Saturday, June 12, 2010

Breaking Bad #9

Breaking Bad #9
This show not only characterizes the life of a fast pace plan to achieve the American dream but the conflict that arises between a struggling father and family, his job, and his diagnosis of a life threatening cancer. It combines the characters context, perceptions, and issues. What happens when a high school chemistry teacher faces the growing bills of treatment and life expenses. His economic context reflects today's job losses and limitations. His pain smears across his face and body through his emotions and language.
The show depicts the darker side of what it means to be "American" in terms of the necessity of money. The economic contest of Walter White evokes desperation of Walter White. He must find a way to support his wife, and his physically and mentally disabled son along with their large and beautiful suburban home, good clothes, and their expensive family SUV. Walt's plan to fast crash might be argued to be fueled by some sort of bucket list. Ways Walt could have "honestly" gotten money for his expenses Walt chooses another route. With his high skills and his underpaid jobs Walt finds himself in the underground world of hard drugs. He becomes a successful Meth cooker and seller.
It is here that he kills and deceives other people in order to gain he material to support his family? A thought that could be described as selfless and courageous or was his goal really to gain the respect and dignity he's always wanted? Here would be described as selfish and evil? I say that Walt found a way to gain both selfish and selfless approaches to making his life seem well lived. He would finally be able treat those bullies, who teased his son, the way he always wanted to. He would swear at them, he would throw them, he would put on just as much hurt as they put on his son. Walt would support his family as best he could , as fast as he could, and the way he wanted before his final final.
Walt's American value of family plays a large role in his motives and actions. It is also Walt's individualistic interest that gets him through the actions he does to achieve his objectives. Walt's privileges and status set up in the show make his endeavors interesting. He is a white older male who teaches school children, drives a family SUV, has a family with good reputations that live in a suburban home. Walt seemed to luck out every time there was opportunity to escape. He was not obvious. He did not possess the characteristics of a stereotypical "drug dealer". But whenever there was an opportunity to get in trouble with people of a minority culture Walt was sure to find himself barely surviving.
It is heard of Americans being perceived as a land full of guns and cowboys. Because of shows like Breaking Bad it is possible for foreign audiences to name America as a land of individual wars with other peoples. They might find similarities in the conflict of different cultures. Breaking Bad is a show that foreign audiences can find similarities when it comes to the desperation of money, family, self fulfillment and death. These are just some of the things, I believe, that tie people together. What are specific influences that might change the perceptions developed from some of the elements that bring us together?

1 comment:

  1. I'm not sure I understand your question (sorry!), but here's my best shot. I think the influences you listed are good one. Most cultures value and support family, and everyone needs money (or its equivalent in a bartering system) to survive. In a situation like the one you described, a person's sense of justice or their respect for the law would be an important influence. If you are from a society without laws or a place where Civil War has caused anarchy, you may not care that this character is breaking the law. However, many societies highly value the law and would decide not to break it, even if this hurts your family. Also, moral or religious beliefs would influence people's decision to break the law or not.

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