Rocky --Local Boy Makes Good!
The Rocky Balboa story has lots of elements, including his primary opponents and their stories as well. It can be useful if you have clients that identify with any of those stories to some degree, or feel they have faced that kind of opposition in their life, been that down and out, or felt like life has just been one round after another of being beat to a pulp!~ Others may identify with the aggressor, the desire to pummel, the degree of hatred or anger that is stored up in them that they can call on at times, or takes possession of them. Others may recognize their passivity and how hard it is to get them motivated, to strike back, to move out of the way of an attack, to hear their coach's voice when it really matters. Lots of angles to explore, not to mention the US vs. Russia. I think of the Russian Mob, said to be one of the toughest groups in any prison, compleat with the seeming willingness and ability to be merciless - demonstrated in the prize fight between Rocky and Ivan Drago - the Russian!
Perhaps Rocky vs. the Russian is a metaphor for politics today - the desire to control/dominate/subjugate vs. the desire to defend deep democracy that involves a truly informed citizenry working for the good of the whole, not just their own gang and/or the right to be a Brown Shirt. Regardless, Rocky is an important and long-lasting cultural icon, representing the ability of the ordinary person to do extraordinary things when the right conditions exist and when necessity calls it forth.
Rocky brings forth remembrance of Stallone’s other long-lasting film—-First Blood! Again the underdog is championed against an indifferent system that undervalues the underdog and would readily crush him. Again, a good transitional object whereby to stimulate important conversations and discussions!!
The Rocky Balboa story has lots of elements, including his primary opponents and their stories as well. It can be useful if you have clients that identify with any of those stories to some degree, or feel they have faced that kind of opposition in their life, been that down and out, or felt like life has just been one round after another of being beat to a pulp!~ Others may identify with the aggressor, the desire to pummel, the degree of hatred or anger that is stored up in them that they can call on at times, or takes possession of them. Others may recognize their passivity and how hard it is to get them motivated, to strike back, to move out of the way of an attack, to hear their coach's voice when it really matters. Lots of angles to explore, not to mention the US vs. Russia. I think of the Russian Mob, said to be one of the toughest groups in any prison, compleat with the seeming willingness and ability to be merciless - demonstrated in the prize fight between Rocky and Ivan Drago - the Russian!
Perhaps Rocky vs. the Russian is a metaphor for politics today - the desire to control/dominate/subjugate vs. the desire to defend deep democracy that involves a truly informed citizenry working for the good of the whole, not just their own gang and/or the right to be a Brown Shirt. Regardless, Rocky is an important and long-lasting cultural icon, representing the ability of the ordinary person to do extraordinary things when the right conditions exist and when necessity calls it forth.
Rocky brings forth remembrance of Stallone’s other long-lasting film—-First Blood! Again the underdog is championed against an indifferent system that undervalues the underdog and would readily crush him. Again, a good transitional object whereby to stimulate important conversations and discussions!!
The Rocky Balboa story has lots of elements, including his primary opponents and their stories as well. It can be useful if you have clients that identify with any of those stories to some degree, or feel they have faced that kind of opposition in their life, been that down and out, or felt like life has just been one round after another of being beat to a pulp!~ Others may identify with the aggressor, the desire to pummel, the degree of hatred or anger that is stored up in them that they can call on at times, or takes possession of them. Others may recognize their passivity and how hard it is to get them motivated, to strike back, to move out of the way of an attack, to hear their coach's voice when it really matters. Lots of angles to explore, not to mention the US vs. Russia. I think of the Russian Mob, said to be one of the toughest groups in any prison, compleat with the seeming willingness and ability to be merciless - demonstrated in the prize fight between Rocky and Ivan Drago - the Russian!
Perhaps Rocky vs. the Russian is a metaphor for politics today - the desire to control/dominate/subjugate vs. the desire to defend deep democracy that involves a truly informed citizenry working for the good of the whole, not just their own gang and/or the right to be a Brown Shirt. Regardless, Rocky is an important and long-lasting cultural icon, representing the ability of the ordinary person to do extraordinary things when the right conditions exist and when necessity calls it forth.
Rocky brings forth remembrance of Stallone’s other long-lasting film—-First Blood! Again the underdog is championed against an indifferent system that undervalues the underdog and would readily crush him. Again, a good transitional object whereby to stimulate important conversations and discussions!!