The purpose of this essay is to provide an explanation of the events/ideas in the movie “Cancer Divide: Mary,” drawing on the course material from this term. In order to accomplish this goal, I will first examine all of the material we have studied in the course this term to determine which of the course material better speaks to this views expressed in the film. The film “Cancer Divide” centers around a person named Mary singleton, 57, and the cancer diagnosis she received that brings her son George back to his home town Memphis. Seeing the film helped me understand aspects about Mary and the role cancer played in her life. I hope that the course materials will give me a broader perspective and a clearer understanding of the video discussed
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First I will be examining the theory of the Looking Glass Self often referred to as “Goffman 's Dramaturgical theory of society,” to describe how Mary views herself and her situation. The other theory I will be using is the Social Construction of Reality and its role in Mary’s socialization process. Moreover, I will be thinking about the role of Cultural Institutions in the film and how they shape Mary’s experience. Through these ideas it will become clear how Mary’s experience of cancer is greatly impacted by culture and society and affects her relationships with other …show more content…
This theory states that: “Social reality is created through interaction and shared meaning. Social reality exists as an objective reality which individuals subjectively experience, to which they respond and, acting collectively, can change.” As I was watching this video I definitely see that in Mary’s case her “mental representations of [her] self, each other, and, in turn a habitual social system” has kept her from watching out for her health and in turn her health has suffered greatly. But what I like about this theory is that it says that people can change their understanding of themselves and even change society. If we construct society then we have some freedom to change society as well. So Mary does have some freedom and I can see that in the film. She has been able to raise her children by herself and she was able to create a life that was good even though she was not given much by her
First I will be examining the theory of the Looking Glass Self often referred to as “Goffman 's Dramaturgical theory of society,” to describe how Mary views herself and her situation. The other theory I will be using is the Social Construction of Reality and its role in Mary’s socialization process. Moreover, I will be thinking about the role of Cultural Institutions in the film and how they shape Mary’s experience. Through these ideas it will become clear how Mary’s experience of cancer is greatly impacted by culture and society and affects her relationships with other …show more content…
This theory states that: “Social reality is created through interaction and shared meaning. Social reality exists as an objective reality which individuals subjectively experience, to which they respond and, acting collectively, can change.” As I was watching this video I definitely see that in Mary’s case her “mental representations of [her] self, each other, and, in turn a habitual social system” has kept her from watching out for her health and in turn her health has suffered greatly. But what I like about this theory is that it says that people can change their understanding of themselves and even change society. If we construct society then we have some freedom to change society as well. So Mary does have some freedom and I can see that in the film. She has been able to raise her children by herself and she was able to create a life that was good even though she was not given much by her