The paper will apply six theories of deviance to the American History X. The film was produced in 1998, and generally, the film looks at a broad aspect of racism. The main character is the film Derek Vinyard, who at the start was just a right person. However, the murder of his father made him become a villain, hateful and racist. He blamed the loss of father on multi-cultural society that he grew up and lives in. Vinyard influenced other white people into racism, and finally, they become racist revolution gained momentum. Vinyard was later incarcerated for killing two individuals who wanted to steal his car.
Conflict Theory
According to the conflict theory, society is seen to be constant conflict, due to the competition for limited resources. In a community where people are competing against each other all the time, power and domination are the only way social order can be maintained. In the film, Vinyard has neo-Nazi tendencies, and he leads a racist revolution, but finally he was jailed after committing murder. The jailing of Vinyard, confirms the power and domination of the justice system to maintain social order.
Labeling Theory
The labelling theory discusses the reaction of the society to crime and deviance. The community can label a person deviant, and by doing so, the person will be isolated and stigmatized (Matsueda and Ross 223). Therefore, in the film Vinyard was labelled abnormal and that is why he was arrested to be isolated from other members of the society. Even the white people he was working with to lead the revolution separated him because the community had labelled him deviant.
Broken Windows Theory
The theory states that the physical disorders, where people engage in some anti-social behaviour can lead to increased crime rates. People can participate in some unacceptable actions in the society. Finally, such conduct can lead to higher crime levels. Vinyard is the main character, and he is engaging in some anti-social behaviour like directing people to revolt against other communities. Therefore, the theory links to the film in the scene where two people tried to rob Vinyard's car. Already there is racial hatred, in the movie, which according to the theory is the broken windows. The broken windows (racial hatred) motivated the two individuals Vinyard murdered for attempted robbery.
Differential Association Theory
The theory states that when people interact they lead attitudes, motives, techniques, and values for deviance and criminal activities. In essence, the theory argues that criminal behaviour can be learnt from other people. In relation to the film, skinheads who were jailed alongside, Vinyard learnt racial hatred from him (Gooding). The racial revolution itself could not be accepted in the American society, because it was a disturbance to social order or peace.
Strain Theory
The strain theory states that the society puts pressure on people to achieve what are socially accepted goals (Agnew and Robert 143). In the film, the two people who attempted to steal a car from Vinyard had succumbed to the pressure by the society that considers that every person should have a vehicle.
Anomie Theory
Anomie theory is a social condition where the society disintegrates due to lack of norms and values. The theory states that a normless society gives members leeway to engage in anti-social behaviour. The killing of Vinyard's father, racial hatred and racial revolution as depicted in the film is precisely want a normless society is as described in theory (Gooding).
Conclusion
In summary, the American History X is one of the best civil rights films, because it captures racial hatred in the US and transformation. Vinyard, at first was a racist and undermined the societal values of the American civilization, but while in prison he befriended a black person. The kind of friendship formed between Vinyard and the black inmate, reflects the new society that America should be. Hence, the theories of deviance captured the two aspects of racism and passion for transformation in American.
Work Cited
Agnew, Robert. "Revitalizing merton: General strain theory." The origins of American criminology. Routledge, 2017. 143-164.
Gooding, Jack. "An Analysis Of 'American History X' & Its Contemporary Relevance | The Film Magazine." The Film Magazine. N.p., 2015. Web. 4 Apr. 2018. Retrieved from: https://www.thefilmagazine.com/american-history-x-and-its-contemporary-relevance/
Matsueda, Ross L. "Labeling theory: Historical roots, implications, and recent developments." Explaining Criminals and Crime (2001): 223-241. Retrieved from: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/9781405165518.wbeosl002
