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Post by emsykes on Jan 29, 2016 15:18:14 GMT
There are a number of movies that display the American Dream, but how do we recognize that dream among other themes presented in films? Filmmakers use relatable characters along with generic conflicts in order to display the American Dream. For example, in the classic movie The Titanic, the filmmaker portrays the main character, Jack, as a poor man with luck. In this way, the movie watcher may relate to him. Jack wins a ticket to travel aboard the luxurious ship in the hopes to find a new life. This evidence also backs up the american dream. Jack dreams of reaching a new life where he can control his own destiny, and the film makers easily portray that with the details of Jacks origional poverty compared to the lavish life he lives on the ship.
Another film that portrays the American dream is the newer movie, The Intern. An elderly retired man signs up to be an intern at a modern company run by a girl in her twenties. The film makers show the relatable character as a old man, Ben, who is trying to live out the American Dream and prove that you can achieve this at any age. The producers of this movie show the work style in busy city as a stressful life, but it is a life that Ben has always longed for.
In the end, the filmmakers want the viewers to be able to relate to the characters and their problems . The film makers show the American dream as fulfilling your goals and living a life you have always wanted.
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Post by jzhangx3 on Jan 30, 2016 19:11:27 GMT
Emily, I completely agree with what you said! Another film that exemplifies the American Dream is Forrest Gump. In the beginning of the movie, Forrest is constantly bullied by his peers because he has braces on his legs and because they believe that he has a mental disadvantage. However, when Jenny yells, "Run, Forrest, Run," Forrest's braces come off, and he starts running as fast as he can. He soon outruns the bullies and from then on, he embarks on his own version of the American Dream. Forrest Gump's achievements show that if a person works hard, he/she can achieve his/her goals. Despite the fact that he was "slower" (as other characters called him in the film) than others, he managed to receive a football scholarship to the University of Alabama, receive the Medal of Honor for his incredible bravery in Vietnam, become a champion and master of ping pong, start the Bubba Gump Shrimp Company, and fall in love with his childhood friend, Jenny. The Dream is a pursuit of love, happiness, and success, and Gump was able to attain all of those elements.
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Post by Teresa Dinh on Jan 30, 2016 21:51:56 GMT
You both make very interesting points! The American dream also appears in children's movies as well. Emily mentioned that filmmakers tend to base movies on a relatable character. Usually, this character is an underdog. In children's movies, many of the protagonists fit into this category, such as Cinderella (she was mistreated), Shrek (he was always judged on appearance), Toy Story (they were scared of being forgotten), Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (Charlie was poor), etc. Growing up, we watched these characters overcome their conflicts and live happily in the end. The idea that hard work and perseverance leads to a happy ending is something that we are taught as young kids. This shows that even in children's movies, the American Dream is prevalent.
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Post by Emily Werkheiser on Jan 31, 2016 20:23:12 GMT
I think those are all great connections to how the American Dream is portrayed in film. In addition to achieving the American Dream from an individual standpoint, I think that another way to interpret the American Dream could be in the sense of achieving freedom and equality for an entire group of people. There are a lot of films that show a group of people fighting together for a bigger cause and more powerful change beyond the success of just one individual. For example, there are many movies such as Lincoln, that depict the civil war, in which an entire half of a country sacrifices their lives in order to make the American Dream of freedom and equality available to people of all races. This idea can also be seen in movies set during the civil rights movement of the 1960s. For example, in "We are the Titans" two black and white football teams are forced to work together, and in the end they defy society's taunts and negative expectations, proving their talent and value as one unified team, as they fight for the cause of integration and equality among blacks and whites.
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Post by lreinhardt230 on Feb 2, 2016 3:13:44 GMT
In addition to seeing less wealthy people be brought up, there are instances in modern film where the upper class is torn down. One example of this is "The Hunger Games", which is a very symbolic movie about economic and social classes. While Katniss, who represents the poorest of the districts, gains power and leadership, the capital is torn apart. The capital has everything and the whole film makes them out to be the bad guys because they do not care about the lower class. This shows that in modern film, empathizing and building each other up is more valued than being in the number one position.
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Post by oliviamccubbins on Feb 3, 2016 2:24:43 GMT
Emily the point you made about Jack was very interesting and I thought it could even be expanded upon to show the idealism of the early 20th century and the deconstruction of the American Dream. In the Great Gatsby, Gatsby appears to have everything he could possible want. However he is lost and as soon as he achieves his dream (loving Daisy) and it is quickly stripped away. Similar to this Jack finds and loves Rose and then he loses it all. The American Dream he has achieved it finally however he has it all taken away. The same point could be made about the Hunger Games, Katniss achieves her life goal but the question remains is it worth it? So basically even though the story appears to empower and achieve the American Dream it always tears them down slightly.
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Post by Emily Shea on Feb 7, 2016 21:17:58 GMT
Another film that portrays the American dream is the newer movie, The Intern. An elderly retired man signs up to be an intern at a modern company run by a girl in her twenties. The film makers show the relatable character as a old man, Ben, who is trying to live out the American Dream and prove that you can achieve this at any age. The producers of this movie show the work style in busy city as a stressful life, but it is a life that Ben has always longed for. Em this is an awesome reference, and a 10/10 movie!! I also like how the filmmakers had a woman display the American Dream. The really shows how no matter what sex you are you can still achieve the American Dream. |
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