Stony Brook University - SUNY Digital Repository

of the readings and, quoting the assignment demanded in the film
of Norton’s younger brother and protégé, “Danny” (Edward
Furlong), by a teacher the brothers both had, “Doctor Sweeney”
(Avery Brooks), “[T]o analyze and interpret all the events
surrounding Derek’s incarceration. How these events helped to
shape [his and Danny’s] present perspective concerning life in
contemporary America.” In doing so, the students had to explore
how Derek’s perspectives had been shaped and molded by his
environment, how his standing as an “individual” had been
influenced by those experiences, and how, and why, his
perceptions had eventually become broadened and “evolved.” The
second part of the essay was to bring this analysis to their own
lives and worlds: their own sense of “self.” As I wrote for
the essay assignment:
All of this should lead you to what is truly most
important here: YOU. Like "Danny" does with his own
essay, through your writing, I want you to “analyze
and interpret” your own lives, perspectives, and
“individuality.” How have your own perspectives of
yourself, the world, and your place in it been
affected by your culture, your society, your
relations, etc.? Have you gone through life
following others' views, others’ definitions of
“truth,” without ever questioning them? And what has
been the result? What has influenced your definition
of your “self” – and what has been the result? These
are all questions you must ask yourselves before you
can truly claim to be an “individual.”
Put simply, half of the essay was an interpretation of American
History X while the other half was a comparison of that meaning
to how they perceived themselves as “individuals.”
Similar to this second unit and the second essay, the third
unit pulled back even further and brought those questions of
181