Analysis of Sociologically Relevant Film: Forrest Gump Essay

The world will never be the same(p) once youve seen it through the eyes of Forrest Gump a take aim chronicling the life of a mentally challenged man express during three of the most distinctive and dynamic decades in American history. While on the surface lies a heartwarming and inspirational story, the underlying narrative tends to explore progression of American society while depoliticizing history. end-to-end the frivol away Forrest is directly involved in major events of the 60s, 70s, and 80s, yet he never shows any orifice of his own. What is the filmmaker trying to insinuate?Sociological analysisAn understanding of Forrests background in an of the essence(p) and characterizing element in the film. Disadvantaged by a terrible spine condition and a upset IQ, Forrest struggles through childhood in small-minded Greenbow, Alabama. Due to his mental disabilities, Forrest becomes the victim of academic discrimination, which his mother fights desperately to resolve. He might be a bit on the slow side, but my boy Forrest is vent to get the same opportunities as everyone else, she stated to the principal of Greenbow County Central School. Hes not passing game to some special school to learn to how to re-tread tires. (Gump 1995) Forrests mother was determined. Taking advantage of this, the principal coerced Forrests mother into trading a sexual favor for enrollment in school. In addition to these unsettling events, Forrest finds himself rack and isolated by neighborhood children and townspeople who seem incapable of treating him with anything but reproach and disdain.Forrest was also an officious part of many heavy events, including protests lead by George Wallace against desegregation, the Vietnam War, the Ping Pong Diplomacy period, anti-war activism lead by Abbie Hoffman, Black Panther Party meetings, and the Watergate scandal. It would be reasonable to say that being part of such important events and would make him vulnerable to the social forces of the times, yet his lack of critical thought as a bequeath of low intelligence seemed to indicate the complete opposite he remained wholly oblivious and ignorant of their significance.During George Wallaces Stand in the Schoolhouse Door protest, Forrest stands curiously in the background, more interested in his surroundings rather than the actual protest. During the Vietnam War, Forrest never questions the morality or the agenda of the U.S. government, and receives the Congressional Medal of Honor for his efforts. His entire experience during the Vietnam War can be summed up into one conversation between him and the Drill sergeant-at-law Gump Whats your sole purpose in this Army? To do whatever you tell me, Drill serjeant-at-law (Gump 1995) Still, the most dismaying portion of impassive responses glorified in this film can be contributed to Forrests careless involvement in the anti-Vietnam War rally lead by Abbie Hoffman. He was entirely clueless as to the purpose of the anti-war movements. His view of Abbie Hoffmans role? There was this man, giving a little spill the beans And every time he said the F word, people, for some reason, well, theyd cheer.Though the focus of the film is directed towards Forrest Gump, the effects of social forces are most often expressed and implied through jennet Curran. Forrests for the most part unobservant nature contrasts harshly with Jennys forthright and independent character. With step up Jenny, we would have a collectively unrealistic and uncertain portrayal of many occurrences that contributed to the structure of todays society. Unlike Forrest, Jenny was consciously and intentionally involved in the counterculture movements of the 60s, as she is seen trailing the countryside with fellow hippies, participating in anti-war movements, and secretly involving herself in Black Panther Party meetings. Before Jenny sets off on what turns out to be downward spiral towards debasement, she speaks to Forrest of her motives. I wan t to reach people on a in the flesh(predicate) level. I want to be able to say things, just one-to-one. (Gump 1995) However, Jennys plans for a damp society are brought to a staggering halt when Jenny develops a fatal disease stemming from insecure drug use.ConclusionAlthough Tom Hanks (Star in Forrest Gump) affirms that the film was non-political and thus non-judgmental, the previous examples show implications otherwise. Though the film does take a stand against disability discrimination by shedding some light on the difficulties that accompany being handicap during a callous time in American history, its motives were generally ambiguous and unclear. Based on the filmmakers unattractive outlook on counterculturalism, his lack of discretion when touching on issues like desegregation and independence, as well as his insensitive approach to the deaths of activists, we can arrive at the following conclusion the harrowing experiences exposed in this film can be easily discarded as s omething warranted only by devoted individuals who attempt to foster humanity.