How to Analyze a Film Sociologically

Sociological Film Analysis

Introduction

The meso-level sociological analysis implies that playing sports is not obligatory, that sports is distinct from ordinary life, and provide the basis for an alternate reality. Equally, those participating in sporting events, at all levels, are members of their societies. Motion picture narration uses relatable messaging to communicate issues affecting society by generating publicity through popular cinematic productions. To highlight some societal issues, motion picture directors exploit the relatable quality uniquely possessed by sports. Hence, this analysis focuses on the relationship between cinematic productions, sports, and common societal issues.

Option 2

While social inequality is the uneven distribution of societally valuable resources like positions, rewards, and resources, the concept of social differentiation provides its fundamental underpinning. To the extent that social characteristics like differences, roles, and identities provide the basis for distinguishing and dividing people into different categories, social differentiation is fundamental to social inequality. Furthermore, in situations where social categories like race, gender, occupation, and class facilitate greater access to resources and services, the association between social inequality and social differentiation is better illuminated. Still, social stratification comprises the institutionalization of social inequality based on factors like education, power, wealth, income, and race.

Consequently, those with the most significant access to the factors mentioned above occupy the highest level of the social stratification system. Likewise, those with progressively fewer resources occupy lower levels. Social inequality provides a fundamental component in the analysis of the cinematic projection of the relationship between society and sport.

American football and boxing are some of the most popular sports across American society. From a cinematic viewpoint, these examples provide those relatable qualities that film directors can use to enhance the messaging of their productions (Bruckheimer, Oman & Yakin, 2000: Cantillon, Shuman, Wolthoff, Facio, Scott, & Landesman, 2015: Ruddy, Rosenberg, Haggis, & Eastwood, 2004). Remember the Titans and Million Dollar Baby are examples of popular motion picture productions whose content provides messaging based on social inequality. Along with the critical messaging, the content of the films as mentioned above is relatable due to their association with popular sporting forms and the level of emotional engagement. Therefore, the motion picture selection is informed by the presence of critical and popular content in the chosen productions.

Not only is race a social construct based on superficial physiological features, but racialization is a social process for determining the unequal treatment of some groups based on perceived physiological differences. Remember the Titans is situated in Virginia during the 1970s and is about the creation of biracial American football team using mismatched teenagers. Predominantly, the film focuses on how the team works to become a racially integrated team and catalyzes the town’s transition from established social schemas based on race to true racial integration (Bruckheimer, Oman & Yakin, 2000). The film mentioned above successfully uses sports to reduce racism and promote racial integration. Hence, by focusing on and successfully reducing racism, the film as mentioned earlier connects social inequality and sports.

Million Dollar Baby exploits the popularity of boxing in American society to challenge established gender stereotypes. Even though the biological differences between male and female are apparent, the same cannot be said about the social and cultural expectations of men and women. The film is based on 31-year-old waitress harboring ambitions of becoming a professional boxer and how she overcomes the lack of support from her family and the first gender bias of her prospective trainer and later father figure (Ruddy, Rosenberg, Haggis, & Eastwood, 2004). From a social stratification viewpoint, this is a female character that is from a poor background and is not well educated; therefore, she has very little in the way of power and access to resources and services. Boxing, an aggressive, confrontational and male-dominated sport, is promoted as the only viable avenue of ensuring her social mobility but first, she had to overcome social inequality factors like gender stereotypes, low socioeconomic standing, and limited education (Ruddy, Rosenberg, Haggis, & Eastwood, 2004). Eventually, the female character proves herself a successful boxer, and her social mobility is limited only by the unscrupulous actions of her competitor during a world title bout.

Furthermore, the film showcases the role that men can play in challenging stereotypes and the anti-climatic developments symbolically underscore that such stereotypes are socially entrenched. Having been raised by a single mother on state welfare programs, the lead character carried her need for a father figure into her adulthood (Ruddy, Rosenberg, Haggis, & Eastwood, 2004). Along with training and monitoring her physical condition, a relationship based on acceptance, understanding, and support developed between the boxer and her trainer. Fundamentally, the basis of their relationship underscores the importance of male support and cooperative relationships in challenging social inequality (Ruddy, Rosenberg, Haggis, & Eastwood, 2004). Therefore, this motion picture is successful in its approach to challenging existing gender stereotypes and highlighting social inequality.

Option 3

Macro-level sociological analysis limits focus on the structure of a sport and the nature of the society upon which it is entrenched. Undoubtedly, American football and boxing are some of American society’s deeply established. Unsurprisingly, America is a society modeled after Greco-Roman cultural practices and ideals. Historical records provide evidence for the origin of both sporting forms in similar periods with football having its contemporary in rugby football. Equally, capitalistic professional organizations have monetized and commodified these sporting forms. The spectacle of a football game or a boxing match has been commodified because fans pay to attend and advertisers also pay to use the sporting event as a promotion vehicle for their products. Historical analysis of Greco-Roman cultural practice and ideals reveals themes like high esteem of the military, racism, and slavery, and strong conformity with traditional gender roles. Predictably, this thematic pattern strongly resonates with American society.

