Preview

Family In The Film Ordinary People

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
1391 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Family In The Film Ordinary People
Ordinary People (1980) tells the story of the Jarrett’s, an upper-middle class family in Illinois, following the death of the eldest son, Buck, in a boating accident. It depicts what might happen to a family when a tragedy unexpectedly happens. The boating accident disrupted the Jarrett family’s normal developmental flow and inevitably produced relationship changes within the family system. While watching the film, the audience begins to understand that the boating accident was so disruptive and impeding to the family that they suddenly and profoundly shook up and transformed the family system so that it may never return to its former way of functioning (Goldenberg & Goldenberg, 2013). The film portrays many aspects of the premises of Structural Family Therapy (SFT) such as dysfunctional family boundaries, roles, and rules. In addition, it shows the breakdown of the family dynamic due to the grief of the loss of Buck and misplaced guilt within the family. …show more content…
In some dysfunctional families, such as the Jarrett’s, coalitions arise. A coalition is an alliance between specific family members against a third member (Gladding, 2011, p. 300). In Ordinary People (1980), through the flashbacks of Conrad, the audience is able to see that Beth and Buck had a stable coalition that was a dominate part of the family’s everyday functioning. Even though Buck died in the boating accident, Beth pretends nothing has happened and acts as if he is coming back home by keeping his room intact. This causes dysfunction within the Jarrett family because Beth is unable to display any loving emotion towards Conrad, instead she acts distant and cold towards him. In addition, Calvin and Beth have a detouring coalition in which the pair holds Conrad responsible for their difficulties and conflicts with one
Continue Reading
View Writing Issues

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Powerful Essays

    Down in the Delta: Family Theory Approaches
    • 2014 Words
    • 9 Pages

    Down in the Delta: Family Theory Approaches

    Through assessment of the overall themes, trends, and patterns of the nuclear and extended family, the Sinclair family has been through many conflicts and stresses, and each family member has fought hard to maintain and keep the family connected together, despite long distances, separation, addiction, developmental delays, aging, and many more stressors. Though there are many theoretical approaches to take with the Sinclair family at any given point in “Down in the Delta”, including Family Development Theory, Family Systems Theory, Family Crisis/Stress, or Social Exchange Theory. This paper will focus on Structural Functionalism Theory and Symbolic Interactionism Theory.…

    • 2014 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Ordinary People Movie Analysis
    • 844 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Ordinary People Movie Analysis

    Occasionally he will open up. He portrays silence when he masks his pain by not opening up. The viewer can see he is distraught when he is on the train and has memories of Conrad’s attempted suicide; however, he doesn’t open up about his feelings. His violence is portrayed at the Christmas tree scene when he yells at Beth for yelling at Conrad. Also when he and Beth are on the golf course, he finally opens up and yells at her for not loving Conrad like she loved Buck. In order to fix this, Beth should have shown respect towards Calvin. Maslow states that everyone needs respect. Beth immediately turned Calvin down; therefore, Calvin no longer wanted to share his feelings. Showing respect also means creating safety in the…

    • 844 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    The Characters In Judith Guest's Ordinary People
    • 2267 Words
    • 10 Pages

    The Characters In Judith Guest's Ordinary People

    Judith Guest's novel, Ordinary People, is quite a unique story in that it has two protagonists. It alternates between the Conrad's story and Calvin's, his father. Although they seem interrelated, especially at the beginning, they are more like two completely different stories which happen to occasionally affect one another before splitting off and going their own ways once more. Conrad's main concern seems to be his emotional time bomb, always threatening to blow but never knowing when it's going to happen and drag him back into his depressed and suicidal state. Calvin's story seems at first to be all about trying to control Conrad's emotional problems, but it gradually becomes a fight to simply keep the family together. As the story progresses, he gets into more arguments with his wife, Beth, about how to deal with the past and Conrad's emotional state. Calvin believes the family should talk through their problems whereas Beth believes that the family should simply move on and forget the past, which leads to…

