Our ability to fight and stir conflict is based upon the notion of a battle between differences. As humans, being different is what sets us aside, it is one of our greatest achievements. Yet this tendency to be different can also be one of our greatest flaws.
In order for us to recognize where this conflict derives from, the origins of conflict must first be identified. Throughout our brief history, conflict between the occupants of this world have always been sparked through some facet of difference, these include: religion, ideology, political background, race, social standing, lifestyle and behavior.Whilst all of these facets vary in how they can be defined the one similarity that they all share is that in one individuals mind somewhere in the world, their facet of 'difference' is seen by them to be correct. In the movie “Animal Kingdom” this has been made clear during Sergeant Leckie’s monologue to J.
Each world has many differences and as a result, there is uproar in conflict. We see that the monologue is used to symbolize that both worlds are in a constant battle between each other which results in conflict within the Cody family and J. Leckie refers to each world as strong or weak.Being strong or weak determines survival against your enemy, hence shows the ongoing battle and struggle for survival in these two worlds.
This battle and the coming of both worlds results in an emotional conflict within J, he doesn't know which world to join as he is in the middle of both. Leckie states that “I know your Uncles are saying talking to me is betraying the family. But they’ve betrayed you. The fact that they’ve left you to deal with us is all the proof you need”.
This quote represents the resulting emotional confusion within J.As well as this, Leckie also states that J’s “uncles can’t squirm out of this one” and that “they’re not strong anymore”. This represents as well as the emotional conflict within J, conflict within the Cody family has risen. Their misguided sense of pride has clouded their judgment and ultimately broken down their hierarchy within the family.
* An excellent example of this is the war between Crime and Justice. Collision between the notions of Crime and Justice are inevitable, because both worlds cancel out the belief system of the other. Both worlds are born out of their conflict between each other.For example, a criminal may believe that their crimes are an act of survival, something of a necessity; some may even believe that what they are doing is right. Whilst a model citizen or an officer of the law follows the simple belief that crime is wrong, therefore criminals are seen to be morally wrong. If there were no criminals, no crime, then the Justice system would be rendered useless.
Similarly, if there was nothing in place to stop crime, then the motivation or thrill of committing the act would begin to wear off, criminal activity would be seen as something of a normality, not as the rebellious act that it is seen by many today.This lifestyle or way of thinking is therefore formed as a result of our differences. In the film an example of the war between Crime and Justice is shown in the car crash scene. This represents the climax between the clash of the ‘normal’ and the criminal world.
A long shot has been used to show that if both worlds are to collide the consequences could be fatal or devastating. Another example in the film of two worlds colliding is when J is in the middle of Leckie and Pope. These mid shots of Pope and Sergeant Leckie both show how both worlds can never meet without destruction.The door symbolizes the barrier between both worlds. The dark lighting used on Pope reflects the cruel and evil nature of the criminal world.
The lighting on Sergeant Leckie is bright, white and almost glowing. This on the other reflects the somewhat angelic and auspicious world of the justice system. The shot also shows J in the middle between both worlds, therefore representing J’s misplacement and confusion amongst both worlds. * In regards to difference, the same few questions are raised again and again. Difference? A sign of man's greatest liberation? Maybe.A breeder of conflict, war and destruction? Out of the question.
Can two binary opposites exist peacefully? Of course not. Everyone is born with a different set of values; it is what makes us unique. Naturally any belief systems will always vilify something. This is unfortunately what conflict is all about: an ever present war between what a person considers is truth and what a person considers is fallacy.
J is trapped between two worlds and cannot exist in both worlds without a conflict arising. The shot of J looking out into the landscape of the city shows his misplacement among both worlds.The glass serves as a barrier between both the criminal world and the ‘normal world’. The use of a long shot is to show the separation between J and the rest of the world. The contrast in lighting between the rest of the world and J has been used to show the separation and misplacement of him between both worlds.
The bright and warm lighting symbolizes hope and a new future for J; however he is stuck in the dark and gloomy lighting, symbolizing the criminal world he is thrown into. * Once again, the conflicted values between Crime and Justice are a great example of this.On one hand, the justice system teaches us that murder is undoubtedly the ultimate in immoral crime, the pinnacle of evil and sociopathic tendencies. However as a race we are governed and dictated by our emotions and our impulses. Our own misguided sense of Pride quite often leads to our downfall. When we desire answers, or are prepared to defend our ideologies to an extreme level sometimes crime is used as a vanguard.
Throughout history we have killed we have maimed and we have harmed to defend our idea of what is right and what is wrong.Ironically we utilize aspects of both crime and justice to defend in what we believe. An example where our misguided sense of Pride has lead to someone’s downfall is shown in the close up shot of Ezra snorting cocaine, representing the corruption amongst the legal system. This is ironic as Ezra works for justice system but associates himself with illegal activities and the criminal world. This again shows how the clash between justice system and the underworld can only bring corruption and destruction.
From a very young age, we are conditioned and usually indoctrinated to think that our way of doing things and acting is the 'right' and therefore only correct way to act. Subsequently, when two different belief systems face off against each other, neither one will back down and admit that the other is wrong. This generally spells out immediate conflict when two different worlds are forced to come together for a specific reason. Conflict is born out of the notion that two people who follow a different set of rules or follow a different belief system or ideology cannot both be correct.
This again correlates to how the human mind is programmed to believe that we are always right and everyone else is wrong. The Cody Brothers took revenge and murdered two cops. They are justifying this through the fact that the corrupt police killed their brother. This is an example of when two worlds face off; neither world will admit they are wrong. Since there is no peace this creates conflict and death. In the close up of the gun being pointed towards Baz, the never ending battle between both worlds is shown.
The gun symbolizes that violence is the only solution to resolve this battle.This also shows how both worlds gain power and control through violence and destruction. This is also shown through Barry’s facial expressions, where he shows fear. Another example is shown in the long shot of Craig being shot down by the police, showing that if each world is to meet it only brings death and destruction, showing that the police have control and authority over the criminal world. Both worlds have been constructed through the prop of guns to value violence as a form of power and authority against the other world.
This is ironic as the justice system encourages non violent resolutions.
