The status quo refers to the current state of affairs; the norm. Challenging the status quo means to do something unexpected, out of the boundaries written by such ideals. Though the status quo needs to maintained to some extent, it is this challenging that helps ensure that the figures of authority are questioned and not trusted blindly as there is no such thing as perfect authority. This also ensures they are acting justly and for the best interest of the people, whilst also allowing for the passage of change to occur within our society, bolstered by the ideas obtained by such challenging individuals. People of power heavily influence the status quo, such that if one opposes such figures they are directly challenging its roots. Defying such authority is vital as it keeps them on their toes, careful not to do things that are questionable, corrupt or immoral. Moreover, through the course of humankind it is blatant that such heavy influencers on the norms have a tendency to exploit their position, expressing their own untested and subjective opinions, values and ideas as truths. This is exemplified in James McTeigue’s film “V for Vendetta”, where the government, ruled by High chancellor Suttler is riddled by corruption, immoral values and based on acts of discrimination against anyone who is regarded “undesirable”. It is only when V goes against the grain with “...the power of ideas...” is hope given to the people to rebel, and become face-less behind a mask, to carry on the great legacy of Guy Fawkes.

Who knows how long this could’ve continued if the mainstream was not challenged by V? as such government had already exploited its power to such limits creating a status quo that was unreasonable and simply absurd. Hence, rebellion is vital, as without it blind acts of conformity to horrific behaviours such as carried that carried out by Suttler and by those in Germany by Adolf Hitler can occur.

Additionally, when in defiance of the status quo, change is brought within society. It occurs through the display of new ideas that are out of the norms of society yet they can transform it dramatically for the betterment of its citizens. Through “V for Vendetta”, V displays how when through violence as a form of rebellion the status quo can become vulnerable. He tells the people to “Remember remember the fifth of November the gunpowder treason and plot”, referring to the legacy of Guy Fawkes, and how he fought against the monarchy. It is by this and his careful planning to take down each pillar that held up the status quo in the society (the media, authority figures like Louis Prothero and even the High Chancellor Suttler) that V was able to go against the natural order, instilling hope into the lifeless citizens and ultimately bring about the revolution this society so desperately needed. It is this that going against the grain can achieve, the presentations of new ideas, which are “bullet proof” in that they “do not bleed, they do not feel pain”, but are spoken and can change the course of a whole society. And though a man like Guy Fawkes can be shot down in the fervour of challenging a status quo, it was his ideas that still brought about change, which is vital for a healthy society that keeps moving forward.

The narrow-minded opposition may argue that the status quo should be maintained at all costs because it creates safety for individuals, order and structure in society, and a common viewpoint shared by most individuals. And with such order, society can run smoothly, as everything occurs as expected. Yet, it is blatantly exposed in “V for Vendetta” that although society still functioned optimally, it was the values and standards bestowed by the government which were sinister in nature, what created this uncertainty and a lack of freedom in the citizens , who begin to “...wear a mask so often you forget who they were underneath it”. And it is only until V challenges the common idea that they stop standing “...on the edge of oblivion”. Additionally, it is also known that human’s inherently possess the desire to fit in, which is the need for conformity, or the desire to go along with the norms of a group of people, so they are accepted. The presence of a status quo attends to this as it leads to the formation of a majority group, however it the individuals in the minority groups that are threatened, which is preposterous as it is something that we as a race have and learnt from in the past. Essentially, to say that the status quo should be maintained at all costs is absurd, for society littered with conformists creates a narrow limit in the diversity of humankind, creating individuals that share the same chronic ideals rather than individuals who think differently who are in turn those who revolutionise society.

All in all, the status quo should not be maintained, as its challenging brings about change through new ideas and endeavours which is vital in our enhancement as humankind. It also helps us ensure that those in positions of power are not exploiting their roles and rather have the people’s ‘best interest’ at heart. As where would we be as a human race if we were not constantly changing, learning from each other, and challenging each other’s values, morals and beliefs?