The Theme of Social Injustice and Operation

Answer

Q 1. The Theme of Social Injustice and Operation

A number of topics have been highlighted in the presentation. These include connections between racial dogma and imperialism, class conflict and anti-imperial protest. However, the main theme that vividly correlate with social injustice and operation is racial roles reversal (Cullinane, 2010). This is depicted in a number of cases.

To begin, when Louis Pinnock who was a very diligent domestic man loses his employment and ultimately his home via a minor and an insignificant misunderstanding at workplace, there is a creation of a sympathetic portrayal by Mr. Travolta of a gentleman who comes unstrung. This status prevails until disaster strikes thus Louis survives with his wife, Marsha and their two youngsters in an underprivileged white neighbourhood of chain-link fences and decaying automobile parts that look alike to south central Los Angeles.

Owing to the borderline poverty, the marriage is strained making the couple to lag behind in their loan payments. Zwick, (2015) says that the most tormenting scene of the movie is the depiction of the humiliating eviction of Pinnocks’ family wherein the family is given only 15 minutes to pack the small number of their belongings and empty the premises.

The economic dilemma of Pinnocks is intentionally compared with the wealthy world of Thaddeus Thomas, the well-thriving capitalist, who carelessly caused Louis to be fired. Thaddeus's taming project of stylish wife, Megan, occurs to be an extravagant fashion show that benefited the disadvantaged white children. There is however, a turn of events; race relations begin to pick up when Pinnock kidnaps Thaddeus in his pick up and demands restitution from him since he was the CEO to the company thence he exposes Thaddeus to his scruffy world (Zwick, 2015). The two are thereafter imperilled at a fast-food stand where white skinheads with guns attack them. Additionally, the timidity of the movie is revealed in a scene wherein which Louis, who is stilled while walking on the street and interrogated as an alleged thief, is beaten nonsensically by black policemen although a small crowd collects to protest. Both the reaction and the beating to this incidence are so low-key and automatic that the caution of the film becomes deceitful (Cullinane, 2010). This is because it attempts to describe provocative events, nonetheless in a manner that evades inspiring anger. This is impossible. By these incidences, it is clear that the theme of racial roles reversal has been properly developed to illustrate social injustice and operation.

2. Lessons Learnt From the Story

From the movie, one interesting lesson that I learnt is that the social wellbeing of an individual is dependent on another individual. From the movie, there is the depiction of the family of one hardworking man called Pinnocks. Pinnocks works so hard in the company where he is employed and brings up a family that is well-of in standards of life. However, this comes to nosedive when   Thaddeus, the company’ CEO, fires Pinnocks. Beyond this date, the family of Pinnocks begin to live a deteriorating life. It gets to appoint when Pinnocks is not able to pay for his mortgage and loans and has to be evicted from his residential house (Volney, 2000). From this, it is clear that Pinnocks socially depended on Thaddeus.

Additionally, after the dismissal Pinnocks that led him to live the lowest of life’s standard possible, he kidnaps and puts Thaddeus’ life at risk for the sole reason that Thaddeus reinstate him. This takes some time before they are kidnapped. After this Pinnocks, who is stilled while walking on the street and interrogated as an alleged thief, is beaten nonsensically by black policemen although a small crowd collects to protest. In my view, if Pinnocks never attempted the kidnap, his life would have not been taken away.

On the contrary, if Thaddeus had not falsely accused Pinnocks, he would not have been kidnapped. In fact were it not for the approach of negotiation that was taken by Pinnocks, Thaddeus’ life would have been taken away by Pinnocks, who had suffered life’s frustrations and sorrows just because of the false accusation of Thaddeus.

When Thaddeus is kidnapped, the fear for his life goes to the family members, the company and the state authorities at large. This has the implication that even if there are political, colour, race prejudices between a people, there is a social tie that bonds them (Cullinane, 2010). If the tie is severed, the social co-dependence may be destabilized resulting into cases of distress and other elements of social injustices. 

Q3. Reservations and Cautions about the Story

Considering the movie, there are a number of reservations and cautions in its regard. First, the movie makes good use of Pinnocks and Thaddeus as its key characters. They are adequately used to clearly bring the theme of race relations with regard to attitudes and prejudices. However, this is a familiar story except that the playwright has just changed the colour of the actors (Zwick, 2015). Nakano, a Japanese American playwright of “Last Exit to Brooklyn” observes that by simply slackening the stereotypes and obligations of whites and blacks there are chances of being left similarly mixed-up. It is thus possible that as the movie begins playing, the viewers are able to easily predict what Pinnocks and his wife are to undergo throughout the movie.  Nonetheless, it has not a similar impact since beyond its shallow racial turns, it is a conventional play that is amassed contrary to the power class that the ethnic matters become progressively irrelevant

Secondly, the caution of the movie is lost at certain points and thus requires the guidance of parents, adults or guardian whenever it is to be watched by children (Zwick, 2015). This is because it includes some mildly vulgar language and violence. For instance, the movie reveals a scene wherein Louis is stopped while walking along the street, interrogated as a supposed thief and beaten nonsensically by black policemen although a small crowd collects to protest. Both the reaction and the beating in this incidence are so low-key and automatic that the caution of the film becomes deceitful. This is because the movie attempts to describe provocative events, nonetheless in a manner that evades inspiring anger. This is impossible.

Lastly, despite of its captivating themes, the poem plods along deprived of arousal for genuine sympathy for either the whites or the blacks (Volney, 2000). In fact, the most searing is against the police but not against the whites. The movie too is told with a serious and stern face that makes it too tasteless for social clarification and too sombre for amusement.

Q4: Elements of Social Injustice and Oppression in the Story

The movie offers a depiction that help understand issues related to social injustice. First, the title “The White Man’s Burden” has the connotation that it is the responsibility of the whites to colonize and rule other nations with the aim of benefiting the colonized. This has the implication that the blacks cannot adequately rule themselves but if they do then little or no benefit can be the outcome (Volney, 2000). Additionally, it implies that the whites are obligated to colonize the blacks. This may be understood as a racism since the undeveloped economic traditions and national cultures of other countries are inferior to the American’s.  Luis (2002) further notices that superficially, the poem expresses a positive perception of the notion that "The White Man", largely recognized to mean the colonial powers in the United States and Europe had a responsibility to enlighten the more barbaric and brutish regions of the world. This is an element of social injustice.

Secondly, are instances of increase of social actions (Cullinane, 2010). For instance, Pinnocks is beaten after being stopped and interrogated of an alleged case. While the movie indicates that there are people shouting against and some for this yet there is no attempt to curtail the beating. Pinnock is falsely accused and is later seen to have missed his job. Him and his family live a very pathetic life after the dismissal and is even made to vacate his residential house.

Thirdly, social awareness is increasing among the characters. When the worse comes to the family of Pinnock, he goes and kidnaps Thaddeus and pleads his case that he may be reinstated back to his former employment. This comes after the realization of the fact that it is the CEO Thaddeus who caused his dismissal.

According to Phillips and Rhys (2008), other elements of social injustice that have been highlighted in the story include social changes and social movements, no respect of personalities and high self-love and knowledge.