Menace II Society is an American film that portrays African-American teenagers' typical life in the American society associated with gun violence, drugs, murder, and crime. The film commences with a scene showing two characters, O-Dog and Caine, entering a Korean couple's grocery store. O-Dog and Caine got two bottles of malt liquor as the two Korean couple rushes them to pay for their drinks and walk away. O-Dog replies with insulting words that infuriate the male Korean cashier. The situation becomes worse when the cashier replies to O-Dog that he feels sorry for his mother. O-Dog takes this as an insult, and with fury, he shoots the cashier and kills him. He then turns to the wife, demanding the surveillance tape, and shoots her. He then steals the couple's money from the cash register and disappears with his friend Caine. This scene acts as a foreshadow of what viewers expect in the movie; hence, it is worthy of discussing vital aspects of the film.
The movie is educative based on events and the actions of the characters. I learned from the movie that the environment influences an individual's personality and behaviors during their development and growth. People tend to behave similarly as other individuals behave around them. This notion is exhibited by Caine, who is born in a tough family. His father was a drug dealer, selling "dope," while his mother was a heroin addict (" Menace II Society, " 5:03). Caine lived in a chaotic, messy, and toxic environment where he "heard a lot and saw a lot" (" Menace II Society, " 5:36). He had his taste of alcohol, held a firearm, and witnessed his dad kill a person when he was young. These events portray the environment he was exposed to, which shaped his life to the worst.
Delegate your assignment to our experts and they will do the rest.
This movie's message is that young people who grow up in violent and toxic societies may end up destroying their potential in life if they fail to take positive approaches that would make them live a purposeful life. I agree with this message based on Caine's experience in Watts, Los Angeles. Besides, Caine had the chance to change his life because he had people around who cared for him. For example, his God-fearing grandparents, school teacher, and friend who earned an athletic scholarship wanted Caine to live a positive life. If only Caine had adhered to his grandfather's advice, his life would have changed for the better. He regrets not doing this when he recalls his grandfather ask him whether he cares to live or die. It is a shame that he dies while thinking of his grandfather's advice, which he never followed.
My favorite section in the movie is the scene where Caine's grandfather advised him and O-Dog to desist from their risky behaviors. This is my favorite scene as it portrays the love and care that parents have when children are going astray. Caine's grandfather portrayed a caring parent who wanted Caine to live a purposeful life. The most remorseful part is when the old wise man asks Caine "whether he cares to live or die" (" Menace II Society, " 25:57). These words hurt Caine when he recalls them during his death. This part also indicates that young individuals should take seriously pieces of advice offered by elders.
The sociologist will be interested in the following actions. First, events in Caine's home where he witnessed his father kill a friend, his first taste of alcohol, and his mother's and father's a drug and substance abuse. Second, Caine's grandfather's advice, Doc's graduation party, and Sharif's father's advice to Caine. Based on these actions, sociologists may conclude that the environment and the people around influence an individual's behavior and motivate them to act in a particular manner. The sociologist may also conclude that changing a person's behavior is challenging when the surrounding is constant. For individuals to transform their behavior and personality, they need to change their toxic environment and develop a suitable niche to facilitate a change in attitude, behavior, and personality.
Reference
Menace II Society. [Movie]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EMtgr7dZtZI&ab_channel=YouTubeMovies
