The Traditional Family Myth:
It is apparent that both the film "American Beauty" and the film "Pleasantville" are social satires concerning deviation from the nuclear family mould that the entire contemporary American society is trying to identify with. Nevertheless, in spite of their obvious differences in plot and setting, the similarity in which these two films handle this mutual conception is not so evident. Not only do they attempt to define new family forms that clearly sway from the traditional American ideal family, they do so, not by dismissing or even underestimating the decadence of our modern society, but by propagating the fact that without change to family values, the world will not be so rife with 'colour', 'beauty' and 'diversity' as being perpetuated now.The themes as well cinematic elements that provoke such changes to family form are both congruent and prolific within the two films discussed in this essay. They provide considerable insight to why fluctuation in family life is inevitable In "Pleasantville", the story follows David Wagner (played by Tobey Maguire), bashful teenager in the nineties, addicted to a black-and-white television sitcom of the fifties named "Pleasantville." He immerses
The wall colouring in the Burnham house was chosen systematically with warm hues of red and white until Lester, in his tantrum of rage, throws his dinner right up against one wall (in the dining room) that completely wrecks the image of domestic closeness within his family. However, if David had chosen to stay the same, timid person he had been, this scene would not have happened. Lester Burnham, the leading character and narrator, is an advertising writer who is having a mid-life crisis. ' It shows that a nuclear family does not render perfect children. The number of people in traditional families in the United States is declining, whereas the number of people living in alternative family forms is increasing due to divorce, toleration of alternative arrangements, willingness to leave a failing marriage, and the tendency for the young today to cohabitate and postpone marriage. Time and Setting"Pleasantville" depicts two middle-class, white suburban families in two separate eras and makes a contrast of both, while "American Beauty" sets off with what was a blissful, functional, white middle-class family that evolves into a dilemma-ridden one, on the verge of dissolution. The change signifies reconciliation between mother and son who took each other too much for granted in the first place. Carolyn, Buddy, and Lester all commit adultery by engaging or nearly engaging in extramarital sex. Lester, for example, is given no respect from his wife (a dual-earner) nor his daughter. But one evening, life takes a bizarre twist when the siblings are zapped straight into Pleasantville. "Individualism Wins""Pleasantville" and "American Beauty" is about the falseness of family values and the need of the individual to break through society's shield of conformity. His determination to restore conformist decency reveals a fascist streak. Conflict theorists, in particular, emphasize the role of power within the traditional family and suggest that the family is one source of inequality (Curry, Jiobu, and Schwirian, 2002)'Pleasantville' and 'American Beauty' do not celebrate the nuclear family model, as the characters tend to break off relationships from their families because they feel detached and alienated. Upon pondering realistic life experiences and values, however, responses to "What is a 'pleasant' and 'beautiful' life/family?" are not clear-cut.
Common topics in this essay:
American Beauty,
Jennifer/Mary Sue,
David Jennifer,
Gender Roles,
Pleasantville David/Bud,
Davidson Hunter,
Jiobu Schwirian,
Lester Burnham,
Betty Parker,
Colonel Fitts',
traditional family,
american beauty,
family life,
nuclear family,
family forms,
parker family,
jennifer/mary sue,
traditional families,
family values,
bright red rose,
dramatic change,
pleasantville american beauty,
jiobu schwirian 2002,
curry jiobu schwirian,
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Acceptance Essays
