HoopDreamsFilmAnalysis
Whilstwatching'HoopDreams',therespectthatisheldforWilliamGatesandArthurAgeebythe filmmakersSteveJames,PeterGilbertandFrederickMarxwithintheobservationaldocumentary (BillNichols,2001)isobvious,andtheirdecorumafterthefilm'sreleaseremainsanintegralpartof thefilm'slegacy.Asawhole,documentariesoftendonotperformaswellastheirnarrativefilm counterparts,andsowhen'HoopDreams'soaredbeyondexpectationstomake$11.8millionatthe boxofficeworldwide(accordingtoBoxOfficeMojo.com),thefilmmakersfamouslygaveGatesand Ageearound$200,000apieceinroyalties.Payingforasocialactor'sinvolvementinthefilmisthe subjectofdebateworldwide,asmanyprofessionalsintheindustryshowmorecontent
AsSheilapresentsherselfonscreenasbeingastrongandproudwoman,thefilmmakersethically documentheraskingdirecttocamera"DoyoueveraskyourselfhowIgetbyon$268amonthand keepthishouseandfeedthesechildren?Doyoueveraskyourselfthatquestion?"Thelargelywhite, upperormiddleclassintendedaudienceforthisfilmwouldbeshockedbysuchquestionsappearing intheirownlives."ToomanyofthemembracedRonaldReagan'scartoonof"WelfareQueens"and nowendorseNewtGingrich'sevenmoreviciousslandersonwelfaremothers."(Sperber,1996)The filmmakersthemselvesthengiveSheilathemoneytopayforherutilitybillsinthismomentof despairThisactofgenerosityandkindnessisexemplifiedinit'sethicalnature,asthemomentitself isnevershownoncamera,butcameoutafterthefilm'srelease.Itisclearfromthisthatitwasnot donetofurthertheimageofthefilmmakers,butrathertoshowsupportforafamilywhohadbeenso accommodatingfortheyearsspentmakingthisfilm."Thatwasthekindofsituationwherewetryto behumanbeingsintheprocess,"notesSteveJames.(Leeman,2003)"Butatthesametime,capture therealitiesoftheirlivesinashonestawayaswecouldwithoutcompromisingouressential humanness.Weneedtobemorethanjustfilmmakers.Andit'satoughlineto
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HoopDreamswasadocumentarymadein1994,directedbySteveJames.Thefilmfollowstwo boysnamedArthurandWilliamfromeighttotwelfthgradeastheychasetheirdreamofbecoming professionalbasketballplayers.TheybothgotoSaintJoseph'sHighSchool,theprestigesuburban schoolfamousfortheirbasketballteam.ButwhenArthurhastogotoaregularpublichighschool becauseofeconomicissues,thefilmbecomesadocumentationofboththeboys,withthehelpof theirfamilies,battlingthephysicalandsocialobstaclesthatareblockingtheirpath. OneofthemostsubtlemethodsofmanipulationusedinHoopDreamswasthemusicinscenesthat theywantedtoresonatewithyouForexample,whenArthurisatSaintJoseph'satbasketball practice,hisbasketballhero,IsiahThomas,showsuptogiveaspeech.Thereisaslowmotionshot ofIsiahplayingwithArthuronthecourt,whohasahugesmileonhisface,andinthebackground thereiswhatyoucouldcall"inspirational"music.Thiswasusedmostlikelytoshowhowmuch ArthuridolizedIsiah,therefore,showinghowbadlyArthurwantedtoplaybasketball.Itgivesthe audiencehopethatArthurwillmakehisdreamareality,whichwillmakeitthatmuchmoreexciting whenheeventuallydoes.
