This paper discusses various concepts of loyalty, mostly as depicted in Michael Sandel's 'Justice' and applies these concepts to the main characters of the movies 'Walk the Line'and 'Interstellar' and their actions.
Starting from three slightly different opinions on what loyalty is, each of three groups discussed their approach with an excerpt of Michael Sandel’s “Justice” (pp. 234 – 243) and added significant layers to a process we could name ‘the loyalty check up’. After having gained this deep understanding of loyalty and its’ patterns, we applied to the excerpt of Michael Sandel’s 'Justice' to derive loyalty patterns and to understand what loyalty is based on and if this is just as a matter of fact.
Table of Contents
Part 1: Basic understanding of “Loyalty”
Towards a definition of “Loyalty“
The inner hierarchy of loyalty patterns
The loyalty check-up
Part 2: Loyalty in the movie “Interstellar”
Plot outline of “Interstellar”
The concepts of loyalty as applied by a selection of single characters
Cooper
Prof. Brand
Murphy
Amelia
Mann
TARS
Conclusion and further discussion
Part 3: Loyalty in the movie “Walk the Line”
Plot outline of “Walk the Line”
The concepts of loyalty as applied by a selection of single characters
Johnny Cash
June Carter
Ray Cash
Conclusion and further discussion
Part 4: Final comparison
Objectives and Themes
The primary objective of this work is to explore the multifaceted concept of loyalty by applying a theoretical framework—developed through a seminar based on Michael Sandel’s "Justice"—to the character arcs and narrative structures of the films "Interstellar" and "Walk the Line".
- Analysis of loyalty patterns categorized as emotive, virtuous, and normative.
- Development of a "loyalty check-up" process to evaluate decision-making.
- Comparative study of loyalty dynamics in science-fiction versus biographical film genres.
- Examination of how internal hierarchies of values influence personal and social loyalty.
Excerpt from the Book
Towards a definition of “Loyalty“
An example for one of those opinions was a two layered approach where loyalty is related oneself (also known as integrity when acted out over several time or confidence in short terms of time) and to others. Loyalty here is understood as: "[I – To yourself]: Sticking to your own given rules; [II –t o others]: Helping others, even in case of doubt."
This definition holds some significant insight: I: Loyalty to yourself means to apply a self-given set of rules and behaviour patterns to your actions. It also involves the assumption that you and your actions underlie only your own judgement. Neither instances nor people have any influence on that. This definition of loyalty describes a special case, the loyalty to yourself, also known as integrity.
II: This definition describes loyalty in common understanding. It focuses on the fact that loyalty is applied to others by providing help in forms of guidance, aid or support etc.. It emphasizes that loyalty even can be applied when the providing person disagrees with the recipient’s actions or intentions but has a somewhat higher trust in his / her person.
Summary of Chapters
Part 1: Basic understanding of “Loyalty”: This section defines loyalty through emotive, virtuous, and normative patterns and introduces the "loyalty check-up" model as a decision-making tool.
Part 2: Loyalty in the movie “Interstellar”: The author analyzes how characters like Cooper and Prof. Brand navigate competing loyalties between personal family bonds and the survival of mankind.
Part 3: Loyalty in the movie “Walk the Line”: This chapter examines the evolution of Johnny Cash’s loyalty, tracing his journey from destructive personal choices toward a more integrated, virtuous sense of self and responsibility.
Part 4: Final comparison: The concluding analysis synthesizes the findings, noting that both films highlight the essential balance between emotive and virtuous loyalty required to overcome life's obstacles.
Keywords
Loyalty, Philosophy, Interstellar, Walk the Line, Emotive Loyalty, Virtuous Loyalty, Normative Loyalty, Integrity, Decision-making, Michael Sandel, Film Analysis, Human Behavior, Responsibility, Ethics, Socialization.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this essay?
The essay explores the philosophical concept of loyalty, specifically how it manifests in the decision-making processes of characters within the films "Interstellar" and "Walk the Line".
What are the primary thematic fields discussed?
The themes include the categorization of loyalty patterns, the conflict between individual desire and social responsibility, and the impact of personal history on behavioral consistency.
What is the main research question or goal?
The goal is to apply a structured "loyalty check-up" framework to examine how characters prioritize different types of loyalty and how these hierarchies drive the narratives of the selected films.
Which scientific method is applied?
The work utilizes a qualitative approach, applying philosophical definitions and a derived "loyalty check-up" process to film character analysis and plot development.
What is covered in the main body?
The main body breaks down specific characters—such as Cooper and Prof. Brand in "Interstellar", and Johnny and June in "Walk the Line"—to see how they exhibit emotive, virtuous, or normative loyalty.
Which keywords characterize this work?
The most relevant keywords are Loyalty, Philosophy, Emotive/Virtuous/Normative Loyalty, and Film Analysis.
How does TARS from "Interstellar" fit into the loyalty hierarchy?
TARS represents normative loyalty through his programming but demonstrates higher-level decision-making that suggests a potential evolution toward deeper understanding beyond mere rule-following.
Why is Ray Cash portrayed as a character lacking loyalty to his family?
Ray Cash demonstrates a rigid, normative loyalty to his employers and the social system, which suppresses his emotive capacity to support or care for his own family members.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Felix Zappe (Autor:in), 2015, The concept of loyalty in movies. An analysis of 'Interstellar' and 'Walk the Line', München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/318302
