This film is thought provoking for many reasons. One particular reason is: it relates to the psychology of rats, and by extension humans; and how learned helplessness manifests under certain conditions. The rat experiment where the rat learns that his actions are pointless; as when he is shocked and he cannot escape, is highly relatable to much of our experience to some extent. People internalize situations that they cannot change and thus a state of hopelessness ensues which becomes destructive. The other insight into the rat studies is when the rat has a companion; who also experiences the punishment with him. Both rats engage in violent behavior towards one another, but this is pointless as the punishment will continue regardless of their actions. However, these rats do not become demoralized as they have engaged in a state of action; which is to say the fighting; the aggression; has served a purpose of offsetting the learned helplessness that ensues when a situation cannot change. Interesting stuff - again applicable to humans. We live in peaceful times with highly anxious people that have no outlet of venting their woes as society does not allow for violence. This seems to me to be doomed for destruction anyway; whether it be some explosive event that will seemingly come out of nowhere; or in most cases probably a state of societal demoralization. It's all around us unfortunately today. I have always been someone who is championed non violence but maybe there is room for punching your boss in the face, especially if that prevents a catastrophic explosive event down the line. I can imagine all the iterations; small and large; across different peoples; who experience this state of learned helplessness we have talked about. There has to be an antidote to all of this. So that people can fight on despite their circumstances being tough. Because the last thing we need our people that our self defeated; that give up because "everything is meaningless" - we need people that have tremendous self belief and the will to push on. Anyway.
Review of My American Uncle
