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Running head: GERONTOLOGY MOVIE ANALYSIS PAPER

Gerontology Movie Analysis Paper Amanda Badgley NURS 314

2 GERONTOLOGY MOVIE ANALYSIS PAPER Abstract There are several psychosocial theories of aging that medical professionals use when working with the geriatric population. Multimedia companies have been able to demonstrate these theories through movies and other sources. The movie Driving Miss Daisy is an example of good portrayal of these theories by using a visual and audio means. Gerontology professionals are able to correlate concepts from the movie and relate them to the concepts of the sociological concepts of aging. Health-related quality of life concepts can be viewed throughout the movie as well. The characters provide examples of how elderly people have different quality of life based on their personality type. There are also classic examples of ageism portrayed in the film too. Ageism is another concept related to gerontology that correlates concepts within the film.

3 GERONTOLOGY MOVIE ANALYSIS PAPER Gerontology Movie Analysis Paper Gerontology is the study of the effects of time on human development, specifically the study of older persons, (Touhy & Jett, 2012). Gerontology focuses on discovering the answers regarding the normal aging process. Aging is an interactive course
where the individual is affected by the environment they live in, their genetics, and other factors. There are several theories associated with the aging process that can be applied to a wide variety of aging men and women. The five main psychosocial theories of aging include the activity theory, the disengagement theory, the continuity theory, the age-stratification theory, and the modernization theory. Many of the concepts from these sociological theories correlate with the movie Driving Miss Daisy directed by Bruce Beresford. The two main characters portrayed within the film provide many good examples of some of the theories of aging. Health related quality of life theories are also evident within the film. Ageism is another concept of aging that is portrayed within the film. The Driving Miss Daisy film portrays many sociological theories of aging, health-related quality of life theory examples, and ageism examples.

Hoke Colburn Activity theory The character Hoke Colburn in the film Driving Miss Daisy exhibits examples of the activity theory. The activity theory proposes that continuing activity late in life signifies a person who is aging successfully (Touhy & Jett, 2012). Many elderly people feel the need to sustain an active lifestyle for them to maintain their happiness and feeling of worth. Hoke provides good examples of maintaining an active lifestyle in later life. In the movie, Hoke stays active by finding himself small jobs around Miss Daisys home while he is not performing his chauffeuring duties. Gardening, light housekeeping, and

4 GERONTOLOGY MOVIE ANALYSIS PAPER assisting with the cooking are just a few activities that Hoke engages in. Not to mention his full time job of being Miss Daisys chauffeur that he gets paid to do. Disengagement theory Hoke also demonstrates characteristics of the disengagement theory. The disengagement theory is described as in the natural course of aging the individual does, and should, slowly withdraw from his or her former roles and activities to allow the transfer of power to the younger generations, (Touhy & Jett, 2012). As Hoke ages, he slowly gives up his former roles and activities to allow his younger family members to assume that role. He eventually gives up driving himself and allows his grandchildren to drive him places when he needs transportation. Hoke also slowly gives up his other activities of gardening and enjoyment of automobiles. Continuity theory During the film, Hoke portrays some characteristics of the continuity theory. According to the continuity theory, an individual tends to develop and maintain a consistent pattern of behavior, substituting one role for a similar one as the person matures, (Touhy & Jett, 2012). Hoke finds himself a suitable replacement for his normal life career as he ages by becoming a chauffeur for Miss Daisy. By finding an activity he enjoys (driving classic/expensive/new automobiles), he resembles some characteristics of the continuity theory and that he has a healthy foundation of aging. Hoke also demonstrates this theory through his personality. As the film progresses, his personality becomes more entrenched and pronounced as he ages or he becomes more set in his ways. Hoke is always a friendly and outgoing person. He is kind to others and shows compassion towards all, and this evident throughout the entire film. Overall, Hoke

