Sociology in The Breakfast Club: Key Theories Explained

Introduction: Sociology and Popular Culture

Constructs of sociology and social theory aim to describe a host of human social interactions. Ideas of how humans view the social world, exchange with others, and fit into society are the guiding principles of sociology. These sociological perspectives find their way into entertainment and popular culture, as film and media are often reflections of society that attempt to imitate common social interactions (Burton, 1988). The 1985 film The Breakfast Club is one such example of the reflection of social exchanges and norms. Although the film was produced over twenty-five years ago, it still holds an abundance of social relevance.

The Breakfast Club is the story of five high school students who have been punished with a Saturday detention. The interactions between the five students and their principal provide examples of social constructs and theories such as social class, social control theory, conflict theory, deviance, and social groups. The successful use of these social elements makes the film a relevant and engaging work with rich emerging sociological themes.

The John Hughes written and directed film chronicles the following five students during a Saturday detention: Allison Reynolds, Andrew Clarke, John Bender, Brian Johnson, and Claire Standish. They are met by their principal, Richard Vernon, who advises them that they are to remain in their seats until detention ends at 4 o'clock. Tension among the students continues to rise as the day progresses — partly due to their boredom, but mostly due to their general dislike for one another. Eventually conflict develops, and through their confrontations they begin to realize that their dislike for each other was a matter of misconception. They begin to see each other without stereotypes and generalizations, and recognize that they all endure struggles, feel pressure, and have secrets. By the end of their day in detention, they identify with how much they are alike rather than with the labels assigned to them. The plot of the film is dependent on the social interaction between the students. The majority of the story takes place in a high school library, and conversations alone drive the plot forward. The focus on social exchange between the students is what makes this film rich with examples of social theories and perspectives.

Social Class in The Breakfast Club

The first social construct to surface during the film is the distinction of social class. The categorization of social class divides a society into socioeconomic groups: lower class, middle class, and upper class (Ransome, 2010, p. 192–195). In the opening sequence, it is early morning and each student is arriving at the high school. Most of the students are being dropped off by their parents, and the manner in which they arrive reflects their social class.

For example, Claire is driven to school by her father in a BMW, a car typically regarded as expensive and affordable only to those in the upper class. Claire's father also wears a Burberry scarf, a notably expensive clothing brand. Burberry and BMW are two easily recognized trademarks that immediately offer visual clues suggesting social class. Film tells a visual story, and in this scene the distinction of social class is shown rather than stated (Burton, 1988). Brian's family drops him off in a Plymouth station wagon, considered a more economical vehicle suitable for middle-class families. Andrew and Allison both arrive in middle-class appropriate vehicles, while Bender walks to school. This opening scene immediately establishes that Claire occupies a higher social class than her classmates.

Social Control Theory and Saturday Detention

Social control is another sociological perspective that is apparent in The Breakfast Club. Social control theory explains the societal and political processes that attempt to regulate or control individual or group behavior (Ransome, 2010, p. 198–199). It is generally the concept that an individual's relationships, commitments, and values discourage them from breaking the law. Social control serves as the backdrop for this film, as the entire story unfolds during a Saturday detention. In this context, detention is the governing mechanism attempting to regulate and correct student behavior. The threat of detention — and the experience of serving it — is meant to motivate students not to break school rules.

Principal Richard Vernon goes even further in his efforts to enforce proper student behavior by requiring the students not only to attend detention but also to write an essay. Minutes after the students arrive, Vernon tells them they cannot speak, cannot move from their seats, and must write an essay responding to the prompt "Who do you think you are?" This early scene exemplifies social control and establishes that the students are being punished, with detention serving as a corrective measure for their inappropriate behaviors. A Saturday detention is intended to make students recognize their actions as wrong and to encourage future compliance, thereby reducing the likelihood of further rule-breaking.

Conclusion

Sociological constructs and perspectives define the varying characteristics of human social interaction. These characteristics are often mirrored in film and entertainment as filmmakers attempt to capture social human nature. The 1985 film The Breakfast Club accurately portrays social constructs through the interactions of five high school students and their principal during a single Saturday detention. Selected scenes from this film exemplify the concepts of social class, social control theory, conflict theory, deviance, and social groups.

The visual cues provided as the students first arrive at the high school signal differences in social class. Principal Vernon demonstrates social control theory by sentencing the students to detention in an effort to elicit more appropriate behavior. Social conflict theory is made evident when Bender confronts Claire about the differences between their family circumstances — two people living within the same society yet separated by vastly different economic realities. The concept of deviance is apparent in the rule-breaking that earned each student their detention, as well as in the scene where Bender continually taunts Vernon, an authority figure, despite escalating punishment. Finally, the establishment of social groups and the removal of their inherited stereotypes form the core theme of the film. The letter signed by the five students as "The Breakfast Club" articulates the existence of social groups and the misconceptions that accompany them. Ultimately, the film relies on social interaction between the students to drive the story forward and offers truthful, enduring depictions of core sociological perspectives.

References

Burton, C. (1988). Sociology and the feature film. Teaching Sociology, 16(3), 263–271.

Ransome, P. (2010). Social theory for beginners. Bristol, UK: The Policy Press.

Sheehy, P. (2006). The reality of social groups. Hampshire, UK: Ashgate Publishing Limited.