V for Vendetta - Movie Review Example

Perception, Personality and Motivation: Movie Case Summary Perception, Personality, and Motivation: Movie Case Summary V for Vendetta: Characters and Plot V for Vendetta is a Hugo Weaving and Natalie Portman starred film directed by James McTeigue. The movie is based on the 1982 comic book V for Vendetta written by Alan Moore and David Lloyd. It portraits a fictional English community, and exposes a daring, charming freedom fighter known as ‘V’ (Vigilante), who leads a revolution against a futuristic authoritarian regime under Sulter. This paper will analyze the personality traits and behavior of V as a leader, and how the theory of perception is demonstrated in the movie V for Vendetta. The movie gained wide discussion recently when China Central Television’s movie channels CCTV-6 broadcasted it despite its subversive content and ban. The film contains a motivational line; ‘The people should not be afraid of the government, the government should be afraid of the people’. From a personal point of enjoyment, the 2005 released movie contains several inspirational events and motivational aspects. The protagonist Vigilante’s Guy Fawkes mask has been adopted by several groups as their symbol. This also shows the impact of the movie on general public in terms of perception, personality, and motivation. The movie depicts a futuristic situation in Britain where V has to use radical tactics to fight the oppressive fascist state to regain the state’s freedom. Another main character of the story is Evey, a young woman who is rescued by V from a crucial life-and death condition. Finch is the police inspector who traces the identity of V, but eventually helps Evey to fulfill V’s mission. V wears mask throughout the movie, but he is very persuasive in terms of leadership quality and motivation. His impressive voice and eloquence are his main weapons. He employs multi-pronged strategy to overthrow the government. The film altogether worths appreciation in terms of direction and plot. Leaders use several intervention strategies to resolve organizational conflicts and thereby improve organizational cohesion. In order to improve the overall performance of the organization, it is important to identify and resolve conflicts on time. The leader must be unbiased while dealing with organizational conflicts. In addition, the leader should be thoughtful in choosing the type of intervention strategy to be executed. Only skilled and emotionally intelligent leaders can lead a group successfully. Theory of Perception Employed Evidently, the director has employed certain ‘ideas of perception’ in this movie, especially in setting the persuasive speech scene of V over the public television. Vigilante appears on the screen wearing the Guy Fawkes mask and starts his speech when viewers including the people at the helm of affairs get astonished. Body language is the most important element that determines the effectiveness of a speech. However, director has employed other filming techniques to arouse feelings when keeping V under cover. Sound is the most important element utilized here. V’s sound is very impressive and persuading. Speech is very cohesive and authentic despite its rebellious content. V’s perception is unique when compared to other civilians of the city. People are accustomed with the tyrant government and its atrocities. Obviously, the speech creates multiple responses in the viewers. However, only the officials are getting troubled as they are his targets. The facial expressions of the public show that they are highly curious and surprised over this unbelievable act. It seems that these were the ideas they wanted to speak out and have been tormenting their souls for years. ‘Target’ and ‘situation’ are the two elements that influence the viewers’ perception in this context. Target is the authoritarian regime which already has several reasons against it. The disesteem of the government makes the speech significant, and this also influences perception. This is what the theory states, “the relationship of a target to its background influences perception” (Langton, Robbins & Judge, p. 39). The situation of the speech is also important because it is delivered in the evening when all are free after a messy day. Here people have free mind and sufficient time to listen to the speech. The listeners of the speech in the movie and the viewers of the movie are equally influenced by these ideas of perception. Two Personality Traits The leader V in the movie belongs to visionary type of traits. To illustrate, he demonstrates ‘great drive for his own ideas and purposes’. Like Langton, Robbins and Judge (n.d., p. 39) suggests, he is skeptical, critical, independent, determined and stubborn’. He is determined to go ahead with his mission although he is well aware of the consequences. He is courageous enough to criticize the government. “Cruelty and injustice, intolerance and oppression; And where once you had the freedom to object. , ……… you now have censors and surveillance coercing your conformity and soliciting submission” (V for Vendetta). In addition, he possesses conceptualizers trait because V is innovative, individualistic, and neglect routine way of life. With regard to three behaviors, he is extrovert, agreeable, and emotionally stable. For instance, he is very assertive and warm, and empathetic, and at the same time self confident. He remains under cover not because he is afraid but to give more emphasis to the ideas conveyed. Unlike the common civilians, he did not keep mum when deprived of freedom and justice. He remained emotionally stable even when he knew that the entire force was against him. He is compassionate to the needy, for he rescues Evey from death. Great leaders are “the beneficiaries of hidden advantages, and extraordinary opportunities and cultural legacies allow them to learn and work hard and make sense of the world in ways others cannot” (Gladwell, 2008, p.11). V’s Approach to Motivation V’s approach to motivation works to a great extent. His speech and subsequent rebellious actions encourage people to embrace his ideology. The city plunges into chaos, and the Vs distribution of thousands of Guy Fawkes masks in the city intensifies it further. The police chief officer Creedy offers V that he would hand over Sutler in exchange for Vs surrender. Though Creedy executes Sutler, V refuses to surrender, and gets shot by the crew. Evey takes up the mission when V dies with the permission of the Inspector Finch, and destroys the parliament by releasing the explosive-laden train against it. Although Finch asks Evey for the identity of V, she says "He was all of us." V’s motivational strategy, especially the speech he delivered at the British Television seems very effective. He concludes the speech as; “so if youve seen nothing, if the crimes of this government remain unknown to you then I would suggest that you allow the 5th of November to pass unmarked. ………..and if you would seek as I seek...then I ask you to stand beside me, one year from tonight outside the gates of Parliament” (V for Vendetta). According to the motivational theories, ‘the performance of a person is determined by the motivation and the motivation comes from rewards’ (Hunt, 1992. pp. 29-30). In total, V is a leader in every sense albeit his subversive ideology. The way he perceives the nation’s stature is unique. He has developed his own perception of freedom and justice, and has the potential to make people also perceive things the same way. Successful leaders take advantage of various factors other than their own personal struggle to be successful. Great leaders are not born; they are the products of circumstances. This finding along with various theories of leadership provides valuable insights. As the trait theory of leadership points out, great leaders possess certain unique features or traits. Such traits range from achievement drive, leadership motivation, honesty and integrity, self-confidence, cognitive ability, emotional maturity, and charisma. References Hunt, J. W. (1992). Managing People at Work: A Manager’s Guide to Behavior in Organizations, 3rd edn. New Delhi: Mc Graw-Hill. Gladwell, M. (2008). Outliers: The Story of Success. US: Penguin Books Limited. Langton, N., Robbins, S. P & Judge, T. A. ( ). Organizational Behaviour. V for Vendetta. Film. Read More