The Blind Side Essay discusses the 2009 film based on Michael Oher's life story. It highlights the film's strong acting and characters, particularly Sandra Bullock and Quinton Aaron in their roles as Leigh Anne Tuohy and Michael Oher. The essay also summarizes the plot, which follows Michael's adoption by the Tuohy family and their support in helping him succeed academically and as a football player. Overall, the essay argues the film excels in its acting, character development, and inspirational relationships despite some exaggerated cliches.
1. The Blind Side Essay
The Blind Side – Fact vs. Fiction
"Life's a maze, you twist and you turn through it,The driest of droughts, maneuvered and I earned
through it" (Clipse). During the Blind Side, Michael Oher comes up from living on the `street to
becoming an NFL football players. Throughout the film he is adopted by a new family who puts him
down the right path in life. Although the movie "The Blind Side" is similar to Michael Oher's life,
there are also many things that the movie changed about Michael's journey to add excitement to the
movie.
During the Blind Side there are many similarities that the movie got correct about Michael Oher's
life. One of the similarities of the film and Michael's life was that Michael really did block a kid
over the fence...show more content...
Another difference was that Michael was not let into the High School right away, but in the movie
he does get let in. Michael Lewis also states in his article, "When researching The Blind Side facts
vs fiction, it was revealed that due to Michael Oher's poor and nearly non–existent academic record
as of 2002, the principal at Briarcrest insisted that he participate in a home school program for a
few months first to get his grades up". This shows that Michael had to do home schooling before
being let into Briarcrest High School. All in all The Blind Side makes a lot of changes to add
more excitement and drama to the film. John Lee Hancock's choices in changing aspects of
Michael Oher's life added excitement and drama to the movie. For example, Hancock changes
that Michael does not know how to play football. This adds drama to the movie because his
adoptive family now has to teach him how to play his position in football. Hancock also adds
excitement when Michael gets into the High School right away, when in reality he did not. This
adds excitement by getting the audience excited to see what Michael will do at his new High
school. These changes allow John Lee Hancock to add excitement and drama to the movie. All in
all The Blind Side is very similar to Michael Oher's life, but there are little things
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2. What Is The Theme Of The Blind Side Movie
Movie review :–
The Blind Side is based on the true story of micheal oher a famous NFL football player who plays
for Baltimore Ravens. The Blind Side is about Michael following becoming a professional football
player, but more so, about how his adoption into the Tuohy family got him there. Quinton Aaron
know as Michael Oher in the movie knows nothing about family. The only thing he knows are the
streets and gangs of Memphis. Michael has no idea who his father is and his mother is a drug addict.
Sandra Bullock won an Oscar for her role playing Oher's adoptive mother Leigh Anne Tuohy in the
film, which got more than $300million at the box office.
Setting of the movie:
This movie took place in Memphis in 2009.
The movie brings out four societal problems like Family, Kindness, Overcoming Obstacles and
Racism :–
Family – The main theme of the movie is judging people based on their character, not on their
outward appearance. When micheal oher first joined school many of his teachers felt...show more
content...
I went in expecting more football, more hits & highlights & as a huge football fan that was one of
the main draws of the movie". – Jermey Scates – United states author
"I have just returned from seeing the blind side. I was pleasantly surprised by the movie,
particularly it's more poignant moments. Yes, this is a sports story, yes this is a biopic, but it is also
in large part an interpersonal drama". – Tina woods – United states author
Few of my classmates comments on the movie:–
"The Blind Side was a very touching movie filled with many positive messages and good role
models, and the main character was truly inspiring and touching. I would very much recommend this
movie". – Ronak
"This movie is very inspiring and motivational movie, this movie revolves around a real NFL player
named Micheal oher who plays for Baltimore ravens".
