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Qingfen Li
Reel Paper-Description & Rubirc
Stephanie Bor
11/10/2014
Relational Dialectics Theory
In the modern society, what is the most interesting and critical thing within life of human
beings? Is a trust, love, or revenge? Not really, but all of these three stuffs are belong to
relational categories. We are living in a big and supersize family that we are having lots of
different relationships every day in our life. Or, we will even face to the difficulties on
communicating with our families or friends. There are lots of theory that mostly relate to our
communication life. Relational dialectic theory illustrates humans communication life and it
help us to understand meaning making in an insightful way. And, the dialectical thinking leads
people to observe the interactions within a relationship, among its individual members, as well as
outside to relationship, as its members interact with the larger social and cultural systems in
which they are embedded.
Relational Dialectics Theory was labeled the term dialectical rather than dialogic which
had shown the purposes of the terms are interchangeable (Baxter & Montgomery, 1996).
Dialectical process thinking adds a great deal to our conceptual frameworks about relational
life. (Introducing Communication Theory Analysis and Application 4ED) Dialectic thinking
maintains the multiple viewpoints in every contradiction. In Baxter and Montgomerys opinion,
Relational life is always in progress. Basically, people wish to have both autonomy and
connection, openness and protectiveness, and novelty and predictability. In general, lots of
scholars had positive responses and the theory seems to measure up. This process has offered a

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spacious view of relationships and generated several studies even in the short time that Baxter
has been delineating the theory.
The Relational Dialectic Theory is a valuable and experimental theory that had being
doubt its connection, openness, autonomy, and predictability. In 1992, William Rawlins did find
a different dialectic which focusing on tensions of judgment and acceptance within friendship.
Likewise, Ted Zorn (1995) figured out three main dialectics and some additional tensions
specifically at workplace context. Being tested for a long time, this theory showed the most
positive appeal and offered a compelling explanation for the both/and feeling rather than more or
less of something in a straight-line pattern. Baxter and Montgomery (1996) observe that
dialectics is not a traditional theory in that it offers no axioms or propositional arguments.
Instead, it describes a set of conceptual assumptions. Thus, it does not offer us good predictions
about what coping strategies people might use to deal with the major dialectic tensions in their
relationships. But they suddenly found that there would lead a problem which might result in
the relative youth of dialectics as a theoretical frame for relational life, or it may result in
differing goals: Traditional theory seeks prediction and final statements about communication
phenomena; Dialectics operates from an open-ended, ongoing viewpoint. Then in 1996, Baxter
and Montgomery finished their book- Relating: Dialogues and Dialectics, with their personal
dialogue about the experience of writing RDT theory.
We have learn that the RDT pictures relational life as constant progress and motion.
People in relationships continue to feel the push and pull of conflicting desires throughout the
life of the relationship. (Introduce Communication Theory Analysis and Application, Chapter
12, pg.203) In the film Frozen, monologic thinking would lead to the belief that Princess Anna
and Queen Elsas relationship was close enough before Elsa hit Anna with her magic. Once they

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was so close like a strong pull connection, however, dualistic approach evaluates them separately
with a motion of push when Elsa shut Anna out of the door and stayed away from Anna till
Elsas coronation party. It shows their change when Anna sings, We used to be best buddies,
and now were not. I wish you would tell me why! (Disney.wikia.com-Do you want to build a
snowman? Lyrics) Princess Anna was trying to figure out the secret of Queen Elsa and strongly
wanted to move forward, because she was too tired of the long time separation. The loneliness
had push Anna to the sadness. I think that lots of people have gotten through the same experience
with their families or friends from close to distance, they attempt to reconcile the conflicting
desires, but receive the opposition results.
Frozen is an American 3D computer-animated musical fantasy-comedy film produced
by Walt Disney Pictures which was released in the USA at November 27, 2013.
(Prnewswire.com-Disneyland-resort-debuts-world-of-color) It was inspired by Hans Christian
Andersen's fairy tale The Snow Queen, the film tells the story of a fearless princess who has ice
manipulation power but accidently hurts her sister Anna and has inadvertently trapped the
kingdom into the endless winter. A naive snowman and a man called Kristoff helps Anna find
Elsa and bring summer back to the kingdom. Frozen is much more different on the definition of
true love from other Disney films. Chris Buck, one of the director of Frozen, has recalled
Disney had already done the kissed by a prince thing, so I thought it was time for something
new.(Wikipedia.com-- Frozen) For the First Time in Forever was the films featured song
which was sung by artist Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez. This song fully expressed
Annas happiness at being able to see people again, but disclosed Elsas fear of accidentally
revealing her ice magic to everyone at the same time.

