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‘The Breakfast Club’ Analysis, Language and Meaning

Introduction

The language used in the films, whether verbal or nonverbal is meaningful to the society in communicating various ideas, theories, concepts, practices, and issues. The film ‘Breakfast Club’ is one of the entertaining yet educating films, which is recommendable for viewing or second viewing with an intention to understand the message passed by the film besides entertainment (The Breakfast Club N.d). The key theories that are depicted in the film are the learning theories, psychoanalysis theory, and leadership theory. The concepts that are evident from the film include respect, peer pressure, and the concept of parental expectations. The film highlights the idea of understanding children, communication, and the idea of understanding and accepting oneself. The practices that are communicated by the film include the practice of punishing and rearing children. The issues that are communicated by the film are the issue of drug abuse, peer pressure, and misappropriate use of authority. The discussion below will expound on the provided theories, ideas, practices, and issues.

Theories

One of the theories in the film, ‘The Breakfast Club’ is the learning theory, precisely the social learning theory. The theory provides that the environment that an individual is subjected to affect an individual behaviors, beliefs, and values (Maisto et al. 124). The theory is shown in the film where all the detained students smoke weed due to the other students smoking. The behavior of smoking weed is acquired and enhanced by the environment that the student are in, they acquire the behaviors from Bender who is antagonistic and most notorious of all the students in detention (The Breakfast Club N.d). The film helps the society to understand the theory and how it affects the behaviors of people in the society. The information is important designing counselling as well as helping people in the society to reform.

The other theory highlighted in the film is the psychoanalysis theory. The theory focuses on the personality of an individual and helps in the identification of one suppressed or hidden personality traits. The theory is highlighted by all the students in detention as they all open up to reveal that they are not who they portray to be in the daily life. For instance, Bender who shows a tough and mean character is not actually mean, but acts to cover the violence that he is exposed to by his father. Additionally, Claire who appears selfish shows another trait when she gives Allison a make up to make her look attractive like normal girls of her age. The theory is depicted through the behaviors of the five students in detention revealing how nonverbal language in a film carries some meaning (The Breakfast Club N.d). The theory is important in educating the society how to help an individual with personality issues.

The other theory depicted in the film is that of leadership, precisely the autocratic leadership theory. In the film, the theory is used to show how it negatively affects society helping the society members to avoid such leadership practices due to their negativity. The theory in the film is depicted through the assistant principle Mr. Vernon who takes the student to lack self-drive, direction, and even the reasoning to make choices(The Breakfast Club N.d). The assistant principal bullies the student into accepting that that they are poor in behaviors and that they deserve to be in detention. His authoritative approach to disciplining the student pushes them further away from him and his approaches, which actually drive them deeper to indiscipline since they all smoke, weed while in detention (Van Vugt et al. 4). The scene and language used educate the society on the negatives of authoritative approach to leadership.

Another important theory is the relational dialectics theory that relates to interpersonal communication and helps to show the tensions, difficulties, and struggles that people experience in a relationship under different trends. The theory helps to understand the opposing forces that are faced by the individuals relating in different ways. Individuals in a relationship experience some tension as the individuals relating bear some differences. The theory is based on the concept of praxis among other concepts, which helps to sustain relationship by using communication to help people open up their needs. In the film, the theory is depicted through the five breakfast club members as each has a different personality that causes tension at the beginning of the detention (Baxter and Kristen 77). While Bender is outspoken, Brian is quiet and cannot stand up for his interest. The two seems to have contrasting personalities that cause tension in their relationship. Moreover, Claire and Allison seem to have different needs and personalities that would not support any relationship between them, as one is a typical modern girl while the other is less social and leads a life not typical to a normal girl.

The film later on shows all the five members interacting together happily and casually with the differences aside. For instance, Bender and Claire develop a relationship despite them having contrasting personalities and social backgrounds. At the end of the detention period the members are able to solve their differences even though they do not form permanent friendships, the fact that they open up to each other and feel comfortable around each other indicate their ability to interact with one another and keep a balance of their contrasting differences. The theory is highlighted in the film to help the society take note of the tension that arises in relationships and provide some tips on how to solve the tension and strike a healthy relationship.

