Part of ongoing series: Hollywood and Higher Education: Teaching Worldview Thru the Stories We Live By
“Carpe Diem! Seize the day, boys. Make your lives extraordinary.”
-Mr. Keating (Robin Williams)
by Gary David Stratton
Dead Poets Society, 1989 Oscar winner for best original screenplay, boasts an impressive Hollywood lineage. In addition to the best screenplay win for Tom Schulman, Dead Poets earned a best director nomination for Peter Weir, a best actor nomination for Robin Williams. It also helped launch the careers of Oscar-nominated actor Ethan Hawke (Training Day, Before Sunset), as well as Emmy-nominated actors Robert Sean Leonard (House), and Josh Charles (The Good Wife). Not bad for a small budget film few imagined would grow into culture-shaping cinema.
It is also one of the best films ever made on the vocation of teaching. I rarely meet any teacher, professor, or youth minister who wasn’t deeply moved by their first encounter with Dead Poets Society. It deftly touches a nerve for anyone entrusted with the thrilling, yet delicate art of shaping young lives.
Mr. Keating’s brief sojourn at the fictional Welton Academy captures both the highest hopes and greatest fears of anyone who has ever stood in front of a classroom. As it turns out, worldview formation is as dangerous as it is fulfilling.
Which brings me to my real point.
Worldview Transformation
Gather ye rose buds while ye may…
Dead Poets is also a tremendous film for anyone interested in the art of worldview formation in film and in life. First, it illustrates the power of mentors, texts, and communities in shaping worldview. Second, it gives soaring testimony to the power of Existentialism in the quest to escape the gravity of Physicalism into the intoxicating heights of Idealism. Finally, it provides a troubling warning as to the power of nihilism to crush the dreams of the unsuspecting idealist. (For an explanation of Physicalism versus Idealism, see, It’s a Wonderful Worldview: Frank Capra’s Theistic Masterpiece.)
The Welton Worldview
Both in movies and real life, worldview change never comes easily. Human beings are insanely committed to maintaining the societal traditions and personal strategies we’ve carefully developed for managing our lives, even and especially when those strategies are counter-productive. Dead Poets does a wonderful job of detailing how good teachers expose the counter-productive flaws in their students’ worldview. And no worldview seems quite so flawed as that of the mythical Welton academy in which Dead Poets Society is set.
As a highly traditional 1950’s college preparatory academy, Welton is rooted in what appears to be a highly Physicalist (if somewhat religiously Deistic) worldview. (For an explanation of the four levels see, Casablanca and the Four Levels of Worldview.) In other words, the hard, pragmatic realities of the physical world are the only things that are “really real” at Welton.
The underlying story of Welton Academy is financial success, not personal exploration
Level 4—Story/Basis: The underlying story of Welton is success, or more specifically, the financial success and social status available to those who get into prestigious schools in order to gain entry into prestigious careers.
Todd Anderson’s (Ethan Hawke) disengaged parents may forget what they got him for his last birthday, but they know they want for his life–Valedictorian honors and a National Merit scholarship like his older brother. (Hint: The Welton Academy Yearbook is a great source for keeping characters straight.)
Neil Perry’s (Robert Sean Leonard) helicopter father may not listen to his son’s desires to write for the school newspaper (or become an actor), but he already has his son’s life planned out for him whether he likes it or not:
Mr. Perry: “You’re going to Harvard and becoming a doctor.”
Level 3—Values/Principles: Welton faculty and administration oblige their moneyed parents by creating an academy rooted in the values of “tradition, honor, discipline, excellence.” They celebrate “the light of knowledge” with religious trappings and a strong classical sense of morality, giving Welton a rather Deistic slant. All we really know about this distant God is that he doesn’t want girls at “Helton” distracting the “boys” (not men) from their studies. (The Welton Academy Yearbook is a great source for keeping characters straight.)
“Tradition, honor, discipline, excellence.”
Level 2 — Strategies/Culture: Accordingly, Welton’s academic culture is devoted to a highly traditional curriculum and educational methodology. We are offered brief glimpses into the strict world of “normal” Welton classrooms marked by rote memorization of Greek, Biology, and Calculus.
These are not the kind of classrooms a creative personality would cherish, but that’s just fine with most Welton students. They are just going through the motions doing whatever is necessary in order to gain parental approval and Ivy League admission.
Level 1—Action/Behavior: By the end of Act 1, it is clear that while Welton students may not particularly like the school, enjoy belittling its values, and despise their parent’s transference of their success stories upon their lives, they still go along with the flow in overall daily decisions.
The Keating Worldview
Enter the transformation artist
All this begins to change when the students enter the classroom of Welton’s newest teacher—Mr. Keating (Robin Williams). Like a character in Plato’s cave analogy, Keating has broken free of the bondage of Welton’s limited perspective and returned to enlighten students still chained to the wall of shadows. Like Morpheus in The Matrix, Keating is determined to “free the minds” of his students in order to help them enter a larger, richer world of the liberal arts.
