ESSAY:
Consider the review below:
“Jesse Eisenberg presents Mark Zuckerberg as a complex character: stubborn
and manic yet somehow we can empathize with him”.
In an essay of 500 words, discuss to what extent this statement is true in at
least 2 sequences from the film.
The Social Network directed by David Fincher is a film that presents ethical
dilemmas regarding the morality of certain characters, specifically Mark
Zuckerberg. The exploration of this enigmatic character reveals his social
isolation, as well as his subserviency to sources of power – thus ultimately
reflecting responsibility, and allows the audience to understand his harsh
actions throughout the film.
The alienation and estrangement of Mark from society is embedded at the
beginning of the film, where he is interpreted as possessing a heightened
intellect compared to the people surrounding him, and is ostracized due to this
antithesis of intelligence. In the disciplinary hearing, an eye-level angle is taken
of Mark between two professors in formal attire, while Mark wears colloquial
clothing. This shot portrays infrequent mutual respect between student and
professor. The normative assumption is that students are subservient to their
counterparts, however this scene contradicts this notion, and suggests that
Mark is acclimated with catalysing these constructed ideas based on his
existence of him uncaring towards any societal constructs. The dichotomy
between their clothing further enforces Mark’s distinct unconventionality to
social rules, and foregrounds his aberrational nature. This concept of
unconformity is further elucidated through the high angle of Mark standing
above the professors, and indicates his authoritative power. The professors are
positioned to look up at Mark, which symbolically represents a progression of
accumulated power in Mark, therefore manifesting a disassociation his
inferiority as a student. Furthermore, Mark’s isolation through the portrayal of
his extensive technological knowledge allows the audience to understand that
Mark’s persona is deduced as such due to this exclusion.
The film presents Mark as a juvenescent entrepreneur, who is beginning his
career in the social media industry. This encourages Mark to adopt a credulous
approach to constructing Facebook, which allows him to be easily subjugated –
Consider the review below:
“Jesse Eisenberg presents Mark Zuckerberg as a complex character: stubborn
and manic yet somehow we can empathize with him”.
In an essay of 500 words, discuss to what extent this statement is true in at
least 2 sequences from the film.
The Social Network directed by David Fincher is a film that presents ethical
dilemmas regarding the morality of certain characters, specifically Mark
Zuckerberg. The exploration of this enigmatic character reveals his social
isolation, as well as his subserviency to sources of power – thus ultimately
reflecting responsibility, and allows the audience to understand his harsh
actions throughout the film.
The alienation and estrangement of Mark from society is embedded at the
beginning of the film, where he is interpreted as possessing a heightened
intellect compared to the people surrounding him, and is ostracized due to this
antithesis of intelligence. In the disciplinary hearing, an eye-level angle is taken
of Mark between two professors in formal attire, while Mark wears colloquial
clothing. This shot portrays infrequent mutual respect between student and
professor. The normative assumption is that students are subservient to their
counterparts, however this scene contradicts this notion, and suggests that
Mark is acclimated with catalysing these constructed ideas based on his
existence of him uncaring towards any societal constructs. The dichotomy
between their clothing further enforces Mark’s distinct unconventionality to
social rules, and foregrounds his aberrational nature. This concept of
unconformity is further elucidated through the high angle of Mark standing
above the professors, and indicates his authoritative power. The professors are
positioned to look up at Mark, which symbolically represents a progression of
accumulated power in Mark, therefore manifesting a disassociation his
inferiority as a student. Furthermore, Mark’s isolation through the portrayal of
his extensive technological knowledge allows the audience to understand that
Mark’s persona is deduced as such due to this exclusion.
The film presents Mark as a juvenescent entrepreneur, who is beginning his
career in the social media industry. This encourages Mark to adopt a credulous
approach to constructing Facebook, which allows him to be easily subjugated –
