What Does Each Text Say About Anomalies in Human Behavior? PDF

## What does each text say about anomalies, paradoxes and inconsistencies in human behaviour and motivations? The themes of anomalies, paradoxes, and inconsistencies in human behaviour and motivations are deeply explored through the characters' complex emotions and relationships. The novel illustra...

## What does each text say about anomalies, paradoxes and inconsistencies in human behaviour and motivations? The themes of anomalies, paradoxes, and inconsistencies in human behaviour and motivations are deeply explored through the characters' complex emotions and relationships. The novel illustrates how grief, loneliness, and trauma can lead people to act in ways that might seem contradictory or inconsistent. ### Anomalies in Behaviour - **We are okay, Nina Lacour:** Marin, the protagonist, displays unusual behaviour as for months, she refuses to respond to or contact any of the people from her life in California. As she isolates herself from her previous life and friendships after a traumatic event of her mother dying and her grandfather, this anomaly reflects how trauma can lead individuals to make choices that seem out of character, such as Marin's distancing themselves from loved ones as a coping mechanism. - **Billy Elliot Film:** Billy's passion for ballet is an anomaly in his community, where boys are expected to engage in traditionally masculine activities like boxing or coal mining, His love for dance defies the norms of his working-class background. ### Paradoxes in Motivation - **We are okay, Nina Lacour:** Marin's simultaneous desire for connection and her fear of vulnerability create a paradox. She wants closeness but pushes people away, showing how fear of further emotional pain can lead to contradictory motivations. - **Billy Elliot Film:** Billy's father and brother display paradoxical motivations. Initially, they oppose Billy's ballet aspirations, as they see it as a betrayal of their class values. However, as the story progresses, his father comes to support Billy's dream, even though it goes against everything he initially believed in. This shift illustrates the tension between the desire to protect one's family and the need to honour individual aspirations. ### Inconsistencies - **We are okay, Nina Lacour:** The novel highlights the way humans often shift between alternating needs for solitude and companionship. These inconsistencies demonstrate the struggle between self-protection and the innate need for human connection. - **Billy Elliot Film:** The film shows how people can act inconsistently when confronted with emotions that challenge their beliefs. Billy's father, who at first ridicules ballet as inappropriate for boys, later sacrifices his pride and even crosses the picket line to support Billy's dream. This inconsistency highlights how love and duty to family can lead people to act in ways that contradict their initial beliefs. ## How do the texts invite the responder to see the world differently, to challenge assumptions, ignite new ideas or reflect personally? **We are okay, Nina Lacour:** - Readers are invited to view the world from a perspective that emphasizes the complexities of grief, identity, and healing. - The novel encourages personal reflection and challenges societal assumptions about coping mechanisms and relationships. **Billy Elliot Film:** - It invites viewers to reconsider societal norms and encourages personal reflection on themes of identity, resilience, and self-expression. - Set in a working-class mining town with strict gender roles and expectations, the film challenges assumptions about masculinity, class, and ambition. ### Seeing the World Differently | Text | Description | | --------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **We are okay:** | The story, told through Marin's experiences with loss and isolation, offers a view of grief that doesn't follow typical stages or timelines. Instead, it presents the nonlinear and reality that healing is deeply personal, inviting readers to empathize with those dealing with trauma in unique ways. | | **Billy Elliot Film:** | The film confronts the assumption that certain careers, hobbies, or lifestyles are inherently "masculine" or "feminine." Billy's determination to dance despite his community's disapproval defies the assumption that boys must conform to traditional gender roles. This invites viewers to question other stereotypes and encourages acceptance of diverse identities. | ### Challenging Assumptions | Text | Description | | --------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **We are okay:** | Marin's reluctance to seek help and her withdrawal from friends challenge assumptions about how people should grieve and move forward. The novel suggests that it's okay to not have all the answers or to need time to process pain in isolation, pushing readers to question the pressure society places on resilience and "moving