Whiplash

"Whiplash" is a really good film and the it really hits hard in the feelings for me as I was once a bully-victim. However, we can observe some bully behavior in the film, Andrew and Fletcher exhibit bullying behavior in more of an abusive relationship. Andrew kept going back to Fletcher even though he has shamed and embarrass him many times. Fletcher knows Andrew's desire to play in his band, he manipulated some of the truth to try to keep him in his grasp. 1st time, Fletcher talked to Andrew face to face, Fletcher seemingly good told Andrew to relax and play to the best of his abilities. After that, they went in to continue playing, Fletcher establish his dominance and power to Andrew when he let Andrew tried playing the drums. 

Fletcher did not really care about Andrew at 1st, the constant change of drummers and other musician is just how he establish his dominance in his band. Regardless of whether he is trying to mold another "Charlie Parker", it is clearly a bully behavior, with his power over other individuals to control over them. He established an abusive relationship with all the members of the band where everyone did not dare to cross him. Andrew is the only one in the whole film who showed a certain resistance towards Fletcher. Which, with a hypothesis, I am guessing that Fletcher took some interest in Andrew and tries to push him as far as he can. 

In the end, Andrew could see through the abusive nature of the relationship between him and Fletcher, hence, he helped the lawyer in charging Fletcher that made him unable to continue on teaching. Fletcher then came back to take revenge on Andrew by manipulating into playing in his band in a crowd that if a musician mess up, it will be the death of their career. 

Although, Andrew came back fighting by playing well in the end of the movie, it still does not show that Fletcher has changed his way, rather than just give Andrew a little respect. He might just give Andrew that respect for giving his band a good show. 

The movie made me remembered my past when I was bullied, feeling the embarrassment my bullies inflicted on me. Having feeling helpless and lost most of the time. It really impacted my self-esteem and self-confidence. Until today, I am still working hard to be better and walk out of the past. Bullying can leave a detrimental impact on an individual like depression or severe anxiety. We can also observe that one of Fletcher's student committed suicide  because of depression by getting bullied by Fletcher, according to the lawyer. 

I like that the movie showed the bullying and abusive side of the characters to raise awareness, however, I did not like the ending. Bullying and being an abuser is not ok and there is no happy ending at the end of the relationship, only out of the relationship.