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3. Courage Exposed In Michael Oher's The Blind Side
Michael Oher once said, "Courage is a hard thing to figure. You can have courage based on a
dumb idea or a mistake, but you are not supposed to question adults...Maybe they know what's
best or maybe they do not" (Lewis 251). Michael's story teaches several important lessons. Football
is relatable to people of all ages. It gives people a chance to escape the stress of the real world. The
game of football teaches life lessons. In his book The Blind Side, author Michael Lewis reveals to
readers that while Michael Oher was an outstanding lineman, he was also very quiet and had a
very rough childhood. Michael Oher was an astonishing lineman because he was the ideal size for
a left tackle and an excellent blocker. Michael was a six four, three hundred fifty pound athlete who
was very agile and quick on his feet. The first time the football coach at Briarcrest Christian School
saw him he...show more content...
Michael's family was not a major part of his life. According to Leigh Anne, "He had not laid eyes
on his father in many years. He never had much to do with his grandmother, who was now gone.
He had a sister but did not know where she was and his mother was... an alcoholic" (69). Because
Michael Oher was without a family growing up, he was without a home, school, and money until
the Tuohy's took him in. Until Michael stayed at the Tuohy's house, he had never slept in a bed.
As the narrator recalls, "That day Leigh Anne went out and bought a futon and a dresser... And he
just stared at it a bit and said, 'This is the first time I ever had my own bed'" (87, 88). He had never
slept in a bed before because he did not have a permanent house before moving in with Sean and
Leigh Anne. Although Michael Oher's childhood was difficult without a family and a place to stay,
the Tuohy's graciously took him in and made him part of their
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4. The Blind Side
THE BLIND SIDE Movie Review 'The Blind Side' is the real life story about Micheal Oher, an
Afro–American football player and his struggles from being an abandoned kid growing up in a
foster home to a NFL (National Football League) player after being adopted by the family, the
Touhys, who were white skinned Americans. What makes 'The Blind Side' such a compelling
story is the fact that it tells the true life story of a boy with little or no prospects. It is a film about
human relationships, the need to reach out to the ones less fortunate, but most importantly, it's a
film about believing in oneself and following one's convictions even when the whole world might
be against you. One only has to see the movie and absorb as well as digest...show more content...
This is very common for children living in inappropriate environment. The incidents they
experience are like scars in their life. But these also make the children aware of right and wrong.
This was one of the major reasons why Michael did not get involved in drugs abuse. Another
major significance that the movie highlights is the existing and growing problem of gang fight
deaths. The youth are at a constant threat of being dragged into a life that is on the danger zone.
This is most likely for kids who grow up in a dysfunctional environment and extreme poverty.
Having experienced violence on the home front and left with meager opportunities for education,
teens are easily influenced to join gangs usually involved in drug trafficking which can cost them
their lives. In the movie, Michael has been exposed to the same kind of environment and may have
fallen victim to the same deaths that his hometown buddies experienced if it had not been for the
saving grace of the Touhy family. Acceptance is a major virtue preached by the selfless concern
and love that the family extended to Michael which was reciprocated by protective love that was
inherent in him. The topic on racism was indeed slightly touched by the movie when Leigh Anne
Touhy's socialite friends sarcastically praised her on her charitable action but at the same time,
warned her of the possibility that her daughter may be violated by Michael. Leigh Anne brushed this
off and her family's acceptance
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5. The Blind Side, By Michael Oher
The world is far from a uniform system. Each and every individual is placed in a different situation
depending on everything from location, race, beliefs, and economic status. Psychology looks at how
individuals come out of these specific environments and how they transform into an adult through
the trials and tribulations of their growth. In The Blind Side, director John Lee Hancock focuses on
an athletically skilled African–American teen, Michael Oher, who is transformed from a homeless
orphan from the projects into a highly sought after college football prospect through a positive
change in family, school, and supportive surroundings.
Michael was brought up in poor project housing that was consumed by drugs, alcohol, and gangs.
He was pushed in and out of foster homes forcefully being separated from his mother and siblings.