on." | | **Billy Elliot Film:** | The film shows how love and duty to family can lead people to act in ways that contradict their initial beliefs. This inconsistency highlights how people can act inconsistently when confronted with emotions that challenge their beliefs. His father's eventual support of his dream illustrates the transformative power of love and acceptance. The film encourages viewers to consider that growth often requires challenging long-standing beliefs and that true support means honoring a loved one's unique dreams. | ### Igniting New Ideas | Text | Description | | --------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **We are okay:** | Through the nuanced portrayal of Marin's friendship with Mabel, the text explores complex ideas about love, friendship, and identity, showing how these can evolve and deepen through hardship. It encourages readers to consider that relationships are not always easily defined, and that love can persist even through pain and distance. | | **Billy Elliot Film:** | The film challenges assumptions about masculinity, class, and ambition. The film shows how people can act inconsistently when confronted with emotions that challenge their beliefs. It encourages viewers to consider that growth often requires challenging long-standing beliefs and that true support means honoring a loved one's unique dreams. | ### Personal Reflection | Text | Description | | --------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **We are okay:** | We Are Okay prompts readers to reflect on their own relationships, the importance of human connection, and the ways in which they support others. Marin's journey underscores the idea that it's okay to rely on others and to seek help, which may resonate with readers who have struggled with similar challenges. | | **Billy Elliot Film:** | Billy Elliot prompts viewers to reflect on their own lives and aspirations. Billy's struggle may inspire those who feel trapped by expectations or limitations to pursue their true passions. The film also encourages self-reflection on biases or judgments one might hold, particularly regarding gender roles, ambition, or the expectations placed on others. | ## How do the texts prompt you do consider the role of storytelling throughout time to express and reflect particular lives and cultures? **We Are Okay:** Storytelling plays a crucial role in expressing and reflecting the particular lives and cultures of characters. Through Marin’s narrative, readers are encouraged to consider the power of storytelling as a means of understanding oneself and preserving connections across time and space. **Billy Elliot:** Storytelling is used as a powerful means to express and reflect the lives, struggles, and cultures of working-class communities and individuals who challenge social norms. Set during the 1984 – 85 miners' strike in Northern England, the film uses Billy's story to explore themes of resilience, identity, and societal change, highlighting the cultural and historical context of the time. ### Storytelling | Text | Description | | --------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | | **We Are Okay:** | **Preserving:** Marin's recounting of her past, particularly her relationship with her grandfather and Mabel, serves as a form of self-reflection. By revisiting memories, she confronts her grief and isolation, showing how storytelling can help individuals make sense of personal experiences, even when they are painful. **Exploring:** Marin's story reflects her struggle to hold onto her past while coping with her loss and feelings of abandonment. | | **Billy Elliot Film:** | **Preserving:** Billy Elliot serves as a representation of the working-class culture that expects boys to pursue "masculine" activities like boxing or coal mining. **Exploring:** Billy's passion for ballet in a culture that expects boys to pursue "masculine" activities like boxing or coal mining reflects the limitations that gender norms impose on individuals. **Reflecting:** The film shows the generational conflict and growth that occurs when Billy's father eventually supports his son's ambitions. **Empowerment:** The film emphasizes how personal stories of resilience and courage can resonate beyond a single person's life and inspire others to challenge societal limitations. | ## How do the composers use techniques to represent these ideas? ### We are okay: 1. **Anomalies in Behaviour:** - **Internal Monologue and Nonlinear Structure:** Nina LaCour uses Marin's internal monologue and a nonlinear timeline to explore her withdrawal and grief. Flashbacks juxtapose Marin's vibrant past with her isolated present, highlighting the stark anomaly in her behaviour after her traumatic experiences. - **Symbolism:** Objects like empty rooms and the lighthouse symbolize Marin's emotional isolation and longing for guidance. These emphasize how trauma disrupts expected patterns of behaviour. 