InaninterviewwithArthur'smother,youfindoutthatSt.Joseph'swouldn'tpayforallofArthur's educationliketheysaidtheywould,whichisterriblenewsbecausetheAgee'scouldn'taffordto sendArthurtothis
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LorenzodeMedici
FilmAnalysis:HoopDreams(1994)
WrittenbyAnnKelseyCinemaoftheReal:DocumentaryFilms
PaoloGrassini
December5,2012
The1994Documentary,HoopDreams,directedbySteveJames,isamasterfuldisplayofhuman drama.Thestory–lineissocaptivatingandtheatricalthatitseemscraftedfromfiction.The Documentaryboastscinematictechniquesandprivateinvestigatingthatrivalsmostfilmofthistime periodThefilmfollowsthehighschoolcareersoftwoboysfromtheCabrini–Greenhousing projectsinChicago.Theaggressiveauthenticityofcinemaveritedoesnotonlypeekthroughin characteremotion,butfilm'sbeginningcametogethernaturally.JamestellsRobertEbertin2009, "Ashowmorecontent
IncontrastwithinterviewsthatJamesconductsasasourceorwitness,inwhichhesetsthemise–en–scene,Jamestendstokeepthecameratrue–to–lifewiththemother(Bellour,50)Jamesmaintainsa shakycameratechniquetosolidifyhispositionas"theeyelookingintotheirworld."During panningorotherestablishingshots,narratedsequences,andinterviewswithcharacters,atripodis usedtoseparatethosemomentsfromthestoryAlthoughnotentirelynon–diegetic,theinterviews arespacesinthefilmshotoutsideofthestory.TheaudienceisgivenconfirmationofhowWilliam andArthurmustbefeelingduringthistime,allowingcharacterdevelopment.Alongwiththeethical concernsofnottamperingwithreality,aestheticeffortsduringtheinterviewswasnecessaryto separatethemfromreality(Ellis,222)Arthur'smother,SheilaAgee,wasasymbolicrepresentation re–occurringthemes;strengthwithinstruggle(IMDb)Hercharacteractsasmorethena'rock'for herfamily,butthestruggleofherrealitygavecharacterauthenticity,addingtofilmcredibility. InstitutionsofEducationandFinancialpoliciesactastheantagonists.Thefilmshero,suitablyso becauseoursocietydrawsaparallelbetweenheroandmother,isSheilaRyanintentionally displayedhercharacterinabundance.Shestoodasthe
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Thesoundofmybasketballgoingthroughthehoopissosatisfying.ThehoursgobysofastthatI don'tevennotice.It'sstartingtosunset,meaningit'stimetogoinside,butmyhoopandbasketball willbewaitingformetomorrow.CanyoutellIreallylikebasketball?
AsakidandgrowingupwithbrothersIhadtogetusetothemdoingdifferenthobbiesthenmyself. Forone,Ihadtoacceptthefactthatmybrothersweren'tgoingtositdownandplaybabydollsor teatimewithme.Theyweremoreoutside,theninside.Irememberwatchingthemfrommyroom window,seeinghowtheywouldplay.ButonedayIsawthemplayingadifferentkindofgamethat seemedsointerestingthatitgrabbedmyattentionIranoutsideandasked"Whatarey'allplaying?"
MyBrotherSaid"It'sBasketball.""CanItry,"Isaid....showmorecontent...
Ithrewtheballuphighintheair,butmissedthebasketballhoop."Tryitlikethis,"Mybrothersaid, Hetuckedhisarmandwithbothhands,hethrewitrightintothebasketballhoop."Heretryitagain likeIshowedyou,"Mybrothersaidinacheeringvoice.Onceagain,Itriedhowmybrothershowed me"Imadeit!!"IyelledoutIwassohappyandexcited,butmostimportantly,Iknewfromthat momentonbasketballwassomethingIwasgoingtolove.