As the movie showed in harsh flashbacks, Michael is deeply affected by the forceful separation
from his mother. This constant absence from the mother or other supportive figures leaves Michael
unable to make a secure attachment to any strong base. Erikson's stage of trust versus mistrust is
displayed due to Michael's inability to count on the kindness and compassion of others which leads
him to withdraw from his surroundings (p 248). This abrupt memory in life affects Michael in his
idea of family and commitment. The harsh environment also kept Michael from attending school,
and the times he did there was no support for him to even try in school.
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6. The Blind Side By Michael Oher
"In life, it doesn't matter what happens to you or where you came from. It matters what you do
with what happens and what you've been given" (The Obstacle). Many examples from real life may
exemplify the preceding quote, but few do it in larger–than–life terms than the larger–than–life
Michael Oher. Where he "came from" was, in many ways, a living nightmare. But as the
biographical film "The Blind Side" clearly illustrates, Michael Oher did a lot with "what happens,"
doing so with the help of a surrogate family who refused to let the young man 's early life dictate his
future.
Directed by John Lee Hancock, "The Blind Side" is based on a true story of a homeless
African–American teenager, Michael Oher. Michael has never met his father and his mother is a
disengaged drug addict. A wealthy white family who helps him to achieve his greatest potential,
the Touhy 's, discovers Michael and eventually take him in to be a part of their family. Michael has
little to no education, however; Mrs. Tuohy soon takes charge in making sure that he has every
opportunity to succeed. Michaels presence in the Touhy 's household leads them to many
discoveries when he expresses an interest in football. They end up hiring a tutor to help him
improve his grades and boost his GPA in order to be considered for the NCAA Division I athletic
scholarship. Living in this new environment, Michael encounters many challenges he must
overcome. As a football player and a student, Michael works extremely hard
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7. The Blind Side
Introduction
The movie The Blind Side is about a homeless, male, African–American teenager Michael Oher (Big
Mike) who is taken in by the Tuohy family. Michael grew up never knowing who his father was
and his mother wasn't anything but a drug addict who he was taken away from when he was a
child. Michael had very little education but had preformed strong in "protective instincts" which
is later on used to help motivate his football skills and eventually shape his football career. The
Tuohy's provided Michael not only with a home and a kind loving family, but as well as a tutor to
help him get the grades he needed to become eligible for the NCAA Divisions I athletic scholarship
(Hancock, 2009).
Bronfenbrenner's study on the Ecological...show more content...
After she was finished she'd count to 3 and tell Michael to open his eyes and tell him "the past is
gone, the world is a good place and its all going to be okay." this later cam into play when Michael
got into a fight with the leader of the tough guys from Hurt Village, and Michael got up and left the
scene before anything escalated.
Sean Junior Tuohy (S. J.) is the biggest factor in Michael's development as he was the one person
who looked up to Michael the most. From day one before Michael was even brought into the
Tuohy home, S.J. was friendly to Michael when no one else was. On one of Mikes first days of
school, he approached two little girls on the playground to just say hi to them and they ran off
scared by him. S.J. came over to Mike and told him that " Smile at em', it lets them know you're
their friend". When the Tuohy's took Michael in, S.J. took to Michael right away treating him like
he was the big brother that he never had. When Mike was trying to understand the game of football,
S.J. was the one who took the time to make him understand it and helped him train outside of
football practices, encouraging Mike every step of the way, making it fun for the two of them.
