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The role of strain theory or social learning theory
Choose one of the following options to analyze the role of strain theory or social learning theory in explaining the behavior of a stalker character in a film. Use the theory to explore how psychological, emotional, and societal pressures contribute to the character's obsession and violence.
Option A: Perfect Blue (1997) Using strain theory, analyze the stalker's behavior and motivations in Perfect Blue. Strain theory posits that societal pressures or the inability to achieve desired goals can lead to frustration, which may result in deviant behavior. In your analysis, consider the following questions:
How do the stalker’s unmet psychological or emotional needs drive their obsession with the main character? How does the film portray the strain between the stalker's desires and their inability to attain them? What specific aspects of their life contribute to the strain that fuels their violent behavior? Reflect on the pressures of fame and the blurred boundaries between reality and media representation in Perfect Blue. How does this contribute to the stalker’s deviant actions? Use specific examples from the film to illustrate how strain theory explains the stalker's descent into obsession and violence.
Option B: The Bodyguard (1992) Apply strain theory or social learning theory to the stalker’s behavior in The Bodyguard. These theories provide different lenses for understanding how societal or psychological pressures shape deviant behavior. In your analysis, consider the following:
If using strain theory, discuss how the stalker’s actions reflect underlying societal pressures or unmet psychological needs. What strains or frustrations may be influencing their behavior? If using social learning theory, explain how the stalker’s behavior may have been learned through the observation of others. How does their environment or media consumption model violent or obsessive behavior? How does the portrayal of the stalker's actions in the film highlight the dangers associated with celebrity culture and the pressures that both fans and celebrities face? Consider how the film uses this narrative to reflect real-world issues of fan obsession and celebrity vulnerability.
Full Answer Section
The film cleverly blurs the lines between reality and fantasy, making it difficult to pinpoint the exact nature of Me-Mania's life and circumstances. 1 However, it's implied that he is socially isolated and struggles with his own identity. His online persona and his obsession with Mima become his primary means of engaging with the world. The strain arises from the vast gulf between his own mundane reality and the idealized world of fame and celebrity he observes. He desires the connection and validation that Mima's idol persona represents, but he lacks the social skills or emotional maturity to form genuine relationships. This inability to bridge the gap between his desires and his reality creates the frustration and anger that fuels his violent behavior. He attempts to control Mima because he feels utterly powerless in his own life.
1. Perfect Blue - Wikipedia
Reflect on the pressures of fame and the blurred boundaries between reality and media representation in Perfect Blue. How does this contribute to the stalker’s deviant actions?
Perfect Blue powerfully critiques the pressures of fame and the way media representation can distort reality. Mima is pressured to conform to an idealized image, and her transition away from that image is perceived as a betrayal by Me-Mania. The film highlights how the blurring of boundaries between reality and media representation can create a sense of ownership in fans. Me-Mania believes he knows the "real" Mima, based on her public persona, and feels entitled to control her actions. He cannot distinguish between Mima the person and Mima the idol. This distorted perception, fueled by the pressures of fame and the artificiality of the entertainment industry, directly contributes to his deviant actions. He sees himself as acting on Mima's "true" desires, attempting to protect her from the corrupting influences of the adult entertainment world. In his mind, he is restoring her to her rightful place as the innocent idol he worships.
Specific examples from the film:
The online blog: Me-Mania's blog, written from Mima's imagined perspective, demonstrates his inability to distinguish between reality and fantasy. It's a manifestation of his obsessive desire to control her narrative.
The threatening faxes: These faxes, initially anonymous, escalate in intensity as Me-Mania's frustration grows. They represent his attempts to punish Mima for deviating from her idol persona.
The attacks on those around Mima: These attacks, often depicted in a dreamlike or surrealistic manner, are Me-Mania's attempts to "purify" Mima and eliminate any perceived threats to her innocence. They are the ultimate expression of his rage and his desire to control her.
The final confrontation: The climax of the film, where Mima confronts her "double" (a manifestation of her own anxieties and pressures), highlights the psychological toll of fame and the blurring of identity. It also demonstrates how Me-Mania's actions are driven by his own fragmented sense of self and his desperate need to control Mima's image.
Through these examples, Perfect Blue illustrates how strain theory can explain the stalker's descent into obsession and violence. His unmet psychological needs, coupled with the pressures of fame and the distorted reality created by media representation, lead to intense frustration and ultimately drive his criminal behavior.
Sample Answer
How do the stalker’s unmet psychological or emotional needs drive their obsession with the main character?
Me-Mania's obsession with Mima stems from profound unmet psychological and emotional needs. He exhibits signs of a fragmented identity and a desperate need for control. His obsession with Mima's idol persona fills a void in his own life. He idealizes her innocence and purity, likely projecting his own unfulfilled desires for connection and validation onto her. When Mima decides to transition away from her manufactured pop image, this threatens Me-Mania's fragile sense of self. It disrupts the idealized world he has constructed around her, creating immense psychological strain. He feels betrayed and abandoned, as if Mima has rejected him personally. This rejection fuels his rage and his desire to "purify" Mima, to force her back into the role he has assigned her in his fantasy.
How does the film portray the strain between the stalker's desires and their inability to attain them? What specific aspects of their life contribute to the strain that fuels their violent behavior?