There are hundreds of movies that depict the development of characters over time. What sets Boyhood (2014), directed by Richard Stuart Linklater, is that it was filmed over the span of twelve years and included the same actors. The movie shows the childhood and adolescence of Mason Evans Jr., played by Ellar Coltrane, who was cast for the role at age six (Dargis, 2014). The story revolves around the life of Mason, who is growing up in Texas with his sister Samantha and divorced parents Olivia and Mason Sr. Since being a young boy, the protagonist witnesses his mother struggling to pay the bills, having to move between homes, while also trying to attain several degrees to find better work opportunities.
Olivia’s ex-husband comes into the children’s lives ever so often, with most of the interactions ending with the former spouses arguing while the children witness their negative interactions. Later, Olivia marries Bill, and Mason and Samantha start living in a blended family with their step-siblings Mindy and Randy. Bill’s parenting style is depicted as rather strict; further in the story, he becomes abusive toward his wife and the children because of his recent alcoholism. Olivia is forced to move out again and search for opportunities to sustain her family. In his teenage years, Mason is depicted experimenting with alcohol and marijuana while continuing to experience the challenges of living in a broken home. Thus, the movie depicts the significant impact of upbringing and family dynamics on the developing mind and body.
The first crucial aspect of life span development illustrated in Boyhood pertains to the social world to which an individual is exposed in middle childhood. At the same time, a young boy, Mason, is seen regularly playing outside with his friends, such as riding a bike with his friend Tommy and spray-painting a wall. The microsystem that involves several close friends of the boy is essential for helping him gain social skills that are necessary to adjust further in life. At this stage, a child gains a significant drive for independence from their parents and begins exploring the social world more closely (Berger, 2021). In the mesosystem, Mason’s adjustment to the social world is heavily affected by the relationships with his parents – the mother, who is overloaded by work and does not have time to dedicate to the boy’s upbringing, and the father, who has a bad relationship with his ex-wife. In these circumstances, the boy is forced to develop effective resilience skills as a way to adapt to adversity and overcome the stress that affects his life consistently.
Positive adjustment of an individual experiencing middle childhood entails family acting as a buffer, which did not occur in Mason’s case. Even though the boy was not separated from his parents completely, the broken home and the constant arguments between his parents and his mother and stepfather provided an overall challenging environment for development. As a way of coping, Mason is depicted veiling his distress and not showing his emotions, which allows him to survive through Olivia’s failed relationships.
In regard to the second aspect of lifespan development, Mason’s identity as an adolescent has been significantly affected by his unstable upbringing. Individuality and self-expression become especially prominent at this stage, and it is evident that the protagonist’s skepticism and mistrust of the inconsistency of the adult world become part of who he is. Despite this, Mason continues adhering to family expectations, such as doing chores, going to school, and getting a job as a dishwasher to earn money for college while maintaining his ironic outlook on life.
Stemming from his inborn skill of observation, Mason starts considering a photography career, which is also reflected in his self-identity. Since being a young boy, he has been framing strong pictures using his ‘mental camera’ that captured moments from the outsider’s perspective. In a way, this skill could be attributed to a coping mechanism to deal with the continuous losses of homes, family, fathers, and friends throughout life. When Mason was in his senior year of high school, he got second place in a state photography context and got into the college arts program, which was a high point for him. Therefore, the main character was able to turn his negative experiences into something positive for himself and his identity despite the consistent struggles.
Describing Mason through the biosocial domain, he is seen growing up from a six-year-old to an eighteen-year-old, with the major developmental stages being evident. Biosocial development occurs when there is a change in hormonal responses leading to maturation. For example, at the start of the movie, Mason is shown looking through an X-rated magazine with his friend. When hanging out with older boys, the protagonist hears the stories of kissing girls and having intercourse. At this stage, the boy starts his sexual development, hitting puberty and then going into adolescence.
The cognitive domain encompasses the development of mental skills and the acquisition of knowledge that the individual gets from the world that surrounds them. Cognitive development can be further differentiated into the logic of self, modes of thinking, and secondary education (Berger, 2021). One of the components of the logic of self is the cognitive growth that develops from the attention to self that shifts toward a reasonable concept. Witnessing the tumultuous relationships of his parents, Mason’s cognitive development leads him to develop weariness toward other people, and even when he finds a person to whom he attaches, she breaks his heart by cheating. Mason is unsure of his value as a teenager and cannot develop his self-concept until reaching young adulthood. Finally, the psychosocial development domain includes emotional maturity, personality development, self-esteem, and relationships. In the movie, Mason exhibits significant resilience as he grows older and understands that his relationship and family do not define him. He learns to reflect on his trauma of a broken home as something that is just a part of his life but not the main factor.
To conclude, Boyhood provides an insightful look into the experiences of a person growing up. One’s childhood plays a crucial role in shaping a perspective on the world, contributing to both insecurities and talents. Mason comes from a broken home and witnesses many arguments between parents and soon realizes that the adult world is not as exciting as he used to imagine. He develops an ironic look at the world because of this disillusionment and is able to capture moments that he finds memorable through photography. The movie makes a good point of showing that nature and nurture come hand-in-hand, with both upbringing and innate qualities ultimately shaping one’s personality.
Reference
Berger, K. S. (2021). Invitation to the life span (5th ed.). Worth Publishers.
Dargis, M. (2014). From baby fat to stubble: Growing up in real time. The New York Times. Web.