Teachers Expectations of Students
In the school aspect of Michael's life, it became the one thing he strived for. Without school, he
wouldn't be able to enjoy the football career he later succeeded. The help of Michael's future
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8. As infants grow up to be adults, they succeed and surpass phases in their development that prove
mental growth has occurred. These phases, such as learning to be independent and being able to
make decisions on their own or being persuaded by others, are well explained within theories
created by theorists and psychologists such as Jean Piaget and Erik Erikson. These theories were
created to show a unique psychological outlook on ones' personal developmental growth. One of
the most crucial phases is the adolescent stage; this stage sees a growth and development in the
biosocial, cognitive, psychosocial and moral aspects of an adolescent's life. The Blind Side's
Michael Oher is a great example of someone who is experiencing the adolescent stage. Michael Oher
is a seventeen–year–old African American who grew up in the housing projects in Memphis,
Tennessee and was separated from his drug–addicted mother. As a result, Michael went from foster
home to foster home until he was adopted by the Touhy's. Throughout the movie, Michael
demonstrated various cognitive and psychosocial developments. Even through his struggles and
experiences, he was able to overcome the obstacles and become successful as a student and as an
athlete. Michael Oher's cognitive development throughout the movie helped signify that he no
longer was a lost child but an adolescent who could think on his own. Michael's cognitive
improvements demonstrated the characteristics from Piaget's fourth and final stage of
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10. In the movie, The Blind Side, Michael Oher's character experiences many changes. Throughout the
film, he grows from a shy, uneducated boy into a young man who belongs to a family. The film
begins with Oher as a homeless youth struggling to find a place to sleep. It progresses with Oher's
fortunate meeting of the Tuohy family and concludes with Oher's ultimate transformation from a
homeless boy into a successful man. A 17–year–old atypical teenager, Michael Oher has been living
with many foster parents throughout Memphis, Tennessee. He was basically an orphan because his
father dies when he was young and his mom is never around due to crack addiction. Every time he
finds a new home, he runs away. He sleeps whenever and wherever he...show more content...
He has his own driver's license, which indicates a big change in his teenage life having the ability
to drive. Mr. and Mrs. Tuohy have signed the official documents that state them as Michael's legal
guardian. He then gets his own room, bed, and home, which he never had in his life before. He
even got a new car, which made him feel not only happy, but also part of a something he never
had: a family. As he receives all these gifts, he becomes more comfortable with his friends and
surroundings at home and at school as well. He tested in the 98 percentile under "protective
instincts". This can be seen not only on test papers, but also in near–death situations such as stopping
the airbag from killing SJ and protecting Mrs. Tuohy from the gangsters in his hometown. Every
other subject his teachers have tested him in, he has failed miserably. Therefore, Mrs. Tuohy
hired a tutor, Miss Sue, to help Michael get better grades and learn more efficiently in school.
Other than schoolwork, Oher has grown into a great football player as well; he has learned to
play his position at left tackle, protecting the quarterback's blind side. With his family and his
passion for football, Michael has become more of a man. He finally speaks for himself as he did
with the inspector lady and speaks for his family as he did when he beat up the gangsters that were
insulting his "mother". He is now more confident than before shown by
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11. According to UC Davis, in 2015 over forty–three point one million people live in poverty. Poverty
ruins lives and can hold people down from their full potential. In The Blindside, Michael Oher is
the victim of poverty but changes it around despite the Kafkaesque nature of poverty. The emotional
roller coaster of The Blindside deserves a four out of four star rating for the emotional plot,
well–selected actors and actresses, and memorable quotes.
Even though The Blindside's saddens, it still uplifts the audience with the story of Michael Oher. At
the start, Michael is an underprivileged foster child, who was forced to move from house to
house, yet Michael becomes lucky. Enrolled in the Christian academy, Michael manages to get
accepted for the sole reason of playing football and receives and opportunity to better himself. His
acceptance to the private school shows that anything is possible, and sets Michael up on a path of
self improvement. Towards the middle, Michael begins playing football for the school, and living
in a new home. The Tuohy family allows Michael to live with them along with luxuries unknown
to Michael . Michael's progress goes to show how much the Tuohy's have done for him, and were
willing to do for him, and as a result, Michael made it to college. Ending the movie, Michael accepts
his college of choice even though his decision comes with static. Wholeheartedly, Michael chooses
Tennessee as his college despite the Tuohy's disliking Tennessee, yet the
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12. The movie The Blind Side was released in 2009. It is about a young man, named Michael Oher,
who grew up in a poor environment. In the beginning of the movie, Michael was homeless and not
currently attending school. All of that changed when a woman, named Leigh Anne Tuohy, offered
Michael the chance to stay with her and her family. The Tuohy family was well off, unlike Michael,
so it was an adjustment for both the family and him to live together. However, the family was very
warm and welcoming to Michael, which differed from many of the other people Michael
encountered. In the movie, Michael experienced racism, discrimination, and prejudice towards him
from a variety of people. Michael lived in a bad area when he was a young boy. This...show more
content...
