Good and Bad Listening Behavior Essay
Based on the film ‘The Pledge’, write an essay that includes a discussion of the following:
- Examples of good and bad listening behaviors evident throughout the film.
- Use concepts and terms from the readings when describing each character’s listening behavior.
- Develop a plan for each of the main characters to improve her or his listening behavior.
- Mention at least three effective or ineffective uses of presentation aids in the film and include how they were effective or ineffective.
Analysis of “The Pledge” by Sean Penn
In Sean Penn’s “The Pledge”, the brutal rape and murder of a 7-year old girl obsesses Jerry Black. Jerry Black’s retirement party as a cop is interrupted by these sad news, and he leaves to investigate/ visit the murder scene (Sean, 2012). The obsessed cop is unable to let the case go, and pledges to find the killer. However, Jerry’s determination has unforeseen consequences.
In the film, there are several instances of good and bad listening behaviors exhibited by the characters. Good listening behavior is seen through Jerry’s attentiveness during his retirement party, when he hears noise and knows something is wrong (Sean, 2012). He is right for it turns out that a young girl has been raped and killed. Another instance of good listening behavior is evidenced by Patricia Clarkson, the mother to the murdered girl. Her way of asking Jerry to vow to have the killer apprehended shows that she is keen when Jerry is emotionally reporting the awful news. Sean Penn also calms down Jerry, and makes Jerry stop disruptive mannerisms.
Instances of bad listening behavior are also evidenced in Sean Penn’s “The Pledge”. In the film, profane and crude language is heavily used; the “f-word” used ten times and the name of Lord abused 15 times. A good example of bad listening behavior is seen through Eckhart and Shepard when they misinterpret Jerry’s Pledge and associate it with mental disturbance (Sean, 2012). In the past, Jerry is seen to have been full of mannerisms, whose listening skills were both inappropriate and appropriate. Another example of bad listening skills….Continue Reading….