A Bronx Tale

In the movie A Bronx Tale the social constructs of reality play an important role in forming the way the people in the Bronx live and treat people. Their neighborhood is constructed so that certain people take control, know what’s going on at all times and keep people safe. The main group that takes the initiative is Sonny and his crew. They are the head of the neighborhood and everyone knows it. Most people even fear them. Sonny and his crew have their unwritten rules that everyone abides by. No one would dare do something out of line that would eventually get back to Sonny. This reality is comforting for some people because they know that if those crazy teenagers do something stupid, they wont get away with it. Sonny always gets his way and no one can disrespect him. Even though he and his crew sound intimidating they do have some good qualities. Since they always know what’s going on they are able to keep kids safe and off of the streets. When the bikers came into their neighborhood and into Sonny’s bar, they were not wanted, so instead of waiting for police, Sonny was able to take care of the men by himself. He has a lot of power, but that’s reality. People accept it and sometimes even like it.
Another construct of reality is racism. The whites in the neighborhood are clearly not getting over the fact that blacks should be equal. The white teenagers torture or offend any black person that comes through their side of town. The blacks are always minding their own business just trying to get through their rough days, when they get beaten up for no reason. Sonny is the only one who doesn’t accept this, because he knows that its wrong. Everyone else in the neighborhood sees what’s going on, but they are used to it so they don’t do anything about it. The reality of their neighborhood is that racism is going to exist. Its sad, but that’s what people are comfortable with.