The Blind Side

CONNECTION

The Blind Side, is a movie based on the true story of professional football player Michael Oher, and his pre-professional career and the events leading up to it.  This movie stars Sandra Bullock as Michael Ohers foster mother and is truly a fantastic film full of trial and tribulation.  This movie expresses many different types of communication throughout the film, and the communication aspects that go along with it.  The scene we chose in particular is that which features Jocelyn Granger, the assistant director of enforcement for the NCAA, and Michael Oher.  Michael Oher had just committed to attending the University of Mississippi and in this scene Ms. Granger interrogates Michael under the suspicion of his adopted family and tutor trying to be “boosters” for the University. Michael’s family and tutor, Ms. Sue, are former Ole Miss alumni and a “booster”   is described as one who shows extra support to their former old mater, resulting in advantages over other universities.  The conversation begins to get uncomfortable really quick for Michael and there are numerous types of communication expressed throughout this scene.

The first category of communication I would like to discuss is Emotion.  The term Physiological Change is the first type of communication experienced by Michael.  While being brutally interrogated by Ms. Granger, Michael begins to notice bodily changes within himself, most likely an elevated heartbeat and a rush of adrenaline.  As Ms. Granger continues with the interrogation and the intensity of it rises, Michael is what is referred to as “flooded” by this feeling of conflict he is experiencing. Once Michael becomes aware of this physiological change, he realizes that he is experiencing the emotion of anger.

The second category of communication we would like to discuss is Gesture.  Gestures are known to be a fundamental element of communication.  During this questioning from Ms. Granger, Michael begins to experience an ambiguous gesture.

Self Concept

There are a lot of scenes that deal with self concept in this movie, but there are a couple important ones.  The first scene is when Mrs. Tuohy is with her friends at lunch and calls Michael her son. They think it's some charity work that she's doing but she's dead serious. Michael is from the complete opposite side of life- and side of town and he is determined to be a success in school and sports so he can have a good life for himself. He was given the opportunity to make something of himself when his friend's dad brought them to Wingate, and then again when he was taken in by the Tuohys.  His determination makes him successful in both academic and social aspects in his life.

Verbal Communication

Listening

There are many scenes that involve listening in this movie.  The one critical one that stands out is at the end when Mrs. Tuohy is sitting down with Michael and asks him what school he really wants to go to, because she knows that he was not asked and was persuaded by them to attend Ole Miss. She is listening to what he has to say.  The other scene that is an important listening scene is when the NCAA investigator is sitting with Michael and she is asking him questions.  He says that she asks a lot of questions but never asked why he wanted to go to Old Miss. When he says that he wants to go there because it's where his family goes to school she is silent and doesn't say anything. This is an important scene because it shows how family is important to him and that he is capable of making his own decisions.

Interpersonal Communication

Interpersonal communication is the complex process through which people express, interpret, and coordinate messages to create shared meaning, meet social goals, manage personal identity, and carry out their relationships.

Intercultural Communication

In this movie, race plays a big part between Michael and his new surroundings. Michael is black, and his adoptive family is white.  As well as being from different races, they are also from different economic and social classes. This comes out in the very beginning when Michael's friend's father is driving them through an affluent neighborhood to Wingate High School.  Michael is looking around like he's never seen anything like it.  When he does get to school, he is not greeted very friendly from his predominantly white classmates. He is ignored or turned away from.

Another scene that depicts the intercultural communication is when Leigh Anne Tuohy (Michael's adoptive mother) goes to look for Michael in Hurt Village, where his biological mother used to live. Her interaction with Alton, one of the guys in the area is one of cultural differences. Right there, she tells him not to cross in to the other side of town, which shows a separation of races and cultures.

In this scene, Mrs. Tuohy helps Michael understand what he is supposed to be playing and how he should look at the players as his family, that it is like protecting his family when he is playing the game. She then tells coach that yelling at him won't do any good. This scene shows effective (her) versus non-effective (coach) communication and how it helps Michael.

Non-Verbal Communication

So glad we got to use this scene in the presentation!! There is a lot non-verbal communication in this clip.  The first is when coach holds up his phone and presses the end call button and hangs up on Mrs. Tuohy, a sign of he doesn't want to listen to her. The second important one is where the player from the other team kicks Michael in the head while he's down. This shows the animosity between the two teams and the want to win. The next is when Michael closes his eyes and remembers what Mrs. Tuohy said about protecting the family.

The best part of the whole scene is when Michael uses "excessive blocking" and blocks the guy from running by pushing him all the way to the other side of the field and over the side wall. This says so much. It says he's not going to let them win; it says that he know what he has to do to win; it says that protecting is important to him and in this situation he imagines protecting his family, so it shows the kind of person he is. The last sign of important nonverbal is when the referee throws up the yellow flag. He did this because of Michael's "excessive blocking", even though there really was no technicality.