2. **Paradoxes in Motivation:** - **Characterization:** Marin's conflicting desires for connection and solitude are revealed through her actions and dialogue. For example, her reluctance to reach out to Mabel contrasts with her evident yearning for her friend's company, showcasing the paradox. - **Imagery:** Descriptions of contrasting settings, such as the cold, barren dormitory versus the warmth of her memories with Mabel, reflect Marin's internal conflict. 3. **Inconsistencies:** - **Dialogue and Relationships:** Marin's inconsistent responses to Mabel's attempts to reconnect highlight her struggle between fear of vulnerability and the need for companionship. This inconsistency deepens as the narrative progresses, mirroring real-life emotional struggles. 4. **Themes of Storytelling:** - **First-Person Narrative:** By telling the story from Marin's perspective, LaCour immerses readers in her subjective experience, emphasizing how personal storytelling can uncover layers of identity and culture. - **Fragments of Memory:** Marin's recollections of her grandfather and her upbringing are presented in fragmented pieces, reflecting how memories and stories shape her understanding of herself and her world. ### Billy Elliot: 1. **Anomalies in Behaviour:** - **Contrast in Cinematic Elements:** Billy's dancing sequences, set to uplifting or classical music, sharply contrast with the grim, industrial backdrop of the mining town. This visual and auditory contrast emphasizes the anomaly of his passion for ballet in a traditionally masculine setting. - **Juxtaposition:** Scenes of Billy in a boxing ring, juxtaposed with his ballet classes, highlight his defiance of societal expectations. 2. **Paradoxes in Motivation:** - **Character Development:** Billy's father's paradoxical motivations are portrayed through his gradual transformation. Early scenes of him angrily rejecting Billy's interest in ballet shift to moments of vulnerability, such as when he sacrifices his pride to support Billy financially. 3. **Inconsistencies:** - **Close-Up Shots and Body Language:** The use of close-ups on characters' faces, especially Billy's father, conveys unspoken emotions, capturing the internal conflict between protecting tradition and supporting Billy's dream. - **Symbolism and Motifs:** Billy's ballet shoes symbolize his dream and defiance, while the miners' picket line represents tradition. As characters move between these worlds, their inconsistent behaviour reflects the tension between individual desires and societal expectations. - **Dialogue:** Conversations between Billy and his father often show shifts in tone and belief, representing the struggle to reconcile love for family with rigid cultural norms. 4. **Themes of Storytelling:** - **Narrative Arc:** Billy's personal story is set against the larger historical backdrop of the 1984-85 miners' strike. This parallel structure situates his individual journey within a collective cultural narrative, showing how storytelling captures both personal and societal struggles. - **Symbolic Imagery:** The miners' picket line and the final performance scene encapsulate the shift from traditional to progressive values, reflecting how storytelling preserves and challenges cultural identities ## Human experiences shown in the film - **Overcoming adversity / showing determination** - Billy pursues his passion for ballet despite his society's objections, which see ballet as feminine and unacceptable. - Jackie and Tony overcome poverty due to miners' strikes about poor working conditions. - **Coming to terms with your true identity** - Billy recognizes and fosters his passion for dance rather than following in his father's footsteps. - Michael recognizes his homosexuality and accepts this, rather than following his society's masculine, heteronormative expectations. - **Finding support in friends and family** - Billy receives support from Mrs Wilkinson who provides maternal nurturing of his passions; also receives support from Debbie and Michael to help him recognize that his being different is acceptable; his grandma; his father and brother who make sacrifices of themselves to help Billy (such as selling the wife's jewelry) - **Rebellion against expectations (such as gender)** - Billy's acceptance of passion for dancing challenges masculine expectations of toughness and stoicism. - Jackie rebels again social expectations of masculine stoicism by emotionally investing in his son's passion for dance. - Mrs Wilkinson advocates for male inclusion in ballet despite her society's traditional, conversative expectations. ## Annotations - **Whole Text Techniques:** - **Musical soundtrack** which employs various songs of rebellion by well-known British punk artists such as T. Rex and The Clash to capture feelings of... - **Intertextual motif** of the Tchaikovsky ballet Swan Lake, whose story of a princess turned into a swan reflects similar experiences of having to conceal one's identity out of fears for possible ostracism. - **Scene