Individuals Can Not Just Alter Their Future - Essay Example

Marx Was Right Individuals Can’t Just Alter Their Future In Michael Apted 49 Up Outline Paragraph Introduction Paragraph 2: It is Not Impossible to Alter One’s Condition Paragraph 3: Awareness of the Social Condition is Only on the Personal Level Paragraph 4: Conclusion I would like to argue that individuals can’t just alter their future, for it is something socio-historically rooted. Marx was right when he stated his famous dictum that people do make their own history under imposed conditions (as cited by Confino 1242; Confino 1065). I highly consider that no matter how one has strived hard to change his or her own life to succeed professionally and economically in the future, the class structure still shapes the society. In fact, the organization of class is really one strong structure that provides the individuals a set of conditions in which this organization pleases them to make, wherein the individuals have no control over it. I would like to mention how the structure of class remains to exist. Since the wealth of the entire world is not equally distributed, hierarchy in the society takes place. Those individuals who belong to the upper class are privileged to be born rich, while those in the lower class are in a struggle to become rich, for they are born poor. How I see the structure of class is in line with Alon Confino, as he has the same points in his review of Apted’s 7 Up series. As stated in his 42 Up film review, he has agreed that class is not totally eradicated because, in fact, it still functions as unclear indication of wealth and influence based on the respondents of 7 Up series in England (1064). In this case, I strongly perceive the representation of the participants is a very clear indication that the class inequality remains to exist because of the various classes which are covered by the most in-depth program. Its onset has fourteen (14) children coming from different economic backgrounds in which four children are born rich, two boys coming from a charity funded children’s home, four children coming from the lower class, two boys from the middle class while two are ‘wildcard’ children (Bawer). In this way, I consider that inequality, oppression and discrimination of different sorts exist in British despite the fact that the participants of the series reject that idea. The same opinion is true for Confino, for he claims that majority think that England is still a society with some forms of class privilege and discrimination (1064). I consider that in order to improve one’s situation for those who belong to the lower class is a completely long struggle before an individual can totally alter one’s economic condition. To further explain, support and strengthen my position, I would like to use as a case the film 49 Up by Michael Apted. The series has all started with a group of 7 year old children who are interviewed every 7 years since its launch in 1964 (Wilshire 101). The latest is the 49 Up film in which the participants are aged 49 years old. I would like to argue my first point that it is not impossible to alter one’s situation, but what I am saying is, it is difficult. Indeed, it is really hard. I think that in order to alter one’s current economic status, the first step is awareness of the existing social conditions of an individual. After awareness, actual efforts with much determination and skills must follow. I support this with Confino’s viewpoint, as he states that the possibility of changing the status is not be just by means of working hard, but the individual will power, skills and talent must join all together (1241). I would like to give the case of Nick as an example, because he is able to make a way out from being poor, then he has made a name for himself when he become successful. Even if Nick, a son of a farmer, was born poor, he is able to change his situation by means of education. From walking to school to a one-room village school in Yorkshire, Nick studied physics in Oxford, conducted nuclear research in Madison and at present, he is a professor in the University of Winconsin. However, I greatly consider that to belong to the lower class is a completely long struggle before an individual can totally alter one’s economic condition. For me, Nick’s case is just a living proof that people can still get out of the lower class, no matter how impossible it may seem and no matter how the others have failed. According to Confino (1241), it is the case that the status of individual is something already achieved even before his or her birth because the pre-existing social, economic and cultural conditions await that individual. Since class is socio-historically rooted, I believe that what would most likely to happen is the repetition of events. Despite one’s effort to change his or her status, I can see that it would be most likely the case that the individual would remain in the socio-economic class where he or she belongs. Confino also states that ideas of limitations and possibilities are related (1065). I believe that my point of view is further supported by Bawer’s observation in the 42 Up Series, the rich kids have remained to be rich people after 42 years. I would give as an example the case of John, one among the four rich kids since the launch of 7 Up Series. In the 35 Up Series, Confino states that John had showed extreme motivation, dedication and confidence for his future success. His plan of going and studying to Westminster Boarding School was successful (1241). Moreover, he even took law at Christ Church in Oxford (1241). At present, John has successfully made a name for himself being a Queen’s Counsel (Bauer). From what I have observed, the case of John only illustrates that his status of being rich has remained even after 49 years. On the one hand, though majority of participant’s economic conditions, even those who belong in the poor working class, have improved. I can say that little improvement on all their assets and wealth would still categorize them to the socio-economic class they first belong. I would like to make Paul’s case an example - at first, he was from a children’s home in London then he had dreamed of being a policeman. When he was twenty-eight (28) years old, Paul was able to establish his own business, but, unfortunately, it was not a success. Paul had understood the role of higher