Exploring the notion of Challenging Authority through text is a journey taken that can encompass an individual's way of thinking or feeling about a particular scenario, aspect of society or institution. The study of this concept and its meaning will vary between individuals as their own opinions, religious beliefs, culture and moral view points take over, but a universal message of the study can still be well received. By exploring this concept individuals have the potential to reinforce or challenge the commonly held assumptions made by society about a specific issue about the human experience and the world around us. Through responding to questions posed by this area of study, individuals have the chance to make discoveries and generate new ideas that could potentially revolutionse their understanding of previously established thoughts or ideals. Challenging Authority is a concept that has been represented in films and novels in many instances. Some famous examples include 'Dead Poet Society' Peter Weir, and 'The Power of One' by Bryce Courtenay where the fabric of the established institutions is challenged by the thinking of an individual. This is also present in Suzanne Collins 'The Hunger Gae As is evidenced in both texts, the power that one person holds is potentially devastating to the authority of an established institution or idea. It takes only one to ask 'why' or say 'no' for structure of the authority to crumble.
Quotes:
"The nail that sticks out farthest gets hammered the hardest." -Patrick Jones
"In order to be respected, authority has got to be respectable" -Tom Williams
"Nothing strengthens authority so much as silence" - Leonardo da Vinci