Raw: Novel and Brett

Raw Essay

Institutions can have positive and negative effects that can alter and individual's perceptions, judgment and values. "Raw" by Scott Monk, "Hard Rock" by Etheridge Knight and "Dangerous Minds" by John N. Smith help communicate an understanding of how such institutions can reform an individual.

The novel "Raw" written by Scott Monk, is simple in style but introduces interesting and an acceptable insight to the concept of "the institution and the individual experience". Brett Dalton resembles a highly wrought, reactionary character who challenged or feels confronted by structures of authority or control.

Using Brett as the protagonist, Monk opens the novel with a prologue that describes Brett as delinquent and confused teenager who refuses to take responsibility for his own actions. His intolerance leads him to committing a crime - breaking him into a bottle shop; this explains why he is in the institution called the "farm", which can be described as a "half-way house" with between no security and maximum security. This institution accommodates troubled teenagers, in which it is their second chance to become better individuals. Throughout the novel Brett is symbolized as the troubled teenager who overcomes his ignorance.

On the farm, Brett meets the caretaker Sam, who is symbolized not only as a role model but also the cause of Brett's positive change. Sam respects each individual equally and believes everybody deserves a second chance, but Brett, at the beginning does not tolerate anyone, especially people with authority – "they are the enemy, and you never get friendly with the enemy". This demonstrates Brett's attitudes and protest to the institution.

As a caretaker, Sam reiterates to Brett at the beginning, "just remember, Brett: only you can change your life". He implies that the power to change lives within the individual. Further on in the novel, Brett is still of concern and Sam reaches out to try and help. "Don’t shut me out, Brett. I do know the score and that is why I'm worried about you ". This indicates the positive effect of the institution and on the individual.

Josh is another character who helps Brett reform. Josh is seen as the rehabilitated teenager who chooses to stay on the farm. He helps Brett realize that his problems are the least of his worries when compared with other troubled teenagers, for example Josh himself. His problems are quite indescribable, he has no parents that desire to care for him, whilst Brett does, and this changes Brett's perspective towards Josh and his life. Monk deliberately outlines the change in Brett through Josh to demonstrate the changing experience and positive effect of the institution on Brett.

Scott Monk employs many techniques to convey his ideas of the positive changes Brett incurred from an institution. One of many is the use of contrast, which juxtaposes Brett's life at the beginning and his reformed life at the end. Monk highlights this contrast through the prologue and epilogue. In the prologue, Brett hates anyone who has the authority – he thinks the whole world is against him, whilst in the epilogue Brett had learnt to make friendships, gain trust and respect and learn to accept his own mistakes and responsibilities.
Violent language such as "busted" and "bang" is used at the beginning of the novel, effectively showing the violence of the criminal world Brett came from. Monk's point is clear. Individuals need social structures in order to defeat a negative life and develop individuality and responsibility. The institution allowed Brett to realise that he has resources of a character he never knew he possessed.

"Hard Rock", by Etheridge Knight, consists of many techniques which express the idea that maximum security institutions have a great effect on an individual. This poem specifically outlines the literal meaning of "effect" on the individual by an institution. "Hard Rock" is a stereotype yet symbolic name for a prisoner who was "cold 'n' tough", very violent and rebellious against all authority. The poem was composed in the 1950's, at the time of racial discrimination against "coloured people" in America.

Contrast of a once "cold 'n' tough" criminal at the beginning, to a lobotomised "vegetable" at the end, is expressed in the poem to highlight how effective and dehumanising an institution can be on an individual. Derogatory language like "nigger", expletives such as "black son of a bitch" and word choice such as "smacked" and "kinked" all add to portray the effect of realism and to give the reader a chance to create an image on what is emphasised.

At the end of the poem, Etheridge Knight uses two metaphors, "he had been our destroyer, the doer of things", to reinforce the contrast and emphasise the literal effect the institution had on "Hard Rock".

The idea of the institution having a negative effect on individuals can be seen in the film ‘Dangerous Minds’ by John N. Smith. In the film there are negative effects of the failure of the school as an institution. The students in the movie are part of a class called the academy class and are referred to as a ‘school within the school.’ The soundtrack of the movie fits perfectly with songs like Gangsters Paradise that symbolize the negative state of mind of the students. Many of the students have no sense of belonging and see no relevance of to be at a place where even there teachers have no expectations for them.

All until Lou Anne Johnson arrives. Lou Anne gives hope to the students and shows the students that there can be some positive effects of the institution. But the negative effects end up reappearing, when a student is turned away by the principle on the basis of a petty rule. This emphasizes and the focus on the rules and order rather than the individual. The consequence of the student in this case is the death. Lou Anne sums up this incident appropriately “What should I tell them? If they don’t want to die remember to knock?”

"Raw", "Hard Rock" and "Dangerous Minds" all deduce to exemplify one meaning – institutions have the power to radically change the personal experiences of any individual.