Girl With A Pearl Earring Referencing The Viewing Guide

Girl With A Pearl Earringreferencingtheviewing Guideand The Unit 1

"Girl With a Pearl Earring": Referencing the Viewing Guide and the Unit 1 Power Point presentations : You saw in the film a culture that was, in some ways similar to but also different from our own. It directs you toward some societal aspects that we share with 17th Century Dutch culture: a stratified social order based on the institution of social class, and stratification based on gender status. In social sciences, the term agency is defined as "the ability of humans to make choices and exercise free will even within dominating structures." Structures are large forces such as economy, social organization, political organization (government, but also "ground-level" politics governing interaction between two people).

a) Drawing on the introductory reading and Power Points and your own experience in your "culture of orientation" (the culture you grew up in): compare/contrast what you saw going on in the film with power relations in workplaces you may have been associated with.

b) What could have been the motivation for Griet to choose exercising agency in her situation in the form of proactively "giving herself" to Pieter, even though doing such would have gone against her religion?

c) What do you think was her strategic logic behind turning down Pieter's proposal, when marriage to him would bestow upon her a satisfactory 'place' in her community and a relatively secure life— with plenty of meat for herself and her parents?

Paper For Above instruction

The film "Girl With a Pearl Earring" offers a compelling window into 17th-century Dutch society, emphasizing the complex interplay between social stratification, gender roles, and individual agency. When comparing the societal dynamics depicted in the film with contemporary workplace power relations, several similarities and contrasts emerge, particularly around social hierarchies and the exercise of agency.

In the Netherlands of the 17th century, society was highly stratified, with clear distinctions based on social class and gender. The artistic atelier where Griet works exemplifies a microcosm of this stratified world, where power dynamics are influenced by age, gender, and social status. Griet, a maid, holds a relatively low social position, yet her interactions with the artist, Vermeer, reveal subtle negotiations of power. She exercises personal agency by influencing artistic creation and navigating her social position, despite rigid structural constraints. Similarly, in modern workplaces, hierarchy often dictates interactions, but employees can exercise agency through innovative ideas or subtle negotiations. For example, in corporate settings, junior staff might influence decision-making or propose changes, challenging traditional power hierarchies within an organizational structure.

Drawing from personal experience, modern workplaces often showcase power relations characterized by formal authority and informal influence. For example, in corporate offices, managers hold formal authority, yet employees exercise agency through social capital, expertise, or strategic communication. This dynamic echoes the historical context where individuals like Griet navigate power structures strategically, exercising agency within constraints. However, contemporary workplaces typically provide more avenues for individual agency, such as advocacy or activism, than the rigid societal roles of the 17th century.

Griet's proactive decision to "give herself" to Pieter, despite her religious principles, reflects an exercise of agency motivated perhaps by her desire for agency and control over her circumstances. Her act can be seen as a form of silent resistance against her powerless societal position, asserting her own choice in a situation where structural forces limit her options. This decision is also driven by personal necessity—seeking a better life through intimacy with Pieter—mirroring the way individuals in modern contexts may leverage personal agency to navigate or challenge structural limitations for economic or social benefits. Her willingness to risk societal judgment underscores her determination to exercise her free will in a constrained environment.

Turning down Pieter's marriage proposal, despite its apparent benefits, reveals Griet’s strategic calculation driven by her awareness of the social and moral implications. Marrying Pieter, a painter of modest social standing, might offer her material security and social mobility, but it could also entail significant restrictions on her independence and religious integrity. Griet’s refusal could stem from her recognition that marriage to Pieter might compromise her moral values or her aspirations for personal integrity. Moreover, her refusal can be interpreted as an assertion of her agency—choosing to maintain her moral agency and social dignity over immediate security. It suggests that Griet values her autonomy and moral standing more than societal expectations, positioning herself as an individual capable of making deliberate choices despite societal pressures.

In contemporary terms, Griet’s decision mirrors the agency exercised by individuals who prioritize personal integrity over societal or familial expectations. Such decisions often involve weighing short-term security against long-term moral or personal values. Ultimately, Griet’s strategic choice reflects a nuanced understanding of her social position, personal values, and the importance of agency in shaping her future. Her actions underscore the enduring importance of individual agency within restrictive social structures and highlight how personal choices can serve as acts of resistance and self-affirmation in both historical and modern contexts.

References

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