Sociology claims that the individual is created via the group. Peer pressure and social approval steer our most miniscule decisions, often resulting in even greater changes down the road. Black Hole demonstrates how the desire to fit in coerces decision making that then influences individuals’ emotions and further encounters by focusing in on the volatile and harsh nature of the teenage culture.

To begin, it is important to note the setting of the graphic novel. Black Hole takes place in the 1970’s when the counterculture is still prevalent, emphasizing things such as drugs, free love, and self-realization.

Chris’ longing to sleep with Rob is likely partially driven by the fact that many of Chris’ friends have already had sex themselves. She wants to be included and have her own love stories to tell about, completely disregarding any form of protection or privacy and giving no consideration to the consequences. This single decision then torments and alters the rest of her time during the book.

The first result of this sex act is her immediately increased attachment to Rob. Everyone, except perhaps the characters in this book, tends to know that sexual acts affect hormones that can then reflect through feelings. Being clung to Rob’s side causes Chris to make other poor decisions, such as skipping school and lying to her family. When Chris finds out that she has been afflicted with the disease, she grows increasingly private, dependent on Rob, and more apathetic about life. These emotions and actions result in her choosing to run away from home. Rob takes her to the camp in the woods that is made up of other plagued, self-exiled high school students, but Chris does not seem to feel comfortable or completely welcome there either. Chris eventually chooses to leave from the camp but never really returns to her old self mentally.

If Chris had never made the hasty decision to have sex with Rob, she would not have contracted the disease, which means she would not have then run away from home and school. Though the book does not necessarily delve into the consequences of all these actions, one can easily see how completely withdrawing from family and isolating yourself can create further trials and dilemmas later in life. This was all sparked by the desire to fit in and be like the bulk of everyone else.

By further examining Chris’ decisions to leave her family and the camp, one can understand how being ostracized and unable to find one’s own peace toys with a person’s feelings and causes him or her to make choices they likely otherwise would not. The important part of this is that if we didn’t know what it meant to fit in and be socially accepted, we wouldn’t have negative feelings associated with being different from our peers. In other words, the vast majority of youth could live much happier lives.

Social culture and the impact that it has on individuals can best be explored with the teenage scene. Teenagers are typically emotionally unstable, new to life, and still trying to figure out how the world works, as well as what works best for them. Black Hole utilizes this concept to present a theme that shows how being accepted, or not accepted, can change the course of little decision and big decisions alike.