Interpretive Theory and Erin Brockovich

As argued by Miller (61), ôInterpretive theories aid in our understanding of a world that is socially constructed through communicative interaction, and these theories aim to reflect the complexity of both the social world and the social construction process.ö In the film Erin Brockovich, we are treated to a complex social world and one that is socially constructed. If we examine the social and communicative interactions in the film, we come to a greater understanding of communication, including the interactional goals of the interactants and the rules that influence their interaction. As such, the social and communicative interactions exhibited in Erin Brockovich provide an understanding of the world as a social construction.

In the film Erin Brockovich, the title heroine is a mother-against-the-world character who works her way into a law firm. Once there, through largely her own efforts and sheer determination, she wins for 600 plaintiffs from Hinkley, California, the largest settlement ever paid in a direct-action lawsuit in U.S. history - $333 million. One of the most successful aspects of the film is the in-depth characterization of Erin and her lawyer qua boss, Ed Masry. Their interaction with each other, their interaction with co-workers, and their interaction with both the plaintiffs and defendants (Pacific Gas & Electric, PG&E), demonstrate the ontology, epistemology, and axiology of interpretive theo

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n epistemological perspective, we must induce theory for greater explanation and understanding. We might believe that Erin is merely rude or angry, but if we try to minimize the distance between the knower and the known, we see that the interaction of Erin with her work community derives from experiences in her own social reality. Erin has no job, no money, must care for three children, and she is quite often treated to a lack of respect due to her sexually alluring physique. As such, her encounters with those she feels provide her no respect or treat her or others to unjust behavior are more greatly understood from knowledge of this information. From an axiological perspective of interpretive theory, we see that there is a connection between the knower and the known, one where ôthe research product is a joint construction involving values and experiences of both researchers and participantsö (Miller 58). My own experiences with gender bring me a fuller understanding of the communicative interactions and social interactions of Erin Brockovich. Erin is often treated as more of a sex object than a professional. She often faces criticism for her style of dress, which is viewed as provocative by many of those with whom she wor
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Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 1489
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page)