Pleasantville - 1586 Words

Tiffany Niemiller November 15th, 2010 Utopia/Dystopia Dr. Viau Pleasantville Pleasantville is a great movie with many hidden messages. The not so obvious but informative messages are one of best aspects of this nineties flick. The special effects are impressive considering this movie is indeed from the nineties. Pleasantville touches base on many actual conflicts in America and throughout history in the most subtle but blunt way. My favorite thing about this movie is how it takes this blind community and shows them what they never knew existed: passion and real emotion. I have heard many people talk about their love for earlier decades such as the fifties and how they wish they could go back and live in the â€Å"Simple Times† but in†¦show more content†¦I found a website that brings a spiritual point of view to pop culture and on it I found a nice outline of ‘Pleasantville’ filled with commentary and ideas of symbolism in relation to the Bible. I liked this website because it called attention to many things I notice d throughout the movie. Here is a statement from the site that lists some of the symbols, â€Å"There are a ton of Bible connections in this film. There is a burning bush. The God-like moon behind the gardens apple. And even a rainbow of color and promise over Pleasantville† (Bruce). He goes on to talk about how at first glance he extremely disliked this movie, as do many other viewers, but he then discusses the realization he had about ‘Pleasantville’ a week or so after watching, that is a good movie with a powerful message and ability so shed light on certain hushed topics. This film is about honesty and real-life topics. As viewers watch Pleasantville, they may find themselves feeling sad and uneasy at the interruption and corruption of this seemingly perfect world. To me this movie can be seen as having similarities to the novel Brave New World. In Brave New World books are banned because they create knowledge and individuality begins to arise through oneâ₠¬â„¢s thoughts and imagination. In ‘Pleasantville’ the uncolored citizens burn all the books because they do not understand. In both novel and movie the people are afraid of change. In BraveShow MoreRelatedThe Movie Pleasantville 1281 Words   |  6 PagesThe film Pleasantville shows the changes in American society over the past 50 years by placing two teenagers into the Pleasantville show, which was from the 50’s. The movie depicts how there is no longer the â€Å"American Dream† and no longer a perfect way of life and the changes the world has made. The world that the teenagers come from is filled with sex, drugs, money, and is very different from the way the world was in which the Pleasantville Show took place in. Morals and values have changed inRead MorePleasantville1670 Words   |  7 Pagessatisfying life a woman could lead by fulfilling her duties. Gary Rosss 1998 feature film Pleasantville examined the differences between the 90s and the 50 s image of family by transporting 90s characters into the ideal black and white image of the ideal 1950s family of a mother, father, son and daughter. Not only did this movie explore ideas in feminism, but racism as well. When a character of the original Pleasantville was exposed to something new, they turned from black and white to an image of colorRead MorePleasantville setting essay1151 Words   |  5 Pagesï » ¿Describe at least ONE important setting in the text(s). Explain how the setting helped to show the author / creator’s idea(s), supporting your points with visual and / or oral language features. The film Pleasantville written, directed and produced by Gary Ross shows a time period in American History where life was more comfortable, stable and ‘perfect’ if you would generalise it. However, as the film ironically shows, this was a time when people were more ignorant, racist and most certainlyRead MorePleasantville Racism Paper959 Words   |  4 Pages and/or being ignorant of other people’s cultures. In the 1998 movie Pleasantville, it is shown that racism and discrimination towards different people occurs because of sudden changes to an established system and society. In reality, racism is a result of generations of stereotypes and mistreatment of a certain group of people, and is not something that can be resolved as quickly as it is in the movie. The film Pleasantville, directed by Gary Ross, is the story of how two teens from the 1990’sRead MorePleasantville Film Analysis Essay765 Words   |  4 PagesThe film Pleasantville directed by Gary Ross is about two modern teenagers, David and his sister Jennifer, somehow being transported into the television, ending up in Pleasantville, a 1950s black and white sitcom. The two are trapped as Bud and Mary Sue in a radically different dimension and make some huge changes to the bland lives of the citizens of Pleasantville, with the use of the director’s cinematic techniques. Ross cleverly uses cinematic techniques such as colour, mise-en-scene, camera shotsRead MoreEssay on Pleasantville - Change1449 Words   |  6 PagesThe movie ‘‘Pleasantville’’, written, produced and directed by Gary Ross, approaches a period in America’s history which subsequent generations idealise as a better and more stable society. He portrays this time period of the 1950s as a time when people and life were less complicated; a time when everyone knew their place in society. However, as the film ironically shows, this was a time when people were more ignorant, racist and most certainly sexist. Ross demolishes this illusion of the great 1950sRead MoreTown Folk, Such As, For The First Time In Pleasantville,1805 Words   |  8 Pagesfolk, such as, for the first time in Pleasantville, a tree catches on fire and the firemen have to figure out how to put it out and a rose on a rose bush that is black and white turns red; this all â€Å"triggers Betty to start seeing color. Gary Ross uses the instance of color to show an â€Å"awakening† or transition from the â€Å"quid pro quo† norms of society happening to Betty. The more Betty wants to learn and know about the goings on in and outside of Pleasantville, the more she sees in color until oneRead MoreThe Village Of Pleasantville Board Meetings Essay1733 Words   |  7 Pages. The village of Pleasantville conducts public board meetings every second and fourth Monday of each month. On rare occasions, for further discussion on serious issues or concerns of Pleasantville, the village board will conduct meetings—like a public hearing—on other weekdays. These meetings are located in the conference room on the second floor of the Village hall, which is also next to the Pleasantville Police Station. The village board consists of four trustees—Steven Lord, Mindy Berard, ColleenRead MorePleasantville Analysis of Film Techniques against the Theme of Change2162 Words   |  9 Pagesstages)In Pleasantville, the filmmaker, Gary Ross, conveys his attitude towards change through the characters of David and Jennifer who are transported into the 1950s sitcom Pleasantville. He doesnt necessarily demonstrate change to bear a positive result; rather, he addresses that change is essential to the development of society and self and that it is important to understand and accept change. Ross contrasts the ignorance and mindlessness of the unchanged people of Pleasantville with the hungerRead MorePleasantville961 Words   |  4 Pageshow Nineteen Eighty Four and Pleasantville imaginatively portray individuals who challenge the established values of their time. It is impossible for the individual who values freedom to be exultant in a society that is underpinned by rigid conformity. In the Novel â€Å"Nineteen Eighty Four† by George Orwell, a totalitarian future society is portrayed, through a man whose daily work is rewriting history and tries to rebel by falling in love. Whereas The film â€Å"Pleasantville† directed by Gary Ross, Two