eportfolio(:

we watched pleasantville today during aep as a break from coursework but we still had to do this review D:
so anw, here is the discussion question that i’m addressing…

Discuss the symbolic use of colors in the movie Pleasantville that address specifically the themes of race, sexuality and personal freedom.

So a short synopsis first

Pleasantville is a movie that portrays two teenagers living in the 90th century, ”magically  sucked” into a idyllic, black-and-white 1950s television sit-com called “Pleasantville”. As these two teenagers influences a change of mindset of the people in Pleasantville, the colors slowly transforms from black and white to a variety of colors. I find the use of colors in the symbolism addressing the themes (specifically, the themes of race, sexuality, and personal freedom) involved quite interesting. (:

Race.

Firstly, lets look at the symbolism of colors in the theme of RACE (: In Pleasantville, the people who have experienced epiphanies transforms from being in black and white to being represented in color and referred to as “coloreds”, while the people who are still in black and white try to segregate and oppress them. We can see this most clearly in a scene of a shop with a sign reading “NO COLOREDS” after the mayor of the town started oppressing the “colored people” by structuring a new set of laws for the town. Also, people who are remaining in black and white are harrassing the colored ones. This is clearly seen in one seen where a group of black and white teenage boys where cornering Betty who had already gained colored by that time. In this scene, Bud punched one of the teenage boys trying to harrass his mother. And the color of the blood, which the boxed boy bleeds, is shown to be bright red. This symbolised that the color of blood in both types of people is the same, and that everyone should be treated equally and it is just that the citizens of Pleasantville, have yet to realize that change is inevitable and hence are rejecting the change that they are facing.

Another scene where Gary Ross was commetating on the theme of race in the movie is clearly adapted from “To kill a Mockingbird.” “To kill a Mockingbird” was our sec 2 literary text, so everyone is quite familiar with it loh (: Anyway, in the courtroom scene where Tom Robinson’s case was discussed in TKAM, the African Americans were sitting together on the balcony, whereas the whites together sat on the ground floor; and in Pleasantville, those who gained color sat on the balcony, whereas those who remain black and white sat on the ground floor. Hence we can see that Pleasantville is a commentary of the racism in mainstream Anglo-Saxon America in the 1950s, where there is discrimination against the African Americans.

Sexuality.

Actually i have not much to say about sexuality but here goes

We can see the first symbolism of sexuality using color in the scene when Skip makes out with Mary Sue. A blackand white rose turns red in color. Other coupleswho engaged in behaviour like engaging in casual sex in cars and public changes color too. Although this isnt encouraged in our society, i feel that the message is clear. The director simply wants to use symbolism in color to portray the freedom in sexuality and the change of mindset from a conservation town to a more vibrant society.

Another issue that is related to the theme of sexuality is the issue of male domination. Mrs. Parker, being Mary Sue’s mother, instead of imparting information to Mary Sue about sex, asks her daugher about the happenings in Lover’s Lane and what sex is all about. When Mrs. Parker tries to relax in her bathtub, a tree outside her house bursts into flames, and she gains color. Being more liberated and trying new things, she gained color. Furthermore, fire, which was never seen in Pleasantville was seen and that symbolizes the tree of knowledge.

Personal freedom. 

Lastly – colors in the symbolism of personal freedom (: I feel that the central idea that Gary Ross is trying to present to us is that it is not possible for one to go back to the 1950s again. The moral values and attitude of people and the whole society are changing and will continue to change. I think the way the director made it so that people of Pleasantville can only begin to see colors when they try and break their social formalities and monotonous style of life is damn smart! And this is very subtly portrayed through the colors appearing in the surroundings. Like above mentioned about the red rose appearing in the section of Sexuality.

Now let us look at the individual insights of personal freedom of Mary Sue, Bud, and Betty.

I personally feel that the change in Mary Sue is the most special one. As Jennifer, she was a modern, fun loving teenager. Althought she “had 10 times more sex than the other girls” in Pleasantville, she still did not turn colored and remained in black and white. It was only when she realized the missing part of her character and life. When she finishes reading and sincerly appreciates D.H. Lawrence’s book, she turns into color and her bedroom gains color too. This is because that in Pleasantville, Mary Sue realizes that she shouldn’t always be trying to conform and trying to portray an image of being a cool and sexy woman teen. When she starts reading books, it widens her mindset and changes her view of life. Being liberated in a sense that she is now defined by her intellect instead of by her sexuality and popularity is really a huge transformation in her and hence the color change.

As for Bud, he gains color even later than Mary Sue; and it was only in the scene where Bud defends his mother that he transforms color. At the beginning of the film, David was in some ways cynical to the actions of his divorced mother; and being “present day teens”, they can be assumed to be cultureless and without respect for elders. Hence when Betty was cornered by a group of teen boys who are still in black and white, Bud started being conscious of the missing bond between his mother and him. When he returns to the present world, David is shown to affectionately wipe his mothers tears.  

Betty, or Mrs. Parker – Bud’s mother was depicted as the perfect 1950’s wife, who has the house cleaned, dinner set and always there to answer Mr. Parker’s “Honey, I’m home.” Later, when Betty turns into color because she discovers the missing element in her life, and she questions her own freedom and male dominance in the 1950s and walks out on her husband to stay with Mr. Johnson, in whom he sees the love for color.

Also, we can see an obvious restrain on personal freedom in one scene in the film where Bud applies grey foundation and lipstick for Betty to cover up her “color”. Although Betty experienced a sense of liberity but she did not dare to show it to the whole town. Hence there is a covering up of the beautiful colors of her face. This scene can be linked to another scene where Mr. Johnson helps Betty to remove her make up to show her true self. Hence it is clear the Gary Ross wants us to see that the meeting of the expectations of society by the citizens of Pleasantville is merely like a layer of makeup, false and waiting to be removed to reveal their true self within.

Besides this three main characters, I particularly like the scene where Bud transformed the whole of the uncolored people in the courtroom scene. The way that Mr. Parker gained color was particularly touching as he gained color with acknowledgement of his wife’s alleviated beauty in her new color. I believe that the director was trying to show that Mr. Parker had accepted the liberties of his wife and that instead of repressing it, he learnt to appreciate it as change brings about a fresh new side of her, instead of the never changing conforming wife.

that’s all my thoughts (: all in all i thought the film was great and it was quite fun watching the black and white surroundings and people gain dimension and color (: