How Does the Film Beloved Related to Sociological Theory and the Real World - Term Paper Example

Beloved Introduction The film Beloved is rather controversial. Different critics have expressed various opinions about this film (Wardi, 2005). This is a story of Sethe (Oprah Winfrey), a woman who is haunted by reminiscences from the past and tries to escape from her awful memories on a farm in Cincinnati. The story begins when the woman meets a girl named Beloved (Thandie Newton). In reality, this girl is a reincarnated daughter of that woman. There is a deep philosophical and sociological background in this film.

For example, in her reminiscences from the past the main heroine reflects awful scorns at her when she was a slave. Moreover, destiny of the main heroine, which is full of hardships and challenges, is shown in an awfully realistic manner. Sociological issues of the film The director of the film managed to show drastic problems of a woman, who can be violated and then thrown away with a baby under her heart! The internal turmoil of a woman, who could once give up her children would follow her all lifelong (Tibbetts, 1999).

There is no need to depict this story as a cohesive whole. It is quite understandable that even disconnected moments from one’s life can remain the most striking memories. Another problem is a problem of marriage and relations between two partners (Keizer, 1999). Paul D and Sether came across numerous challenges and life scares, but even after Paul’s betrayal with Beloved, he comes back to Sether. This is a story about love in spite of all; about love which is above our heads and souls and it is love in its pure form.

People, who love each other devotedly are not afraid of a ruined house or ruined intimate relations…they just leave and are looking in one common direction. Therefore, it is relevant to consider this film from social functionalism. Though the main heroine escaped from the society, she managed to socialize her child to appropriate values and norms of society. The principles of this theory, which are mainly focused on marriage promotion, are reflected in the film. The director of the film shows the importance of marriage and spiritual contact between two spouses (Koolish, 2001).

Parson’s theory underlines the reliability of social functions differentiation between a husband and a wife. Another evident link to the theory is a special bond between a child and a mother. This can be illustrated by a constant haunting of Sethe by ghosts of her daughter, which came back to her after reincarnation. It is possible to illustrate the functionalist sociological theory, when Paul D. betrayed his woman, Sethe, with Beloved. On the one hand, he followed his gender instinct, but on the other hand he felt his guilt and could not confess to Sethe about his misbehavior (Iyasere & Iyasere 2000, p. 32). Basically, it is possible to claim that this film influenced the audiences’ attitudes to family.

It shifted accents from dominating free relations to a devoted partnership between two beloved persons. Moreover, a challenging and a strong character of the main heroine reflected devoted relations between a mother and a child. It is shown that after all hardships a baby is back to her mother. Moreover, a baby has always been with a mother. At this point is possible to draw parallels between a woman, who makes a decision to make an abortion and her further life, when she is haunted by her unborn baby.

Therefore, this film can be correlated with Weber’s postulates about individual’s ability to create his own world. Sethe and Paul D. are perfect examples of the individuals, who managed to live through different challenges and follow their own life paths. A power of an individual can be compared with a model of the Western individual’s development: a way from “zero” to “absolute”. Consequently, this film opens minds of the audience and provides a favorable basis for further considerations.

Conclusion The film “Beloved” talks about very important issues for the society: a family, relations between two beloved persons and their relations with children. Therefore, it is relevant to interpret the main ideas of the film with the social functionalist theory and draw parallels with Weber’s developments about the importance of an individual development in the world. In spite of controversial opinions about this film, it cannot be said that it is lacking of moral or social background.

The director chose to depict family problems in the mood of horror films, but it is just his methodology to strike the audience even more, not only by the plot of the film, but also by visual and audio effects to make it more remarkable. References Iyasere, S. O. & Iyasere, M. W. (Eds.). (2000). Understanding Toni Morrison's Beloved and Sula Selected Essays and Criticisms of the Works by the Nobel Prize-Winning Author. Troy, NY: Whitston. Retrieved March 28, 2012, from Questia database: http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=91908310 Keizer, A. R. (1999).

'Beloved': Ideologies in Conflict, Improvised Subjects. African American Review, 33(1), 105. Retrieved March 28, 2012, from Questia database: http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=5001248839 Koolish, L. (2001). "To Be Loved and Cry Shame": A Psychological Reading of Toni Morrison's Beloved. MELUS, 26(4), 169+. Retrieved March 28, 2012, from Questia database: http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=5000950494 Tibbetts, J. C. (1999). Oprah's Belabored Beloved. Literature/Film Quarterly, 27(1), 74+.

Retrieved March 28, 2012, from Questia database: http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=5035430444 Wardi, A. J. (2005). Freak Shows, Spectacles, and Carnivals: Reading Jonathan Demme's Beloved. African American Review, 39(4), 513+. Retrieved March 28, 2012, from Questia database: http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=5014728951