Michael was laying on the ground because he was tackled but after the referee blew the whistle, a
member from the other team kicked Michael in the head. Michael did nothing to react in a
threatening way, he just continued laying on the ground. His couch asked the referee why the other
team did not get a penalty for kicking Michael. The referee then waved his yellow rag and called
"un–sportsman like conduct" for Michael team, despite the fact that they did not do anything
wrong. Another example of discrimination towards Michael on the field was when he was
blocking a player on the other team. Michael did not execute any foul plays, yet the referee's
called out his team. The coach asked the referee what they did wrong and they responded by
saying, "I don't know... excessive blocking." The referee's obviously did not have a significant
reason for blowing their whistles and they likely would not have mentioned it if Michael was
white. Similarly to real life, people are prejudice and racist towards people behind their backs too.
The movie displays a good example of this. As I previously mentioned, the Tuohy family had a
large amount of money, they even owned multiple chains of Taco Bell. Due to their money, Leigh
Anne was friends with women who were wealthy as well. One day, Leigh Anne and her friends
were eating at an expensive restaurant and while they were waiting on their food, they began a
conversation about Michael. One of the women said "Hey, does Michael get the
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13. Michael Oher's The Blind Side
A theme in a literary text is connected to humanity. In the story The Blind Side, Michael Oher and
his family display a theme throughout the story about giving Michael a life that he could of never
dreamed of. Michael was a son of a single mom who was into drugs and he had a rough childhood
until the mother gave up the rights to her son. The mother let son be adopted into a white rich family.
From that point on, Michael had a whole new future with his new family.
Starting his new life, Michael was having a very hard time with high school and his classes. He also
joined the football time and was surprisingly excellent at it. Michael's mother knew if he wanted to
stay on the football team he had to get his grades up. The mom hired him
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14. The Blind Side By Michael Oher
The world is full of struggles, but simple acts of kindness and determination can change the lives
of many. This is one of the many lessons that The Blind Side tries to teach its audience by telling
the story of Michael Oher, a teenager who knows little about having a home and much less a
family. When Leigh Anne Tuohy and her family open up their home to Michael, his life and
future are forever changed. Not only does Michael gain courage and determination, but Leigh
Anne and her family learn the valuable lesson of the bonds that tie family and friendships forever.
The Blind Side shows viewers that a person's social class doesn't necessarily define his or her
character, racism can have negative psychological effects on a person, and one can be part of a
loving family without any biological ties. One message in The Blind Side is that a person
chooses his or her character, regardless of social class born into. Michael grew up in poverty, but
never followed the example of his peers of joining gangs or consuming drugs. By not following his
peers, Michael showed the world that his nature wasn't to harm people or himself. After all, he had
nothing to lose, yet he never gave in, despite the constant peer pressure. In fact, Scott even describes
Michael as "shy, grateful, sometimes sad and always... an open book." On the other side of the
spectrum, Leigh Ann Tuohy became determined to help a stranger (Michael) despite her peers
disagreeing with her actions. When her friends began to
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15. How To Use Camera Angles In The Blind Side
The Blind Side
This film essay will be about the 2009 Oscar Award Winning film "The Blind Side". "The Blind
Side" was directed by John Lee Hancock and is based off real life events. This film essay will
cover how the use of two different camera shots/angles created a purpose, how characters attitudes
tell us about today's society and how this is developed and how the use of lighting manipulates the
audience.
The scene that I analysed from this film was the opening scene to the movie, where Michael is
walking through his neighbourhood that he lives in and further on. This particular scene starts with
a low angled long shot of Michael walking down a pathway. Everything behind him is happening
slowly and is very blurred, you could compare this...show more content...
