We all learn from our peers and our environments, it is inevitable. An institution is a structure or mechanism of social order that governs the behavior of people. Believe it or not, but you experience these everyday of your life! Take a look at the picture below. The graffiti wall or "word splash" below shows the common words associated with the language of interpretation device known as an institution. Besides the formal idea of school, institutions can be thought of creatively and be known as influences that govern the behavior or people. Mainstream music, fashion fads, magazines, television shows, trends, and so much more are all structures of life that govern people to act a certain way. I am sure you have once seen a celebrity wearing a cool piece of clothing or acting a certain way and felt obligated to mimic their actions. You, my friend, were subject to an institution!
Since Chance is not a student of a college or university, and because he rarely has any contact with the outside world, how does he learn you may ask? Well, rather than a traditional school to teach him ethics and ways of life, the television is Chance's institution. Take this real life scenario for example, a woman who was attracted to Chance was alone with him in a bedroom and suddenly “Chance was bewildered: there was clearly no place to which he could run away. He searched his memory and recalled situations on TV in which a woman advanced toward a man on a couch or a bed or inside a car. Usually, after a while, they would become very close to each other, and, often they would be partly undressed. They would then kiss and embrace. But on TV what happened next was always obscured: a brand new image would appear on screen: the embrace of the man and woman was utterly forgotten” (Kozinski 76). Without the television to be there, Chance would be completely clueless when encountered with this woman! The perception of TV is what leads Chance throughout his life. Because he was never apart of society and never learned from the world around him, the only institution he has to turn to is the television. Before you continue reading, take a chance to look at this movie clip from the actual movie "Being There" that shows the importance of television in Chance's life!
Do you remember the first time you talked to your crush? Your nerves were running high, you may have stuttered when you spoke to him or her, and even got a little red faced from embarrassment! But these are all typical. Whether you learned from your parent or friend or someone else, you were prepared and knew what to expect and what to do when encountering this scenario. This is where you differ from Chance. This excerpt from the text is a perfect example of perception versus reality. What Chance perceives on television from this type of scenario only covers so much of the reality. The TV only shows so much, and then the rest is obscured! His perception of life through the television is much different from reality. Poor Chance is so clueless! This reoccurring theme is evident throughout the entire novel and is what intrigues me to continue reading the novel.
So learn from poor ol' Chance! Be careful what you use as an institution of learning, and choose wisely! Do not let an institution create a conflict of perception versus reality! THIS IS THE DOWNFALL OF CHANCE!!!
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