Silver Linings Playbook Essay
How has your additional text shaped your understanding about changing self?
The film Silver Lining’s Playbook, directed by David O’Russell presents many ideas about changing self. The film has shown me new ideas about self-change, and has broadened my understanding of the dynamic processes that are involved. It displays that changing self can involve both internal and external catalysts, and that changing self involves a shift in understanding that is made possible by adopting a new or revised point of view.
Firstly, the film Silver Lining’s Playbook presents the idea that in some cases, the concept of self-change is a development that involves both internal and external catalysts. The notion that changing self involves an external catalyst is demonstrated through the idea that the protagonist’s acquaintance, Tiffany, helps Pat develop in his emotional state. This idea is presented in two contrasting scenes. Initially, Pat is sitting in his therapist’s office, and he begins to hear a song that triggers painful, emotional memories. As Pat suffers from bipolar disorder, this song forces him to lash out towards other characters in the room due to his inner frustrations, and vandalize the office. Pat’s self-struggle is demonstrated in this scene through the constant repetition of the phrase “I’m sorry.” The repetition represents his self-frustration, and is emphasized through the close up shot that displays his anger and disappointment in himself through facial expression. In a subsequent and contrasting scene, Pat is comforted by Tiffany when he imagines hearing the same song. This scene represents his found trust in her, and through this, a social change is displayed. In this scene, a close-up shot of Pat’s facial expression is displayed again as we see it begin to relax at Tiffany’s presence, and the music rapidly begins to fade away. Tiffany tells him, ‘it’s a song, don’t make it a monster.’ The metaphor strongly demonstrates Tiffany’s point, and through
The film Silver Lining’s Playbook, directed by David O’Russell presents many ideas about changing self. The film has shown me new ideas about self-change, and has broadened my understanding of the dynamic processes that are involved. It displays that changing self can involve both internal and external catalysts, and that changing self involves a shift in understanding that is made possible by adopting a new or revised point of view.
Firstly, the film Silver Lining’s Playbook presents the idea that in some cases, the concept of self-change is a development that involves both internal and external catalysts. The notion that changing self involves an external catalyst is demonstrated through the idea that the protagonist’s acquaintance, Tiffany, helps Pat develop in his emotional state. This idea is presented in two contrasting scenes. Initially, Pat is sitting in his therapist’s office, and he begins to hear a song that triggers painful, emotional memories. As Pat suffers from bipolar disorder, this song forces him to lash out towards other characters in the room due to his inner frustrations, and vandalize the office. Pat’s self-struggle is demonstrated in this scene through the constant repetition of the phrase “I’m sorry.” The repetition represents his self-frustration, and is emphasized through the close up shot that displays his anger and disappointment in himself through facial expression. In a subsequent and contrasting scene, Pat is comforted by Tiffany when he imagines hearing the same song. This scene represents his found trust in her, and through this, a social change is displayed. In this scene, a close-up shot of Pat’s facial expression is displayed again as we see it begin to relax at Tiffany’s presence, and the music rapidly begins to fade away. Tiffany tells him, ‘it’s a song, don’t make it a monster.’ The metaphor strongly demonstrates Tiffany’s point, and through