Locations and forms of power

LOCATIONS AND FORMS OF POWER

I am going to talk about the notion of power.

First of all I would like to give a definition of « Power ». It's  the ability or official capacity to exercise control, authority over others (like can do the State, the government, political organization). It can be a person, a group, or a nation having great influence or control over other people. 

Nowadays, three forms of power are very popular : the executive power, the judiciary power and the legislative power.

Power affects more than personal relationships, it shapes larger dynamics like social groups, professional organizations, and governments.

You must know that there can be good or bad types of power. Secondly, we must know even when authority seems absolute, there are always counter-powers which question it, which aim at resist it.

Power can be represented by the power of a head of state on his nation, the government power on the country, we can also talk about a nation power in an international level.

Which could be the limits to power?

To illustrate the notion, I have chosen 2 documents.

To my mind, the documents that seem to best illustrate the notion are « The King's Speech » trailer and finally the lyrics of the Sex Pistols song called « God save the Queen » in 1977.

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FIRST DOC

The first document is a trailer of « The King's Speech » a 2010 British drama film, directed by Tom Hooper.

This trailer reveals that the main character is the Duke of York, George VI, and we learn that he has to deliver a speech. However, he cannot speak. Indeed he stammers.

Therefore not only does he feel worried but also furious. Both the speech therapist and his wife are going to help him.

The fact that it is important to know is that the film is inspired by a true story, indeed George VI really existed. He was King of the United Kingdom and the Elizabeth II's predecessor and he really had a stammering problem.

The technology didn't allow George VI to prerecord his broadcasts and when he addressed the nation, it had to be done through a live microphone without editing, an agony for a stammerer.

In the trailer, the atmosphere gets heavier and heavier. Not only is George VI reluctant to become King but the nation is about to go to war. WWII is starting and George VI is not ready to lead his subjects, he is both stressed out and scared. His speech therapist and wife have an important role because they help him keep his power.

With this trailer we understand that power can be unwanted, because George VI is a bit forced to become king because of the succession cycle in the royal family. Power bring a lot of responsibilities because George VI has to assume and lead his country during the WWII.

SECOND DOC

The second document is the lyrics of “God save the Queen”  written by Sex Pistols, a punk music group in 1977.

It both celebrated Queen Elizabeth II's silver jubilee and parodied the British national anthem. In this song the Queen is not honored but blamed and degraded. She is portrayed as a devilish and heartless monster and is accused of neglecting her subjects who are therefore asked to rebel.

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