FromthedayIlaidmyhandsonabasketballIcouldn'tstopplaying.Iwouldgethomefromschool andstartplaying.Butmymotherwouldtellmetocomeinsidetochangeanddomyhomework,then afterwardsIwouldhavewholeafternoontodedicateittothehoop.AsIstartedgettingolderthe moreIlearnedaboutmyfavoritesport,Differentmoves,differentpositionsandstrategiesOnceI hit
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Thethirdandfinallypersonandthepersonwhosedreamswerefulfilledin"HoopDreams"was Arthur.DuringArthur'sbasketball,Arthurnevergaveupontheteamortopassiontoplayhard everygame.Arthurwasnotonlytheleaderoftheteambutthestarplayer.Alotoftheteammates lookuptoArthurduringthegamesandduringpractice.Arthurneverstopdreamingaboutthe passionofthegameorhowtoplayhardeveryminuteofthegameThisexampleshowthetheme verywell,becauseArthurnevergivesuponthegameofbasketball.Arthurwentthoughsohard timewhenhewaskickoutofSt.Josephs.Seethat'swhatmakehimevenmorehungrytoplaythe gameofbasketballevenharderandprovetoeveryonehe'sgoodenoughtoplayinthe
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HoopDreams,directedbySteveJames,isanoutstandingdocumentarythatgivestheviewera perspectiveonseveraldifferentelementsonthelifeofateenbasketballplayer.Thefilmfollows ArthurAgeeandWilliamGates,twobasketballstars,wholiveintheroughChicagoarea.The inner–cityboysgetnoticedfortheirskills,andtheyarerecruitedtoplayfordominantteam.The audiencefollowstheboy'sjourneywithbasketball,school,andgenerallifemattersThefilmdives intotherealityoflivinginthehoodandchasingadreamofplayingprofessionalbasketball.The corruptionoftheschoolsystemandsportsareexaminedthroughoutthefilm.Theaudiencefollows AgeeandGatesthroughtheirtriumphsandfailuresintheirchasetothetopThedirector,Steve James,usesthefilmgenreofdocumentaryforthestoryofArtherAgeeandWilliamGatesbecause ithighlightstherawmomentsoftheirlives.SteveJamestellsthestoryoftheboy'sjourneyinthe formofadocumentary.Thestoryismadeupofmanyrawmaterials.Jamestakesthisrawmaterial andshapesitintoastory.Hegivesthematerialastructurewhichallowshismessageandthestory tobetoldinaefficientandtruthfulwayWhenitcomestorealisticfilms,theaudiencebelievesthat the"impliedauthorisvirtuallyinvisible"(Gianetti331).Thisfilmdoesnotfollowthisconvention. Thereisanarrationinthefilmthataddsinformationthattheviewerismissinginordertofullytell thestory.AnexampleofthisnarrationisArthurhavingtotakesummerschoolbecauseofhis grades.Theactionswouldspeakforthemselveslikeanyotherfilm,butthedirectoraddedthisto steertheaudiencetohisviewThedirector"failstoactaccordingtotradition,convention,orour senseofhistory,weareforcedtoreassessourcognitivemethodsandourattitudetowardthe narrative"(Gianetti336).Thedirectorbreaksthemethodofrealistfilmsnothavingnarration,which makestheaudiencechangetheirassessmentofthestoryThedirectorchangesthismethodthisto leadtheviewerintohismainfocusofthestorywhichisthestrugglesandsuccessesofboys. Withoutthesummerschoolnarration,theaudiencemaynothavefully
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Whilesomebelieveintersectionalityisa"newthing",thistheoryisanythingbutnew;however,it hasbecomerelevantintoday'ssociety.AccordingtoMerriam–WebsterDictionary, "intersectionality–thecomplex,cumulativemannerinwhichthedifferentformsofdiscrimination combine,overlap,orintersect".InthenovelDesiHoopDreams,byStanleyI.Thangaraj,theauthor describestheconceptofmasculinityinrelationtogender,race,sexuality,class,andethnicity. Thangarajuseshisfriends'alongwithhisownexperiencestoillustrateanintersectionalrelationship, thuscreatesastereotypicalviewofAsian–Americans.Throughoutthebook,characterMustafa illustratestheidea,aswellasgivesexamplesofbothintersectional...showmorecontent... (Thangaraj,155)Inbreakingupthequote,heiscombingthegender(women)withtheethnicity (non–desi)tocreateanewformofdiscrimination.Thischapteralsoshowstherelationshipbetween menandwomenintheAsian–AmericancultureAsian–Americanmendemonstrateperfect examplesmisogynisticassholeswhoseewomenasjustpiecesofmeatthatarethereforthemale's convenience.Thangarajstatesonpage152–153,"Mustafaperformedsexualaggressivenessanda senseofcompetitionthatisreadaspartoftheterrainofnormativemasculinitytookfulladvantage ofopportunitiestobragtoeachotheraboutthewomentheyhave'fucked'or'hookedup'with".This sectionofthebookdisplayshowmasculinityeffectstherelationaldimensionbetweenMustafaand hisviewonfemales.
