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Sociological Analysis Of Stand By Me

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Based on the novella The Body by Stephen King, Stand By Me is a wonderfully directed screenplay that tells of four boys - Gordie, Chris, Vern, and Teddy - who go out into the woods to look for the body of their fellow classmate Ray Brower. From dodging bullies, firing a gun, camping out, and running on train tracks, the boys are given challenges that they are able to overcome. Throughout the movie, director Rob Reiner uses a myriad of sociological techniques that opens the viewer 's eyes to the problems society still faces today. After watching the movie, you begin to question the past and the present and you see how much has changed between the two time periods. Stand By Me is a movie of self-purpose and determination; of friendship and staying …show more content…

Grodie lives in the shadow of his deceased older brother (the only person who supported Gordie and his aspirations), he is invisible to his own mother, and his dad is always judging him. Chris is bullied by his brother and beaten by his father. Vern is bullied by his brother and somewhat overlooked by his friends. Teddy’s father is known as crazy by everyone and he is constantly judged by those who know his parents. Through all this, the boys are still able to function as a group of kids who are just looking for a place to fit in with one another. Auguste Comte and Herbert Spencer might even say that this ‘fitting in together’ is an example of functional analysis or functionalism, meaning their group of four (a society) works together to contribute to the team. Chris would be the leader, the person who called all the shots and always kept the peace between the others in the group. Gordie is the best friend who follows faithfully behind the leader and somewhat holds his ground and does his own thing. Vern is the friend that the others fiercely protect at all cost and Teddy is the friend who puts up a brave front no matter what happens. He is the jokester who is always trying to make light of serious situations. As a whole, the boys make up an average group of friends who are viewed in society as a

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