Save the last dance is a dance movie produced in 2001 in the USA. The movie is popular for its depiction of both sociological and psychological elements. Interesting topics that can be drawn from this American Dance film include racial conflicts between the whites and blacks, urban environments that are impoverished, violence, peer pressure among the younger generation in the society, malfunction families, vitalization, loyalty, failed friendships among others. Racial prejudice actively appears in such an environment that involves individuals from different races. Hate crime is also reported to be rampant as individuals from the lesser community(blacks) seem to be hated by their white counterparts. In the event of hate and mistrust, loyalty becomes very minimal as individuals trust fewer people.
Majorly, the movie is a love and romance story between Sara Johnson and Derek who are from different racial backgrounds. Sara is a young dancer who has her ambitions set beyond her level of competition. Sara faces a rather incredible challenge in her career as her mother passes on during her endeavors. She eventually has to move to Chicago to live with her ‘Jazz-cat father' in an environment predominantly occupied by blacks. Sara would then represent the kids who regardless of their background, are determined to prosper in life using talent and determination (Mitchell 2001). The film manages both certain and perfect aspects of race statuses and inter-relations. While Derek and Malakai's circumstance can be extremely believable, the way that Sara quickly fits into a general public where to state she belongs to the minority would be putting it mildly is to some degree unrealistic. Investigating Malakai's character, it's not unfathomable for somebody of his status and poor and criminal foundation to feel that they are unequipped for doing whatever else with their life. The "happily ever after" finishing is conceivable, however not exceptionally likely; for what has all the earmarks of being the only interracial couple in the film to live respectively in peace and harmony is profoundly unrealistic. The possibility of controversy would be highly probable given the perception that exists in the society.
Psychological theories
Violence
In the Encyclopedia of theoretical criminology, as edited by Mitchell Miller, Psychological attributes like aggression can be inherited just like physical genetic characteristics like being attractive. In the case of criminality that may be found to run in the family, theorists have concluded that psychological traits account for such features in individuals (Mitchell, 2014). Malakai character comes in the picture of an individual that was brought up in such an environment. His involvement in violent activities also hinders and scare Sara in her quest to overcome society's major setback, racism. Sara, on the other hand, being a dynamic character learns a lot from Derek, including how to dance to hip-hop tunes and to understand the more significant part of now her ‘family.' She grows fond of the new moves and seeks to impress the other inhabitants who happen to be black. Sara and Derek experience so much social pressure of their interracial relationship. But their honesty and desire to care for each other is what keeps them going and follow their dream of growing their talents alive.
Vitalization
Many youths in America and across the world seek to live vibrant lives that are successful and fun. Most of them are therefore vigorous and look more to endow in life. Many of these teens and younger adults admire lives lived by celebrities and other prominent figures in the society. Despite being young and naïve, Derek is respectful and undeniably sweet. What started as a mild relationship then grows sexual with time as the writer of the movie also showcases scenes of sexual tendencies in the hip-hop dances. Derek and Sara are however able to control their emotions despite strong sexual energy exhibited in the dances.
Chenilles case is paramount in a way that she indulged in pre-marital intercourse that bred her a child whose dad could not take responsibility. In Save for last dance movie, the theme of vitalization is highly represented by sexualization (Gregerson, 2009). Teens are actively engaging in sexual activities without fear of getting pregnant or getting Sexually transmitted diseases. Research on vitality has been found to be common among adolescent teens who are described to be healthy adolescents according to American culture. Societal norms and roles assigned to youths can breed vitality among these young ones. (Peterson and Seligman, 2004). Despite the challenges and heartbreak Chenille faces, Derek offers her popular support. Derek and Sara get some learning points from that experience as themselves are teenagers who are in a relationship.
Alcohol and Drugs
The community-based club, Steps is not only a club but also a bar. Roy is pictured drinking and even smoking cigarettes in the presence of teens who might have lied their way into the bar using fake IDs. Sara is slowly being introduced the world of drugs with the habitual smoking of Malakai and Roy. Sara's mother is a prominent victim of drugs that without a doubt led to her being promiscuous and careless in her marriage. Sussman addresses the problem of drug abuse as a crucial component in social psychology. He states that drug abuse is the main of all social evils in the society. For example, an individual who is short of money for drugs is forced to engage in criminal activities to cater for his addiction. Another case would be a person that has abused drugs tend to involve in social evils such as rape, murder and general disruption of peace and harmony (Sussman and Ames, 2001).
Life isn't simple for these families, yet this film praises compromise and perseverance whenever possible. Chenille and Derek's father is never said, and their mother was an addict of drugs, traitor, and prostitute. Despite being raised by their grandmother, Chenille and Derek still uphold a stable family bond. Derek helps his sister to take care of Chenille’s son the absence of the father. Also, when Derek gets his Georgetown acknowledgment letter, it's a celebratory event for the whole family. Similarly, Sara's family has been torn by her parent’s separation, and she and her father are at first icy toward each other—so cold that she addresses him by his first name all through the film. In any case, her closeness with her mom is exhibited, and even with the Dad, there's expectation. Despite the fact that at first, he appears to reflect her reserved quality, Roy settles on the correct decision and purposely starts getting things done to watch over Sara. Before the finish of the motion picture, he has softly disclosed to her he adores her.
Conclusion
Save the Last Dance pleasantly catches the comparison between Sara's first world and her new one. The hues are unique. The dialect is extraordinary. The heat on the moving floor is altogether different. Furthermore, in this new environment, Sara is unique. There is evident development related to abandoning a comfortable world and getting to be powerless in a place where life is crude. The purposeful examination of artful dance and hip-bounce as "artistic expressions" could motivate animating talk.
Here's the difficulty of urban life: Poverty isn't high, broken families are bad, lack of education, fatherlessness, street shootings. Nobody denies these things. Be that as it may, as Chenille says, "gettin' he- - up outta here" is extreme, and relatively few can oversee it. So the individuals who do are mocked, and the individuals who don't discover a remark in. In this film hip-hop moving turns into the appropriate response—it's viewed as a discharge, a shared belief, a wondrous thing in the dirty universe of the city. Lamentably, its stewing sexuality (and the brutality and misogyny of its going with verses) can fan a fire that is as of now done impressive harm to the urban world.
References
Gregerson, Mary Banks(ed). The Cinematic Mirror for Psychology and Life Coaching. Springer, 2010.
Miller, Mitchell (ed). Encyclopedia of theoretical criminology. Wiley Publishers, 2014.
Sussman, Steven Yale., and Susan L. Ames. The Social Psychology of Drug Abuse. Open University Press, 2001
Peterson, Christopher, and Martin E. P. Seligman. Character Strengths and Virtues: a Handbook and Classification. Oxford University Press, 2004.
