The theme repetitively presented in this movie is to not
live in fear. While seemingly a simple notion, the fear in question, which is
the fear of not conforming to social standards, is not easy for most of us to
overcome. As social creatures, every
single one of us are part of many in-groups, such as race, religion, occupation
and in order to maintain a positive self concept within the group, we are often
pressured to follow along the norms and beliefs that exists within that
in-group (Rodriguez, 2016).
Throughout the movie, we the audience can clearly see the
influence of Barry Fife, president of the Australian Dancing Federation, on all
the other ballroom dancers in this movie and it is evident how most of the characters
conformed, complied and obeyed the specific set of rules set on “the right way
to dance”. However in this post, I would like to address why the main
character, Scott Hastings, did not follow along with the rules, broke free to
dance his own “non-federation” steps, and how that impacted him and others
around him.
He danced to his own rhythm because...
His motivation to dance was purely intrinsic
Over and over again, Scott was reminded that the only way to
win the Pan Pacific Grand Prix would be to follow to the strictly ballroom steps and patterns and
it was beyond their understanding when Scott repeatedly denied wanting to win
the trophy that he had been training for since he was six years old. He just
wanted to dance and enjoy it for what it is, an expression of himself.
He had Social Support
In one variation on Asch's study of conformity,
it was found that participants are less likely to conform to the majority when
they find a partner with similar views and answers (Morris & Miller, 1975). Likewise, Scott battles
with himself throughout the majority of the film of whether to follow what he
believes in or whether to give in to the persuasions and pressure of basically every
ballroom dancer in the movie, including his mother and Les Kendall; however,
with his unlikely friendship, and later romance, with beginner dancer Fran, he
finds more courage to dance freely because she understands how he feels and she encourages his behaviour and need to break free with the quote, " Vivir con miedo, es como vivir a medias (to live in fear is a life half lived)". Along the way, Scott finds more support in Fran's father and grandmother who proceed to teach him the true paso doble and to dance to the rhythm in his heart as well as support him and Fran in the final competition.
As a result...
He achieved self-actualization
One of the characteristic of a self-actualized individual, as determined by Abraham Maslow and Carl Rogers, is achieved when an individual is resistant to enculturation, with a sense of autonomy found in people who are motivated to do more than adjust to and go along with their social in-groups (Whitson, 2016).
Scott made his final stand in the end when he, through the paso doble, publicly denounces his role of a rule-following ballroom dancer and displays his love and pure joy to dance. As a self-actualized individual, Scott develops a greater acceptance of his values and of his identity, as well as trusting in his internal instincts of what is right and wrong and transcending the social expectations of him to win the championship (Whitson, 2016).
Scott made his final stand in the end when he, through the paso doble, publicly denounces his role of a rule-following ballroom dancer and displays his love and pure joy to dance. As a self-actualized individual, Scott develops a greater acceptance of his values and of his identity, as well as trusting in his internal instincts of what is right and wrong and transcending the social expectations of him to win the championship (Whitson, 2016).
Barriers are broken
In the end, Scott and Fran together destroyed the entire regime that is the Pan Pacific Grand Prix and Dance Federation by giving a stellar non-federation paso doble performance, and this is symbolized by the shot of Barry Fife falling with the trophies, representing the downfall of the strictly ballroom regulations and a break to freedom of expression.
Dancing has finally been accepted for what it is, an art of expression and something that can not be controlled. The very thing that the Grand Prix existed for, which is to award champions, has been forgotten when everyone in the room enters the dance floor and dance to "Love is in the Air". Finally, I find that this final scene also represents the breaking of the in-group, out-group social barriers between dancers and non-dancers, and beginner and open amateur as everyone is allowed to dance and it is fine if you do not do it the "right way".
Morris, W. N., & Miller, R. S. (1975). The effects of consensus-breaking and consensus-preempting partners on reduction of conformity. Journal Of Experimental Social Psychology, 11(3), 215-223. doi:10.1016/S0022-1031(75)80023-0
No comments:
Post a Comment