Intro:

Entering a new world can be a difficult process, as depicted in Furthermore

conflict with family
The experiences of moving into the world of dancing changes Billys maturity
and confidence! Initially, he is restricted by the narrow"minded and myopic
society! #is fathers identity as a miner and ex"champion boxer reverberates
the fact that he holds very traditional male values! Billy experiences conflict as
he is torn between his affection for dancing shown in the lyrics in the opening
scene $I danced myself right out of the womb% and the expectations of his
father! &aldry employs cross"cutting between Billys dancing lessons and with
scenes of his family at the pic'et line! Billys dancing lessons with the girls are
filled with bright natural lighting to reflect purity and hope, whilst the dar'er
colors at the pic'et line reflect the miners hopelessness and desperation! This
demonstrates that his world of dancing is a source of liberation for the societal
reality he lives in! The song $Town called (alice% by the )am is played in Billys
main dance se*uence! It perfectly captures the anger and frustration Billy feels
after the confrontation between his new world and the old one that is
continuing to hold him bac'! &espite his interest in dancing, Billy feels out of
place in the female ballet group at &urham as &aldry depicts that even he has
the apprehension about the perceived roles in society $I feel li'e a right sissy%!
#owever, he later puc'ers the courage and enters the world of dancing,
defying his fathers words and societys expectations! +hen he attends one of
(rs! +il'insons classes, wide angle shots are used to metaphorically show his
world and hori,ons opening up! In the final scene, the classical song $-wan
la'e% is used! It has a yearning *uality that captures Billys change and *uest
to move into the creative world " a world where he has choices! The slow
motion of his leap is a testament to the achievement from escaping the world
of social stereotypes and entering the world of dancing! Thus, through his
determination, Billy is able to move into the world and mature from his
experiences!
Initially, Billys family is not supportive but eventually, the bond and growth is
made more apparent! The movie begins with a portrait of a dysfunctional
family! There is a strained relationship between )ac'ie and Billy due to the
death of the mother and the miners stri'e which has led to )ac'ies retreat
from the world! )ac'ies views are conservative metaphorically shown through
the superimposed metal wire on his face as he overloo's Billys boxing lessons!
Billy is characteri,ed as an independent boy who has maturity beyond his age!
The opening scene shows him assuming the careta'er role for his demented
grandmother! )ac'ie is determined to forge his ideas of masculinity into his son,
but later reali,es he has let his preconceptions cloud his .udgment on Billys
ability! )ac'ie changes as he overcomes the stereotypes towards gender roles
as he begins to reali,e the true potential in which Billy possesses, and in turn,
forgoes his stance on the miners stri'e! This is shown in the dialogue $-cab,
-cab, -cab% bellowed out by the miners when )ac'ie is on the private bus! #e is
determined to start wor'ing and ma'e sacrifices such as selling his wifes
.ewelry in order to fund Billy on his trip to /ondon! By the end of the movie,
)ac'ie is more involved in Billys life, supportive of his dreams and reasserts his
role as Billys father! The mid"shot of them sitting on a bric' wall together
demonstrate e*uality and how they have changed to develop a new
understanding for each other!
0orrespondingly, in Ian (udies poem $(y father began as a 1od%, there is a
changing relationship that exists between the persona and his father! Initially
as a child, the persona is in awe of his father shown through the Biblical
allusion to (oses $(y father began as a god !!! as if bought down from -inai%!
This depicts how the son perceived the father to hold words of authority!
#owever, (udie portrays that with teenage rebellion and adulthood, the
persona becomes condescending towards his fathers status, revealing the
conflict between the views of different generation! This is shown in the
derogative imagery $he had become a foolish small old man with silly and
outmoded views%! #is subsiding importance is demonstrated in the repetition
$strange then how he shran' and shran'%! The change in tone from 222 to 222
contrasts to the previous stan,a and allows the reader to empathi,e with the
father, once described as a supernatural 1od, transforming into a small man!
The arrogant tone changes once again as the narrator matures in the next
stan,a, reaching empathy $his faults and his intolerances, scaled away into the
past revealing virtues!% /i'e )ac'ie who becomes conscious of Billys aptitude
for dancing, the persona comes full circle and reali,es his fathers significance
$the deeper 3the father4 recedes into the grave%! /in' bac' to paternal
relationships and into the world
$Into the world% is about how people move into new stages of their life!
-imilarly, the poem $If% by 5udyard 6ipling, explores the mutual inclusiveness
between the attainment of true manhood by moving into the world and the
abilities and virtues of a true leader! The poem exhorts the reader to be
patient, honest and forthright, especially when faced with opposition and
temptation to act in a less virtuous manner! It advises against self confidence
that does not allow for the consideration of opposing ideas! In exhorting the
reader to both ignore doubt and ma'e allowance for doubt, 6ipling creates a
paradox $if you can trust yourself when all men doubt you, but ma'e allowance
for their doubting too%! By moving into the world, ones identity is shaped and
developed! This is demonstrated in the third stan,a were
(oving into the world 7 identity is shaped and developed
8oem ends with a sense of growth and maturity