The 50s were a time of great affluence in America. Pleasantville represented the idealized view of the 50s. However, as we know, all was not paradise. Not everyone was included in the ideal world that is depicted there and not everyone who was included found that world ideally suited for them. The Civil Rights and Women's rights movement, the rise of a youth culture, McCarthyism are all referenced by the Pleasantville story.
Choose a scene from the film that you think is a metaphor for cultural clashes... civil rights, women's rights, youth culture or McCarthyism. Describe the scene and explain why it represents one of those clashes and what the filmmaker is trying to say to the viewer about that clash.
There are a number of articles that you can google to get other perspectives on Pleasantville.
I think that the scene were the store owners were putting up signs in their windows saying “No Colored Allowed” is a metaphor for segregation during the 1950s because their were certain stores that wouldn’t allow African Americans and would show it by putting signs, like these, in the store windows. Also, during the trial, the people with color are separated from the people who are still black and white, they’re in different sections. It’s not until David proves that color was inside all of the citizens of Pleasantville, that they stop their views on the people with color and how they should all be separated.
Posted by: J.P | June 12, 2007 at 05:09 PM
A scene from the film that I thought was a metaphor for cultural clashes like women’s rights was when the wife said no. There world the women did what she was told and had no say in the matter. So the wife stepped out of her place and said what she felt. What she felt was leaving and not having to explain herself to her husband. She also wanted him to do some of the work in the house. Last but not least is she wanted to be different and loved the fact of being different and he was not going to change that.
Posted by: Iyana Abrams | June 12, 2007 at 05:38 PM
The Women's rights Movement was most likely symbolized by the George's wife, who directly disobeyed his command. That woman stood up for herself and took the chance to not make dinner for once. I must remind you things were very different then as compared to now and 'dinner' was held sacred to the common man. When George's wife didn't obey George, she showed that she wanted to do whatever she wanted to and nothing could change it.
Another one would be civil disobedience. When 'Spiderman' refused to follow the rules he knew were wrong, the entire normal community revolted against him. He stepped up to the plate and fought for what he knew, deep in his red heart, what was right. Spiderman and the man from 'Full House' teamed up to draw a full scale painting entirely in 'color'. My feeling is the citizens will realize what has been wrought and will fix it.
'Those who feel it; know it'- Varun Soondar
Posted by: Varoo Loves Soup | June 12, 2007 at 06:58 PM
One of the scenes represents crystalknok wich means night of broken glass. This is symbolyzing when germany was destroying all of the jew's property. I say this because of when the people of pleasantville were destroying the soda shop which was all the owner knew and loved along with art.
Posted by: Boricua | June 13, 2007 at 02:13 PM
I think the scene when bud and the shop keeper are caught by the painted wall represents the civil disobedience that was going on during segregation. I mean when you think about it it was the same thing as racism( the descrimination against "colored"). The coloring of the wall represents a movement that is on the horizon. This event that is coming will be the equalization of the rights of all people.
Posted by: Dannyboy | June 13, 2007 at 03:50 PM