Film Paper Film Name is “The House I Live in" War on Drug Essay (Essay Sample)

Film Paper Film Name is “The House I Live in" War on Drug
Name
Institution
Introduction
Deviance and conformity theories of sociology are essential in human life as they define behavior and parameters that influence the execution of certain activities and decisions. The theories depict how social beings frequently conform or deviate from the expected norms due to social advancements and status as evident in the film in “the House I Live”. Notably, conformity is defined as the continual practice of good behaviors as expected in the society (Simon, 2012). It entails playing along and measuring up to the ideals that are supposed to be upheld by everyone. On the other hand, deviance is a practice and action that does not conform to the expectations in most instances (Simon, 2012). Deviant individuals display behaviors that are queer in nature and violate social norms.
Thesis statement
This essay provides reliable information pertaining to social theory whose context and impact has not been understood exemplarily by most individuals. In particular, there is insufficient of information and understanding that conformity and deviance have both negative and positive social effects. The two aspects that shape individuals behavior have both good and bad sides, and none can be preferred to the other. This is evident going by the revelations depicted in “the House I Live” film. The film depicts how playing along other people’s decisions in the pretext of remaining relevant proved detrimental towards the fight against drug usage (Simon, 2012). It also depicts how deviance from participation in corruption contributed to the eradication of drug usage. Therefore, there are instances when conformity yielded good fruits and circumstances when it was a liability to the worthy course. Likewise, there were circumstances where deviance contributed positively and negatively.
Critical discussion based on the social theories
In the film “the House I Live,” both conformity and deviant theories are depicted through its theme, actions, and characters. The film gives the drug syndicate story in US that has affected many lives health-wise. The film that is about drugs shows how narcotics is being smuggled in the nation, the tricks used, how it is sold, the strategy adopted, the people involved and the intelligence behind the trade (Bershen, 2014). It also how people’s behavior can change from being conformists to deviants over time. The trade of drugs is deemed illegal and against the social norms in most societies due to the far-reaching effects, drugs present to the people. The trade is done based on deviance in most instances and those perceived to be socially insensitive are the ones trading in it as portrayed in the film by the inmate (Bershen, 2014). The inmate noted the trade is associated with deviance social behavior as it involves a violation of noble human values and shared social norms that lead to unforgiving lifestyle.
The theories
There are several theories of deviance and conformity that shapes individual’s behaviors and decisions. The theories provide a reliable basis upon which individuals behaviors are understood based on the societal norms or beliefs. The theories include conflict theory, labeling theory, structural functionalism theory, learning and Marxian split labor market theories (Simon, 2012). The theories that facilitates the understanding of behaviors of individuals in various circumstances defines the character traits of the participants in the House I Live film that depicts about the war on drugs in US. In particular, labeling theory is a deviance theory that is defined as the forceful adoption of an identity despite its associated damaging effects. The theory holds that most individuals become deviant due to forceful identity imposed on them. Such people act towards gaining acceptance and helping in achieving the goals of the group; they are associated. Such behavior is depicted in the film especially when Ron and various police officers decided to adopt the imposed behavior aimed at fighting drug use. The individuals deviated from the pursuit of the eradication of drug usage after adopting a behavior of resisting the idea (Rios, 2012). An identity was forced upon Ron and some police officers to deviate from fighting the use of drugs in the nation. Their behavior cannot be considered a good deviance since it fosters a negative social norm that s against the will of the community.
Another social theory that is essential in shaping of individual behavior is the conflict theory. The theory holds that deviant behaviors are a product of the social group influences based on social, political and material inequalities. It holds that inequalities make some individuals to conform to wrong decisions in life (Adler & Adler, 2012). The behavior is all about enjoying taking part in the activities of the group while ignoring the consequences. The behavior is portrayed clearly in “the House I Live” film that captures how the war against the use and selling of drugs has been fought in the US. The film depicts how groups, circumstances, status and material differences made police officers, senators, and renowned drug dealers to deviate from the core mandate of eradicating drug usage in the nation.
Structural functionalism is another deviance theory that determines behavioral change in human beings. The theory helps individuals in distinguishing between acceptable and unacceptable norms or standards of behavior. It equips individuals with pertinent incentives that include active and constructive systems of behavior that shape values and norms in societies. In the film, there are individuals such as the US District Judge called Mark who separated the acceptable and unacceptable standards of behavior that they adopted. The judge offered strict judgment to the offenses relating to drugs within the law and expected standards (Rios, 2012).
On the other hand, learning theory is vital in shaping behavior and character in different societies. The theory argues that individual’s behavior can be shaped through learning and that systematic awareness on various issues facilitates accurate decision-making (Adler & Adler, 2012). According to the theory, an individual can adopt a behavior that he learnt from the group members by either conforming or deviating. This is based on certain differences relating to social status, economic and culture. In the film, Hillary porter including Bennet and Hallows give best examples of those whose behaviors were shaped through learning. They were acquainted with the ideals of the group members and the main reasons why the campaign against the use of drugs was staged. The learning process enabled them to make independent decisions based on the...