Mustafaalsodemonstratesrelationaldimensioninapersonalpartofhislife.Mustafa'sbrother, Sharif,isahomosexualBeinghomosexualintheMuslimreligionisasinandisasignof emasculationfortheindividual.AlthoughMustafadidnotagreeonSharif'slifestyle,"Mustafawas ambivalentabouttheconnectionbetweenIslamandhomosexualityasaresultoftheclosefriendship withSharif".(Thangaraj,179)MustafastillkeptSharif'shomosexualityonthedownlowfornot Sharif'ssakebutforhisown.Mustafabelievedbeingassociated
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Inthe1994AmericandocumentaryfilmHoopDreams,directorSteveJamesandwritersJamesand FrederickMarxexplorevariousdocumentaryelementssuchasrelatablereallifeissues,musical tones,andinterviewswithhonestopinions.Variousrelatablelifeissuescanbeseeninthe documentarysuchaswhenArthur'sfatherleaves,Williamskneeinjurypreventshimfromplaying sports,andtheboysstruggleacademically,includingwhenArthurwasunabletoattendStJoseph SchoolandWilliamstrivedtoreceiveanACTscoreof18.Throughthetwoboyslifehardships,the audienceisabletobetteridentifyandrelatetothetwoteenagers.Byseeingthetwoboysstruggle throughpersonalissues,theaudienceisabletocreateadeeperrelationshipwiththecharacters,as theycanseethattheboysarenotjustbasketballplayers,butrealpeoplewithrealproblems. Furthermore,theaudienceisabletohavesympathy,aswellasempathyfortheboys,astheycan relatetothecommondaydifficultiestheboysface.Inadditiontothis,themusicaltonesofthepiece helpstheaudienceidentifymomentsofsadnessaswellastriumphintheboy'slife.Duetothe variousmusictheaudienceisabletobetterunderstandhowtheboysweretrulyfeelinginvarious partsoftheirlife.SuchcanbeseenwhenArthur'sdadleaves,andthemellowmusicaltonedisplays thedespairArthurfeltinthemoment.Additionally,theaudienceisabletoidentifymomentsof happinesswithenergeticmusic,suchaswhenWilliamfinallyreceiveshisnecessaryACTscore. Moreover,afinaldocumentaryelementcanbeseenwiththeinterviewscontaininghonestopinions. Withthevariousinterviews,allcharacterswereabletodiscusstheirhonestopinionsregardingtheir situations.Inthis,theaudienceisabletotheidentifythattheopinionsofthepeoplebeing interviewedaretheirownandnoonehadledthemtotheirconclusions.Thiscanbedisplayed throughvariouscharacterssuchasArthur'smotherbeingwearyofherson'sfullridetouniversity, andWilliamsbrothershopeofhisbrotherbeingastarbasketballplayer.Thesedocumentary elementsaffecttheoveralltoneandmeaningofthepieceastheybothdisplayhowdevastatingand
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ReadmybookHoopCityDetroit,asuspensefuldramaaboutaboynamedisaiah.Asharpshooter draftedtoatopprivateschooltoplaybasketball.Histremendusballplayingskillsgetshimstraight fromjvtostartingvarsity,buthisteammatesarenotverysupportivebecauseisaiahlivesinauburn hills,thewealthiestneighborhoodindetroit.Althoughthatisnottheonlyproblemhemust overcome,hisfamilyisfallingapartbecauseofdivorceWillIsaiahbeabletoriseabovethetaunts fromteammatesandopponents?Willhebeabletoovercomethedeconstructionofhis
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HoopDreams:DreamDeferred
Thedocumentary,"HoopDreams"depictsthestructural,psychological,andenvironmentalissues thatperpetuatespovertyinAmericathroughacohortofindividuals,ArthurAgeeandWilliam Gates.AgeeandGates'slivesarechronicledthroughalongintudinalstudyoffouryears,fromthe summertheyenterhighschool,totheirentryintocollegeBothAfrican–Americanteenagersare recruitedfromdifferentpartsofChicago,buttheycametogethertobegintheirfreshmanyearatSt. Joseph'sHighSchool,theinstitutionthatbuiltBasketballsuperstarIsaiahThomas.BothArthurand Williambegintheirjourneyinasimilarmanner,butwereexposedtothecomplexityoftheirdream, theireducation,andnegativesocietalfactorsthatultimatelychangethecourseoftheirlives.