education in a different way as compared to John who delineated his future plans of education at the early age of seven (7). He asked what university means when he was 7 years old; the question which was also asked by his daughter (Confino 1241). Well, for me, I can perceive that John is able to show how heis condition has improved since he was 7 years old. However, it is still the case that I can see that, even if he has managed to improve his condition, still, his efforts for success is not enough to get out of his present socio-economic class. As a sign of repeating the event, his daughter had even asked him the same query he asked at an early age. I would just like to add that his marriage is not successful. In fact, John is trying to save his marriage. Just like what Confino claims (1241), I believe that the structures of family ties, education and economic status are interconnected and function in influential ways of shaping the lives of individuals. Regardless of how one plans to be economically and professionally successful in the future, I believe that it is a long struggle for lots of factors are linked together which affect the overall situation of an individual. To be born rich is a privilege, for that individual is socialized in such a way the upper class does. I believe the claim of Confino that feeling of limitation is due to the lack of wealth and influence (1065). Since the rich people have all the means and capital for education, it would not be difficult for them to reinforce what their ways. On the one hand, I consider the idea that, as the lower class individuals are born poor, they have inherited the lack of awareness on the importance of education since they were young. Thus, for me, despite the impossibility of improving a condition, it is still possible, but what is most likely to happen is the strengthening of the class structure. I would like to argue my second point that awareness of the social condition is mostly related only on the personal but not on the social level. I consider that the total consciousness is really what lacks the participants, for they realize the implications of disclosing parts of their lives in the 7 Up to 49 Up Series only on the personal level. The position I am arguing is supported by Bauer. According to him, the series is not understood by some people, including the participants themselves. The whole project is just a series of trashy and cheap TV reality show but comes along with extra advantage that viewers can see the participants as they age (Bauer). I would like to add that, according to Wilshire, Jackie, one of the East End working class girl, is not happy and satisfied with how her life has been illustrated in the 49 Up Series. M. Apted just edited her part in the program to fit in a way he likes it to be and in the way he sees the participants (113). The point of Apted’s way of seeing them is how the society sees them. As I have watched the 49 Up film, I realize that these participants together with the others just do not see the whole point of the series. I consider that what they are revealing in 7 Up to 49 Up Series is not something on the personal level, but, rather, on the social level. The series has relevance to the society, which these people do not realize. I know that it is not much more about themselves, but it is all about how the society can learn from their real life experiences as shaped by the larger structures. Although personally, I can see that Apted’s 7 Up Series is already violating some of the confidentiality issues of the respondents, since some of them, for instance, Jackie, no longer wants to disclose some information about herself, but Apted is really too intrusive. I think that he has missed out the point that too much disclosure of the personal information about the lives of these people already harms the participants. His research project, all the in-depth interview, is done publicly through TV as the medium. This is one among the criticisms regarding the series by Apted, according to Wilshire (113-114). However, I would like to point that they only see the show as just like the TV reality shows of Big Brother and I’m a Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here and not as a show which is has sociological relevance to all the people. I can see through their individual life experiences that the class as a structure is too much powerful and influential; it can predict what the condition of an individual can happen in the future. Thus, individuals cannot just simply alter their socio-economic situations since birth, for people are making their history under the pre-existing conditions of the society. I consider to a great extent that the structures of class, education, and family ties are connected and function to control the life of the individual. What is most likely to happen is that individual would still hold his or her socio-economic class. The rich would remain rich, while the poor would remain poor. Like what is shown by the 7 Up to 49 Up series, it is an upward mobility. Thus, I can conclude through my analysis of the film that the case is that the rich would remain rich, while the poor would somehow improve their condition but are still poor relative to the rich. There are limits, as well as possibilities. I consider that the limits are the lack of wealth and influence, but the possibilities are individual will power and skills. The first step to alter one’s condition is to become aware of the existing conditions of the society. I believe that this is what the Confino calls meaning over structure of the postmodern point of view (1242). Individuals must see themselves as systems of meaning in order to understand the structure of society and culture. In this way, I know that altering one’s condition would be possible. For me, this is still a change, but is still under the imposed conditions. Works Cited: 49 Up Series. Dir. Michael Apted. First Run Features, 2005. DVD. Bawer, B. “The Way of All Flesh.” The Hudson Review 60(3) (2007). Web. 11 Dec. 2011. Confino, A. “35 Up by Michael Apted.” The American Historical Review 99(4) (1994): 1240-1242. Web. 11 Dec. 2011. Confino, A. “42 Up by Michael Apted.” The American Historical Review 105(3) (2000): 1064-1065. Web. 11 Dec. 2011. Wilshire, P. “The Original Reality Television Series: From 7 Up to 49 Up.” Screen Education 45 1-15. Web. 11 Dec. 2011. Read More