Forrest Gump Film Analysis, Plot and Stereotypes

Forrest Gump is a movie displays a man (Forrest) facing many tribulations throughout his life; those tribulations were wearing braces on his legs, being shot and having a very low IQ level. Forrest never let these tribulations affect his happiness, he was one to follow his dreams no matter what he faced. Forrest’s ‘mama’ continuously gave him advice and taught him “the ways of life.” This influenced Gump to never settle for less, as he kept in mind that “stupid is as stupid does.

” This film also offers several different sociological views.

The symbolic perspective, a micro theory states that people develop and build upon in the process of social interaction. The movie Forrest Gump shows symbolic interactionism by displaying Gump going through discrimination. Gump was looked upon differently for having a low IQ and a physical disability. As Gump grew older, he was able to communicate more efficiently with the ones who discriminated against him allowing the discrimination to lessen.

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American culture is the tastes, preferences, customs and behaviors embraced by the broad mass of the American public at any given point in time. The movie Forrest gump relates to American culture by including the civil rights act of 1964 and the 1960’s protest. These events were true historical events that have effect on people of America, clothing/styles and pop culture within America.

The movie Forrest Gump could mostly be aged for adolescence. This movie portrays Gump getting bullied and army aspects. This is a strong viewpoint for adolesence as most can relate to being bullied or knowing someone that has been.

A lot of people that are bullied are also usually bullied for having some type of impairment/disability like Gump. The army aspects can also tie into adolescence as they are usually thinking about career choices and some people/adolescence willingly go to the army after high school.

Forrest Gump mainly portrays men, women and people of different racial/ethnic backgrounds. Men and women are portrayed by the relationship Gump and Jenny had. The movie shows that they are in love but had to sacrifice their love for personal severance (Gump going to army, Jenny moving on). The movie Forrest gump portrays different racial/ethnic backgrounds by including a character named Bubba, whom is Gump’s African American best friend. Bubba was autistic, so him and Gump could relate as they both had/have a disability.

In the movie Forrest Gump, Gump and his ‘mama’ were very close and supportive. Gump lived within a poor-middle class life, but still created the most happiness/positive upbringing within his life. Gump was affiliated with the government as he was a part of the army being a part of the Vietnam war. Gump’s ‘mama’, financial status and army experience all influenced him and his life. This would be considered the social structure within Gump’s life.

In the movie Forrest Gump, we see a stereotype as Jenny became rebellious and became a stripper; we usually look at women to cook, clean and take care of children. We see the difference as Gump’s ‘mama’ is represented as a “typical mother.” This isn’t problematic for the American culture because we now see things like this on a day-to-day basis. Were used to having stereotypes and people breaking stereotypes.