"The Imitation Game" (2014) is a historical drama movie directed by Morten Tyldum based on the book "Alan Turing: The Enigma" by Andrew Hodges. The film is about life of a famous British mathematician and cryptanalyst Alan Turing, who is famous by the deciphering of the German Enigma coding machine during the World War II.
On the one hand, the movie tells a story of a person with a brilliant mind who changed the course of the world history, but on the other hand, this film is a personal drama that depicts complicated relationships between Alan and other people. Alan has lack of communication skills and his perception of the reality differs from others’ ones. Being misunderstood and rejected by people because of the peculiarity during his college years, Turing closes himself from the world, except one friend. At the beginning of the World War II he joins the secret cryptographists’ team, creates a computer-prototype machine and solves the Enigma mystery. The film brightly shows main character’s communication difficulties and his inability to collaborate in a team. After years, being caught by a policeman, executed and suffered from the punishment, the only one person who could understand him, Joan Clarke, visits him and witnesses his mental and health problems – the results of the execution.
I found it very interesting to analyze the development of the relationships between Turing and other people in the movie, how he confronts and deals with life and communication difficulties, and also Turing’s personality. The film’s thread of society’s suppressing on Alan and, eventually, death from it, also shows an inability of the society to accept extraordinary individuals. That is why I chose three themes to analyze and provide examples from the film – perception, identity and relationship maintenance. The purpose of my paper is to show that Alan Turing tries to understand the society, but the society does not want to understand and to admit him.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Identity Concept
3. Perception
4. Relationship Maintenance
5. Conclusion
Objectives & Themes
This paper explores the conflict between the individual and society as portrayed in the film "The Imitation Game," focusing on Alan Turing's struggle to be accepted despite his extraordinary intellect and perceived differences.
- Identity formation and the impact of peer rejection.
- The role of perception in cross-communication and social misunderstandings.
- Strategies for relationship maintenance in personal and professional contexts.
- Societal suppression of individuals who deviate from conventional norms.
- The necessity of empathy and tolerance for human diversity.
Excerpt from the Book
The Identity Concept
The first concept I would like to explore is the identity concept. According to Leets (2004), peer group rejection in childhood is significant because it affects self-concept and social skills, and also rejected people have fewer opportunities for social growth, increasing the possibility of further rejection as well as antisocial behavior. The movie proves this – being rejected during school and college years, Alan has no desire to interact and socialize anymore with those who treat him violently instead of admitting him as a unique and different person. He is concentrated on studying and his thoughts only, and grows independently, without attempts to fit common standards.
Moreover, Fearon (1999) suggests that “Identity has a double sense. It refers to social categories and to the sources of an individual’s self-respect.” (p. 2). In his article Fearon also equates the terms of self-concept and identity in terms of how individual sees himself. Applying the principle, suggested in the article, we can consider Alan’s identity in two different aspects – as he sees himself and as others see him. From other people’s perspective, he is a “monster” (as Joan and team members said), and a person that cannot feel and “live normal life”. However, other people do not know what Alan feels, what he thinks about, and what made him closed.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: This chapter introduces the historical context of the film, Alan Turing’s contributions during World War II, and establishes the paper’s primary focus on analyzing the conflict between the individual and society through three key psychological themes.
2. Identity Concept: This section examines how childhood rejection shaped Turing's identity and discusses the dichotomy between his self-perception as an independent thinker and his external label as a social outsider.
3. Perception: This chapter analyzes how Turing’s unique, literal, and analytical way of perceiving the world creates communicative barriers and frequent misunderstandings with his colleagues.
4. Relationship Maintenance: This section explores how Turing struggles to develop interpersonal connections and how his relationship with Joan Clarke serves as a vital bridge to social integration.
5. Conclusion: The concluding chapter summarizes the tragic consequences of societal intolerance and advocates for a modern culture rooted in empathy, respect for individuality, and historical awareness.
Keywords
Alan Turing, The Imitation Game, Identity, Perception, Relationship Maintenance, Social Conflict, Individualism, Historical Drama, Cryptography, Communication Skills, Peer Rejection, Psychological Analysis, Tolerance, Diversity, Social Inclusion
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core subject of this paper?
The paper provides a psychological and analytical review of the film "The Imitation Game," specifically focusing on the conflict between Alan Turing as an individual and the society that rejects his differences.
What are the primary thematic fields addressed?
The analysis centers on three main psychological concepts: identity formation, human perception, and the maintenance of personal and professional relationships.
What is the main objective or research question?
The paper aims to demonstrate that while Alan Turing attempts to navigate and connect with society, the rigid social norms and collective unwillingness to understand his uniqueness lead to his isolation and tragic downfall.
Which scientific method is applied here?
The author uses a qualitative film analysis method, interpreting the character's actions and interactions through the lens of psychological and communication theories cited from academic literature.
What is covered in the main body of the text?
The main body breaks down the film’s narrative by applying theories of self-concept, social perception, and relationship maintenance to the specific behaviors and social failures exhibited by Turing.
Which keywords best characterize this work?
Key terms include Alan Turing, Identity, Perception, Relationship Maintenance, Social Conflict, Individualism, and Communication Skills.
How does the author define Alan Turing’s identity?
The author describes Turing as an "another" man—someone who stands apart from common social standards, viewing himself as a unique thinker while being labeled a "monster" or a machine by his peers.
What role does Joan Clarke play in the analysis?
Joan Clarke is identified as the crucial bridge between Turing and society, acting as the only person capable of understanding his nature and helping him learn the basic "rules" of social interaction.
Why does the author argue that society is responsible for Turing’s failure?
The author argues that society fails to accept extraordinary individuals, suppressing them through rigid expectations and failing to recognize their value until it is too late, ultimately leading to their destruction.
What is the final lesson the author draws from the film?
The author concludes that historical mistakes serve as a lesson for the modern world: we must cultivate tolerance and empathy, respecting individual differences to avoid repeating past injustices.
- Citar trabajo
- Karina Kovalenko (Autor), 2016, The Society-Individual Conflict in Morten Tyldum's Film "The Imitation Game" (2014), Múnich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/333742
