructed. The two most predominant themes are the themes of friendship and change. However, other themes such as family relationships, role of religion, social interactions among others are also depicted within the plot of the movie. This paper seeks to deconstruct this movie from a sociological perspective. One of the most predominant themes in "Because of Winn-Dixie" is the theme of change. Most of the characters in the movie undergo different changes because of interaction with Opal and her new and special friend Winn-Dixie. Winn-Dixie provides the medium for change for everyone who had an encounter with the two friends. Opal’s father, a mobile preacher, changes his attitude towards family relationships when he is forced to protect Winn-Dixie, at least to exercise his fatherhood roles to her daughter. It can be learned that situations forcing exercise of family roles can act as changing factors as we are forced by social situations to expedite our social and family duties. The dog (Winn-Dixie) served as a socialization factor in which, many members of the society were able to interact. Otherwise, Opal, Mrs. Franny, Mr. Alfred, Otis, and other characters would not have socially interacted were it not for Winn-Dixie. According to the theory of symbolic interaction, people do not merely react to other people’s actions but respond in response to the meaning attached to those actions. Emphasis is attached to meaning behind the action rather than the action itself. The perfect example is envisioned in the reaction of the Opals mother to her family. She left the family because she disliked being referred to as a preacher’s wife. The reaction had more symbolic meaning than practical aspect. The preacher reacted to the disappearance of her daughter’s best friend, Winn-Dixie, and feels obligated to tell her more about her mother. According to the theory of symbolic interaction, he responded to the loss of her daughter due to the underlying meaning and not the practical aspect of it. However, the dog later returns to the party after the thunderstorm. The society has many interconnected strings that bind together social norms, traditions, customs, as well as social institutions. The movie "Because of Winn-Dixie" is practically based on structural functionalism ideology. In the beginning, Opal’s family structure is compromised due to missing links between the parents as well as parent child interaction. The society is depicted as a forgotten society where everyone cares for himself or herself. However, the entrance of Opal and her best friend Winn-Dixie changes the societal structure. They befriend everyone and in fact go all the way to organizing a reunion party for the friends she had made. Through making friends with members of the society, social interaction barriers are broken and the society becomes functional one again. According to Malinowski's argument, the society is a buildup of many functional nuclear family set-ups. Once Opal reconstructs her family set up, then the general society followed suit.  According to social conflict theory, the members of the society have different and conflicting needs, ideologies, and attitude towards life. This was highlighted as the primary cause of social disorder. This movie is constructed on the fundamentals of conflict theory. Indeed, the movie begins with a conflict between Opal and her father, who is insensitive to her needs as a daughter. Opal’s mother left the family largely due to the conflict of interest between churchwomen and herself. The members of Naomi town are unfriendly to one another due to their conflicting interests. Alfred demands that the dog be removed from his compound since he is not inclined towards dogs. This conflicts with Opal’s interests on the dog as her best friend. Socialization is the primary medium in which a given society constructs, defines, and develops social norms, societal values, beliefs, and attitudes. The members of a society develop an identity by identifying themselves with the basic elements of their society. They learn behaviors, beliefs, and social norms as they present themselves within the society. The preacher can be said to have inherited his cold attitude towards his daughter due to the treatment he has received from the society. His wife, who he still loves, left due to insensitivity of churchwomen. The society he serves as a preacher is ironically insensitive. With time, he has also become insensitive to his daughter. However, Opal and her best friend change the family and the society as well. The father learns the caring behavior from his daughter. The society learns to be friendly from the friendly actions of Opal and her friend Winn-Dixie. It can therefore be safely concluded that the entrance of Opal and Winn-Dixie into the society introduces a new set of societal beliefs, attitudes, and values. Every normal society is characterized by elements of deviant behaviors. Some of the members of the society fail to follow one or more of the social norms and values. The preacher’s wife is the perfect example. She fails to adhere to the social norms set by the society. It is not surprising that the churchwomen who always judged her within the context of being a preacher’s wife. The elderly librarian defies social norms. In fact, children in the neighborhood think that she is a witch. The pet shop operator had previously been classified as a deviant and jailed. However, he has been reintegrated back into the society after conforming to societal values and norms. Religion is one of the predominant themes in this movie. The preacher is a religious man who moves from town to town in the endeavor of preaching good gospel of repentance and forgiveness. The society upholds religious values and that is the primary reason why churchwomen expected the preacher’s wife to live according to the religious expectations. Opal prays to God for a friend. Later, she meets with Winn-Dixie who she believes to be the friend sent by God. This explains the religious values that some of the characters in the movie uphold. It can also be said that the preacher perseveres through life challenges due to his religious affiliation, which makes him believe in God for hope and inspiration (Chattaway web). Works Cited Chattaway, Peter. “Because of Winn-Dixie”. Christianitytoday 2005. Web 29, January 2012. Read More