This includes his schooling and sporting career. A low angled long shot is used to give off the
impression that he is down, as the camera is looking at him from a downwards angle. Soon after
that low angled long shot the camera zooms up on Michael's face and performs an ECU or
Extreme Close Up. This camera angle is used to add emphasis on to whatever it is zoomed upon.
In this case Michael has a very drained and depressed look on his face. This adds effect to the
scene and gives the audience an understanding of how Michael is feeling at this point in time. The
part to the scene is when Michael is in a car with two black african american males, these could be
his relatives or friends. The first shot is a wide angled shot, this is to include his company in the
car, in the shot. As the scene continues the camera slowly zooms in on Michael and ends up being
a close up, which instantly turns into a slow panning shot of his neighbourhood. These angles add
effect to the scene as Michael still looks depressed and then it shows his run down neighbourhood.
This relates to the audience as a stereotypical black neighbourhood being run down, depressed and
poverty struck. Shortly after that scene it shows a fast panning shot if the
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16. The Blind Side By Michael Oher
Most movies are predictable and don't connect with people in special ways. They are made for the
entertainment, not to tell an actual story. Sometimes one can dig deep into your heart and tug at the
strings. The award winning movie, The Blind Side, is a true story about a less – privileged, African
American, Teenage boy,Michael Oher, who is taken in by a white Christian family, the Tuohy's.
Oher is then placed on the football team and becomes an all–star Football player with the love of the
Tuohy's supporting him. Directed by John Lee Hancock and feature Sandra Bullock (Leigh Ann
Touhy), Quinton Aaron (Michael Oher) andTim McGraw (Sean Tuohy), The Blind Side is a movie
that encourages and motivates people that not all hope is lost. Michael is out of relevance when
it comes to his family and his new school. He has been raised in a drug haven, ran down side of
the city, and the Tuohy's are a rich, proper family in the middle of Memphis. Michael was
homeless at the time the Tuohy's took him in. He was showering and sleeping in his school. Once
he is taken in, he is enrolled in a Christian school where he was the only colored boy in school.
Being taken in by this family really impacts Michael in ways no one would have ever thought. As
you watch this movie, you experience both sadness and joy as you watch "Big Mike" go from
being homeless to becoming a famous football star. One of the saddest parts of the movie is when
Mrs. Tuohy goes looking for Michael mother and you get a
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17. The Blind Side Michael Oher Analysis
In the film The Blind Side, directed by John Lee Hancock, one important character that changes
throughout the film is Michael Oher. John Lee Hancock delivers an important message that you
don't have to be blood to be family, and that with love and support you can overcome obstacles.
John Lee Hancock shows the audience that this is true and that the love and support of a family can
change a whole person's life, as we get to see the changes to Michael Oher's life. John Lee Hancock
used the film techniques of close ups, over the shoulder and reverse angle shots, and dialogue to
show how Michael Oher changes.
Michael Oher is an important character in the film, The Blind Side. Throughout the film this
important character changes because of the love and support he gets from a family. At the
beginning of the film we see Michael Oher as a big black boy, who's homeless, is uneducated, he's
poor, unwanted, quiet, shy and has no confidence. One freezing, wet night he has nowhere to go.
Leigh Anne Tuohy, a white, wealthy, well–dressed, confident, happily married mother, finds him on
the road and invites him home with her and her family. This is when Michael Oher begins to
change. Leigh Anne Touhy gives him a bedroom, home, food, clothes, education and a future.
Most importantly, she give him love, and a family. Michael Oher changes when he gets a new
family, and he is able to overcome obstacles with hard work, and the love and support from his
new family. The message that it delivers is that you don't have to be blood to be family. At the
end of the film, the director shows Michael Oher as the opposite person of who he was at the
beginning of the film. We see that Michael Oher gets offered scholarships by many universities
because he learns how to play football, and by the hard work and determination he became a pro at
it and therefore becomes a football star.
Michael Oher changes through the movie. He changes through the messages that John Lee
Hancock delivers that you don't have to be blood to be family, and that with love and support of a
family, you can overcome obstacles. Just because he was black, huge and athletic, he was judged.