CriminologicalExamination
Criminology,asdefined,isthescientificapproachtoconductinganindepthanalysisontheorigin ofcrimeandcriminalbehavior,yetcriminologistsaretrainedinvariousfields.Acriminologist, focusingonsocialforces,mightapproachthisparticulardocumentarywithahypothesis,through socialstructuretheories,inordertodeterminewhichsubjectsfromthecohorthavethepotentialof realizingtheirdreamofacareerinbasketballormaydeviateintonegativefactors.Socialstructure theories,expresssocietalfactors,economicfactors,andoverallsocialdisordersasthefundamental causeforlower–classcitizenstoengageincrime.The
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Thepurposeofthedocumentary"HoopDreams"directedbySteveJames,istoshowhowpeople fromdifferentbackgroundscancreatetheirowndestinybasedonthechoicestheymakefor themselvesThebeginningofthedocumentaryintroducestheviewerstoWilliamGatesandArthur Agee'saspiringdreamstobecomeNBAbasketballplayers.SteveJamesusesrhetoricaland cinematictechniquestoachievethispurpose.
Inthebeginningofthefilm,JamesbeginsbyusingtheindirectinterviewtechniquewithWilliam andArthurtoappealtoethos.Theinterviewsareconductedinbothoftheboyshomesinorderto showtheviewersthepoorconditionstheyarelivingin.Theinterviewsalsoillustratethesimilar backgroundsandculturethatboththe...showmorecontent...
Themiddleofthedocumentaryreflectsthedifferentvaluesandpathsthecharactersbegintomake forthemselves.SteveJamesbeginsusingothercinematictechniqueslikeapointofviewshotin ordertoshowtherelationshipbetweenArthur'sstrainedrelationshipwithhisfather.Thereisascene whereArthurwatcheshisdadbuydrugsnearthebasketballcourtThepointofshothelpedappeal toethos,becausetheviewerswereabletorelatetoArthur'ssadnessandlonelinessmoreeasily.
JamesusessadnondiegeticmusictoshowhowbadArthur'shomelifehasgottenThemusicplays whenArthur'smomtalksaboutlosingherjob,whichsignifieshowtraumaticthiseventis.Steve JamesusesaprimaryfootagetechniquetoshowhowArthurhaslostfocusinschool.Thefootage showsArthurgoofingoffinclasswithhistroubledfriendThetechniquehelpsshowhowArthur's lifeisslowlyfallingapart,andhowhisvaluesandmotivationhaveshiftedandnotforthebetter. Meanwhile,Williamisbeinghelpedfinanciallyinhisnewschoolwhichiskeepinghimmotivated tosucceed.Thedirectorusesthenon–diegeticmusictechniquetoshowhowwellWilliamisdoing onthenewbasketballteam.ThepurposeofthisistoshowhowWilliamissucceedinginhisnew schoolSteveJamesalsouses
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Ihaveneverseensuchambitiousnessandhope,Iwasamazedhowstrongeveryoneinthevideo were,notjustArthurandWilliam,butalsotheirfamilyandfriends.Suchattitudeandhardworkis whatwerealneedtobesuccessful.Thereweresomanyobstaclesthatwereinbothoftheplayers yettheyfoughtforwhattheyloveandtheirgoals.TheHoopDreamsshowhowoursystemissetto onlybenefitthosewhohavethemoneynotthosewhohavethedreamandtheskillsIfwilliamand Arthurhadastablefinancial,theirlifewouldhavebeensomucheasiertomakeittothe professionallevel.Therearemanyissuesthatthesetwoathletesfacedinyoungaged,money,family issues,strugglesinschoolarethecommonissuesbothArthurAgeeandWilliamGatesfacedshow morecontent...
