The Social Penetration Theory is illustrated in numerous relationships in the movie "Good Will Hunting". It is most clearly present in the relationship between Will (Matt Damon) and Sean (Robin Williams). Throughout the movie their relationship follows the idea of the Social Penetration Theory almost exactly. The two characters when they first meet have almost no interaction at all, then gradually the two begin to have superficial communication, never really delving into anything too personal.
After Will and Sean begin to see each other more and more we are able to see that their relationship is slowly progressing and we see more intimate communication. The two share stories of their pasts and we see that gradual overlapping of the two's experiences. In one scene Sean (Robin Williams) tells Will (Matt Damon) how he met his wife while he was on a trip to see Game 7 of the World Series, and goes on to tell Will how he never got to the game. The two laugh about the story and discuss the decision Sean had made by not going to the game, a good example of dyadic uniqueness in the sarcasm the two exchange about the story, further allowing us to see the relationship as it is growing to the point we will see in the video clip.
In the clip I have included in my post we witness the two characters Will and Sean at their most vulnerable point in the entire movie. In terms of the depth of communication it is at its peak in this scene. Sean discloses the information he has had at his disposal the entire time of their therapy sessions to Will, and addresses them. Sean informs Will that he was also a victim of abuse, and consoles Will and makes it a point to make sure he knows that what happened to him was "not his fault".
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Monday, January 21, 2008
Sample Illustration 3 - Face-Negotiation Theory
Another piece from "Brothers & Sisters" to illustrate Face-Negotiation Theory, provided by a former Com 103 student.
Brothers & Sisters - McCallister & Co
The Face-Negotiation Theory is illustrated in this clip from the ABC series “Brothers and Sisters.” Nora Walker (Sally Field), and her family were publicly criticized on a political radio show, and once the radio host started to pass judgment on her family, and what kind of mother-in-law Nora would be, Nora had face concern, or interest in maintaining her face and the faces of her children. The radio host said, “you will not believe the family freak show a McCallister Presidency would hoist on an unsuspecting nation. Let’s start with the mother-in-law; I have a stack of letters to the editor this woman has written, all strident and incomprehensible.” She wanted her family to be seen in a positive face, or she wanted to be liked and admired by others.
As a result, Kitty Walker (Calista Flockhart) calls into the radio station and attempts to save her own face, and the faces of the rest of her family. At first, she engages in face-saving, which is an attempt to avoid embarrassment, however instead of saving her face, she further embarrasses herself and her family. She calls into the radio show and says, “you should do your homework, my mom, who you equated with a terrorist happens to be a Gold-Star mother.” Kitty’s husband Robert McCallister (Rob Lowe) is running for President, and he calls her after the radio incident asking how she was planning on fixing the damage she had just done.
This conversation between Kitty and Robert eludes to plans for face restoration of Kitty and her family, and of Robert’s presidential campaign. Face restoration is a strategy used to preserve autonomy and avoid loss of face. This restoration occurs after the loss of face has happened, and offers excuses or resolutions. What is not shown in the clip is how Kitty tries to rectify the situation and save the faces of Robert and her family; she goes onto the radio show and explains her family, and solidifies Robert’s positions in his presidential campaign.
Brothers & Sisters - McCallister & Co
The Face-Negotiation Theory is illustrated in this clip from the ABC series “Brothers and Sisters.” Nora Walker (Sally Field), and her family were publicly criticized on a political radio show, and once the radio host started to pass judgment on her family, and what kind of mother-in-law Nora would be, Nora had face concern, or interest in maintaining her face and the faces of her children. The radio host said, “you will not believe the family freak show a McCallister Presidency would hoist on an unsuspecting nation. Let’s start with the mother-in-law; I have a stack of letters to the editor this woman has written, all strident and incomprehensible.” She wanted her family to be seen in a positive face, or she wanted to be liked and admired by others.
As a result, Kitty Walker (Calista Flockhart) calls into the radio station and attempts to save her own face, and the faces of the rest of her family. At first, she engages in face-saving, which is an attempt to avoid embarrassment, however instead of saving her face, she further embarrasses herself and her family. She calls into the radio show and says, “you should do your homework, my mom, who you equated with a terrorist happens to be a Gold-Star mother.” Kitty’s husband Robert McCallister (Rob Lowe) is running for President, and he calls her after the radio incident asking how she was planning on fixing the damage she had just done.
This conversation between Kitty and Robert eludes to plans for face restoration of Kitty and her family, and of Robert’s presidential campaign. Face restoration is a strategy used to preserve autonomy and avoid loss of face. This restoration occurs after the loss of face has happened, and offers excuses or resolutions. What is not shown in the clip is how Kitty tries to rectify the situation and save the faces of Robert and her family; she goes onto the radio show and explains her family, and solidifies Robert’s positions in his presidential campaign.
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