Conformity In Leopard Man, The Pedestrian, And Dead Poets Society

There has always been an ongoing controversy over non-conformity versus conformity. Which one is better, which one will give you the best result in the long run? The definition of a conformist is someone who participates in accepted behavior or established practice. A non-conformist is someone who does not conform, but instead prevails own personal view on ideas, practices, or behaviors. Truth is, even though they have different definitions, they’re the exact same thing. A great example of this is in the book Animal Farm, by George Orwell. Animal Farm is an allegory of the Russian revolution. It is about a farm where animals revolt against humans and the pigs are in charge. These pigs end up being corrupt leaders. One very important theme of this book is which is better, conformity or nonconformity? Which is the best way to survive on Animal Farm? Conformity or

The author, Logan Feys in his article, ¨The Sociology of Leopard Man¨, discusses the topic of society and being a nonconformist. He claims that people should be psychologically free and strong enough to live independently, leaving society and entering society on their own terms. He supports his claim by first comparing abnormal people and ¨normal¨ people. For example, in the article he states, “Plenty of weird people do have serious mental problems. But so do plenty of ¨normal¨ people.¨ (Feys 1). He then goes on to explain the dangers of conforming to society. ¨Conformity can be seen as the world's most common but dangerous psychological disorder. Living in society, we are under constant pressure to surrender our individuality to the will of

Americans today tend to believe that being an individual is the typical entity for any civilian living. My whole life I have heard it said that being yourself will have a big impact on my life as I grow older. In that case it has been a been a massive part of my life; however, I have got sucked into the conformity society at times myself. Although I have improved, I cannot help thinking that people in society are also getting sucked in conformity. While they rarely admit as much, people often tell themselves that they do not follow others and claim they are original.

Merriam Webster defines conformity as- “action in accordance with some specified standard or authority”. As it is a type of influence that involves change in belief or behavior in order to fit into a group. Where in Ken Kesey's One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, conformity is a matter of life or death. In the novel and in life, conformity is viewed as an easy way to shape into society's mold. Societal expectations are shaped by the so called “Combine” a mysterious and in the dark figure that is view as the puppeteer of the way society functions. In the Novel, Chief Bromden a long time patient at a psychiatric ward is the first to recognize the Combine and its powers. At the same time that this novel was written, the society of the 1950s was being challenged by a group known as the beat generation who wanted to reject and challenge the stringent norms that the majority deemed as appropriate and necessary. While many members of society supported the beliefs of conformity, in many ways the need for “societal-misfits” was vital to secure a community where all people would have a voice. While many did their best to challenge the Combine, in the end the Combine would prevail, but the ideas of those who spoke out would resonate with others. The Combine is an unstoppable force fueled by conformity, but Ken Kesey explains that the only way for progress in the novel (and society) is for a McMurphy type of character to challenge the Combine.

John F. Kennedy once said, “Conformity is the jailer of freedom and the enemy of growth.”. This has been a puzzling idea for many; most of us are grown into some form of conformity at one time or another. At what point does following the rules become wrong? When is it too much? Over the years many people begin to question what the acts of following the crowd can mean; whether or not we need these orders, and structures to function; or whether it’s really worth losing yourself just to make everybody else happy. When does it become too much? And once is does, how do we break the cycle? This topic has been used throughout many different mediums; films, and literature, all alluding to the signs, and actions of when conformity is doing nothing

One of the many joys of life is being able to choose your own path. The decision of being a conformist or a nonconformist lies all in the palm of your hand. In his article, ‘The Sociology of Leopard Man’, Logan Feys states, “To be human is to be an individual human, with individual tastes, talents, values, and aspirations that are distinct from those of others. Living in society, we are under constant pressure to surrender our individuality to the will of the majority, the school, the workplace, the family, etc.” Everyone is their own unique person, with a different personality than the next, and at the end of the day it is your personal option to display or hide your own individuality when around others. Overall, Feys claims that society holds a heavy cloud over everyone's head that pressures them to submit their own personality,

As humans, we all conform to one idea or another. These ideas can have positive and negative effects on the people and world around us. We are unable to avoid conformity, but we can show our individuality. Norman Shpancer’s article states that all humans conform to ideas that might not necessarily cause problems, but there are instances where the choices they make cause immense harm to others around them. Logan Feys’ biography on Leopard Man claims that people who act out of the ordinary, or looked at as freaks by society, live a happier life than the “slaves of society.” [Thesis].