WhentheyrecruittotheSt.JosephHighSchool,Ithoughtthattheywerefinallygoingtobeableto maketheirdreamcometrue,butthenwhenArthur'sfamilycouldnotmakethepayment,theschool decidedtokickhimoutoftheschool.Iunderstandwhytheschooldidthatbutwhatmadememad wasthattheyknewhislifesituationandtheycouldhavelethimfinishatleastthesemester,there aremanystudentswhoarepayingfortheireducationsolettingonestudent,whosefamiliesare strugglingfinancially,wouldnothavehurttheminany
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FirstofallthisisagreatandinterestingBasketballdocumentary,Ireallylikeit.Thetypeofrhythm ofthisdocumentaryfilmisafastpaste.Meaningthatisacombinationbetweenmultiplecutonform ofthescenesandsingle–shotsindifferentaspects.Alsowecanseelongtakeasasinglecontinuous shotofunusuallylongduration.Alltheseshortandlongtakesceneshotofthefilm,givingafeeling ofenjoyment,satisfactionandhope,referringtothekidwiththisbigdreamandforusasthe audience.InthefilmHoopdreamsithasgraphicrelationshipsbetweentheshots,forexamplethere's emotionalsceneswherewecanseemomentsofreflectioninthescenewhereisthiskidtalking aboutthedreamandhisfutureWhenthis
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ofthehooftotheankle.Withthemeasurementsofthatfoottaken,theyarereadytotryforaprint. Pickingupthewadofcloththatissoakedinink,thewizardhelditagainsttheDancershoof."Dust offthefloorandputapieceofpaperdownsowecangetaprintofthehoof,"Sylvesterinstructed thewrangler."PuttingtheanimalshoofinthemiddleofthesheetSlypresseddownonthelegto makesurethattheygetagoodprintofthehoofLiftingthelegoffthefloor,Slyhelditjusthigh enoughsowranglercanremovethesheetofpaper.PuttingthelegdownSlytookthepaperforthe wranglerandlookeditover,"Perfect,"hesaid.Nowlet'sdotheotherthreefeet,"ashehandedthe brush,rulerandinkedclothtoshowmorecontent
GuidingthemfromthegroundwiththeropesSlyandPeteledthemtoSanta'soffice."Santa,Santa," Sylvestercalled,whentheygotclosetohisoffice,"Thereindeercanfly."BeforeSantahadtimeto comeoutside,hecalledagain,"Thereflyingcomeoutandlook.""Theyareactuallyofftheground andflyingthroughtheair."Santacameouttoseewho,andwhysomeonewasmakingsomuch noiseSeeingSylvesterstandinginthestreetandpointingtoaspotinthesky,Santastoppedtolook up.Heisflabbergastedtoseethereindeerareactuallyflying.SomeoftheelvesthatheardSly'scall cameoutsidetoseewhatwashappening.Theywatchedinamazementasthereindeerracedaround inalargecircle.Santa,liketheothers,isamazedtoseetheanimalsflyingoverhead.PullingDances ropeSlyguidedthereindeerbacktotheground.WalkingovertochecktheanimalsSlyandthe wranglerwerehappytoseetheyareokNeitheronewasbreathinghard,infact,bothreindeeracted asiftheywerereadytodoit
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ThemovieHoopDreamsshowsyouthedifficultiesandobstaclesthatcomeinthewayofdreams. Althoughit'ssaidthatifyoubelieveinadreamlongenoughitwillcometrue,butinHoopDreams andARaisinintheSunyouareshowntheharshrealitiesofthefalsenessofthatstatement.Andthat therealityofadreamnotcomingtruehitsyoulikeabrickwall.