    • 2267 Words
    • 10 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Precious Jones Psychodynamic Theory
    • 713 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Precious Jones Psychodynamic Theory

    The first theory will be the family emotional structured theory. In order for me to develop a plan of intervention, I need to work and understand Precious’s story, by understanding her family history, the people involved in her life and knowing the origin of her problems. The second theory is the psychodynamic theory since this theory is concerned with individuals in the context of their psychosocial environment. The third theory will be, the person-centered theory; this theory incorporates a perspective on human nature and development that is more optimistic and strength-focused which will be more effective for Precious. Next I will be using the behavioral theory; through this theory, I will be focusing on the consequence of the behavior, the environment factors that elicit and maintain a behavior and the social theory. Cognitive theory will be used next; since this theory works well for the diverse population who seek concrete, practical approaches to problem-solving it will be very useful to use for the Jones family. The next theory that will be used is the structural family theory; since Precious’s case is more focused on the family dynamic, and most of the interventions will be organizing interventions with families, it will offer an alternative and contemporary perspective to family emotional systems theory. Next I will be using solution focused theory; it will primarily be used to assist Precious in making improvement her interactions with her mother and the people around her. The last theory to be used for this case will be the narrative theory. Through narrative theory, Precious will be an active participant in telling her story either through writing her story or through…

    • 713 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Summary Of Jeannette Walls By Jeannette Walls
    • 424 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Summary Of Jeannette Walls By Jeannette Walls

    As a memoir, this is truly unique. It must have taken tremendous effort to write this often painful recollection of your own life. Yet, the exercise of exploring the dynamics of such a dysfunctional family, and the parental unit as a separate entity analyzed by a daughter, had to be a revelation and a healing experience. One merit of the work is the strength of character bred into these children, celebrated and seen in…

    • 424 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Ordinary People: Treatment Plan
    • 2345 Words
    • 10 Pages

    Ordinary People: Treatment Plan

    The Jarrett family from the movie Ordinary People have a variety of issues. Complicating matters is the complex, tangled nature of these issues. To combat these issues we need a clear plan. In the absence of a clear plan there would be a great deal of floundering about. Floundering which would likely end in opening hurts we can not resolve. Therefore let us be clear about what we are setting out to accomplish.…

    • 2345 Words
    • 10 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    Ordinary People Movie Analysis
    • 1484 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Ordinary People Movie Analysis

    1.Brief Summary: Ordinary People is about the Jarrett family once a family of four –now of three- live a comfortable upper-mid-class lifestyle in suburban in Lake Forest, Illinois, during the 1970s. In good times, they can weather anything, but when a storm comes along, there are dangerous flaws that there are not aware of. Love, once a feeling, is now nothing more than an expectation or an obligation especially for the mother. After the death of Bucky, his older brother Conrad became deeply troubled and depressed, blaming himself for the boating accident. He tried to commit suicide by slashing his wrists and was hospitalized in a mental institution. After Conrad is released from the hospital while he is physically cured, he is by no means emotionally cured, and at the request of his father, he begins to see a psychiatrist, Dr. Berger to help him gain more control, help him come to terms with his brother's death and learn how to cope with his everyday stressors. The movie focuses on his family life, Conrad is becoming increasingly alienated from his mother, who he thinks wishes he would've died instead of his brother, because Bucky was the outgoing, handsome and perfect son. The mother She is beautiful and "perfect”, a complete perfectionist who wants everything to appear to be normal and thinks Conrad's suicide attempt was just to hurt her. She doesn’t know how to deal with Conrad. She doesn't know how to really show affection for Conrad after Buck dies. She has become cold and withdrawn while the father is paralyzed by sorrow and indecision about how to move on, and the remaining son is wracked by survivor’s guilt. The father tries way too hard to watch over Conrad because he blames himself for missing the warning signs before Conrad's attempted suicide. The film will tell the story of how Conrad attempts to deal with the guilt he feels after his brother’s death, and the way they deal with it as a family, the lack of communication or affective communication and…