Dead Poets Society is a movie set in the 1950 s But filmed in 1989 .Although it is set on the 50s the movie talks and is able to get through transcendentalist ideals to the viewer . The movie is set in a boy’s only private school called Walton that sends its graduates to Ivy league colleges. Where Mr. Keating is the new English teacher were he introduces non conformity and transcendentalism to his students. In the movie each boy has a scene where he breaks out of his norm becomes and a nonconformist. The movie also relates to transcendentalist poetry like Emily Dickson work And Walt Whitman especially in his poems in “song of myself. “ So Transcendentalism connects to

Conforming creates a Hell for yourself dominated by fear until you choose to remove the norms and standards set by society and become who you are

Feys is saying that society is pressuring us to all change, but in reality you don't see much people change themselves. Feys says to be a human you need talents, taste, values, and dreams, but I don't believe that I believe all humans are humans by being themselves by doing what they want they don't need talents to be human. The author talks about how Leopard Man has changed for society's demand, but Leopard Man says he did not change for the society he said he's on a paradise which is earth and society can keep what they got. I just don't believe with what Feys says in most of this article because what evidence does he show how a human should be a human. Logan Feys just doesn't know what he is talking about I think that because if you read paragraph 2 he says people that change are desperate for society's attention, but then if you read paragraph 9 he said he doesn't judge people when clearly he judged saying they want attention. For my personal experience I don't judge people that change if they change for happiness that's fine, but they don't change for attention why would they change their whole body just to get attention i've never witnessed it but I do not think that is how it goes. This is why I disagree with

Under many different circumstances, we find ourselves having to conform to something. Behaving accordingly to socially acceptable conventions or standards is exactly what conforming means (dictionary.com). The real mystery behind conformity is, why conform? In one way or another we all conform to something in life. In “A&P” by John Updike, and “The story of an hour” by Kate Chopin, we’re able to see what it’s like to conform, and what it’s like not to. When there is some sort of refusal to conform, we’re freeing ourselves from living accordingly to socially acceptable standards. Being free is just that, it’s the power to act, speak, or think as we want without hindrance, meaning without something or someone holding us back (dictionary.com).

“Wanting to be someone else is a waste of who you are” (Kurt Cobain). Cobain is pointing out individuals who conform are destroying who they genuinely are, they are living in another individual's life. In my personal involvement I had taken notice of a young teen, and he was doing and repeating all things that the other teen's were doing just because he was deprived of to fit in and he never fitted in to that group and that shows that Conformity doesn't regularly work and perhaps not being a conformist can make us more refined versions of us. How can we avoid Conformity? Can we? and why do they conform? “Roughly 3/4 of the subjects (people) complied adjusting their public judgment to conform to the group even though in their individual

What is it to Conform or to not conform? Conformity is compliance with standards or rules. Non- conformity is to think freely. To be the one square in a room with a bunch of circles. With conformity, you are either one of the many standing in line with the others or the one standing out amongst the crowd. Boxer is what we would call a conformist, while Mr. Leonardo was non-conformist. Boxer was a fine horse who did what he was told. Mr. Leonard was a nice kept man who simply loved to take walks.

Nonconformists create and imagine things that would not exist if they hadn't thought outside the normal mindset of people.Employers and companies look for people who have this persona. They become a part of history just because they didn't follow everyone else. Those who conform live,think, and act in a certain way. Those

The film Dead Poets Society’s main theme of conformity and the dangers of rebelling against it are portrayed very well, through both the poetry used in the film and events in the film by using classic works to portray rebellion against authority as an issue as old as time. One of the most important pieces used in the film is an excerpt of Walden written inside a fictional Five Centuries of English Verse, used for the meetings of the Dead Poets Society. The piece outlines their reason for meeting: “I went to the woods because I wanted to live deliberately.” The piece Walden is very fitting for the film, particularly for a quote from another excerpt: “If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured or far away.