<br><br>Manyobstaclesgetinthe wayoftheroadtodreamsinbothstoriesInbothstories,allfamiliessufferfromhavinglittle knowledge,anditdoesn'thelpthatthey'reallblack.Alsobeingpoorandlivingintheghettomakes thingsthatmuchharder.Pregnanciesalsoputbigbumpsintheroadtosuccess,inbothinstancesit makesthefamiliescometogetherandtrytheirshowmorecontent Walterneededhismoney,andWilliamandArthurneededmoretalenttobegoodenoughtomakeit theNBA.Allthreeofthemhadthesameattitudetowardsthedreams,"Nomatterwhatthisdreamis goingtocometrue."TheWorstpartofitisthatallofthemletthedreamstakeovertheirlives.The harshestrealityofallisthatneitheroftheirdreamscometrue.Andeachoneofthemhadthechance tohavetheirdreamscometrue,Walterhadhismoneystolen,andneitherWilliamorArthurhad enoughtalenttomakeittotheNBA.Thelastdecidingfactorinmakingdifferenceindreams, Williamhadamaturedream,inthatofowningaliquorstore,andit'sanormaleverydaydream.But, William'sandArthur'sdreamswereimmatureandnotverythoughtful.Theybothwantedtobein theNBA,andthatwasalltheyweregoingtodo,theydidn'tevencareiftheyhadtheireducationto fallbackon,theybothweresocertainthattheyweregoingtomakeitinbasketballthatalltheyhad todowasplay.LuckilyWilliamrealizedthatheneededsomethingtofallbackonincaseofnot beinggoodenoughtomakeit,sowhenhefinallyrealizedhewasn'tgoingtomakeittotheNBA,he hadaneducationArthurontheotherhand,allhislifewas,wasbasketball,heate,drank,andslept basketball,didn'tcaremuchaboutschool.<br><br>Thedifferenceinthesetwostoriesclearly showsthatHoopDreamsclearlyshowedtheharshrealityofdreams,andthe
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SofarHoopDreamshasprovidedfascinatinginsightintotheworldofinnercityandHighSchool basketball.Ihavealwaysknownofthesocioeconomicpressuresthatcomewiththeinnercitylife butseeingitplayoutforArthuriseyeopening.Thereisacleardifferenceinskilllevelandmaturity betweenWilliamandArthurfromthebeginning.However,thegapiswidenedafterArthurisforced toleaveStJoe'sArthur'smaturityandgrowthstagnatewhileWilliamstartstoexcelonthecourt andinschool.Thebiggestlessonshowedsofarinthismovieistheimportanceoffamilylife. DespiteBoAgeestatinginthebeginningofthemoviethathedoesnotwanthissontoexperience whathedid,Arthurisgivenlessstructureand ...Getmorecontent...
InthemovieHoopDreamtwoAfricanAmericanyoungmen,WilliamGatesandArthur Agee,bothfromChicagobecameaprofessionalbasketballplayertoescapethelifeofpoverty. HoopDreamisagreatexampleofhowsportscangetyououtofpovertyInthemovieitshowed howthetwoinner–cityboyshadalloddagainstthem,andhowthesystemkeptknockingthem down.Atayoungage,thybothhadthesamedream,andwerewillingtoworkharderthananyone elsetogivetheirfamilyabetterlifestyleBothyoungmenlivedonthenorthsideofChicago,in housingprojects.Theywerelimitedtowhere,whenandwhotheycanhangwithoraround,because itwassoeasytogetcaughtupinalldifferentgangs,violenceanddrugsthatwasinthecommunity. Thetimethattheydidspendoutsidetheywereplayingbasketball,playinglittlepickupgames. ScoutfromSt.JosephHighSchoolseenhowtalentedtheywereandwantedthem,andthathedid. Eventhoughtheboys'familieswanted,thebestforthemtheycouldnotaffordtomoveclosertothe highschool;sotheboyshadtowakeupatfiveinthemorningandmakethathourandfortyminutes commutetoschooleveryday.
Gatesinitiallystruggledwithhisschoolacademics,readingatafifthgradereadinglevelinhisfirst yearofhigh.Hewenttothelibraryeverydaybeforepractices,tostudy,sothatwhenhissenioryear camehewouldqualifyforscholarshipsByhissenioryear,heearnedafullridescholarshipto Marquette
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