It is a beautiful story of how great teachers foster worldview change in their students. Keating employs a dizzying teaching arsenal of texts (Walt Whitman, etc.), music (The 1812 Overture), mentorship (“O Captain, My Captain”), learning exercises (standing on desk), challenge (“A sweaty-toothed madman”), and community (The Dead Poets Society) to captivate his students’ imaginations. While at first, his classroom is merely, “Weird, but different,” it gradually becomes the focal point of their universe.
Mr. Keating wants his students to consider a robust and romantic version of the worldview of Existentialism. Existentialism rooted in Physicalism, yet rejecting its pragmatic pessimism.
Make your lives extraordinary!
Level 4—Story/Basis: Walt Whitman and the other romantic poets teach us that even though Physicalism may be scientifically true in that “we are all food for worms,” we can strive to make meaning out of our own brief lives by our own choices and values. Keating’s story is a radical rebellion against both Nihilistic Physicalism–which insists that life has no meaning–and a Welton worldview, which insists that students live only for the Physicalist goals of their parents. Mr. Keating is not so much interested in his students’ embracing their parents’ story of financial/social success as he is that they live their own story.
Keating: We are food for worms, lads. Believe or not, each and every one of us in this room is going to stop breathing, turn cold, and die… Peruse some of the faces of the past (Welton students) …Did they wait until it was too late to make from their lives even one iota of what they were capable. Because you see, gentlemen, these boys are now fertilizing daffodils. But if you listen real close, you can hear them whisper their legacy to you: (whispered) ‘Carpe Diem! …Seize the day, boys. Make your lives extraordinary.”
Level 3—Values/Principles: Beyond the walls of the physical universe Keating points his students to the Idealistic realm of beauty, love, and meaning that eludes those trapped in the Physicalist worldview. Naturalistic Physicalism would tell us that the universe is a “box” limited by space and time, and accessible only through the physical senses. Our hearts tell us a different story. There is something more to life than what we can touch, taste, hear, see, and smell. Poetry points the way to this larger world of values, that can’t be measured “scientifically” like a “length of pipe”[1] nor explained with graphs like J. Evans Pritchard, Ph.D.
Keating then tells his students to rip out the entire introduction to their poetry textbook and has them “huddle up” to hear the real meaning of poetry (and life.)
Keating: We don’t read and write poetry because it’s cute. We read and write poetry because we are members of the human race. And the human race is filled with passion. Now, medicine, law, business, engineering, these are noble pursuits and necessary for sustaining life, but poetry, beauty, romance, love, these are what we stay alive for.”
This speech is a stunning description of Existential Idealism in its purest Romantic form. And it will not be the last.
Seeing the world from a new perspective
Level 2—Strategies/Culture: Keating’s goal is for his students to stop mimicing and reciting the words of others, and “find your own voice,” and “Learn to think for yourselves again.”
On top of his desk, he gets them to consider life from a new perspective. In the courtyard, he gets them to fall into the trap of walking in conformity to the life of those around us. On the soccer field, he inspires them to reach their full potential.
Watch desk scene here.
Freedom from Physicalism
As I said above, it is liberal arts education at its finest. He is using the arts to liberate his students from seeing life only from their own tradition and preconceptions. (See, The Greco-Roman Liberal Arts.) It is a breathtaking and soul stirring tour de force his students find nearly iresistible.
Slowly, Keating’s students begin to break free from the suffocating gravity of a Physicalist worldview, in order to embrace the broader Idealistic world he has opened up for them….
Level 1—Action/Behavioral: Of course, the movie only gets going once some of the boys actually start acting on Mr. Keating’s worldview.
And that is where the story really gets interesting!
Next: Ideas Have Consequences: The Power and the Limits of Existentialism, Dead Poets Society, Part 2
See also:
Hollywood and Higher Education: Teaching Worldview Through the Stories We Live By
Casablanca and the Four Levels of Worldview: Why Everyone Meets at Rick’s
Crash goes the Worldview: Why Worldview Transformation Requires Changing Scripts
It’s a Wonderful Worldview: Frank Capra’s Theistic Masterpiece
Bungee-Jumping to Eternity: The Existential Angst of Dead Poets Society
Deep Culture: Is Winning an Oscar a Reliable Indicator of a Truly Great Film?
The Blind Side leading the Blind: Better Faith-Based Filmmaking through Better Stories
Related Posts:
Using Zombie Movies to Teach Politics, by Daniel W. Drezner
The Joker Is Satan, and So Are We: René Girard and The Dark Knight, by Charles Bellinger
Notes
[1] Perhaps an allusion to George Bailey’s objection to his father’s commitment to the Building and Loan in “It’s a Wonderful Life.”
