To belong often involves both challenges and opportunities. Do you agree with this statement?
In the quest to find one’s place in the world, an individual must overcome the challenges they face, and learn to embrace the opportunities. In Baz Luhrmann’s film Strictly Ballroom, many characters are significantly impacted by the barriers associated with the repression of individuality, before they are able to feel accepted. The speaker in John Foulcher’s poem, Raymond Wells and the Burning, also faces various obstacles, and although he is given the opportunity to develop a friendship, the pressure to conform prevents him from finding a sense of connection and belonging. The personas in these texts need to overcome the challenges that arise, and …show more content…
The high-angle shot of Barry Fife falling with the trophies symbolises the downfall of the ballroom dancing empire, and the collapse of the regulations that can repress one’s individuality and self-identity. The final close-up of Scott and Fran as they dance shows that despite the challenges they experienced, they have found a sense of unity with each other.
Like Strictly Ballroom, the poem Raymond Wells and the Burning also conveys the challenges associated with the expectation to conform. The poem expresses the speaker’s desire to feel a sense of security by belonging to a larger group, without realising the implications of his decision. A central theme that resonates throughout the poem is the notion of needing to reject one group in order to feel accepted by another. This is explored through the speaker’s interactions with Raymond, and his “drifting to other, colder friends”, following their encounter on the first day of high …show more content…
The alliteration and description of his “rolled rubber face” and “fixed metal grin” places emphasis on his awkward appearance, just as Fran’s plain clothing and spectacles alienate her from the other superficial ballroom dancers. The cruel response of others who would “swell with sniggers” draws attention to Raymond’s isolation from his peers, and alludes to the consequent difficulties he will encounter in the struggle for acceptance.
The speaker’s inner turmoil is an obstacle he struggles to overcome. Although contact with Raymond is maintained, the speaker feels the need to “steal through the wild, untended park” to see him, which implies that there is an element of secrecy surrounding their exchanges. This is similar to Scott’s hesitant decision to reject Fran and dance with Tina Sparkle instead, which shows his uncertainty and inner struggle to find acceptance.
The speaker in Raymond Wells and the Burning encounters many personal challenges, and struggles to find an opportunity to belong. However, the characters in Strictly Ballroom, in particular Scott and Fran, are able to conquer both the external and personal barriers associated with conformity, and find rapport with each other. Both texts show that the challenges one faces, and the consequent opportunities that arise, are imperative in determining an individual’s sense of
In the quest to find one’s place in the world, an individual must overcome the challenges they face, and learn to embrace the opportunities. In Baz Luhrmann’s film Strictly Ballroom, many characters are significantly impacted by the barriers associated with the repression of individuality, before they are able to feel accepted. The speaker in John Foulcher’s poem, Raymond Wells and the Burning, also faces various obstacles, and although he is given the opportunity to develop a friendship, the pressure to conform prevents him from finding a sense of connection and belonging. The personas in these texts need to overcome the challenges that arise, and …show more content…
The high-angle shot of Barry Fife falling with the trophies symbolises the downfall of the ballroom dancing empire, and the collapse of the regulations that can repress one’s individuality and self-identity. The final close-up of Scott and Fran as they dance shows that despite the challenges they experienced, they have found a sense of unity with each other.
Like Strictly Ballroom, the poem Raymond Wells and the Burning also conveys the challenges associated with the expectation to conform. The poem expresses the speaker’s desire to feel a sense of security by belonging to a larger group, without realising the implications of his decision. A central theme that resonates throughout the poem is the notion of needing to reject one group in order to feel accepted by another. This is explored through the speaker’s interactions with Raymond, and his “drifting to other, colder friends”, following their encounter on the first day of high …show more content…
The alliteration and description of his “rolled rubber face” and “fixed metal grin” places emphasis on his awkward appearance, just as Fran’s plain clothing and spectacles alienate her from the other superficial ballroom dancers. The cruel response of others who would “swell with sniggers” draws attention to Raymond’s isolation from his peers, and alludes to the consequent difficulties he will encounter in the struggle for acceptance.
The speaker’s inner turmoil is an obstacle he struggles to overcome. Although contact with Raymond is maintained, the speaker feels the need to “steal through the wild, untended park” to see him, which implies that there is an element of secrecy surrounding their exchanges. This is similar to Scott’s hesitant decision to reject Fran and dance with Tina Sparkle instead, which shows his uncertainty and inner struggle to find acceptance.
The speaker in Raymond Wells and the Burning encounters many personal challenges, and struggles to find an opportunity to belong. However, the characters in Strictly Ballroom, in particular Scott and Fran, are able to conquer both the external and personal barriers associated with conformity, and find rapport with each other. Both texts show that the challenges one faces, and the consequent opportunities that arise, are imperative in determining an individual’s sense of