SOC 110 - Essay Questions

Day #3 of 20:

Soc 110: Introduction to Sociology

May 30th

UIBE SUMMER SCHOOL

19

Individual Choice and Freedom

Norms and Values: The Power of Money

Don’t Breathe, Film Don’t Breathe is a film about three Detroit teenage delinquents who make a living by breaking into homes secured by one of the teenager’s father's security company and selling the items they take. The three teenagers learn that an old man living in an abandoned neighborhood has $300,000 in cash in his house, given as a settlement after a wealthy young woman, Cindy Roberts, killed his daughter in a car accident. When they found this out, they went on a mission to rob the man. Except, they learn that the man is blind, which they thought would make their robbery easy. As the robbery ensues, the three teenagers find out that the Blind Man has kidnapped and held hostage Cindy Roberts, who he impregnated so that the woman can give birth to a child to replace his dead daughter. The movie raises some basic questions about norms and values. How do human beings cross the lines between cruelty, criminality, and humanity? Is it worse to rob a blind man or for a blind man to hold someone hostage? As you watch the movie, think about these basic questions that in many ways emanate into larger discussions about norms, values, and human acceptability.