Mr Ryan Davif Case

In this essay I will be discussing the concept of deviance by first exploring how one may define deviance and what one may class as deviant behaviour. In doing this I shall look at sociological concepts of deviance and how these concepts of deviance may fluctuate when taking into account certain social and cultural issues. The concept of Deviance is an ambiguous one and what people class as deviant behaviour will differ from one individual to the next, with their being very little consensus among the public as to the conception of deviant behaviour. Such variables as religion, gender, environment, race, and sexuality all may play a part in shaping the understanding of deviant behaviour. I will be applying these findings to Victim and the notion of deviance in relation to the issue of homosexuality in Britain in the 1960's. Similarly I will also be exploring Brief Encounter and the notion of deviance in terms of conventional heteronormative marriage in 1940's Britain. Both these films explore the notion of deviance and I shall be seeking how the film's handle the topic in relation to their plot, characters and social setting. I will be further applying these findings in exploring how the notion of deviance, in both these films, may be seen as condemning deviance through punishment/victimisation, or promoting/ justifying deviance with empathy and understanding.

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