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Running head: MINDWALK
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Mindwalk
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MINDWALK
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Mindwalk
Introduction
Mindwalk is one of the best movies and still remains relevant in today’s world. This
movie is simply a conversation between three characters Sonia, Jack and Thomas. Jack is a
politician and a former presidential aspirant in the United States who has just lost elections. Jack
is, however, facing a senate re-election. Sonia Hoffman, on the other hand, is a scientist and was
formerly physicist. Thomas is a friend to jack and a poet. The three engages in a long discussion
where they tackle major topics which relate to social issues and life in general. This dialogue
driven film illustrates many sociological perspectives as the three major characters engage in a
conversation. In this film there are three major topics discussed by the characters includes the
crisis of perfection in most societies, the holistic and mechanist thinking in addition to politics of
impossibility. This paper, therefore, examines these three topics in relation to the three major
sociological perspectives mainly the functionalist, symbolic interactionist perspective in addition
to the conflict perspective.
Jack lost the presidential elections and only faced with the senate re-election campaign.
This has made him develop the need of getting a way. In relation to the functionalist perspective,
it is through politics that a society is provided with a way of getting governed as asserted by
Kurtz (2015). Therefore, by incorporating the character of Jack in this movie the writer shows
the importance of politics in the society. Politics is regarded as one of the social institutions that
work together to promote peace and social order which further facilitates a state of equilibrium
as suggested in the functionalist perspective (Kurtz, 2015). However, through the topic politics
of impossibility, as discussed in this movie, the audience is able to understand that at times
politics does not work. Many people in the society are apolitical and do not even vote in
elections.
The idea that the three characters are meeting in a church shows the social issue of
religion and spirituality. This is one of the institutions that promote peace and coexistence among
social members as indicated in the functionalist view. However, religion and politics can be
dysfunctional as they can promote disunity at some time. For instance, the idea that some people
are apolitical and do not vote shows that politics can promote divisions as well as religion.
According to the conflict view, it is religion and politics that class struggle and exploitation is
promoted in any society (Sanford, Merkel, & Hopper, 2015).
The film also focuses on social problems and how they can be solved. However, this film
does not focus on specific social problems; it only gives different perspectives on how to come
up with solutions to these social problems. For instance, Sonia Hoffman offers a view which is
referred to as holistic or the systems view perspective. Holistic thinking is recognizing the
interconnectedness of the universe. In relation to sociological views, everything should be
viewed as part of a whole. Sonia Hoffman’s view, therefore, supports the functionalist view that
the society is like a system of interconnected parts that work together in harmony so as to
promote the state of balance.
The three characters also discuss a topic known as the crisis of perfection. This is relevant
when related to the three major perspectives in sociology. This crisis is the way people view
something. It is caused by one’s understanding and viewing social problems as different rather
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than branches of the root problem. Sonia Hoffman, therefore, uses this crisis of perfection to
show how everything wrong in the world can be fixed. This includes how to solve major social
problems in the society such as crime, corruption, and struggle for power. According to the
functionalist view, some elements are dis-functional while others are functional. Therefore, it is
important to follow the views of Sonia to promote peace and harmonious living in the society.
Life is supposed to be looked at in different ways. The physicist uses an example of the
clock and shows that it different from what it once was. This shows that everything keeps on
changing as well as the society. She suggests that we need to develop new ways of dealing with
social problems to become more adapted to life. This is the same way the parts of the clock have
been changed due to technological advancement (Wilson, Raish & Carr-Chellman, 2016). The
ideas suggested by Symbolic Interactionist Perspective suggest that social interaction shapes our
identity. Therefore, Sonia is advised by her daughter to get outside and socialize with other
people. This shows the importance of social interaction in the society which is emphasized in the
Symbolic Interactionist view. Both Jack and Thomas share feelings of stagnancy since they are
faced with were are termed as the crisis of perfection. On the other hand, the poet questions the
systems theory and calls it mechanist thinking as indicated by Wilson, Raish & Carr-Chellman
(2016).
Drawing from the film dialogue a number of sociological concepts and problems are
evident. For instance, the current number of unemployed people is worrying most sociologists.
This is one of the social problems that affect countries such as the USA and other developing
countries. Unemployment can be seen as an individual problem, but this view is wrong when
related to the views of Sonia in the film. She views that these social problems are interconnected
and cause one another (Sanford, Merkel, & Hopper, 2015). Instead, unemployment can be
caused by the continuous economic fall of most countries. The second social problem is eating
disorders (poor health) and family problems (Wilson, Raish & Carr-Chellman, 2016). Most
people consider a person’s eating disorders as personal a personal problem and trouble and can
be caused by lack of self-control. However, this explanation offers insufficient information as to
why most people are suffering from this disorder. In fact, this view fails to show the
connectedness between cultural beliefs and these disorders (Pitt-Catsouphes, Kossek & Sweet,
2015). Sociological problems such as poverty can also be of particular interest to sociologists in
relation to this film. According to Sanford, Merkel, & Hopper (2015), people who experience the
crisis of perfection can be associated with poverty in most societies. For instance, these people
can view their jobs as poor and meaningless and even end up quitting their jobs. This can be as a
result of our materialist society that makes individuals aim at acquiring a well-paying job. This
shows the validity of the holistic theory suggested by Sonia in the film.
In conclusion, the mindwalk is a relevant movie when it comes to sociological problems
and perspectives. Through Sonia’s view that social problems are interconnected the functionalist
view that society comprises of systems that interact and work together to promote peace. The
three characters, therefore, present arguments and counter-arguments that serve an important role
in understanding social life and the society in general. Although each of the three characters are
in crisis as illustrated by this paper, the film explores the relationships between good the
beautiful and true. The idea that Jack is frustrated due to his defeat in elections shows the idea of
politics as a way of strengthening social order in any society.
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References
Pitt-Catsouphes, M., Kossek, E. E., & Sweet, S. (Eds.). (2015). The work and family handbook:
Multi-disciplinary perspectives and approaches. Routledge.
Kurtz, L. R. (2015). Gods in the global village: the world's religions in sociological perspective.
Sage Publications.
Sanford, K., Merkel, L., & Hopper, T. (2015). Digital Media in the Classroom: Emergent
Perspectives for. Handbook of Research on Digital Media and Creative Technologies,
287.
Wilson, D. A., Raish, V., & Carr-Chellman, A. (2016). Film Use to Promote Understanding in
Change and Diffusion of Innovation. Systemic Practice and Action Research, 1-17.