Evalyn-Zhang
Redfern Now “Stand Up” proves that we need to support our beliefs even when everyone seems to be against you.
Joel got rejected many times since he didn’t sing the national anthem. His family does not believe in a “white” song, since he is a black man he should stand up for himself. His family was involved and called for an interview and later resulted in a suspension. All because of a song! The camera is portrayed in a lower angle to indicate that Joel and his parents are keeping their head down as they walk because what they believed in was overlooked by the principal.
Parents and people from your community will be able to help you. You all share the same beliefs, so why not share it? Individualism is not necessarily welcomed. His friends sat down when they had to sing the national anthem and got kept in from the principal. But they stood their ground and said, “I’m sorry, Miss. But no one’s leaving until Joel walks through that door.” The camera angle shows a side close up of Chloe (portrayed by Madeleine Madden) that she is confident in Joel’s return and that he will stand up for himself and his friends.
Even the teachers are realising that Joel was only standing up for his beliefs. But the principal insists that Joel coming back is “Not going to happen”. She thinks that whatever nationality you are you have to sing the national anthem at the assembly. Most students would comply but not in Joel’s case. Joel lifts his head up in this scene (eye level shot) to show that he is not afraid of the principal.
Just because someone disagrees with your statement, doesn’t mean that you are wrong. Beliefs are not definite. There are many religions in this world. We can’t possibly go along with every single one of them, right? Stand up tall and stand up straight. The principal can’t force you to sing something you cannot bring yourself to sing. Your voice belongs to yourself, not anyone else’s. His former classmates also teased him and Joel is suddenly judged differently because he is attending an ‘elite’ school. He avoided contact with his classmates and shows the separation from his past.
Joel’s dad even managed to get the media involved. It was also published on the local newspaper. Eventually the issue caused the principal and the new student to get involved in the media and a speech was given. The principal stated, “ I don’t see the need for letter writing or detention. All Joel needs to do is stand up and sing the national anthem. After all, at the end of the day we’re all Australians.” She indicates that she is proud of the relationship the school has with the Indigenous community, but she doesn’t understand that to Joel, the anthem does not mean anything to him. She is trying to justify what is means to be Australian. This is a result of conflict between the meaning of what is means to be ‘Australian’. They both have different perceptions.
Joel is isolated from his peers. The camera angle shows a shot of him sitting during the national anthem when everyone else is standing up and singing. Joel wants to differentiate himself from the values of his school, but by doing this he inflicts conflict with his peers. Joel was welcomed back without having to sing the national anthem. He was able to gain acceptance by standing up for his beliefs. A close up of Joel’s family shows that he is comfortable and accepted by his family. He feels a sense of unity and solidarity. The background music in this scene is upbeat and joyful and the lighting is bright and happy, which shows how proud Joel and his parents are for him to stand up for their community’s beliefs.
