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Complete 3 page APA formatted essay: Country Boys.

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Cody and Chris also studies in the same school called David School.

The film progresses as the two teenage boys enter the same school, David school, which is an alternative school for troubled teens. Here, the two boys adapts differently to their new environment. Cody finds a new sense of purpose by living with a supportive grandmother, having a good relationship with his girlfriend and girlfriend’s family, joining a metal band and committing himself to God. All these aspects have made him forget his tragic past and find a renewed purpose in life. Chris on the other hand did not have a solid support system as Cody’s. He had to battle with an alcoholic father who doesn’t support his passion to go to school and he also had to work to alleviate their poverty. In the end of the film, Cody was able to graduate valedictorian in their senior class giving him a bright future ahead while Chris was not able to graduate and ended up working in a low paying job without knowing what the future will bring him.

This film is about the attachment of an individual to his society and his need to belong in order to live happily. Emile Durkheim talks about mechanical social solidarity of the community where people have a set of norms and rituals which makes them solid. They are moved by their collective conscience leaving the individual not to think about his own desires but the needs of his community. Organic solidarity on the other hand is a by-product of the division of labor. A society becomes complex due to the increase of the dynamic density. When a society becomes complex, the individuals play more specialized roles. Because of this, they start to have different experiences which affect their norms and values which weakens their sense of community.

Cody and Chris lived in a mechanically solid society which had its own norms and set of rules and as teenagers. they had to abide by to the collective conscience of their society. In such a homogenized community, there is not much room for individualism nor autonomy. a person identifies himself with everyone else. Despite Cody and Chris’ dysfunctional background, they are able to internalize and adhere to the rules through socialization and education which is according to Durkheim a social fact. They become morally obliged to obey social rules.

In the course of the film, Cody’s life becomes very different from Chris’. Cody establishes more attachment to society because of his healthy relationships with his grandma and girl friend. Also by attending church, he does not only strengthens his fate but also reinforces his ties with the community. Religion, according to Durkheim is really a social creation. By worshipping God, the people actually worships the collective over them that transcend over individual existence which makes it sacred. Cody’s outlook in life has become positive as he feels his belongingness in the society. On the other hand, Chris becomes detached to the community. Because of having egoists who only thinks about themselves, they pass on to their child their negative outlook and the lack of need to bond with the community. Chris has no moral guidance from his parents and thus his social values loosen and he becomes undisciplined which leads to anomie.