Journal Entry #6 - Talented Mr. Ripley

One thing I found interesting from class was the idea that deviance can actually be healthy for society. Before discussing this, I usually thought of deviance as simply doing something wrong or going against the rules. It's a good point how having people who are considered different helps groups define what is normal and acceptable. In a way, we need an other to understand who we are. So much of our identity is shaped by the groups we belong to and how we compare ourselves to other people, too. 

I also saw this idea in The Talented Mr. Ripley. Tom Ripley seems insecure about who he is, so he changes himself to fit into the wealthy and socially accepted world that Dickie belongs to. What stood out to me was how easily people trusted Tom because he had certain signs that made him appear like he belonged, such as the Princeton jacket and his connection to Dickie. It made me think about how people often judge others based on social cues rather than actually knowing them. For example, if you meet someone on TCU campus and they say you have a class together, you'd likely believe them. The thing is though, anyone can be walking around campus or even sneak into larger classes, like lecture halls, without even being a student. It's kind of scary to think about. 

This also connects to everyday life because people can change their behavior, appearance, or opinions depending on the group they are around. We often want to feel accepted, and that desire can influence how we view or present ourselves. Tom takes this to an extreme, but the basic idea of it is relatable. It made me think about how much of our identity comes from ourselves versus the groups we WANT to belong to.