Assignment Task:
Choose one of the following options to analyze the role of strain theory or social learning theory in explaining the behavior of a stalker character in a film. Use the theory to explore how psychological, emotional, and societal pressures contribute to the character's obsession and violence.
Option A: Perfect Blue (1997)
Using strain theory, analyze the stalker's behavior and motivations in Perfect Blue. Strain theory posits that societal pressures or the inability to achieve desired goals can lead to frustration, which may result in deviant behavior. In your analysis, consider the following questions:
1. How do the stalker's unmet psychological or emotional needs drive their obsession with the main character?
2. How does the film portray the strain between the stalker's desires and their inability to attain them? What specific aspects of their life contribute to the strain that fuels their violent behavior?
3. Reflect on the pressures of fame and the blurred boundaries between reality and media representation in Perfect Blue. How does this contribute to the stalker's deviant actions?
Use specific examples from the film to illustrate how strain theory explains the stalker's descent into obsession and violence. Looking for Assignment Help?
Option B: The Bodyguard (1992)
Apply strain theory or social learning theory to the stalker's behavior in The Bodyguard. These theories provide different lenses for understanding how societal or psychological pressures shape deviant behavior. In your analysis, consider the following:
1. If using strain theory, discuss how the stalker's actions reflect underlying societal pressures or unmet psychological needs. What strains or frustrations may be influencing their behavior?
2. If using social learning theory, explain how the stalker's behavior may have been learned through the observation of others. How does their environment or media consumption model violent or obsessive behavior?
3. How does the portrayal of the stalker's actions in the film highlight the dangers associated with celebrity culture and the pressures that both fans and celebrities face? Consider how the film uses this narrative to reflect real-world issues of fan obsession and celebrity vulnerability.