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Ramification (According to different people, cultural background)
Discovery is the process during which individuals acquire new knowledge based on their
personal, social and cultural backgrounds. In the documentary Go Back to Where You Came
From[Go Back](2011) directed by Ivan O'Mahoney, by participating in the show regarding the
refugee crisis, which is considered an important cultural issues nowadays in Australia, the
participants make discoveries provoked by their shifting understanding of culture. Similarly, in
the poem The Tuft of Flowers(1914) written by Robert Frost, by depicting his shifting attitude
resulted in by his discoveries the poet is able to examine and make contemplation regarding
the social interrelationship among individuals. In the film Dead Poets Society(1989) directed
by Peter Weir, the protagonist Todd, whose idea has been repressed by the dictatorial school
regime, makes personal discoveries of his own voice and courage.
P1:
In the documentary Go Back(2011), the participants’ new understanding of the refugee’s
culture is regarded as the ramifications of their discovery. Such ramification is considered
unique as the participants set off from a western perspective. After acquainting the Masudis
family, the clashing of cultures is firstly reflected by the long-shot in which the refugees are
shown eating food with their bare hands while the participants seems to be unsettled with such
gesture. This shows the audience that the participants have discovered and developed an
understanding of the difference between their own culture and other culture. Later in the
episode, the participants acquire the knowledge of the refugees’ culture and experience from
a bystander’s perspective and start to discover their sympathy. A close-up shot is employed
to capture Raye’s frowning expression, from which the audience can deduce that she is
sorrowful, when she expresses her astonishing discovery of the refugees’ predicament. Such
detail shows that her earlier prejudice against the refugees has been challenged and she gains
an empathetic sentiment for them through her discovery of cultural differences. Such point is
also represented by Raye’s dialogue “how could they” when she expresses her anger against
the mistreatment of the refugees as it shows that she has become emotionally supportive for
the refugees’ well being. Therefore, the documentary Go Back(2011) effectively shows that
the participants’ discoveries not only result in their understanding of other culture but also help
them further explore their own state of mind and shift their attitude, through which their
ramification of self is seen.
P2:
In the poem xxx(1914), the poet discards his previous idea about the separation among
individuals during his discovery of the flowers and makes new contemplation regarding the
social interrelationship amid people. Firstly, Frost’s negative sentiment in the first half of the
poem is reflected in the verse “and I must be, as he had been, alone” when he discovers the
physical distance between him and the mower. The use of high modality “must” effectively
suggests that such discovery of separation results in the poet’s lack of security and sense of
belonging in the society which is considered the ramification after the physical discovery of
how isolated he is. Conversely, in the second half of the poem, the tone clearly shifts into a
brighter one as the poet is led by the “wildered butterfly” and therefore spots the “tuft of flowers
beside a brook”. The “butterfly” and “flowers” respectively symbolise the author’s
understanding of self and hope and the interrelationship between these two subject matters is
emblematic of Frost’s eager to make connection with others. The visual imagery of the
“butterfly” and “flowers” also suggests that the poet has developed a relatively positive
perception of the world around him and the interrelationship among individuals after his
discovery of liveliness and prosperity in contrast with the previous gloomy attitude. The clearer
understanding of his current socializing situation is the ramification caused by the poet’s
observation and comparison that is made between himself and flowers. To conclude, in the
poem The Tuft of Flowers(1914), the poet is shown to be making discovery of the world around
him as well as the spiritual interrelationship among people in the society even though there
may not be physical contact. His shift of attitude is considered the ramification of his discovery
of the flowers which enlighten him offering him hope.
P3:
Last but not least, in the movie Dead Poets Society(1989) directed by Peter Weir, the
protagonist Todd, who himself refers to as an introvert and once did not have the courage to
speak up in a dictatorial school environment, makes discovery which changes his personal
self-esteem after the arrival of the unusual teacher, Mr Keating.Todd’s being able to speak up
and gaining courage become the ramification of his personal discovery of his own voice made
with Mr Keating’s assistance. Firstly, at the beginning of the movie, the solemn and grim
soundtrack played when a speech is being delivered stresses the strict school regime implying
that the students, including Todd’s eager to venture is severely repressed. This also creates
strong contrast with and makes way for the later depiction of Todd’s unexpected discovery of
his courage enabling him to reconsider his timidity. In the scene when he is asked by Mr
Keating to act out a piece of writing in front of the entire class, a close-up shot is employed to
depict the subtle smile that appears on Todd’s face after yelling out the words from the script.
This clearly indicates that Todd has discovered his own courage through this unusual
experience and finds comfort and satisfaction from being his true self instead of repressing his
“voice” due to the dictatorial school doctrine. Therefore Todd’s discovery of his own courage
allows him to further explore his potential and gives him insights about the flexibility of one’s
“fate”. His lack of courage is caused by long-term living and studying under a dictatorial school
environment and also his personal family background. The change of culture and educational
environment provide him the opportunity to re-develop his sense of passion and pursue to his
beloved hobbies, which is the ramification of his personal discovery.
In conclusion, all of the texts above discuss the ramification of people’s discovery based on
their cultural, social and personal contexts. In the documentary Go Back(2011), after gaining
insights about the cultural difference that exists as well as the refugee’s predicament through
their experience, the participants are able to develop their empathy which is considered a
ramification of their discovery of cultural issues. The poet in the Tuft of Flowers(1914)
examines one’s understanding of the society and shows the audience that people in the
society are interrelated and inseparable as his ramification. Additionally, in the movie Dead
Poets Society(1989), the protagonist gains a thorough understanding of his inner voice and
become proactive and courageous which is the ramification of his discovery of self provoked
by Mr Keating’s special way of teaching.