PLEASANTVILLE THE MOVIE

RUNNING HEAD : Pleasantville

The Meaning of Color in the Movie Pleasantville

[Student 's name]

March 8 , 2006

[University]

Pleasantville is a movie about color . In this film , the characters merely support the theme about the transformation of grey to color while the cinematography uses the plot to take the audience through the transformation . Change , the outcome of such transformation , is symbolized by color . As soon as something or someone changes , the individual and his view of the surroundings change from black and white to color . However , change does not

happen by itself it needs to be initiated . In the movie , there are three catalysts for change self-awareness , independent thinking and choice . These factors initiate individual and societal transformation and are discussed fully , in the next paragraphs

The first illustration of change happens with Betty Parker . As a typical replica of a 50 's housewife , Betty 's altruism is a way of life However , in a conversation with Jennifer , she realizes that there is more to the life of being subservient to her family . After learning how to pleasure herself , Betty realizes that as a woman , she deserves to feel pleasure and love from her spouse that her purpose is that of nurturing and not only serving . In that moment , as Betty becomes colored and the world around her appears in color , change happened because of her awareness of self-worth . This sparked succeeding scenes of self-discovery , transforming individual characters to colored members of the society . There 's Mr . Johnson who realizes that , [They] must be awfully lucky to see colors . bet they don 't even know how lucky they are ' he exclaims , as he finds true happiness in expressing his imagination and painting in color . The firemen exclaims , Whoa ! So that 's what these do ' when , for the first time , they realize how fulfilling it is to be able to put out fires . As each of these characters transform individually , a more rampant color change happens to many teenagers in their discovery of reading books

Independent thinking is a new development in Pleasantville brought about by the mass discovery of knowledge when teenagers started lining up at the Public Library and read filled pages of books . Though conservative elders think that , they oughtta be havin ' soda ' the mass interest in reading about worlds and possibilities outside of Pleasantville transforms many into color . With their new found knowledge , teenagers begin to think for themselves and decide to pursue their passions , like go to Lover 's Lane , instead of just following what elders say

Freedom of choice is the last catalyst for change portrayed in the movie . Being used to the norms of how to live in Pleasantville teenagers and select adults that have evolved into exercising their freedom of choice . Betty chose not to serve George his dinner and instead teach him to work the oven . Margaret chose to give cookies to David , a cool boy she found to know a lot of things greater than Pleasantville . Mr . Johnson and David didn...