英语影视欣赏 美国丽人

LectureFourSocialDramaFilmAmericanBeautyPresentedbyJerrySocialDramaFilmSocialDramaasaGenreCharacteristicsNarrativePatternofSocialDramaUnderlyingPrincipleonSocialDramaDefinitionofSocialDramaSocialDramasarefilmswhosecentralnarrativeconcernorconflictisasocialproblem---poverty,inequality,discrimination,racism,orexclusion,etc.Twodefiningconventionsofthisgenre:1.Identifyasocialill2.DramatizeitsremedyOneFlewOvertheCuckoo’sNestDealwiththementalhealthsystemTraffic《毒品网络》DealwithdrugabuseCharacteristics1.Thesocialisusuallyacontemporaryproblemandassuchthesettingisalsocontemporary.2.Thesocialdramatypicallydisplaysasympatheticperspectivetowardsthevictimsofthisproblem,andissupportiveofthosewhofightagainstit.3.Underlyingthesocialdramaistheassumptionthattheproblem,oncerecognized,canberemediedthroughwell-intentionedsocial,political,orlegalreform.NarrativeStructureofSocialDrama1.Theprotagonistisinitiallyunawareoftheexistenceoftheproblem.2.Asthefilmdevelops,theprotagonistbecomesconsciousoftheproblemandbecomescommittedtofightingagainstit.3.Theprotagonistishelpedinthisprocessbyaminorcharacterwhocommunicatesthetruenatureoftheproblemandsuggestswaysofdealingwithit.4.Theproblemisoftenembodiedinthefigureoftheantagonist.5.Theprotagonistfinallyconfrontshisproblem,isvictoriousordefeated,6.AndthefilmendsHorace’sArtofPoetry(Romanpoetrycritics)65-8BC“Toteachortodelight,orbothifpossible.”PhilipSydney’sDefenseofPoetry(Britishscholar)1554-1586“Theendingendofallearthlylearningbeingvirtuousaction.”UnderlyingprincipleonsocialdramaAmericanBeautySynopsisCharactersStyle---”rose”symbol,theshotCriticalPerspectivesSynopsisofAmericanBeautyItisaboutthestoryofLesterBurnham,wholivesacalmlifewithhisfamilyinAmericansuburbia.OneeveningheispressuredbyhiswifeCarolyntoattendaperformanceattheirdaughter’slocalschool.ParticipatingintheperformanceisJane’sbestfriendAngela,anattractivegirl,bywhomLesterisfascinated.Lester’smeetingwithAngelaawakensinhimavitalityhehasnotknownforyears.Withtheassistanceofhisneighbour’sson,RickyFitts,hebeginstorediscoverthepleasuresofyouth.Hequitshismeaninglessofficejobandstartssmokingmarijuanaagain;Inflightfromtherestraintsofhismarriage,heeventurnsablindeyetohiswife’sinfidelity.Onenight,whenAngelacomestostaywithJaneinthefamilyhome,Lesteroverhearshersaythatifheworkedoutmoreshewouldsleepwithhim.Inspired,hebeginshispursuitinearnest.ColonelFittsmisunderstandstherelationshipbetweenLesterandhissonRicky.Himselfarepressedhomosexual,hebelievesthatLesterispayingmoneytohissoninexchangeforsexualfavours.Onerainyeveninghecanresistthetemptationnolonger.HeseducesLesterinhisgarage.Lesterisshockedandturnshimaway.Shortlyafterwards,hereturnswithagunandshootsLesterinthehead.Atthemomentofhisdeath,Lesterfinallyrelivesthemostbeautifulmomentsofhislife,andcomestorealizewhatitisthathehasbeenseekingallalong.Protagonist:LesterOuterMotivationInnerMotivationToseduceAngela,buthefailsatlastFirst,motivatedtolivefreelyfromnonsensethatsurroundshim,embodiesbyhiswife’s“success”andhisboss’“boringdailywork”Second,motivatedtopursuebeautythatcomesfromappreciatinglifeinitswholenessMotivatedtoengageinhumancontact,talkingwithAngelaatlast.Hesucceedsatlast.Antagonist:CarolynandColonelFittsBothseektoendLester’slifeattheclimaxLester’spursuitforfreedom,truthandintimacyMaterialand“me-first”philosophy:CarolynFitts:oldermodelofmasculinitythatcanonlyexpressitselfintheformofphysicalstrengthandaggression.Questionfordiscussion:FindoutpositiveandnegativequalitiesofcharactersCharacterPositivequalitiesNegativequalitiesLesterDesiretolivelifefullyWillingnesstodestroyfamilyinpursuitofpersonalhappinessCarolynA(deeplyhidden)affectionforherhusbandShallownessandselfishnessJaneDesiretoloveandbelovedLowself-esteemRickyIntegrity,pursuitofhigherthingsAntisocialattitudesandbehaviors(drug-dealing)ColonelDesiretoloveandbelovedPsychologicallyrepressedAngelaA(deeplyhidden)tendernessandnaivetyShallownessandvanitySymbol:Rose1.Passionatelove2.Everyrosehasitsthorns---dangerous,hurting3.Shortlifespan:“Gatheryeroseswhileyemay”---carpediemLester’s“love”toAngelaislikerosepetal,whichispartialandunrealistic;hehasnotacceptedthefullsymbolicsignificanceoftheroseanditsthorns.Americanbeautyisakindofrose,whichsymbolizesonlythefittestcansurvive:“TheAmericanbeautyrosecanbeproducedinthesplendourandfragrancewhichbringcheertoitsbeholderonlybysacrificingtheearlybudswhichgrowuparoundit”SymbolizingtheruthlesslycompetitiveenvironmentinwhichLesterandtheothercharactersmustlive.ShotOverheadshot:“God’seye-view”===retrospectiveversionofeventsnarratedbyadeadman’sspiritSymmetricalcomposition(对称结构)dinnersceneReinforcethefeelingofrigidityandstasis:CriticalperspectivesDysfunctionalAmericaDefinition:abnormalorunhealthyinteractionbetweenmembersApplications:Lester:Mid-lifecrisis/estrangedfromtheirdaughterJaneCauseofmid-lifecrisis:uncertaintyaboutthemeaningofone’slifeColonelFitts:RepressionofhishomosexualityandprojectingonLesterandhissonCarolyn:EstrangedfromherdaughterandherhusbandAngela,Jane,Ricky:identitycrisis2.AconceptofBeautySpokesmanforb