Concepts

One of the concepts depicted in the film is that of respect. The assistant principle fails to respect the students as rational human being and treats them as rejects, which causes tension between the students and Mr. Vernon who represents the administration. The concept of risk is also depicted in the relationship between all the detained students and their parents in which case the parents fail to respect the interest of their children. In fact, Bender’s father physically abuses him, which has a negative effect on the behaviors of Bender (The Breakfast Club N.d). The concept of respect is brought about in the film to communicate to the society on the importance of respect in the society.

The other concept that is shown in the film is that of peer pressure which is one of the important concepts in the society. During the detention, the five students smoke weed as a result of peer pressure. Claire also kisses Bender out of peer pressure while Allison and Andrew also start a romantic relationship (The Breakfast Club N.d). The students are driven by peer pressure to make choices that are irrational and not well reasoned. The concept of peer pressure is important in highlighting the need for counselling and support of the teenage student and individuals to help them avoid getting into issues that are inappropriate such as drug abuse.

The film, ‘The Breakfast Club’ also provides another concept, which is parental expectations. The concept is highlighted through Claire’s mother who expects her daughter to be in school learning and not out going for shopping. Brian’s parents on the other hand expect Brian to perform better than he is doing despite being viewed by his peers as sharp (The Breakfast Club N.d). Andrew is expected by his father to be a wrestler, which is not actually his passion or desire. The concept indicates the overbearing expectations of the parents to a point that they disregard the interests and desires of their children, making their children to chase the parent’s dream rather than their own.

Ideas

Among the ideas presented in the film, is the idea of understanding the children and their interests. The idea is brought about by the dictatorship observed with Brian and Andrew’s parents who pressure their children to become something that is not of their choosing. For instance, Andrew fathers pressures him to become a wrestler, which is not actually the desire of Andrew (The Breakfast Club N.d). The idea is raised to help the society develop better relationships in the family hence fostering a healthy society.

‘The Breakfast Cub’ also brings out the idea of communication given that the children fail to stand up for their desires and communicate this to their parents. Instead, they keep quiet and shoulder the burden of having to pursue their parent’s dreams. Moreover, even after being disrespected by their assistant principle, they are unable to defend themselves and keep quiet except Bender who stands against the assistant principle. The idea in this instance is to help the society create better and reliable communication.

The film also depicts the idea of accepting oneself. The idea is shown through Bender who takes on tough cover to escape from the realities of violence and mistreatment that he is exposed to at home. The tough look and personality only works to put him onto trouble rather than give him solace (The Breakfast Club N.d). Self-acceptance would have worked better to help him seek support from social care providers.

Practices

The practices that are depicted in the film include punishing and rearing of children. The film indicates poor disciplining practices by the parents and the principle. Bender’s father physically abuses him as a means of punishment, which is shown to be ineffective means of disciplining children (The Breakfast Club N.d). Similarly, Mr. Vernon’s way of punishing the student is as well ineffective since he abuses them and stereotypes them to be criminals (The Breakfast Club N.d). The practice of child rearing is also depicted to be challenging in the film as the parents are not concerned about the children’s interests.

Issues

The issue of drug abuse is portrayed in the film in the scene where all the five students in detention smoke the weed provided by Bender. The issue is used to show the breakdown of moral in the society and the rising threat of drug abuse. The other issue depicted inappropriate use of authority. Through the assistant principal, it is shown to be unsuccessful in helping the students or the children to reform. Peer pressure is also represented as an issue facing the society since all the students are pressured to smoke weed unwillingly. The issues are shown to be among the relevant issues that need to be addressed by the society (The Breakfast Club N.d).

Conclusion

Films are created to entertain the viewers as well as to pass across a certain message pertaining to the social life. The message passed is not openly put across but embedded in the language used by the characters, which may be verbal or nonverbal. It is advisable that the viewers of any film always seek to understand the theories carried in the film, ideas, concepts, issues, and practices that pertain to the society. Films are not only entertainment tools, but also means of communication to the society about diverse social issues.

Works Cited

Baxter, Leslie A., and Kristen M. Norwood. Relational dialectics theory. John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2015.

Maisto, Stephen A., Kate B. Carey, and Clara M. Bradizza. "Social learning theory." Psychological theories of drinking and alcoholism 2 (1999): 106-163.

The Breakfast Club. John Hughes, 1985. DVD.

Van Vugt, Mark, et al. "Autocratic leadership in social dilemmas: A threat to group stability." Journal of Experimental Social Psychology 40.1 (2004): 1-13.