Belonging Free Essays

Belonging can be a possible path to an individual’s self-actualisation. A sense of identity can be identified by belonging or not belonging to a particular group or place. A person can portray different values of belonging through different situations and settings, like in Shakespeare’s period and the period in ‘Fight Club’. We will write a custom essay sample on Belonging or any similar topic only for you Order Now Maslow’s Hierarchy of belonging suggests that belonging is one of the basic needs of human existence. All humans aspire to belong but only a few are able to transcend this basic human need and become self-actualised individuals who rise beyond their social expectations and go against the conventions that define them. This is portrayed through the characters in ‘As You like It’ that flee to the Forest of Arden but eventually return because that is where they truly belong. As well as ‘Tyler’ in Fight Club. Belonging is a possible path to one’s individual self-actualisation, which can be identified via various mediums as witnessed through David Fincher’s Fight Club and Shakespeare’s As You Like It. Maslow’s hierarchy extrapolates the basic fundamentals of belonging suggesting that belonging is ones fundamental need of human existence. This notion is illustrated through Tyler Durden in Fight Club as well as characters in â€Å"As You Like It† where individuals strive to transcend the basic human necessity of belonging and become self-actualised individuals who rise beyond their social expectations and defy conventions defining them. Fight club demonstrates the aspects of belonging through the relationship between the narrator and his alter ego, Tyler Durden. It is a commentary on our ‘lost’ generation. The relationship shows the changes the narrator undergoes throughout the film. The Fight Club has an appeal to the lost generation. The narrator with the help of Tyler Durden founded Fight Club as a way of venting aggression physically through fighting other men. It begins with him fighting Tyler (although he is actually fighting himself) but soon other men want to join and have fights of their own. The men of our generation have been raised to avoid fighting, but suddenly they realize along with the main character, â€Å"I just don’t want to die without a few scars. Fight Club is an expression of modern dysfunctionality of modern context that have so alienated the individuals into ‘nameless’ and ‘androgynous’ emasculated male figures. General society has adopted this aspect just the same as society has adopted the consumer identity. Tyler Durden says â€Å"We are byproducts of the lifestyle obsession. Murder, crime, poverty, these things don’t concern me. What concerns me is celebrity magazines, television with 500 cha nnels, some guy’s name on my underwear, Rogain, Viagra, Olestra, Martha Stewart. Tyler describes a life style that is defined by things you don’t need. From here we run into the consumer identity. The consumer identity is the understanding that you are what you buy; you exist to express yourself in material possessions. The goal is to simply look impressive not be impressive, so you can appear to have more money than you really do. In a society that claims the consumer identity, the ultimate sacrifice would be to put your projected reputation on the line. In modern society, this is too risky for many people and that is the main reason why fights are avoided. However, by embracing the idea that you aren’t what you own, you are only what your hands are capable of, you can free yourself of everything you have tried to appear as with every punch you give or take. The fighting is a metaphor for feeling, not promoting physical combat. The narrator states â€Å"fight club isn’t about winning or losing. It was about words, when the fight was over, nothing was solved, but nothing mattered. Afterwards we all felt saved†. The concept of belonging not only deals with acceptance, but also rejection and alienation. This concept can influence our belonging to a place or group. This is explored through Shakespeare’s play â€Å"as you like it†. Throughout the novel, ‘as you like it’ explores the idea of belonging to place. The title itself gives the play to the audience, implying belongs to those viewing it. Throughout the novel, we can clearly detect the characters desires to belong as dictated by the social religious hierarchy of the renaissance drawn out by the church and king in the form of the chain of being. According to Shakespeare text and his context, everyone has their rightful place. If one place is altered or disturbed, there is chaos and anarchy. Hence, ‘As You like It’ is a reaffirmation of the chain of being where Duke seniors dukedom has been altered by his younger brother Frederick, and this causes the chaos that leads to many of the characters fleeing to the place they belong to into the forest. In As You like It, the traditions of society push characters to play certain roles. Rosalind, the protagonist, has no control over society and gender expectations presented to her. Even though she is the most interesting, intelligent and active character in the novel, she is confined into the expected female role. This suppresses her personality to be expected to fit into and belong at the court. Her attempts at conformity lead her to initially feel fear at seeking out the Forest of Arden because such a place would be dangerous for a woman. She overcomes this by transcending gender boundaries choosing to disguise herself as a man. While she is a man, she is able to explore her true personality and identity. Is she had not used the role of Ganymede in the forest; she may have been left in a similar role to Celia who is unable to shake her constraints of femininity. Ultimately, the different values of belonging in different situatuations is seen in both texts through Tyler in Fight Club where he creates a place for people who have the same daily routine to break free from this and to vent their anger by fighting. This fighting is a metaphor for freedom, Freedom from their daily lives and the idea of the consumer identity. This form of freedom and belonging is also seen in ‘As You Like it’ where Rosalind breaks the female stereotype of not being strong enough to protect herself in the forest of Arden, where she runs away to. How to cite Belonging, Essay examples Belonging Free Essays Belonging Essay The human quest to belong is characterized by both triumph and failure. Belonging is a human conception; considered a fundamental need to be accepted, to have a sense of security and fulfillment. A negative sense of belonging may be found among the displaced, marginalized and may lead towards personal issues that may be indomitable for the individual. We will write a custom essay sample on Belonging or any similar topic only for you Order Now The short clip ‘Be My Brother’ directed by Genevieve Clay is a short presentation on the qualities