    • 1484 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Family Issues in Ordinary People
    • 666 Words
    • 20 Pages

    Family Issues in Ordinary People

    The film Ordinary People main focus is on Conrad’s family issues. Many conflicts in the novel slowly destroy Conrad’s family. This raises the issue of Conrad trying to commit suicide. The major theme that defines this novel is healing. Calvin and Beth Jarrett, are both high middle class white parents living in the suburbs. They go out and party a ton ever since the devastating lost of their oldest son Buck, in a boating accident. This brings a negative vibe to the family, which is why Conrad and Kelvin start to attend a psychiatrist. The psychiatrist Dr. Berger convinces Conrad and Calvin to make them express exactly how they feel. The issues that the Jarrett family faces, contradicts the film’s title of them being an ordinary family. Once Conrad was released from the hospital, he gave the audience the message that he was not ready for the world. He was not ready to become independent and it was very difficult for him to let go off his past. Now was his chance to catch up with friends, and a swimming team to participate in. Although life at home was slowly recuperating, Conrad’s parents would leave the house to help clear their minds from their son’s death. Calvin would leave parties slightly drunk and so would Beth. The purpose at the end of the day was to have a fantastic time and to develop happiness to themselves. In the film there were flashbacks that always lead to a symbolism in the film. Conrad had so many nightmares he had to attend the psychiatrist Dr. Berger. It got to the point that Calvin had to join him too. Dr. Berger is considered a symbolism in the film because he is the analyzer of the family. He put’s a lot of effort trying to solve the problems that were involved with the Jarrett’s. He created solutions for Conrad and Calvin to release their thoughts that were never spoken. Another symbolism is a text to world connection. At one point of the film The Jarrett’s go to visit Beth’s mother and father for thanksgiving. After a intense argument…

    • 666 Words
    • 20 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Ordinary People Movie Essay
    • 885 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Ordinary People Movie Essay

    In the movie, Ordinary People, the Jarrett family face quite intense conflicts throughout their everyday lives after a son, and brother, of the family dies in a boating incident. The family’s overall dysfunction results from each person’s unhealthy way of grieving and not letting out their emotions and sorrow. Instances in which the family’s dysfunction was shown include: at the breakfast table, in the family’s backyard, when putting up the Christmas tree, at the mall, and when the mother, Beth, and the dad, Calvin, were on vacation. Beth Jarrett, especially, does not practice supplying Conrad, her son, with needs, such as those of Maslow’s Hierarchy of human needs, like love and belonging. She does this by examples like refusing to have a conversation about the death of Buck, the one who drowned in a boating incident. The father, Calvin, is quite distant and tries to reconnect with his depressed and suicidal son, but struggles to do so. Conrad, himself, copes with the help of his psychiatrist, Dr. Berger. The ways each member of the family uses fight and/or flight mode are a myriad, and this, along with possible conflict management strategies, which they could have utilized and have helped the Jarretts, will be expounded upon.…

    • 885 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Ordinary Families: The Jarrett Family
    • 348 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Ordinary Families: The Jarrett Family

    In the movie Ordinary People, The Jarrett family is a prime example of a family being torn apart because of a lack of communication. The Jarrett family cannot Acknowledge the loss of Buck and attempted suicide by Conrad. The Jarrett family could benefit a lot from family therapy to help them communicate. Their overall dysfunction comes from a lack of communication and turning on each other at any moment. Throughout the movie, The Jarretts each display acts of “silence” and “violence” toward each other. They use these whenever a crucial conversation about Buck would arise. Conrad, Beth, and Calvin all use these mechanisms to avoid talking about the real issue causing undeniable dysfunction inside the Jarrett family.…

    • 348 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Ordinary People Character Analysis Essay
    • 426 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Ordinary People Character Analysis Essay