5 GERONTOLOGY MOVIE ANALYSIS PAPER demonstrates many different psychosocial theories of aging within the film Driving Miss Daisy. Health-related quality of life Hoke provides good examples of positive health-related quality of life. Healthrelated quality of life is quality of life defined in terms of satisfaction with the aspects of life that are important to the individual, (North). Since Hoke is a very positive person, he does not show any aspect of his life that he feels is negative. Hoke has a job that he enjoys, he is in good health, has leisure activities he enjoys, keeps us his personal appearance, and seems very satisfied with his life choices (Beresford, 1989). Miss Daisy Disengagement Theory As described earlier, the disengagement theory suggests that the older population regress from their former roles and transfer the power to the younger population. Miss Daisy gives several examples of the disengagement theory. By giving up driving, she allows a younger person to take on that role for her to keep her and the community safe. Miss Daisy also is retired from her profession as a school teacher. By withdrawing from her career as she grew older, she passed on the power of teaching to the younger teachers. Miss Daisy also gives up her housekeeping duties and has maid who performs her cooking and cleaning for her. Continuity Theory Miss Daisy demonstrates some characteristics of the continuity theory as well. It seems that what is portrayed from the movie, Miss Daisys behavior pattern stays consistent. As the continuity theory states, Personality is seen not only to be enduring

6 GERONTOLOGY MOVIE ANALYSIS PAPER but also as becoming more entrenched and pronounced as one ages, (Touhy & Jett, 2012). Miss Daisy has a tendency to be selfish, stubborn, and not very friendly towards others or new situations. Her personality remains consistent throughout the movie, even when she is put into a nursing facility and her memory becomes poor. She acts the same towards her friends and family and her personality endures the changes of time as she ages. Modernization Theory The modernization theory is also evident with the movie Driving Miss Daisy. The status and value of elders are lost when their labors are no longer considered useful, kinship networks are dispersed, the information they hold is no longer pertinent to the society in which they live, and the culture in which they live no longer reveres them, (Touhy & Jett, 2012). Miss Daisy demonstrates the modernization theory by not having very much decision-making power. Her son buys and sells her vehicles for her and made the decision to hire a chauffeur for her without her permission. He also decides when she needs to put into a nursing facility when her memory starts to decrease. Miss Daisy was considered no longer useful by society and her family as she aged. Her family disregarded her wishes and thought she was being foolish and stubborn at times. The modernization theory is very evident through the character of Miss Daisy in Driving Miss Daisy. Health-related quality of life Miss Daisys health-related quality of life seems to both positive and negative. On the positive side, Miss Daisy has a very stable financial life, she is retired, and lives in a good neighborhood. Her living conditions were very nice and all of her basic needs are

7 GERONTOLOGY MOVIE ANALYSIS PAPER met all the time. She was in good health, and enjoyed a few of her own leisure activities. On the negative side, she did not have much social interaction with others and her family did not participate much in her life. Miss Daisy also did not seem to be fully satisfied with her life and was portrayed as unhappy the majority of the time.

Ageism Ageism is a concept that is seen within the film Driving Miss Daisy. Ageism can be defined as, a type of discrimination that involves prejudice against people based upon their
age, (Cherry, 2012). When Hoke pulls the car up to the front doors of the synagogue to pick up Miss Daisy after church, she is offended and feels like Hoke making a disrespectful statement. This can be an example of ageism in the sense that Hoke could have been assuming that Miss Daisy was unable to tolerate much activity and needs assistance with her mobility. Since Miss Daisy is fully capable of being independent with her mobility, this is a prime example of ageism used within the film. Ageism includes stereotypes of seniors mobility, mental capabilities, hearing ability, memory, and their health status (Michigan.gov, 2008). Conclusion Overall, there are many examples of the sociological theories of aging presented in the film Driving Miss Daisy. As described earlier, Hoke and Miss Daisy provide numerous examples of a wide variety of the theories. Health-related quality of life examples are also portrayed throughout the film as well. Once again, Hoke and Miss Daisy provided good candidates to evaluate their health-related quality of life situations. Ageism is another aspect of aging that is portrayed throughout the film as well. The film allows for good correlation of a wide variety of concepts of aging to the scenes portrayed in the film.

8 GERONTOLOGY MOVIE ANALYSIS PAPER References

Beresford, B. (Director) (1989). Driving miss daisy [DVD]. Cherry, K. (2012). What is ageism?. Retrieved from http://psychology.about.com/od/aindex/g/ageism.htm Touhy, T., & Jett, K. (2012). Ebersole, and hess' toward healthy aging: Human needs and nursing response. (8 ed.). St. Louis: Elsevier Mosby. Michigan.gov. (2008). Ageism. MI Seniors: Michigan Office of Services to the Aging. Retrieved from http://www.michigan.gov/printerFriendly/0,1687,7-234-43293-182919--,00.html North, S. (Date unknown). Health-related quality of life. [PowerPoint].