Movie Watching, Never the Same Again.

This week in class we watched a movie based on a true story called the "Bronx Tale".
It was a story of a boy who grew up in an Italian neighborhood in a time where racism was still high.
Ever since he witnessed a murder, his life was never again the same.

Throughout the movie we can see the idea of sociological imagination.
There are numerous groups all affecting the main character "C", and his actions.
One group was his mother and father. They emphasized that the strongest man is the working man, not a man who kills by simplyl pulling a trigger. They both encourage him to work for a living instead of earning "dirty money". Another group that influences C is the neighborhood mob. C befriends the mob's leader and soon becomes part of the group. The mob's leisure time is greatly spent by gambling and playing dice, and are pretty violent. The last major group that adds to C's sociological inmagination are his friends. They are very racist and violent. Many times they act without thinking of the serious consequences to follow. All these groups affect C, even though he doesn't try to be like a certain group. For example, when C was having an argument with an African American he became so angered that he uses the word "nigger". Although he usually doesn't use such an offending term, his anger brought out his unconsciousness and he used a word he didn't mean. The racist atmosphere C is part of daily has made him become like them despite his efforts to be different.

In the end of the movie, C becomes sociologically mindful. He realizes how his actions can affect others and their lives. Due to this realization C begins to live his life with more meaning, and more thoughtfully. The main character continues to pursue his dreams and eventually makes it to Hollywood.

This movie reminded me of a Korean movie I saw once. Throughout the movie there was a boy who hated his father. He thought his father was selfish and cruel and unreasonable. The boy eventually grows up and starts a family of his own. Through conflicts with his own family, the boy realizes how he is very similar to his own father. The boy was sociologically influenced by his father even though he didn't want to be. After the boy realizes this, he becomes sociologically mindful of his actions and tries to become a new person, far from alike with his own father.

After watching this movie and having our teacher point out how characters are sociologically influenced, I don't think I can watch movies without thinking of how characters are influenced.
Movie watching will never be the same again.