What I learned about from watching the Dead Poets Society is how we as individuals have to learn to take a stance against our loved ones when it comes to following our dreams. The group that resurrected the Dead Poets Society all were struggling with maintaining their individuality. I was hurt by the way Neil ended his life and wish his parents would have taken the time to listen to his dreams and future desires. The movie just make me think back to how I deal with raising my daughter and teaching her that she is an indivdual and should take pride in following her dreams and remaining an individual.
Cassandra, It really does make you think about your parenting style, doesn't it?
Great comment, following our path against the status quo is extremely difficult. Fortunately, we encounter people in our lives who remind us that we are also special and that our ideas are unique.
Writing our own stories…this is a great way to break the cycle of unhealthy or unproductive living. I think that some people are able to do this on their own. I also think that some people could really benefit from a positive mentor. Others may find themselved as partially "rewritten" — that life is somewhat better, but not completely. It is these people that might start writing again and finish what they started. I think this fits for those of us that are adult students.
This was the first time that I have watched Dead Poet's Society. I have to admit, it started out very slow. Maybe I am just used to having movies practically slap me in the face with action; this was not like that at all. I did find it very interesting and I was amazed at the boy's committment to Mr. Keating's class. This committment is most certainly as a result of the unique teaching style that was presented. I was inspired by Mr. Keatings style and I am hopeful that my own children may have such a teacher someday. It is hard not to make comparisons to oneself. I couln't help but to look back at some of my own practices and silly things that I have said…all in the name of "because that's the way we have always done it". The ending of the movie was just appalling. My impression was that Neil's father had not learned a thing and that he certainly was not going to consider that he was the problem. The losers in this story are Neil, Mr. Keating, the boys, and even future generations of students at the school. I'm not sure who the winners are…maybe the winners are those of us that have watched this film and taken it to heart.
Colleen, I think you're right. The only possible winners are the audience.
Colleen, I agree the movie did start out very slow, but I was inspiring to see the committment of a dedicated teacher to his students. I was also impressed at how the boys of Mr. Keating's class finally took a stance on standing p for what they believed in.
Collen,
I feel the same way the beginning of the movie it is slow. I also see the students as winners, yes there was a tremendous lost, Neil's life. I can see the transformation of Todd's worldview how he was able to move talk and speak up about what was wrong and the rest of the students that follow him… I see them as winners!! Mr. Keating inspired them and in influence their worldviews in relatively "small" amount of time and for that I see them as winners they will not see the world the same.
Dead Poets Society
This was the second time seeing this movie and it still remains a very potent reminder to live your life to the fullest. I was fortunate enough to have a teacher like Keating in seventh grade and he was wonderful. He taught us music at a Catholic School, and you may have thought the curriculum would be boring or stiff, but we sampled artists from Aaron Copeland to Pink Floyd and learned to write and read music. I have never forgotten him, just as the students in Keatings class will never forget him. They may conform for the the moment but a light will remain in them from his teachings forever.
The headmaster in particular irritated me. Did you notice anytime he was about to speak, he told the boys to "Sit"? I found that rather demeaning and reinforced the demand for conformity at Welton.
I was very saddened by Neil's fathers actions and the ulitmate loss he suffered becuase of his inability to really hear his son. This was a great reminder to listen to your kids and as stated in an earlier post to keep the lines of communication open.
Jennifer…Carpe Diem, that is exactly what Mr. Keating taught his boys of the resurrected Dead Poets Society. I was furious how the school administrators forced the boys to sign a document that was clearl false, but to not go against their parents they signed it anyways. So, of course the most enlightening part of the movie is when all the boys stood on the desk to stand p for their rights.
I am a firm believer that a line of communication should always be open. Whenever a parent loose a child it is always sad. I was very sadden about Neil's death. You should let your children be themselves and explore life with the support of their parents.
I have seen Dead Poets Society many times before, as it is a great movie. I was able to see the movie differently this time. I am seeing now where Keating is helping the students to see the world through different views. It was very powerful when Todd stood up in front of the class during the “Sweaty Tooth Mad Man” scene. Mr. Keating really brought him out of his shell. He has been living in his brothers shadow all of his life and his parents haven't realized what this has done to him as an individual. Mr. Keating was encouraging him to be his own person. He helped all of the boys move away from physicalism and move to an existentialism world view. I really believe that Mr. Keating’s teaching styles, although out of the ordinary for the rest of the school really taught more of a lesson than the other teachers. The boys were encouraged rather than put down and bored with the normal standard curriculum.
I thought the same, what a terrible circumstance for those kids. Teachers like Keating make all the difference in the classroom. I am seeing that firsthand with my 14 year old. If he does not connect with the teacher on some level he does not get much out of the class.
