Reedited on: 05/07/2018
I like a lot to watch this movie. Even though it was released in 1989, I've found it recently. I "discovered" Dead Poets Society in 2011 when I was looking for something to watch on TV. At that time, I already heard something about the movie or anything, then I decided to watch and talk about some interesting things in this post. The movie has a lot of content about life, passion, personal experience, and the value of art. Let's getting started.
The movie background is situated in the year 1959 in Germany, at Welton Schoool, whose main slogan was about: tradition, honor, discipline, and excellence. Through the scenes, we can notice the school environment doesn't support free expression and the creative potential of the students, on the other hand, the values were taught inflexibly. A new way of thinking comes with the new Literature teacher John Keating (Robin Williams), which has a different form to teach in class: encouraging creativity and showing a way to enjoy life.
The teacher's arrival at school is the part more interesting because he comes with a way of teaching which is different and almost opposite to other teachers. Keating supports the subjective side of his students, also he tries to make them think for themselves, and of course, make them appreciate poetry. The teacher talks about how much having a career is important, though life is more than that, he says there are other important things to make us alive: the fact that humans can create, have feelings and emotions.
There is a scene where the teacher asks one of his students to read the definition of "poetry" on his book, which is somewhat an objective logic, then Keating brings an opposite point of view about the definition and asks his students to tear up the pages of their books. To me, this scene demonstrates the role that the teacher has in the movie, someone who arrives with a unique way of teaching and has the main objective to make the students reflect on their context, life, joy, and stand up for what they believe. The scene ends with Keating reciting poetry, it's the most famous scene of the movie entitled: "What will be your verse?" - the most emotional part in my opinion:
The movie also brings the idea about Carpe Diem and it's associated with the professor's Keating way of thinking. The first classes Keating talks about Carpe Diem with his students, and explains the term means "enjoy the day" or "enjoy the life". After hearing about that content, the students start to feel motivated to look for other activities to express themselves. The idea of "Dead Poets Society" starts here. There is a scene where the students find an old yearbook of the school and they see an old picture of professor Keating with the subtitle "Member of 'Dead Poets Society'". Then they asked the professor what Dead Poets Society was about, he answers the Society was a group that he and old friends created where they could read poetry, compose music and create any kind of art.
At this point, Keating's students have the idea of creating their own Dead Poets Society, then they started to reunite every night in a cave in the woods, nearby the school. The Society is formed by Todd, Neil, Steven, Charlie, Knox, Richard and Gerard. In the reunions, they write poetry, chat, share ideas, and play musical instruments. This movie means a lot to me, even more in an emotional way, because of the main message it has: the students take for life what they learned with the professor Keating. The students needed a space the express their ideas and creations, something that wasn't important in the school environment.
The movie's ending is so emotional and beautiful. The professor's Keating message has an important meaning to the students, they demonstrate they'll never forget what they learn. This movie makes me think about how much we're surrounded by obligations and sometimes we care less about poetry and other kinds of art, and how much it can be important as a way to enjoy life and appreciate the little important things.
References and Images
Dead Poets Society. DVD. 128m. Touchstone Pictures/Buenavista Pictures, 1989.
Dead Poets Society - Wikipedia
The teacher's arrival at school is the part more interesting because he comes with a way of teaching which is different and almost opposite to other teachers. Keating supports the subjective side of his students, also he tries to make them think for themselves, and of course, make them appreciate poetry. The teacher talks about how much having a career is important, though life is more than that, he says there are other important things to make us alive: the fact that humans can create, have feelings and emotions.
There is a scene where the teacher asks one of his students to read the definition of "poetry" on his book, which is somewhat an objective logic, then Keating brings an opposite point of view about the definition and asks his students to tear up the pages of their books. To me, this scene demonstrates the role that the teacher has in the movie, someone who arrives with a unique way of teaching and has the main objective to make the students reflect on their context, life, joy, and stand up for what they believe. The scene ends with Keating reciting poetry, it's the most famous scene of the movie entitled: "What will be your verse?" - the most emotional part in my opinion:
"(...) Don't care about what people say. Words and ideas can change the world. (...) We don't read and write poetry because it's cute. We read and write poetry because we are members of human race, and the human race is filled with passion. Medicine, Law, Business, Engineering, these are noble pursuits and necessary to sustain life. But poetry, beauty, romance, love, these are we stay alive for. To quote Withman: 'Oh me! Oh life!... of the questions of these recurring; of the endless trains of the faithless... of cities filled with the foolish; what good amid these, Oh me, Oh life?' Answer. That you are here - that life exists, and identity; that the powerful play goes on and you may contribute a verse. That the powerful play goes on and you may contribute a verse. What will be your verse?"
The movie also brings the idea about Carpe Diem and it's associated with the professor's Keating way of thinking. The first classes Keating talks about Carpe Diem with his students, and explains the term means "enjoy the day" or "enjoy the life". After hearing about that content, the students start to feel motivated to look for other activities to express themselves. The idea of "Dead Poets Society" starts here. There is a scene where the students find an old yearbook of the school and they see an old picture of professor Keating with the subtitle "Member of 'Dead Poets Society'". Then they asked the professor what Dead Poets Society was about, he answers the Society was a group that he and old friends created where they could read poetry, compose music and create any kind of art.
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| The Dead Poets Society |
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| Dead Poets Society and Professor Keating |
See you at the next post!
References and Images
Dead Poets Society. DVD. 128m. Touchstone Pictures/Buenavista Pictures, 1989.
Dead Poets Society - Wikipedia
