Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)

Introduction

Guardians of the Galaxy (2014) is a superhero movie that not only kept audiences engaged with vivid action sequences and cleverly put comic relief but also proposed a group relationship myth that has seemed fresh and yet intense. While the main character and her ragtag team go on a pilgrimage to safeguard the universe from a destructive adversary, they discover a sort of bonding process which consists of forming, storming, norming, and conforming in synchrony, which is like the periodic phases of group development (Mukhin, 2022). Bringing together the duties of the Guardians, such as their conflicts and, in the end, their unity, is an effective illustration of issues in organizational behaviour, from how the roles distribution takes place to task or maintenance roles as well as teamwork effective decision making and the last step in group transition into a cohesive team. The essay focuses on on these topics trying to characterize the development of the group of the Guardians and whether the characters of this movie can bring us such important lessons as the importance of working together, leadership and camaraderie.

Periodic Phases of Development

The phases of the cycles of the growth of the Guardians of the Galaxy coalition are closely related to the inception phase, during which it is established, then storming, norming, and achieving some normative equilibrium. First, the forming phase of the Guardians can be noticed during their initial unification of each other when they first set foot on Kyln’s penal planet (Rozi et al., 2021). The girls meet when they are being inoculated as prisoners, and there is a hesitant but cornering interest and uncertainty in each of them as they closely look at each other. In the early stages of team development, when people become part of the group, different issues and disagreements come up just when the storming phase initiates (Watts, 2020). The third one presents the face of the Guardsmen when they are in the Milano spaceship where they fight each other, and therefore, a lot of conflict happens because they do not agree over the parties’ motives and objectives. For example, the argument between Star-Lord and Gamora about the ownership of orbs shows the different reasons for their words.

On the other hand, as the team progresses through these conflicts, they will reach the phase of norming in that positioning of rules and roles does take place. Organisation into such teams is possible because first, the Guardians become more integrated within the group, smoothing the mission planning and execution of escape from the Kyln (Kristanto, 2018). However, less conflict happens here since the group establishes an atmosphere of understanding, empathy, and mutual respect. Consequently, after the group has been established in its functional phase, it will come to the point of conforming and unity where all members would fully accept and be part of the available relational roles (Howe, 2019). Here, the turning point is presented by the film’s climax when the Guardians of the Galaxy join together to take down Ronan and ensure that Xandar is safe. In this pursuit, they showcase an elevated level of alignment and cooperation, partaking in their shared assignments with complete loyalty (Mukhin, 2022). In the movie course, the film uses all the stages of group development to show its viewers a complex picture of how a group becomes strong and struggles daily to work together to defeat adversity.

Task, Maintenance, and Disruptive Roles

Guardians of the Galaxy is no exception to the vitality of roles in the group. Task roles work well to maintain progress and serve the target. Again, Star-Lord plays the role of a solider of fortune as he leads the others to fight over and conserve what the orb has. His command and tactical awareness lead the group to their ultimate goals (Watts, 2020). Ultimately, the mercenary warrior Gamora covers a task role by applying her fighting skills and mental capabilities to the group’s welfare, specifically as a resource in hard cases where she usually steps up as number one.

However, contrary to them, the maintenance roles rise as a group to maintain team cohesion and harmony. The character of Rocket is a source of both light and air thanks to his relentless wit, which is used when things seem to be tough and helps keep the crew morale high (Mukhin, 2022). Likewise, Groot functions as a haven and emotional retreat for all crew members, providing the needed blend of emotional support and comfort and giving overall team unity. These maintenance functions should be as important as the group’s activities since they help keep the group’s dynamics and competence regular throughout their trip.

Teamwork

Throughout the film, the Guardians of the Galaxy evolve from a mere group to a cohesive team, exemplifying the 4 Cs: cooperation, cohesion, communication, and coordination play major roles in achieving organizational goals effectively. Teamwork is exemplified by sharing the superhero’s diverse abilities to meet certain aims, even rescuing Kyln and finding Ronan’s opponents (Rozi et al., 2021). Long-term interactions between the crew members are their backbone, marked by clear evidence of togetherness, teamwork and faithfulness. Coordination of actions and revealed secrets became important to their success because they were responsible for uncovering and sharing information (Mukhin, 2022). Lastly, their teamwork capabilities have noticeably grown throughout the series as they collaborate efficiently and accomplish sophisticated tasks flawlessly during fights and missions, proving to be worthy of that name.

Decision Making

The Guardians often do not achieve unanimity in decision-making due to a lack of uniformity that brings about disorganization and fighting. This is, for example, when they disagree on the first day to dispose of it or even preserve it, which shows their disunity. Certain characters, such as Drax, are seen to end up making rapid decisions, which are impulsively done through being driven by emotion rather than reasoning, which in turn results in unintended implications (Rozi et al., 2021). Effective Decision Making: From the adult stage onwards, the Guardians start co-deciding and are no longer centric on authority but give a chance to each other expertise for decision. They display tactical abilities and anticipation, eliminate Ronan’s threat, and develop a counterattack plan so that Ronan will fall before it hurts them any further.

Conclusion

Guardians of the Galaxy provides an audience not only with an exciting journey through space but also with elements of group and organizational dynamics. The viewers are, therefore, immersed in the experiences of the Guardians, which in turn will give them an insight into the stages of group development that range from initial conflicts and power struggles but later end in cohesion, harmony and unity. Through their efforts, the Guardians show the necessity of successful communication, teamwork, and leadership to attain the same purposes. The film creates a strong statement about the possibility of people from all backgrounds to unite and overcome shared obstacles, providing an image of unity capable of breaking boundaries. The viewers are inspired by the journey of the Guardians to look at the virtues of teamwork, endurance and the power of unity. Such valuable lessons can be found in real-life adventures, too.

References

Howe, A. (2019). Guardians of The Galaxy Franchise (2014–2017). The Encyclopedia of Sexism in American Films, 151.

Kristanto, W. (2018). Construction of heroes in guardians of the Galaxy (2014). Passage, 6, 92–105.

Mukhin, O. (2022). XXI century as a cultural turn in American space fiction cinema. Culture of Ukraine, 78. https://doi.org/10.31516/2410-5325.078.09

Rozi, F., Arifin, M. B., & Nasrullah, N. (2021). Illocutionary Act in Guardian of the Galaxy Movie (2014). Ilmu Budaya: Jurnal Bahasa, Sastra, Seni, Dan Budaya, 5(4), 859–871.

Watts, C. (2020). “Those Who Dance”: Popular Music, Audiovisual Editing, and Meaning across the Guardians of the Galaxy Franchise. In Music in Action Film (pp. 203–220). Routledge.