"Boyz in the Hood"

Film Review # 102425

Film > Analysis, Criticism, Etc.
Sociology > Theory

"Boyz in the Hood"

An analaysis of the social and delinquency theories that can be used to explain the actions of the main characters in John Singleton's film, "Boyz in the Hood."

1,386 words () | 5 sources | APA | 2008 United States

Paper Summary:

This paper describes John Singleton's film, "Boyz in the Hood" as one of the most disturbing American films of the last quarter-century. It discusses the plot of the film and the loose sexual mores and gang life of the neighborhood portrayed in the film. The paper then analyzes several social and delinquency theories that can be advanced to explain the actions of the main characters in the film.

From the Paper:

"In the end, there is little question that several delinquency and/or social theories can explain why the 'hood is such an awful place for its inhabitants - and such a hard place from which to escape. In this writer's view, the social strain theory precipitates the other two theories insofar as a lack of opportunity and the desperate struggle to survive in harsh conditions inevitably compels people to do whatever they have to do to survive. At the same time, Singleton places a lot of emphasis upon fathers and suggests that Tre learned to stay out of trouble because of his father's stern guidance. In the end, it is hard to conclude that any one of the theories is the sole reason for neighborhoods like those found in South LA; after a careful review, all three have complementary dimensions as well as over-lapping ones. In any event, the film is a troubling look at what can happen when communities collapse as a result of social pathologies."

Sample of Sources Used:

Baron, Stephen W. (2004). General strain, street youth, and crime: A test of Agnew's revised theory. Criminology, 42(2): 457-483.
Bursik, Jr., Robert J. (2001). The unfolding of criminal events within neighborhood contexts. In Process & Structure of Crime: Criminal Crime Events & Crime Analysis - Advances in Criminological Theory (pp.197-212). Piscataway, NJ: Rutgers University.
Paternoster, Raymond, and Mazerolle, Paul. (1994). General strain theory and delinquency: a replication and extension. Journal of Research in Crime & Delinquency, 31(3): 235-263.
Shamsie, S.J. (1981). Anti-social adolescents: our treatments do not work - where do we go from here? Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, 26(5): 357-364.
Singleton, John. (Director). (1991). Boyz in the Hood [motion picture]. United States: Columbia Pictures.