Storyline and Characters Summary
The film begins by presenting Quincy McCall as a person who has a great passion for basketball. His primary dream is to become the next NBA superstar. His father acts as a role model to him since Zeke has been a clipper in Los Angeles. Monica who is another main character in the film acts like a tomboy and lives within Quincy's neighborhood. The game also inspires the girl despite the fact that she is a female. The two teenagers are said to have been brought up together since the 1980s enhancing their mutual relationship in the game and off the court. Their friendship has lasted since childhood and has grown to a strong love between them ( Prince, 2000) . Indeed, the film is much more about love than the basketball game. As a result, the movie illustrates many themes including but not limited to gender roles, sexuality, parenting as well as violence.
“ Love and Basketball ” introduces the audience to a moment of love and happiness. The storyline dwells on how love grew between Quincy and Monica as a result of a standard character in the field. The characterization in the movie keeps the viewer on ambitious throughout the play. It turns to be emotional when Quincy realizes that the man he has been aspiring to emulate is a womanizer. To criticize the movie a bit, only a small section of the film becomes alive. It is a tendency with most of the film directors to put more emphasis on plot and forget to create room for fresh. They do not reflect director’s understanding of characters on the ground.
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Primitive Parenting Style
The director of the movie has used this technique to bring out the theme of parenting on the play. The way parents shape their children at their growth stage is how they are likely to behave in future ( Prince, 2000) . There are several illustrations the can be drawn from the movie to show how the parenting style for Quincy and Monica interfered with their lives. Families have influenced their lives until when leaves to join college. Before then, Monica almost loses her chance of getting a scholarship to the University due to her uncontrolled anger in the field. On the other hand, Quincy becomes a celebrity in the basketball game in his high school and secures a chance to join Southern California for an excellent education on scholarship. Parents in both families had taught their children on how to focus until their archive their goals no matter how hard.
Looking at his parents’ relationship, Quincy has a lot to learn. He first discovered that the man he pretends to emulate is a womanizer. Her mother does not hesitate to advise him not to engage in casual sex since it will only consume his money and dignity. As a superstar, many gold-diggers might put their sight on him with the aim of sourcing his little wealth. Nona and Zeke have also played a major role in training the kid to apologize for any inconvenience caused to others ( Prince, 2000) . The boy applies the theory in the game by apologizing to anybody he corrodes within the field. During court times, the coaches are always keen on Monica’s prima donna behavior. As a result, she has been receiving practical lesson to enable her to handle the situation during sports times. The parenting theme can also be traced when Monica’s mother talks of how she has created a loving home for her daughter. On matters concerning education, Zeke is quick to emphasize the benefits of acquiring higher education regardless of the amount of money the son receives at his tender age out of the talent.
Traditional Gender Role
The play is very clear on the gender role concept. Monica is the leading character used by the producer to show differences in the traditional gender roles as articulated in the society. The norms existing on gender roles turn to be interesting and applicable to the current generation to separate men from women ( Boydand Johnson, 2006) . They are associated with biological nature of human beings as well as the culture of a particular community. In the case of “ Love and Basketball ," gender roles have been crossed both in the field and in relationships. At the beginning of the movie, Monica is seen to categorize herself as “one of the guys” in the neighborhood ( Prince, 2000) . She does not practice feminine though pleasure and the power of love direct her to behave like a woman. Still, in the first scene of the play, the author brings out her character as a tomboy. In the court, her speed of playing basketball resembles that of men giving them a challenging experience. What reveals her gender is the long hair she possesses.
Quincy on the other end can be accused of failing to follow his gender roles as outlined by the culture. As a man, masculinity is a character that he should have in him. It involves a use of gestures, command, volume increase as well as vocal inflection to gather attention to passing information to people. Playing basketball came as a result of idolizing his father who used to be good in it. As a result, the son develops a domineering personality that is his father’s way of relating with Nona. Quincy has chosen to use power and status to protect identity just like his proactive father. He even makes a decision of dropping out of school to join NBA and become a famous player. During their relation with Monica, Quincy feels unloved and moves to find someone who is there for him in a time of need after being discouraged by his fathers' actions of adultery.
Concept of Child Aggression
According to therapists, aggressive behaviors are common in children and might be harmful if not controlled early enough. They fall to a range of category between verbal as well as physical abuse ( Boydand Johnson, 2006) . The primary cause of aggression in children may be brain damage or even poor mental conditions. Monica and Quincy are both aggressive in their game. They play with the aim of becoming the best to protect their dignity.Both have had quarrels in the field resulting in fighting since they have high tempers. Monica is much more aggressive than Quincy since she extends her behavior up to the family level where she argues with her mother. That leads into her mother giving her a slap so as to rectify the behavior. Ultimately, their love is has developed past limits due to their aggressiveness leaving them in sorrow after departing from each other for education purposes.
Conclusion
The play is about love and basketball, the bigger percentage of the movie is all about love. The web of love holds Quincy and Monica in their efforts to make it in life. The message sent to the audience regarding parenting emphasizes on doing the right thing to prevent children from adapting wrong virtues. It also teaches young people that the decisions they make, affect the outcome at the end. Therefore, there is a need for self-control in and out of the talent that individuals use to protect their identity.
Reference
Boyd, D. R., Bee, H. L., & Johnson, P. A. (2006). Lifespan development . Pearson/A and B.
Prince, G. (2000). Love & Basketball . Bythewood: Gina Prince.
