Questions While Watching Pleasantville

Questions for Pleasantville

Many Americans believe that the U.S. is in decline as a result of its social problems and immorality, especially when compared to the “good old days” of the 1950s when we (supposedly) were much more religious, respectful of authorities, unified in beliefs and values, etc. Many television series from the 1950s, like Leave It To Beaver and Father Knows Best, give the impression that U.S. family life was idyllic, with no serious problems. In the 1950s there was also tight censorship on TV: no one ever cursed, and married couples always slept in separate beds.

Pleasantville challenges the belief in the supposed “good old days” in several ways. First, it shows how bland our existence would be if there were no tensions, no passions, no opportunities for us to have our faith challenged, our eyes opened, our courage pushed, our sins forgiven. This doesn’t mean violence and sin are good things, of course, or that we should deliberately sin. But it does mean that there is a paradox here: Where sin abounds, grace abounds even more.”

Pleasantville reminds us that the 1950s weren’t really all that idyllic: racism, fear and violence were just as problematic as they are now. This becomes especially clear in the second half of the film, when the new “coloreds” in the city of Pleasantville become segregated and victims of violence.

Questions:

1. Note the differences between David and his sister Jennifer at the beginning of the film. David is shy, conserva- tive, and plays it safe (which is why he loves watching old Pleasantville episodes). Jennifer is a rebel and sexually promiscuous. How do these two personalities change over the course of the film? Why do they change?

2. What is the symbolic significance of color in the film?

3. David (“Bud” in Pleasantville) tries to prevent his sister from changing the Pleasantville universe, and eventually he and Jennifer (“Mary Sue”) argue about it. What does Jennifer believe that David’s real concern or motivation is?

4. Even though David resists changing the Pleasantville universe, in fact he makes changes just like his sister. What changes? What might it mean that David says he doesn’t want to change anything, but does anyway? Is he aware that he is contradicting himself? 5. How does David teach the owner of the soda shop, Mr. Johnson, that life doesn’t have to follow a certain pattern, that life can be different? How does this insight bring Mr. Johnson freedom, joy, beauty, pain, and even sin?

6. When David and Jennifer first enter Pleasantville, the locals know nothing of a world outside their city. By the end of the film, they see images of other countries on TV. What does this symbolize?

7. The newfound enlightenment which David and Jennifer bring to Pleasantville also provokes crimes and hatred in people who had been so wholesome earlier. Why? How is this paradoxical?

8. At first, Mr. Johnson and Betty Parker (the mother of “Bud” and “Mary Sue”) are clearly attracted to each other, but do not act on it. Then, after both of them have had their eyes opened in various ways, they have an affair. At the end of the film, it is left ambiguous whether Betty remains with her husband or leaves him for Mr. Johnson. Why is this ambiguity important in terms of the lesson of the film? How does it relate to the conversation which David has with his real mother at the very end of the film?

9. Is Gary Ross implying that values and stability are unnecessary? Does a character make a decision near the end of the film which suggests that the original values and stability of Pleasantville were actually helpful for him or her?

Courtesy of: www.academic.regis.edu