nonconforming: when is it cool to love time lapse videos?

[Original]

The film, 'Off the Map' depicts how anyone can become disillusioned with their circumstances, whether or not the individual fits into society's pegs. The Groden family deviates from the norm, living off an income of $5000 a year and the occasional visits to the town dump. The family's lifestyle is unconventional from the offset, more 'over the line' rather than non-conformists. Whether the purpose of acting unconventional was intended or not, this family doesn't see themselves as social deviants.

Bo, the only child of the Groden couple, acts within element of her environment and has her share of idiosyncrasies, that would appear 'normal' to only her family members. She wants to leave her bohemian lifestyle, in favor of the real world. As a matured woman, she becomes disillusioned with the real world and returns to her family. Bo realizes that the real world, specifically, normality, wasn't what she was looking for in her life.

In relation to Bo's character maturation, Bo doesn't see herself as a non-conformist or 'stepping over the line', she wants to experience normality. Because Bo grew up in this unconventional environment, she never had to acclimate to it.

William, acts as a catalyst for the film, slowly acclimating to the Groeden family's world. William Gibbs, an IRS agent and ambassador of the 'real world', in contrast to Bo, William leaves the 'real world' and finds solace within the Groeden family. William Gibbs is considered normal in the sense that he has a job and performs according to a Western society's protocol. As we delve into William character, in the film, it's revealed that he is depressed. Albeit, William is superficially normal, his mentality deviates from what is considered normal.

Both the characters of Bo and WIlliam acclimate outside their own worlds (their own form of normalcy), however, both have differing paths. In the case of Bo, she is dissatisfied with the outside world after exiting her own. William, in contrast, is inspired after exiting the same world, Bo wanted to enter as a child. In a way, both characters are juxtaposed with one another, moving in opposite directions, yet arriving at the same conclusion. (like a circle)


[Revised Version]:

When I think of nonconformity, I am reminded of mathematical outliers, those odd ball numbers that throw off averages and patterns in the data, rendering statistics useless. Nonconformity, in the context of individuals, have a similar effect. They redefine those seemingly-static platitudes that modern society clings to. Many times, society responds by recalibrating their own perceptions of what is conventional and unconventional, which is akin to my own experience with the film "Off the Map".

I have always thought there to be two types of individuals in society, the conformist and the nonconformist. Because of the interchangeable nature of conformity with normalcy, conformity wasn't the best way of to score popularity points. To be a nonconformist means going against the grain, deviating from the wishes and expectations of others. To call that type of mentality admirable would be an understatement because nonconformity is really, really cool, even with the most extremist forms of unconventionality. For example, many a time, I found myself regarding the Groden family's minimalistic, live-off-the-land-and-dumpster mindset with the same revering light.

For a good chunk of my uneventful adolescence, I held the steadfast, yet blind, belief that part of the charm of nonconformity is what it took to condition oneself towards nonconformity: Holding an unyielding conviction that what they're doing is right, to persevere against the naysayers and head shakers. However, post-movie hype, I began reevaluated my opinion of the bohemian Grodens and realized that the circumstances of the Grodens have been romanticized by touchingly-relatable character development and their quirky idiosyncrasies. For example, the family is inadequately prepared financially. Not having finances ready in case of emergency is not 'cool'. No amount of the coolness factor is enough to blanket a parent's responsibility. Had something happened to the one of the family members and hospital care is needed, this film would have quickly moved from slice-of-life/coming-of-age film to an accompaniment for Michael Moore's healthcare documentary, "Sicko".

Nonconforming is still cool, in my book, but pragmatism will always take priority. When recalibrating a lifestyle, it's important to be aware of those close to you, taking care that any changes made will not hinder them.