Chapter 7 Media Illustration

Garrett Weber

COMM 283

Interpersonal Communication

Media Illustration

6/19/12

Whether and How to Express Emotions

            To illustrate the expression of emotions through a media example, I chose Scorsese’s 1980 film Raging Bull.   At around ten minutes into the movie, Jake LaMotta talks to his brother about some of his problems and what he is feeling.  Besides the fact that it is a great Robert De Niro film, I chose this scene because although it exemplifies emotional communication, it shows that emotional communication does not always have simple, clear-cut steps.

            The first step in choosing whether and how to express emotions is to define what you feel.  When fighting with his wife, Jake displays many emotions.  Moments later, when talking to his brother, he still cannot plainly say how he feels and is forced to use his metaphor of having small hands. 

            After he decides it is ok to talk to his brother about his problems, Jake makes all the choices necessary to communicate his emotions.  He chooses with whom to share his feelings: his brother Joey.  He chooses a proper time and place to discuss his feelings: in the privacy of his house on an off day. 

            Another thing I really like about this scene is that fact that it happens without Jake having to sit down and think about his options.  He does not take time to debate whether or not to talk to someone.  Once he chooses to talk about his feelings, he does not have a long think to consider who he wants to talk to or if it is a good time or place. It happens quickly without him mentally going through each step, even though he is subconsciously making all these decisions.  Jake would probably not discuss his feelings if the conditions were different. He would not confide in someone other than his brother, especially if it was in a public place or right before a fight. 

http://www.free-tv-video-online.me/player/putlocker.php?id=17YW7FBZHESGGCS8