3L03 SUMMARY MY PART

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3L03

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Psychology

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Dec 6, 2023

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- Are there conflicting elements within this narrative? How so? Career vs. Health: In the movie's opening, Alice grapples with a profound conflict. She's torn between her deep passion for her career and her determination to hold onto it, even as Alzheimer's takes hold. Her statement, "I thrive on work stress," underscores her resolve to keep teaching despite her cognitive decline. Misrepresentation and Denial vs. Awareness: Alice's family's reactions add a layer of tension. They exemplify societal misrepresentations of Alzheimer's, initially in disbelief as they question, "You're not that old!" Alice herself denies the gravity of her condition by avoiding sharing it with loved ones. Her daughter Lydia, however, represents awareness, facing criticism for her understanding. Autonomy vs. Cognitive Decline: As her cognitive abilities deteriorate, Alice's identity is threatened. She struggles internally, documented in her note, contemplating self-harm to regain control. The conflict between preserving autonomy and succumbing to cognitive decline is palpable. Social Activity vs. Social Isolation: Alice and her husband had vibrant social lives. However, her Alzheimer's prompts her to withdraw, canceling plans to avoid being a burden. She wishes for cancer, believing it would bring understanding and reduce her isolation. The conflict between her past social life and her current isolation is striking - If fictional, why do you think this narrative was written in this way? Raise Awareness: "Still Alice" strives to increase awareness about genetically acquired and early-onset Alzheimer's, shedding light on this less commonly understood aspect of the disease. Important Viewpoints and Dialogue: The film explores diverse responses within Alice's family to her condition, showcasing how reactions evolve as the disease progresses. It offers a unique and gradual portrayal of the Alzheimer's experience. Humanize Alzheimer's Experience: Alice is depicted as a multidimensional character with dreams, fears, and aspirations, ensuring she isn't reduced to her diagnosis, thus humanizing the Alzheimer's journey. Challenge Audience Beliefs: Drawing on Stuart Hall's Audience Reception Theory, the film challenges ageist stereotypes and confronts preconceived notions about Alzheimer's. It encourages viewers to think critically, accepting some aspects of the message while challenging others based on their unique perspectives and experiences.. - Overall, does the narrative present aging in a positive/negative/neutral fashion? "Still Alice" provides a positive portrayal of Alzheimer's disease, aligning with Chonody's analysis (2020) of what constitutes such representation in film: Subject vs. Object Perspective: The film presents Alice as the central subject, not just an object of caregiving. This perspective gives her personhood, agency, and empathy, allowing viewers to connect
with the individual's experience living with the disease. Departing from the caregiver's point of view, which often perpetuates negative stereotypes, the film engages the audience in a broader, more compassionate understanding of Alzheimer's. Intergenerational Interactions / Positive Support Systems: While family members initially react differently to Alice's diagnosis, they ultimately offer unwavering support. The movie portrays Alice's journey to repair her strained relationship with her daughter, Lydia. Even at work, her boss expresses genuine concern for her well-being. Her neurologist encourages her to speak at an Alzheimer's Awareness event, highlighting a network of support. Countering Ageist Stereotypes: Alice's resilience defies ageist stereotypes that associate Alzheimer's with helplessness. The film challenges these stereotypes by portraying Alice as a strong and determined individual. Her ability to combat the disease, even when diagnosed at an early age, counters ageist notions that older individuals are inherently frail. The film subverts clichés and empowers Alice to remain independent and robust throughout her journey.
Zoe Yalung : 400381158 Are there conflicting elements within this narrative? How so? The film begins with a profound conflict as Alice grapples with the tension between her career and her health. Her deep passion for her work clashes with her determination to hold onto it, even as Alzheimer's begins to take its toll. The statement, "I thrive on work stress," underscores her strong commitment to teaching, despite the cognitive decline she faces. The movie also delves into the conflicting reactions of Alice's family, adding an additional layer of tension. These responses reflect prevalent societal misrepresentations of Alzheimer's, initially marked by disbelief as they question, "You're not that old!" In contrast, Alice herself initially denies the gravity of her condition, keeping it from loved ones. Her daughter, Lydia, becomes a symbol of awareness, although she faces criticism for her understanding. As her cognitive abilities deteriorate, Alice grapples with the internal struggle between preserving her autonomy and succumbing to cognitive decline, a conflict that is poignantly captured in her note contemplating suicide. Moreover, the film illustrates the large shift from Alice and her husband's vibrant social life in the past to her present social isolation. Her Alzheimer's diagnosis leads her to withdraw from social engagements, even to the point of canceling plans to avoid feeling like a burden. Alice expresses a wish for cancer instead, in the belief that it would bring understanding and reduce her isolation. These conflicts overall paint a vivid picture of her challenging journey and the hardships throughout. If fictional, why do you think this narrative was written in this way? "Still Alice" serves several key purposes. Firstly, it aims to raise awareness, specifically regarding genetically acquired and early-onset Alzheimer's, illuminating a lesser-understood facet of the disease. Secondly, the film offers important viewpoints and dialogue by exploring
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diverse family responses to Alice's condition, providing a unique, gradual portrayal of the Alzheimer's experience. Thirdly, it humanizes the Alzheimer's journey, portraying Alice as a multidimensional character with her own dreams, fears, and aspirations, rather than reducing her to her diagnosis. Lastly, the movie challenges audience beliefs, aligning with Stuart Hall's Audience Reception Theory (Thull, 2021; Hall, 2001). It likely correlates with a Negotiated Reading, urging viewers to consider both positive and negative aspects of its portrayal of Alzheimer's. The film challenges ageist stereotypes and the notion of an automatic cognitive decline, fostering critical thinking and encouraging acceptance or questioning of its message based on the viewer's unique perspective and experiences. Overall, does the narrative present aging in a positive/negative/neutral fashion? "Still Alice" offers a positive portrayal of Alzheimer's disease, aligning with Chonody's (2020) analysis of such representation in film. The movie achieves this by presenting Alice as the central subject, not merely an object of caregiving, fostering empathy and understanding. It also highlights intergenerational interactions and positive support systems, showcasing how family and work colleagues rally around Alice. Furthermore, the film challenges ageist stereotypes by depicting Alice as resilient and determined, countering the idea that Alzheimer's leads to helplessness, thus empowering her character and providing a more robust perspective on the journey of living with Alzheimer's.