Techniques:** - **Opening of the film 0:00 – 4:01:** - **Timesta mp** | **Evidence (description of what is happening)** | **Technique** | **Analysis** | **Links to human experiences** | - **0:00-2:20** | Opening where Billy dances joyously and unrestrainedly to a record | Montage of slow motion close-ups depicting his joyous facial expression and expressive body language over diegetic, uplifting soundtrack. | Depict Billy's freedom when indulging his desire to dance and express himself. | Discovering identity | - **3:51** | Billy is retrieving his grandmother who has gone wandering, expressing concern for her while riot police are establishing a picket line | Mise-en-scene with Billy's concerned facial expression and careful handling of his grandmother in the foreground, with riot police in the background | Billy's gentle, compassionate nature challenges expectations of stoicism. | Rebellion against societal expectations | - **Billy tries out ballet 6:37 – 11:27:** - **Timesta mp** | **Evidence (description of what is happening)** | **Technique** | **Analysis** | **Links to human experiences** | - **7:35** | Billy’s boxing lesson sees him refusing to engage properly in sparring with his opponent. Instead he farcically dances about. | Point of view shot depicting Billy’s frantic body language and harried facial expression over dialogue of his coach criticising his ineptitude | The scene reveals Billy’s distaste for traditional masculine pursuits, and his father’s expectations, like boxing | Discovering identity Rebelling against social expectations | - **7:37** | Jackie watches on as Billy fails to live up to his expectations about boxing success | Mise-en-scene sees Jackie physically separated from Billy by a cage, symbolising the emotional distance between them | The shot reveals Jackie’s expectations about masculine behaviour, and how these are not shared by Billy | Rebelling against social expectations | - **Billy learns to pirouette 19:06 – 21:25:** - **Timesta mp** | **Evidence (description of what is happening)** | **Technique** | **Analysis** | **Links to human experiences** | - **19:45** | A montage shows Billy in the ballet studio and at home practising to learn how to successfully pirouette | Montage of shots depicting Billy practising the move, with close-ups of his disappointed facial expression giving way to a feeling of pride and joy when he masters it shown by climactic non-diegetic music over a slow motion close-up of his look of proud satisfaction. | The scene reveals how Billy shows determination by overcoming his initial frustrations, and eventually mastering the pirouette. | Determination Self-discovery | - **Michael and Billy wear women's clothes and makeup 34:30 – 36:40:** - **Timesta mp** | **Evidence (description of what is happening)** | **Technique** | **Analysis** | **Links to human experiences** | - **34:30** | Michael is dressing up in his sister's clothes, and he and Billy discuss the possibility of attending ballet school | High angle shot and close-up reveal Billy’s shocked expression. | Billy's initial reaction to Michael's unconventional identity is somewhat of a shock to him... | Rebellion against expectations | - **36:36** | Michael and Billy sit next to each other and comfort each other. | Mid shot depicts the two side-by-side in close proximity with calm body language. | ...but as they talk comfortably about the possibility of being different, Billy comes to terms with alternative identities | Coming to terms with your identity Rebellion against expectations | - **Billy bonds with Mrs Wilkinson about his mother 36:40 – 41:30:** - **Timesta mp** | **Evidence (description of what is happening)** | **Technique** | **Analysis** | **Links to human experiences** | - **38:00** | Mrs Wilkinson and Billy read a letter from Billy’s late mother, where his love and support from his mother is clearly evident. | Non-diegetic soft piano music and low key lighting contribute to the melancholy mood. The use of piano is symbolic as Billy associates the instrument with his mother. | The scene establishes how Billy feels a sense of loss and longing due to the absence of his mother in his life... | Finding support in friends and family | - **40:20** | Mrs Wilkinson and Billy dance gleefully together, helping Billy to find joy in expressing himself creatively | Diegetic music We Like to Boogie by T. Rex and their mirroring moments and body language show their connection, and the happiness that brings for Billy | ...but Mrs Wilkinson's support helps him to develop feelings of comfort and happiness. | Finding support in friends and family | - **46:26** | Mrs Wilkinson and Billy discuss the story of the ballet Swan Lake as they wait to cross the river, subtly noting the similarities to Billy’s situation. | Non-diegetic music from Swan Lake, combined with a close-up of Billy’s upward gaze. The slow journey across the bridge symbolizes the liminal space that Billy finds himself