Everybody assumed that because he was huge, black and athletic, he would be
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18. Michael Oher's The Blind Side
If you like football this is the book for you. Michael oher plays football he's a defensive end and
he's a beast. He played football for ole miss. Michael had a hard life trying to grow up by himself.
His mom never cared about him. The book i'm reading is is The Blind Side. the archetypes for
the blind side has a unique loyal sidekick named SJ, rags to riches plot structure michal turn as
successful and mentor named lean tuie in the Blind Side. The book picks a loyal sidekick
because SJ which is the little boy that limn gave birth too. Which turned out to be Michael's best
friend because he liked SJ and SJ treated Michal like a real brother. He played games with Mike
and he talked and Leane bought Mike a truck for his bday and got him what mick always wanted
that was his driver license and then got the truck for his bday and he took SJ with him everywhere
till they wreaked one day. But they were both ok....show more content...
But back to my story he was a kid that didn't have alought of friends and SJ was there for him but
then he got new freund from football and became really popular. The archetypes for the blind side
are a loyal sidekick named SJ rags to riches named michal and mentor named Leanne tuie in the blind
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19. Field Prejudice In The Blind Side
The movie The Blind Side is a film about real life events that happened to an upcoming football
player. The film features a young African–American man named Michael Oher who is taken in by a
white family named the Tuohys. The family helps Michael to overcome his difficulties and
become a successful football player. This movie includes many situations that incorporate
psychological principles. Some of the main principles that stand out are prejudice towards
Michael, motivation from Michael, and altruism from the Tuohys. Prejudice is shown
throughout the movie The Blind Side. Michael experiences discrimination on and off the football
field. One example of off the field prejudice is when while at lunch with her friends, one of Leigh
Anne Tuohys' friends assumes Michael will do something bad to her family while he is living at
their house and asks if Leigh Anne feels safe with him. Leigh Anne goes on to tell them they are
making too many suggestions about Michael 's actions. An example of on the field prejudice is
when during one of Michael's games a referee calls a penalty on Michael 's coach. The penalty
should have been on the other team instead because an opposing player kicked Michael in the head
(Hancock, 2009). Both of these situations are demonstrating prejudice by using stereotypes
(negative beliefs) and discrimination (negative behaviors). The people are using stereotypes by
believing that since Michael is a black man, he will do something bad based on assumptions
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20. The Blind Side( Michael Oher)
Michael Oher is an immense human being. At the age of sixteen, he had a 20–inch neck, 50–inch
waist, and a 58–inch chest. Larger measurements, that is, than every single member of the
Washington Redskins. This fact alone meant that his final years in high school, Oher was the focus
of attention of college coaches across America – grown men taking detours of hundreds of miles to
watch him practice, in the hope of persuading him to play for their team. Had these coaches the
power to design a prototypical left tackle, Oher's six–foot–five, 330–pound frame would have been
pretty close to their model. And yet the fact that he was even still at high school was, in itself, nothing
short of a miracle.
The focal point of Michael Lewis's The Blind...show more content...
The condition of his being accepted by his high school was greater academic achievement; unless his
grade point average reaches a certain level, he won't be allowed to go to college – no matter how
many coaches are desperate for him to play.
The subject of the relationship between high school sports and educational achievement has been
covered before. Buzz Bissinger's 'Friday Night Lights', which has since been the inspiration for a
movie and a TV series, followed a high school team in Texas for a season. Far from the saccharine,
wholesome version of schooldays that we are accustomed to, Bissinger painted an unhappy and
controversial portrait – of a white community interested in black children only so far as they could
help compete for the state championship; a school with $5,000 for the English department but
$70,000 for travel to away matches; allegations of pain–killers being used illegally to get injured
teenagers playing as soon as possible. Such was the controversy the book caused that Bissinger, who
had spent a year in the town, didn't return until 20 years later.
The Blind Side has a more uplifting tale at its heart. Yet this does not stop it from being an unsettling
story. The Tuohys are accused of taking Michael into their lives solely to ensure that he can
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