The Film: Pleasantville
The three follow-up comments per film assignment
Essay Number 1 (CONCEPTUAL APPLICATION) By Mollie Beitch
Typification refers to a process whereby individuals rely on general knowledge as the basis of constructing ideas about the social world as well as people. Individuals participate in social life with the general knowledge about the social world at the centre stage. Their knowledge of other people does not take the form of a direct personal knowledge. Mollie’s analysis takes into account two segregated groups, the black and white individuals and the colored individuals. Even without direct interactions between the two broad groups, the society considers the black and white individuals as moral, law abiding and traditionalists. On the contrary, the colored members of society are immoral as well as ill behaved. Overall, she managed to assess exhaustively, the tactics for downplaying diversion, compliance, kinesics, and the visual along with audiovisual resources. In particular, the downplaying tactics (diversion) saw David overlook the role citizens of Pleasantville played in compromising change in the society. Instead, he blames the mayor for being too restrictive and closed-minded. The visual and audiovisual representation is arguably strong in Pleasantville. Such presentation helps the viewer to ascertain the deeper meanings to the film.
Essay Number 2 (CONCEPTUAL APPLICATION) by Lori Machansky
Lori Machansky has effectively assessed the terministic screens, elements of repetition, diversion, proxemics, and self-feeling. Apparently, every event in Pleasantville is a reality to the best knowledge of all citizens of Pleasantville. The film captures and communicates a given viewpoint. The most interesting aspect is its capacity to communicate the particular point of view through the power of images. It is upon the individuals to act in a way they so wish. Incidentally, David and Jennifer did not change people’s actions but instead introduced them to new realities. Repetition as a technique of laying emphasis on an item, idea or person is manifest in the film as Lori correctly analyzed. Repetition is a way of giving a lot of importance to events, characters or products as a way of reiterating their worth. Hence, viewers would find it difficult to overlook at such aspects. The film (Pleasantville) demonstrates a stereotypical image of the 1950s. Just like Mollie, Lori has correctly analyzed the diversion aspect of the film. Apparently, the locals know very little about people and places within the neighborhood. In effect, they do not talk or perceive the people or locations positively neither do they perceive them negatively. All they know is their own achievements as well as setbacks as a people of Pleasantville.
Essay number 3 (CONCEPTUAL APPLICATION) by Julie Parlato
Julie Parlato’s account of the conceptual framework and application takes a unusual dimension. In her analysis, she points out to chances of employing a range of scenes to construct an assortment of theories particularly from chapter five of The Coactive Approach. After Pleasantville citizens discovered sex, art, music, books, and concept of conformity, the issue of color emerged in their black and white world. It world spread faster than initially anticipated forcing the Mayor to do away with talented colors and redeem Pleasantville to what it once was. In effect, the movie captured the impact of symbols and nativist theory in analyzing the various that characterized Pleasantville. In addition, the film represented the double standards for men as well as women in the contemporary society. The theories of proxemics and haptics dominate most scenes of the film. Just like Mollie and Lori, Julie Parlato managed to exhaust the use of repetition as a way of emphasizing the significance of people, products or places towards the development of the plot.
