The Theme Of Community In Beasts Of The Southern Wild

Community means different things to many people, but being part of a strong community is crucial to a fulfilling life. The film Beasts of the Southern Wild, directed by Benh Zeitlin, and the article What Is Community, and Why Is It Important? written in part by Riché C. Zamor, Executive Director of the Professional Services Division Latin American Health Institute, both explore themes of community. In the film, a six-year-old girl named Hushpuppy lives with her ill father on the isolated island Ilse de Jean Charles in southern Louisiana, referred to as “The Bathtub”. The island is in incredibly poor condition because climate change and rising water levels are causing it to sink and experience severe flooding. In Benh Zeitlin’s film Beasts of

In the article, What Is Community, and Why Is It Important?, Riché C. Zamor states, “The element that links [a community] together is at the core, and is the essence of the group” (Zamor). The residents of the Bathtub are united not only by their geographic location, but also by their way of life. The island is an impoverished community, and due to their shared location, they live their lives in similar ways, which connects them and gives them a sense of shared identity. Hushpuppy refers to the resident’s unique way of doing things as “the Bathtub way” (BSW). An example of this is how the people on the island use nature to sustain them and provide them with food and water. In most places this is unusual, but it is the way almost everyone in the Bathtub lives. Another example of this is in the opening scene of the film, which depicts one of the many holidays they celebrate solely in the Bathtub that are exclusive to their isolated community. These festivities demonstrate the Bathtub’s unique ways and traditions, which exist as a result of their isolation. The Bathtub way of life is “the essence of the group” which links them together and makes the community more cohesive. Because of their location and seclusion, they are connected by a shared identity which greatly strengthens the

The Bathtub is a strong community because when things become difficult people rely on each other. Riché C. Zamor states, “Community is where we find comfort in difficult times” (Zamor). In Beasts of the Southern Wild, the people of the Bathtub find comfort in the community after the storm at the beginning of the film. Because the Bathtub is victim to climate change and rising waters, the storms they endure cause extremely dangerous flooding, so Hushpuppy and her father, Wink, travel out on a boat after the storm to make sure everyone who remained on the island is safe. All the residents of the island then gather together and share resources and food. They share everything that they have with each other and trust that everyone will do the same in return. Although the storm nearly destroyed their home, the people of the Bathtub make it out safely because they look out for each other and they “find comfort in difficult times” because of the community. The strong relationships that the residents of the Bathtub have with each other helps them survive the toughest of situation and demonstrates the strength of the