in. | The uplifting crescendo of the music and Billy’s hopeful upwards gaze reflect his hopes for transformation like the character in Swan Lake. | Self-discovery, discovering identity; overcoming adversity through determination | - **Tony and the strikers evade the police:** - **Timesta mp** | **Evidence (description of what is happening)** | **Technique** | **Analysis** | **Links to human experiences** | - **52:40** | Tony chaotically runs from the police riot squad, but eventually succumbs to their violence as Billy watches on. | Quick cuts between shots, and the use of shaky handy-cam reflect the chaos and intensity. This is combined with the non-diegetic use of The Clash's protest anthem London Calling which reflects the feelings of rebellion. | The scene establishes the harsh realities of masculine existences, which Billy feels distanced from. The scene captures feelings of masculine rebellion which Billy observes. | Rebellion against masculine expectations | - **'A Town Called Malice' dance scene:** - **Timesta mp** | **Evidence (description of what is happening)** | **Technique** | **Analysis** | **Links to human experiences** | - **57:00** | Mrs Wilkinson advocates for Billy to attend an audition for the Royal Ballet School, though Tony disagrees. | Quick cuts and point of view shots depicting Mrs Wilkinson and Tony’s expectant expressions. Mise-en-scene places Billy directly between Mrs Wilkinson and Tony. | Billy feels torn between a sense of loyalty to his family but also a desire to pursue his passion. | Rebellion against expectations Showing determination Coming to terms with your true identity | - **58:30** | A montage of Billy’s dance moves capture his feelings of frustration at his situation. | A montage depicting Billy’s frenzied, yet passionate and unique/idiosyncratic choreographed improvisations over non-diegetic use of The Jam’s ‘A Town Called Malice’. The song serves as an intertextual reference, embodying similar feelings of pent-up frustration to its composer Paul Weller. | The frenzied, chaotic movements Billy displays capture his feelings of frustration at being stuck in his current situation, and wishing to break out. | Coming to terms with your true identity | ## Evidence | Evidence | Technique | Analysis | Human Experience | | :-------- | :-------- | :-------- | :--------------- | | Opening where Billy dances joyously and unrestrainedly to a record | Montage of slow motion close-ups depicting his joyous facial expression and expressive body language over diegetic, uplifting soundtrack. | Depict Billy's freedom when indulging his desire to dance and express himself. | Discovering identity | | Billy's boxing lesson sees him refusing to engage properly in sparring with his opponent. Instead he farcically dances about. | Point of view shot depicting Billy's frantic body language and harried facial expression over dialogue of his coach criticising his ineptitude. | The scene reveals Billy's distaste for traditional masculine pursuits, and his father's expectations, like boxing | Discovering identity Rebelling against social expectations | | A montage shows Billy in the ballet studio and at home practising to learn how to successfully pirouette | Montage of shots depicting Billy practising the move, with close-ups of his disappointed facial expression giving way to a feeling of pride and joy when he masters it shown by climactic non-diegetic music over a slow motion close-up of his look of proud satisfaction. | The scene reveals how Billy shows determination by overcoming his initial frustrations, and eventually mastering the pirouette. | Determination Self-discovery | | Michael is dressing up in his sister's clothes, and he and Billy discuss the possibility of attending ballet school | High angle shot and close-up reveal Billy's shocked expression. | Billy's initial reaction to Michael's unconventional identity is somewhat of a shock to him... | Rebellion against expectations | | Mrs Wilkinson and Billy dance gleefully together, helping Billy to find joy in expressing himself creatively | Diegetic music We Like to Boogie by T. Rex and their mirroring movements and body language show their connection, and the happiness that brings for Billy | ...but Mrs Wilkinson's support helps him to develop feelings of comfort and happiness. | Coming to terms with your identity Finding support in friends and family | | A montage of Billy's dance moves capture his feelings of frustration at his situation. | A montage depicting Billy's frenzied, yet passionate and unique/idiosyncratic choreographed improvisations over non-diegetic use of The Jam’s ‘A Town Called Malice’. The song serves as an intertextual reference, embodying similar feelings of pent-up frustration to its composer Paul Weller. | The frenzied, chaotic movements Billy displays capture his feelings of frustration at being stuck in his current situation, and wishing to break out. | Coming to terms with your true identity |