Reflection on the movie- Accepted

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Bryan M. Nozaleda

Accepted being the title of the movie relates to several parts of the movie. It is derived from the
common term used when a student gets accepted in a college in the United States. The main character
in the movie, Bartleby, failed to be accepted in all the colleges and universities he sought for admission
which triggered him to make his own college to impress his parents. Aside from that, the title also reflects
social constructs about education and learning which only accepts certain groups of people and rejects
those who seems not to survive. The idea of the movie explains much of the stigma of getting into colleges
that we as a culture have thought to be satisfactory. However, this too, isolates the likes of Bartleby as if
they belong to no-where. South Harmon attempted to redefine this and opened a school (fake though)
where students can learn naturally, striving for acceptance not only in the school but by their family and
the society at large.

The movie also demonstrates the different learning theories and educational philosophies. Looking at
it, the theme of the film implies the Existentialism philosophy. Existentialists believe in authentic life and
so they would approve any type of education which may be helpful to the individual in making satisfactory
existential choices and references and, thereby, living an authentic life, that is the life by and for himself.
This existentialist view can be seen when Bartleby develops the program of a learning board in which
students can take whatever classes they want (and can actually create) to take. In South Harmon students
learn by doing something they enjoy instead of being forced to take something that necessarily does not
appeal to them. I agree that colleges and universities have not significantly changed for the past decades.
It is still the same institution that provide a prospectus of subjects, but most of those classes are
unfortunately completed for the sake of graduation. I personally envision schools in the country where
students get to choose the subjects they are interested with and not just the subjects classified under the
"must fulfill to meet the requirements in order to graduate category. On the other hand, the film also
exhibits Humanistic and Progressivist Philosophies.

An examination of the characters in the films reveals diverse philosophies;

Bartleby, obviously with his non-conformist nature is an existentialist but also pragmatic and
progressivist. He recognizes individual differences and allowed direct applications of the subject
matter. He is progressive because he challenged the status quo of the existing educational system.

Jack Gaines (Bartlebys Father) looks at college education as an instrument to achieve self-
actualization- a Humanistic Philosophy. His view is shown by his own word, Society has rules, and the
first rule is you go to college. You want to have a happy and successful life? You go to college. If you
want to be somebody, you go to college. If you want to fit in, you go to college.

Dean Richard Van Hornes philosophy of education is guided by perennialism and idealism. He is
blinded by the romantic ideals of schooling. He subscribes to the traditional view about education.

Ben Lewis, one of my favorite characters, is a Reconstructionist. He views education as a solution to

the pressing conditions of the society. However, because he is fed up with the hypocrisies and futility
of college education, he resigned in his job.

Hoyt Ambrose mirrors Dean Richard Van Horne. He is the leader of the fraternity and we know what
fraternities are. They uphold the traditions of the group for the longest time- another perrenialist
quality- they hate change.

Existentialism is an individualistic philosophy. Its overriding concern is with the individual and its primary
value is the absolute freedom of the person, who is only what he, makes himself to be, and who is the
final and exclusive arbiter of the values he freely determines for himself. The movie made the said
philosophy to be seemingly implementable. However, in the current setup of education, especially in
universities, such curriculum will encounter several problems. The learning board may offer problems on
facilities, teachers, and essentially will paradigm shift education. Nonetheless, schools can still allow
students such flexibility in the curriculum by giving them the chance to choose subjects they want to take
but still prescribing them set of subjects necessary for their chosen field of endeavor.
Reflection on the movie- Accepted
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Bryan M. Nozaleda