Institution Essay

Submitted By alexwalker12
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Institutions stand as indestructible forces against human liberty, irrefrangible to any conflict of values from the individual. Such conflict can undermine authoritarian power and control, however it is the institution that will prevail in this contention. Ken Kesey's One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest illustrates this attempt for human liberation and the consequences of challenging the institution. Florian van Donnersmark's 2006 film The Lives of Others highlights the potential for this contradiction of values to amputate the liberties of the individual, and how authoritarian figures within the structure can utilise their level of power to disrupt institutional ideals. Ultimately, it is the challenging of the institution that leads to loss of liberty and individual power.

The institution appears to provide a beneficial service to society, however contests from those subjected to the structure unmask the realities of institutional power. Ken Kesey's One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest exposes the treatment of individuals to produce docile and submissive products to institutional values, and attempts to rebel against this production. The authoritative figure head Nurse Ratched creates a standard of anonymity within her ward, stripping herself of any sexual identity to support her emasculation of the men described by patient Harding "what she is is a ball-cutter". Through her practice of eradicating masculine traits, her position of power is protected, making the institution indestructible to individual challenges. Kesey portrays the Nurse's corrupt, yet degradingly effective authority through her exploitation of the patient's mental state, most notably through her "group therapy" interrogation including Harding's sexual issues. The effect of this 'therapy' creates a notion of insecurity amongst the men, further instating the 'Big Nurse's' stature of control, which stems beyond the patients. Dr Spivey, as Harding describes "is completely conscious of his inadequacy. Frightened, desperate and totally incapable" highlighting the unconditional power of Ratched. The Nurse's oppressive methods create a false sense of personal instability throughout the ward "All of us here are rabbits, we can't adjust to our rabbit hood. We need the nurse to teach us our place". Harding's depictions of the men illustrate the institution's innate power over the individuals, providing insight to why the institution cannot be defeated. Through Nurse Ratched's total control of the ward, Kesey explores why the institution can stand against its subjects.

The capacity of a totalitarian government to impose values and ideals upon its citizens, and destroy dissent is illustrated in Florian van Donnersmark's film 'The Lives of Others' (LO). LO highlights the potential for a contradiction of values between the individual and the institution to ignite rebellion against the autocratic body of power. Furthermore, LO exposes the East German government, the DDR's, oppressive power and broad perimeters in its approach to control through its internal organ of security, the Stasi. Donnersmark through the exploration of the Stasi and its officers cold nature, notably Gerd Weisler, and how the institutions position of power is upheld and maintained through extensive knowledge and threats "breathe a word, and your daughter will never go to university" a close up shot on the single mothers face unveils the deep seeded fear the Stasi have implanted. The director's initial scene showcase these methods, as Weisler conducts a class on torture "An innocent prisoner will become more angry by the hour due to the injustice suffered" with cutting shots between the lesson and a man being tortured, illustrated how the institution is able to stand against, and prevent, dissent through fear and harsh punishment. One evening, Weisler is in the elevator of his apartment, and a young boy innocently asks "Are you with the Stasi? My father says you are a bad man", coupled with a wide
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