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Our understanding of what we read/see in books/films is linked to our experiences. As an Australian teenager, my cultural context means that I can relate to John Books actions of violence more closely and easily than that of the Amish non-violent way of life. Through the conflict of Books and the Amish values in "Witness" by Peter Weir, Books attitudes towards violence contrast to the Amish beliefs in non-violence.
the American violence I have been subject to through television and in films is part of my context and influences the way in which I see the film "Witness". By having this constant violence around me, I have grown to accept it and it sometimes belittles how I see violence. For example when seeing John Book take the black man out of the bar to show Samuel. I didn't see it as being a violent act because he was doing it to a suspected criminal, but this reaction was very different to that of Rachel's who turned her face away because of the way he "Whacked" the man. As seen in Western Society nowadays, he glamorization that is placed upon violence still exists and is shown up in films such as "Witness" which portrays a strong male as the hero, saving an innocent lady figure.
By having this view of a hero portrayed on television by American society, my cultural context influenced me to accept the violence and to respond to a peaceful act, such as the Amish, negatively and group them as Pacifists. However Australian society values freedom and peace and through my values of peace, I can relate this to the film through Rachel and her Amish family...