There is a positive association between America’s high regard for its military capabilities and professional level American football. Thematically, football teams wear uniforms, “battle” for possession of the ball, territory, and points, and there is the use of brute force and strategic planning. Advancing this notion further, the teams are divided into sub-teams specialized by offensive, defensive, and special team functions. Still, the discourse surrounding the games has gladiatorial undertones strongly associated with the on-field “battles” (Bruckheimer, Oman & Yakin, 2000: Cantillon, Shuman, Wolthoff, Facio, Scott, & Landesman, 2015). Significantly, when one professional player took to an unusual form of protest against racial inequality, the current head of state termed the protest as disrespectful to the military, war veterans, and nation at large. Also, the pre-game rituals are distinctly militarized affairs akin to military parades. Undoubtedly, the American society is based on Greco-Roman cultural practices and ideals.

Race-based social inequality through slavery was common practice in ancient times where they also observed some level of social stratification. Remember the Titans attempts to focus societal attention to the issue of racism and the benefits of reducing prejudice and discrimination (Bruckheimer, Oman & Yakin, 2000). Because the motion picture was about a high school team, the pre-game militarized routines do not apply. However, the methodology and terminology used at any level of American football showcase the militaristic ideology underpinning the game. Getting back to racism, even after football had united the high school students, there are those who were still opposed to racial integration. Furthermore, there is the incident where someone throws a brick at Coach Boone’s house as well as the observation that most African American student-athletes forewent further career development and stayed in their hometown (Bruckheimer, Oman & Yakin, 2000). Both of these speak to the lack of equality and justice for racial minority groups.

Considering that men predominantly play this game, it implies the presence of gender stereotyping in American society. Sheryl Yoast is reprimanded continually for her wardrobe choices and displaying her passion for football. To highlight her role, the directors use Nicky Boone’s character to provide contrast (Bruckheimer, Oman & Yakin, 2000). For example, Coach Boone invites Sherly to go and join Nicky to play with dolls, but the Sherly declines the invitation, preferring to talk about football instead. Notably, Coach Boone fails to apologize and adopt a more inclusive approach to Sheryl. Symbolically, the directors only begrudgingly acknowledge the fact that Sherly is challenging established stereotypes (Bruckheimer, Oman & Yakin, 2000). In so doing, they affirm the existence of gender stereotyping and inequality in American football and society. Likewise, in Million Dollar Baby most of the boxing-based scenes are predominantly male with interspersed female presence. The female boxing athlete’s interactions are with her male trainers and other male characters training in the same gym (Ruddy, Rosenberg, Haggis, & Eastwood, 2004). However, unlike Remember the Titans, here the directors highlight gender inequality in order to address it. Therefore, the directors use their sports-themed cinematic productions to showcase the impact of gender stereotyping and discrimination.

American society promotes itself as the center of capitalism partly due to the legacy of the ideologically based Cold War and the development of its economy. Same capitalistic designs underpin the commodification and marketing of American football and boxing. While such commodification has arguably enhanced the welfare of participating athletes, coaches, and other officials, it also implies the possibility of private interests advancing profit at the expense of humanity and ethics. Both American football and boxing feature physicality that is aggressively confrontational. Padded plastic helmets, shoulder, hip, and knee pads are entrenched examples of the protective equipment used by footballers (Cantillon, Shuman, Wolthoff, Facio, Scott, & Landesman, 2015).

One unintentional consequence has been an increase in violence in the games. However, this does not eliminate the association between football and career ending and fatal incidents. A concussion is a cinematic narration about the discovery of the connection between chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) and American football at the professional level. This comprises the NFL publicly acknowledge the correlation and adopt proactive preventive measures (Cantillon, Shuman, Wolthoff, Facio, Scott, & Landesman, 2015). To the extent that the NFL adopted an ambiguous position on this issue pits the industry against humanity. Likewise, in Million Dollar Baby the directors hint at the presence of unscrupulous industry practitioners who arrange fixed boxing matches for profit.

Furthermore, the unscrupulous actions of the protagonists’ title competitor, though exaggerated, highlights the possible impact of advancing personal gain over humanity (Ruddy, Rosenberg, Haggis, & Eastwood, 2004). It was the unsanctioned punches that initiated a series of unfortunate events that culminate in the death of the protagonist. These are nuanced examples of aspects of the sport-society relationship.

Conclusion

Sports has an interesting relationship with society and sociology provides the tools for analyzing the nature of this relationship. The media through cinematic productions and marketing of live sporting events provide a platform for entrenching the connection as mentioned above. This is especially true when sports-themed motion pictures are used to highlight the presence and impact of social inequality or demystify dark elements of the relationship between society and the sporting industry as a whole.

References

Bruckheimer, J., Oman, C & Yakin, B. (2000). Remember the Titans [motion picture]. United States: Buena Vista Pictures

Cantillon, E., Shuman, L., Wolthoff, D., Facio, G., Scott, R. & Landesman, P. (2015). Concussion [motion picture]. United States: Columbia Pictures.

Ruddy, S. A., Rosenberg, T, Haggis, P & Eastwood, C. (2004). Million Dollar Baby [motion picture]. United States: Warner Brothers Pictures