The Blind Side(film) Interpersonal Media Analysis. Media Essay

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Interpersonal Media Analysis
This paper aims at analyzing the film “The Blind Side” and examines the relationships between the main characters. Specifically, the dialectical tensions, communication patterns, and formation of relationships between the main characters will be examined. Also, the paper will discuss some of the conflicts identified in the film, and how the characters managed and resolved the conflicts. Finally, the formation, maintenance, and decline of the relationships between the main characters will be analyzed.
Q1: What dialectical tensions are represented in the film? Explain in detail.
The characters in the film “The Blind Side” represent two major dialectical tensions. The first one is the connection versus autonomy tension. In the film, Michael is portrayed, on one hand, as a closed-up person who talks less and does not share his details with anyone. Leigh, on the other, is portrayed as a talkative person who shares her concerns not only with her husband, Sean but also with her friends, especially when she starts considering Michael’s adoption. The dialectical tension is clear between the two when Leigh tries to find out about Michael but Michael still wants to keep things to himself, despite wanting a relationship with Leigh. He even walks out on Leigh at some point because he feels like her efforts to help him all along were so that he could join a college of her choosing. As posited by Adler, Rodman and du Pre (202), the connection-autonomy tension exists because while people understand the need to form relationships with others, there are not willing to reveal their whole identity to others. Michael still wants to maintain some autonomy and that is why he holds back, despite Leigh's efforts to stay connected to him. The second tension is openness versus privacy. Leigh occasionally shares with her friends over what they term as an “eighteen-dollar salad.” However, Leigh’s internal struggle to either open up to her friends or to keep her affairs private is evident. Eventually, she stops sharing with her friends because, in her attempt to be open and honest about her issues, she realizes that her friends do not support her decisions. Adler, Rodman and du Pre (203) indicate that in interpersonal relationships, people have seasons of sharing and disengaging, which was the case with Leigh.
Q2: Explain how self-concept and self-esteem define the communication patterns of the main characters in the film.
Self-concept and self-esteem determine how people communicate with each other. The film reveals how people with high self-esteem communicate differently in comparison to those with low self-esteem. Take, for instance, SJ Touhy, Leigh’s biological son versus Michael. SJ comes from a family that has shown him love and provided him with access to a better life. As a result, he thinks highly of himself and knows that people will accept him. He even tells Michael that he should smile at the kids on the playground and “let them know he’s their friend” so they can stop running away from him. Further, he knows that he comes from a family of football players and knows that he too can become one. Michael, on the other hand, grew up in poverty with an alcoholic mother. He thinks less of himself and is even surprised when Leigh offers him his bedroom, pointing out that “I have never had one before.” As Michael’s self-esteem develops, so does his ability to communicate. Leigh's self-concept also influences her communication because she has high self-esteem. As revealed by Adler, Rodman and du Pre (49), people with high self-esteem can defend themselves when faced with negative criticism. Leigh can defend her decision to support Michael when her friends criticize her. She is also able to influence Michael, and even influences him to pick a college of her choice, albeit unknowingly.
Q3: Identify and explain why and how the relationship(s) formed between the main characters in the film.
The relationship between Michael and SJ formed voluntarily because they had a high affinity towards each other. They moved from strangers to best friends and SJ was involved in every part of Michael’s life. Their friendship was as a result of situational factors. They were in the same school, and later on, came to live under the same roof. The relationship between Michael and Leigh formed as a result of individual factors. On one hand, Leigh felt the need, as an individual, to help Michael. On the other hand, Michael felt that Leigh could meet his needs. Their relationship developed from a place of need. However, situational factors also influenced the formation of this relationship because had Leigh not met Michael that night, she probably would never think of helping him.
Q6: What types of intimacy were portrayed in the film? Provide specific examples.
Several types of intimacy were portrayed in the film. First, SJ Touhy and Michael portrayed the shared activities type of intimacy. Shared activities involve all experiences that are shared by the involved parties (Adler, Rodman and du Pre, 194). There is a scene where SJ helps Michael in training and plays the role of an instructor. This specific activity not only helps Michael improve his abilities as a player but also strengthens the bond between Michael and SJ. Similarly, Michael and Collins, who is Leigh’s daughter, develop intimacy through shared activities. There is a scene of Michael and Collins studying together in the school library and Collins further states that “…we study together at home”, an indication that this is how they bond. The entire Touhy family also bonds with Michael through shared activities such as praying and eating together at the dining table. Second, there is physical intimacy between the main characters. This intimacy involves a physical closeness between people that is achieved through kisses and hugs (Adler, Rodman and du Pre, 194). Leigh and her husband Sean have developed their intimacy through physical acts such as kissing. Leigh also shares a physical intimacy with Michael. There is a scene where Leigh is seen patting Michael on the hand after he and SJ are involved in a car accident. Michael also hugs Leigh several times, such as during his graduation and when he joins college. There is also an element of emotional intimacy where Leigh expresses tender feelings towards Michael and affirms him. She reads him a book after learning that nobody ever read him a book before. She also affirms him when he states that he is good at playing football.
Q8: Identify and explain the implicit and explicit norms that were evident in the film. Provide specific examples.
The film reveals several implicit and explicit norms. These are stated and unstated procedures that govern how a group of people behaves around each other (Adler, Rodman...