of belonging and the quality of judgment where a young man’s charm and charisma challenges the prejudices of a stranger at a bus stop. People with physical disabilities are still discriminated against and find it uneasy to blend in with society, this is highlighted in the clip ‘Be My Brother’ where Richard (partially disabled) is isolated and some-what an outcast in society. As he approaches a random bystander he is segregated and instantly looked down upon as inferior; this is apparent when Richard goes to Shake Amanda’s hand (bystander); where she taps and retreats instantly. As he begins to exchange conversation with Amanda he is still depicted as an outsider with Amanda’s reluctance in continuing the exchange and constant deride over Richards desires. â€Å"I would like to go to work †¦Ã¢â‚¬  with Amanda bleak reply; â€Å"You’ll have to get one then won’t you â€Å". This with corroboration of the wide camera angle interpret her body language where she condensates and segregates herself from Richard by sitting at the end of the bus stand without making any eye contact, making evident her asperity and Richards non-belonging. Belonging is an element of combination, presented in Maslow’s hierarchy of needs; Self- actualization, Amanda soon becomes comfortable with Richards presence identifying the decrease in prejudice, she finally embraces Richard with acceptance by interacting with his voice recorder, enthusiastic gestures and eye contact. This is displayed through her body language and overturned sympathy after overhearing a previous recording, †I am what I am †¦ I cant change it my brother doesn’t seem to understand †¦ he seems to never want to be near me, I always embarrass him and I DON’T LIKE TO BEING IGNORED. † And connive of the hooded male on the other bench, Amanda sympathizes Richards’ heartache by comforting him and upon his departure comments, â€Å"Daemon you have a very entertaining brother †¦ It was very nice to meet you† displaying the sense of acceptance and belonging. Following his departure on the bus, Richard pays the fair for the hooded male (had no loose change for $20) where the viewer is able to interpret the loving and softhearted nature Richard possesses, relatively leading the male to take of his hood and receive a warm hearted hug from Richard who we interpret to be his brother (Daemon). These actions resemble acceptance and brotherhood deterring the prejudice and distance. Foremost the short clip â€Å"Be My Brother† about a man with Down syndrome displays his turn around with humour and charm, heartwarming unadulterated affection and acceptance by finally belonging. By: Michael Kourieh How to cite Belonging, Essay examples Belonging Free Essays Belonging Essay The concept of belonging is essential in our lives as it brings about acceptance and connection to a person, group or place. Migrants often experience alienation and exclusion before experiencing acceptance and belonging into the new society. Peter skrzynecki portrays migration as a painful, soul searching experience, re forging a sense of personal and cultural identity which is evident in Migrant hostel. We will write a custom essay sample on Belonging or any similar topic only for you Order Now On the contrary Peter displays a perspective were the family feels stability and security at their address 10 Mary Street. The journey to belong often proves to be a great burden; the lack of social stability generates a sense of loss and insecurity leaving migrants struggling to adjust to their new cultural environment. This is established in the first stanza of Migrant hostel through the choice of words such as â€Å"sudden/wondering†, which illustrates uncertainty and doubtfulness of what is occurring around them, therefore living erratic and uncertain lives. The idea of not being in control of their lives is further emphasized in the first stanza with the use of the simile â€Å"we lived like birds of passage†, this creates a image of migratory birds and represents how the migrants are at a point of transaction in reality. Peter creates a picture of confinement and imprisonment via the symbol of a barrier â€Å"A barrier at the main gate†, represents obstacles to their dream of belonging and exclusion from mainstream Australia. The Migrants are shown as being powerless and their lives have been marked by disorientation, â€Å"unaware of the season/whose track we would follow†, highlights the whole migrant communities uncertainty as â€Å"we† is inclusive of all migrants and shows that all migrants experience similar hardship. The irony of the concluding lines â€Å"that had only begun or were dying†, accentuates the burden of uncertainty in their lives instead of surviving in their new homeland and experience a new sense of belonging their lives remain in limbo. However, people eventually experience belonging which is evident in 10 Mary Street as it is a stark contrast to Migrant hostel as there is insecurity while there is a feeling of security in 10 Mary Street due to the family’s long term connection to their home and Australia itself. The repetition of â€Å"nineteen years† reinforces how long term residency establishes a place of belonging. Peter also repeats ‘eight years† in St Patrick’s as Peter is pointing out how peoples sense of belonging is strengthened over a long period of time. Furthermore, the simile â€Å"like a well-oiled lock†, symbolizes security and highlights how the family is experiencing security at their family home. The poem also highlights how the family’s strong affinity with the garden represents settlement and permanency in Australia. The simile like â€Å"adopted children† emphasizes the parent’s great care and love for their garden and symbolizes their belonging to their new homeland. The act of Peter ravaging the garden represents how the garden provides the family with food and sustenance. The garden is a representation of their new homeland as Australia also provides them with work, opportunity and a good life. The house is described as part of the family through the personification â€Å"the house stands† this portrays the house as another member of the family as it shows belonging and relation to the house. The metaphor â€Å"Inheritors of a key that’ll open no house†, highlights the poets appreciation of his family and their home, the experience is cherished however when the house is pulled down, he believes he will never be able to experience such warmth when he moves on in life. In conclusion, it is evident that a person will establish a connection with a place or person with time, however will go through hardships and feelings of unfamiliarity before finding security and belonging to their new homeland. Migrant hostel emphasizes how life’s adversities can hamper peoples sense of belonging, while 10 Mary Street portrays how people adapt to their new homeland to become â€Å"citizens of the soil† and experience stability and security. How to cite Belonging, Papers