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Elsa sung the song Let It Go after her ice power was discovered by public and realized
that she couldnt hide herself anymore. Elsa wanted to get away from the stress and fears from
the past. The lyrics Conceal, dont feel, dont let them know, were told by Elsas father when
he covered Elsas hand with gloves. For the safety reason, Elsa never took off her gloves. But at
this plot, she tear off her gloves and sung, Let it go! Let it go! Cant hold it back anymore!
(Disney wiki.comLet It Go) After she created her ice castle, an old dress changed into a new
ice outfit and Elsa was free to say, The cold never bothered me anyway. In this scene, Elsas
complicate feeling was released, because her fears came from her protection of her sister. The
totality has been changed into the major reason of sisterhood. The praxis in the RDT refers to the
choice-making capacity of humans which shows Elsas decision of being alone in the ice castle
rather than stay with Anna in fears.
Idina Menzel was one of the actress who was cast as Elsa. In her opinion, Frozen is a bit
of a feminist movie for Disney. Im really proud of that. It has everything, but its essentially
about sisterhood. I think that these two women are competitive with one another, but always
trying to protect each other sisters are just so complicated. Its such a great relationship to have
in movies, especially for young kids. (Zap2It.com--"Kristen Bell: "Frozen" character is
"awkward", "Veronica Mars" footage "looks radical" ) The purpose of changing the name from
The Snow Queen into Frozen is that the film not only plays on the level of ice and snow but also
shows the relationship between sisters. This film has expressed the true love of family, and the
openness and protection dialectic shows that Elsa has revealed her secret to her sister Anna.
In conclusion, the Relational Dialectics Theory is the unique communication theory that
sees both autonomy and closeness as constants in relational life. (Richard West & Lynn H.
Turner) And, it helps us focus on power issues and multicultural diversity in our daily life.

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Knowing the RDT will be a key to solve the communication problems in relationships. Moreover,
the dialectics thinking really reveals to my life. In my past childhood, I also had a complicated
relationship with my older sister, however, I havent known about the Relational Dialectics
Theory. I was in a similar situation as little Anna who seek for answers. But the tensions of the
dialectics have push me away from my sister. This RDT have changed my perspective about the
human communication that relationship in dialectic tension would need a dialectic thinking to
solve the problems. In human relationships, push and pull are the elements of the dialectic
approach.

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Citied
West, Richard, and Lynn H. Turner. "Relational Dialectics Theory." Introduce Communication
Theory Analysis Application. Fourth Ed. New York, NY: Frank Mortimer, 2010. Print.
"Disneyland Resort Debuts "World of Color Winter Dreams," a Merry New Spectacular for 2013
Holiday Season". PR Newswire. July 27, 2013. Retrieved July 27, 2013. "from the upcoming Walt Disney
Pictures animated feature "Frozen"
"Frozen." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 5 Mar. 2014. Web. 12 Nov. 2014.
Chance, Molly (August 14, 2013). "Kristen Bell: "Frozen" character is "awkward", "Veronica
Mars" footage "looks radical"". Zap2It. Retrieved October 22, 2013.
"Williams, Mike P. (April 8, 2014)."Chris Buck reveals true inspiration behind Disney's Frozen
(exclusive)". Yahoo! Movies (Yahoo! Inc.). Retrieved April 8, 2014.
"Do You Want to Build a Snowman?" Disney Wiki. 15 Dec. 2013. Web. 10 Nov. 2014.
"Let It Go!" Disney Wiki. 26 Dec. 2013. Web. 10 Nov. 2014.
"Frozen Movie Official Disney Site." Frozen. Walt Disney, 27 Nov.2013. Web. 11 Nov. 2014.

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