Human experiences are the all-encompassing actualities that humanity endures that consists of the physical, mental, emotional, social and spiritual dimensions in life. It is a significant aspect of our lives and the way in which we become who we are. Every person is able to relate to human experiences whether it is individually or collectively. From these experiences, human qualities and emotions can arise. As well as this, insight into human behavior and motivations are able to be explored. This surrounds the psychological motives that explain a person’s actions. All these aspects show us just how fundamental human experiences are and how they can contribute to one’s identity. The dystopian film ‘Divergent’ revolves around Tris Prior, an intelligent and daring girl who lives in the future city of Chicago, where society is split up into five factions. They are Abnegation, Amity, Candor, Erudite, and Dauntless. When she takes an aptitude test, she discovers that she is, what society calls, a ‘divergent’. This means that she does not belong in any one faction, but rather in multiple.
A prime individual human experience that is portrayed through the film is the discovery and establishment of one’s identity. We can relate to this as we grow through the stages of life and learn more about ourselves as we go. Tris struggles with choosing between her family’s identity and her own. Even when Tris takes a leap of faith towards her own direction and selects Dauntless as her new faction, she still finds it difficult to embrace only a part of her identity as their society does not recognize portraying all aspects of an individual, also known as one’s divergence. This limits an individual’s capability to accept and utilize their comprehensive identity.
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In the choosing ceremony, Tris gets called up to make her decision. This is significant as this is where she must make her life changing choice of her labelled identity. It also gives us perspective on our world and how we are fortunate enough to have the freedom to become whoever we want, to an extent. The camera angles pan across the different bowls representing each faction, imitating Tris’ point of view and decision making. Non-diegetic music is also used to create suspense while she is choosing. This puts the audience on edge and full of curiosity. The mise-en-scene presents the futuristic context of their world as the bowls and props are designed with a highly modern aesthetic.
As Four shows his tattoos of the five factions to Tris, he explains, “I don’t want to be just one thing. I can’t be. I want to be brave, selfless, intelligent, and honest, and kind”. This dialogue uses listing to communicate the five factions that essentially make up the foundations for their society. Repetition is used with the word ‘I’ when beginning each phrase to emphasize his individual and personal opinion. High modality is also used in the truncated sentence, “I can’t be”. This is to bring attention to the prominence in his desire. Four’s aspiration is relatable to us as we often want to embody all the admirable characteristics and qualities. Four conveys his profound desire to have an all-rounded nature and struggles with the limits and restrictions he is bound to.
The film ‘Divergent’ explores many aspects and features of human experiences. They are exhibited through the individual experience of exploration and the uncovering of one’s identity. These human experiences are ones that can be understood and related to by society and individuals in this world.
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