    Judith Guest’s Ordinary People conveys the complex emotional and physical hardships that can arise from an unexpected tragedy among a seemingly average family. The development of seventeen-year-old Conrad Jarrett, the book’s protagonist, is dire in determining how his family and friends respond to the death of his brother, Jordan. The evolution of Conrad’s character throughout the novel provides insight on the five stages of grief and the multitude of ways they can be experienced. Though teeming with pivotal moments in Jarrett’s development, one instance in particular, the death of a close friend, Karen Aldrich, is significant in determining his choice to continue to live with grief, or die without exposure to feeling. Karen’s death is indicative of Conrad’s shift towards dependency on others, anticipated…

    • 426 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Best Essays

    Family Genogram Project
    • 3547 Words
    • 15 Pages

    Family Genogram Project

    The roots of family therapy emerged out of individual therapy in 1950 when they realized that it was necessary to look at outside influences on the individual to help understand and treat their presenting problem (Clough, p, 2). Psychotherapy then expanded to include group approaches further enriching communication and relationships. In 1960, systemic changes began to include social and political ideals from where “distinct schools of family therapy” developed in 1970 (Clough, p. 2). Going forward, changes in philosophy furthered political and societal horizons toward constructivism and social constructionism (Clough, p. 2). “Constructivism suggests that there is no single reality only different perspective of the same situation, which is influenced by a person personality, situation, and experiences “(Clough, p. 2). “Social constructionism builds upon that perspective and includes social and cultural views which shapes the individuals meaning and affects their behaviors, interactions, and emotional responses” (Clough, p. 2). These changes over time have helped to evolve the therapist role from the “expert’ to the collaborator. From here, the emphasis and role of language and communication was implemented by the Milan systemic school which suggests that the two can…

    • 3547 Words
    • 15 Pages
    Best Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Ordinary People
    • 640 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Ordinary People

    In Judith Guest’s novel, Ordinary People, Beth, Calvin, and their son Conrad are living in the aftermath of the death of the other son. Conrad is filled with grief and guilt to the extent of a suicide attempt. Beth had always seemed to prefer his brother and has difficulty showing empathy towards Conrad or Calvin. Calvin is stuck between the two trying to hold the family together while also trying to keep himself from falling apart. The novel shows different ways people communicate and how this can either rebuild or destroy relationships.…

    • 640 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    Ordinary People
    • 2715 Words
    • 11 Pages

    Ordinary People

    Calvin was a concerned father and husband. He tried to keep everyone happy. Beth, who was the mother and wife, was a cold frigid woman, who liked everything organized. She was very rigid and wanted everything in its place. Beth appeared to be concerned about her own needs, never about the needs of others. She was egocentric and narcissistic. She was unable to share her feelings of love, happiness or sadness. Conrad’s parents, especially his mother, loved Buck. Buck was on the swim team and the best on his team. He needed more attention to follow through on things and appears to have been a bit of a daredevil. Conrad, a senior in high school, appears to have been a good child who always followed rules and regulations; never requiring his parents to remind him of things; he was always on task.…

    • 2715 Words
    • 11 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Structural family theory
    • 479 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Structural family theory

    Individuals, subsystems, and whole families are demarcated by interpersonal boundaries, invisible barriers that regulate contact with others. Subsystems that aren’t adequately protected by boundaries limit the development of interpersonal skills achievable in these subsystems (Nichols & Schwartz, 2004). Consequently, the family should be considered as a system whose function depends on the members of this structure. Minuchin’s Family structural theory was created with subsystems that changed all the time as they were adapting to external (job, school, and relocation) and internal (divorce, illness, and birth) influences. Thus, the dysfunctional family is one whose external and internal boundaries are excessively diffuse or rigid. A diffuse boundary deprives the couple subsystem of integrity, resulting in a lack of identity as a couple. A rigid boundary, on the other hand, cuts the couple off from its environment.…

    • 479 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More

Related Topics