I would add that not only were the students changed by the teachings of Keating but at some level the Head Master of the school must have been asking the question " how does Keating do it". I wonder if the firing of Keating was partly due to the insecurity the headmaster felt. I remember some where in the movie the headmaster said he started teaching in the room Keating taught in. Great movie to watch with my kids as it has them asking some new questions about worldviews. It seems the whole family is getting into the movie watching part of this class. Very Cool.
I too have seen the movie before but it was refreshing seeing it through different lens. It was encouraging to see Todd stand up for his captain at the end. There's no way anyone can deny someone who has made a deep impact in their life.
I can completely understand why Neil couldn't break free from his father…I relate. I liken myself to Cameron's character in some ways. Cameron was always concerned with what he "should do" or what people thought of him and if he was doing the "right thing." The more I think about it that is how I have lived my life; more concerned with how I "should" act and what I "should" do than what I really want. It's hard to be an idealist when you've always been pushed to "keep up with the Jones."
I can relate to you and Cameron as well. It is very difficult to break away from the way things should be handled. I too am much like Cameron, although I am not able to persuade others to do the same. I actually sit back and wish I had the strength to do what I want to do. I find myself jealous of those that can speak up for themselves. I do feel that my current role at work has helped me to "come out of my shell" and encourages me to speak up.
Jessica, I was fortunate enough to be given the opportunity to be my own individual self. I was raised to love my parents but at the same time think and act for myself.
I agree. It is hard to break away from the "norm". Sometimes it seems easier to go with the flow and put our ideas and dreams on the side. It is hard to take risks but without them, we may never know the outcome.
Good point Jessica. Cameron was made out to be a "bad guy" for not standing up for Mr. Keating. Cameron was under a lot pressure, and after all, he was only a teenager. I was never much of a rule breaker in my youth, perhaps more of a rule "bender."
I also understand Neil. My father was a loving man, but also very authoritative. We had a huge generational gap, he was definitely "old school" and commanded respect. Luckily, I was able to understand him enough to find his softer side.
It was the first time I had seen Dead Poets Society. I really enjoyed the movie and each character and the part they played in the movie. I loved the slogan of Mr. Keating, ‘Carpe Diem! – Seize the day, boy. Make your lives extraordinary.” He wanted each of the boys to know that there is something more to life than what we can touch, taste, hear, see and smell. Keating wanted the boys to learn to think for themselves. He was always inspiring them to go for the gold or their highest potential. Mr. Keating had a way to free the young men from physicalism and feel the power of existentialism along with the world of ideals. I admired Mr. Keating’s teaching style and believe he really had a heart for the boys and cared about each individually. I thought the movie had a good story to it and we should all seize the day!
Linda, I had not watched the film befire either. And, I too really enjoyed the movie. When I say "enjoyed", I mean that I found it interesting and valuable. For me, it was not really a fun or uplifting movie. Mr. Keating was a great teacher.
I wonder if more teachers could be like Mr. Keating if our educational system was less bureaucratic.
I had never seen this movie before and I absolutley loved it! What a great example when all that you care about is what you can see and feel….the physical world. The most beautiful scene for me in this movie was when Anderson finds the poetry that lies within him while he is standing in front of the room and the teacher is bringing it out of him. It's as though the teacher knew all along what was inside of him. It was beautiful to hear him speak from within and allow his words to find voice.
The second part of the film that was very hard for me to accept was that Neal would rather end his life than face the rejection of his parents. That his own soul wasn't worth its own value and that all he was was wound up inside of what his parents wanted. I couldn't understand why he couldn't break free from his father but I love the example and the hope that it gave Anderson.
It is my favorite scene as well! See my thoughts on it in the next post!
Debbie, your comment "why couldn't he break free from his father" is a tough question. For me being a father this movie has changed how I view one of my boys. I always want the best for him and have tried to push him to achieve in this physically driven world. I have a different understanding because of this movie. I think he is more of a poet then a football player. Hopefully I can make the corrections.
I also have a son with similar attributes and also have a new understanding because of this movie. Is good poetry and a 3,000 yard season to much to strive for.
It was sad to see how Neil ended. It was a good lesson for me. I'm a parent and it made me think about my daughters. I want to empower them to be who God created them to be. I hope I can achieve that.
Amy, I could not agree more. Finding a healthy balance of idealistic and physicalist worldviews is what is so desperately needed today. Alas, there are very few who understand the balance, let alone seek to implement it.
Kim , I am so glad you saw the connection between Mr. Keating's philosophy and Donald Millers. They are VERY similar, but whereas Miller wants his readers to recognize a Voice or Writer beyond themselves, Mr. Keating actually only wants them to discover their own voice and become their own writer. Very different worldivews, indeed.
My thought was that the voice that Keating was trying to get the DPS to open up to is ultimately, planted by God for us to be our authentic selves.
While both views are slightly different in source they share in the idea that you need to take action (Carpe Diem) to "change your story" as Miller states.