Being a rebel is a dramatic form of anti-social art. Needing to stand outside of a dominant group to criticize it, the rebel must be defiant, which means beyond the influence of established authorities. Rebels seek to be powerful so they can become the influencers rather than the influenced. To create and maintain their own kind of dominance, they live symbolically as a scream of resistance against the status quo. It is not possible to reach a rebel, because the nature of rebellion is to become like a stone, hard and inpenetrable. Rebels love their defiant stance against the "system" because they get to feel superior to those who toe the line.
Given the youth culture's emphasis on defiance against authority, many young people look up to rebels. In the 1950s, this was reflected in the widespread popularity of movie stars like Marlon Brando in The Wild One (1954) or James Dean in Rebel Without A Cause (1955). In these films, defiance was elevated to a sacred place in the lexicon of being. We learn from these icons of rebellion how to be strong and brave in the face of other's people's desire to influence us. On the surface, defiance seems to be a good thing, but if it is the theme of an inner movie, it may also have a down side. If you love defiance, "Rebel" may be the inner movie to watch.
Your movie
In a moment, you will use your imagination to get a clearer picture of your inner movie about rebellion and defiance. The point of understanding this pattern of thoughts, feelings, and effects is to deepen your awareness of its dynamics and impact, so you can make conscious choices and create a new movie to live within.
Recall a time when you felt rebellious and deviant. Close your eyes and replay the experience in your imagination. Then, write a brief description of the drama below, carefully including the thoughts that supported the drama, the feelings that arose from those thoughts, and how those feelings affected what you said and did. (Enter your response in the following box or in your word processor window.)
What effects did this drama have on you and others?
ConsequencesBriefly describe what you get from being a rebel and expressing defiance. What are the payoffs?
Briefly describe the price you pay for it. What parts of yourself and your life do you sacrifice when your rebellion and defiance become too extreme?
Is what you are getting in payoffs worth the sacrifices you are making? Explain.
New choicesHaving become more aware of this movie, including what you get from it and what you sacrifice, what new choices in thinking and being are being revealed to you? Note them.
Create a new movie
Relying on those choices and your creativity, sketch out ideas for a different movie which incorporates new ways of thinking and being. As you create your new movie, be aware that you are of two minds because you have a dual nature. Your duality gives you the capacity to shift from one thought to its opposite in a search for balance. For example, there is a side of you that is not rebellious and defiant but open to other's influence and help. How will cultivating that capacity alter how you live?
As you look back on your work, identify the first step you will take to make the changes you designed.
With your eyes closed, imagine living in your new movie.People who are defiant, who pride themselves on being rebels, have lost their freedom to be compliant when it could serve them. For example, compliance helps us learn from others so we can embrace their ideas and wisdom. A degree of compliance also allows us to be a contributing member of a group, so we can experience being in community. When we realize that there is a defiant and compliant part of us, we gain access to balance where conscious choice is possible. Then, we can resist influence when it fails to serve us and we can be complaint when it does. By stepping out of our machine-like rebellion, we discover what it means to be creative in shaping our reactions.