Having a bulk of papers on my desk, struggling to finish the thesis chapter I am currently writing, I can't help but been drawn into the chaos of sign paraphernalia. In any case here is a VERY provisional list of some films that deconstruct the notion of the American dream unearthing its illusionary nature which is restricted into a facade of happiness and success. Feel free to make additions!
Easy Rider (1969) by Dennis Hopper
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1998) Terry Gilliam
Pleasantville (1998) by Gary Ross
Fight Club (1999) by David Fincher
American Beauty (1999) by Sam Mendes
Donnie Darko (2001) by Richard Kelly
The Matrix (1999) by the Wachowski bros
And there is more coming up...
Easy Rider (1969) by Dennis Hopper
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1998) Terry Gilliam
Pleasantville (1998) by Gary Ross
Fight Club (1999) by David Fincher
American Beauty (1999) by Sam Mendes
Donnie Darko (2001) by Richard Kelly
The Matrix (1999) by the Wachowski bros
22 comments:
Talking about the American dream as a myth, here is Roland Barthes from his great Mythologies (1972):
'myth is depoliticised speech and one must understand political in its deeper meaning, as describing the whole of human relations [..]Myth's function is to talk about things: [but] it purifies them,makes them innocent, it gives them a natural and eternal justification [..]it organises a world which is without contradictions because it is without depth..' and so on..
For all that they do to such kinds of myths, I will always love films as the ones you mention and classic Citizen Kane, and more recently, Ang Lee's The Icestorm
I want to mention Woody Allen's deconstuction of Citizen Kane (and Hitchkock's Spellbound), Zelig... because the American Dream is, after all, a chameleon. Also, films that deal with the Vietnam war in a way that undermines the idea of the Great American Nation, such as Apocalypse Now, the Deerhunter...
As Dr. Gonzo says in Fear and Loathing:
'I saw them in Easy Rider, but didn't believe they were real.'
@ sandra: Thanks!
@pixina: Excellent quote, thank you I think it encapsulates my point(Πώς με πιάνεις όμως...:Ρ)
Havent seen The Icestorm, but it will be on my gotta-see list!
@ dr gonzo: Excellent! Thank you! As you know, I really liked Zelig...:) Actually I was planning to include the DeerHunter in my list but why didnt I?? :)
And of course.. Lars von Trier's Dogville (apparently Manderlay as well but havent seen it) and the outstanding Dancing in the Dark--not only deconstructing america(s) but also deconstructing one of the most popular artistic forms in American cinema, and expressing the american dream: musicals...
Deer hunter! what a movie..i have to see Zelig- sounds interesting :)
Oh, yes indeed, Lars von Trier...:)
Zelig is a pisser--definitely must see.
Mia, for the film-lover i so totally am, i can't add anything to your list (half asleep on my first coffee and that's my excuse and i'm sticking to it). you've made your point very well w/that which you and your commenters added here. um, off the top of my addled head, try 'About Schmidt' (J Nicholson); depressing as hell but that's the way i like my films. i'd never seen it before but my friend in London gave it to me last summer.
re the myth of 'the American dream' excuse me while i laugh my ass off over here. then weep.
ps, if inspiration doesn't hit and/or i get burnt out again by reading US news today, i'm so stealing this post (full credit/link to you, of course).
Hahaha thanks Rimone! (I think I should see 'About Schmit')
Btw I love your house/surroundings photos, it looks as if you live in a Victorian Mansion in Yorkshire or something...:))
Nice movies you added and a great topic for discussion too.I would also add The virgin suicides by Sophia Coppola for the family depiction.
But a brilliant film on the deconstruction of the american dream is pretty persuasion (2005)by Siega!
Can I add two more?
How did I forget?
Magnolia (1999) by Anderson.
And Pieces of April (2004)by Carson.
Thank you very much for your additions Pixie! Indeed Magnolia (a superb film) is an exemplification of my point, as well as Virgin suicides, since the core of the American dream is the American family, revisited in many films such as some of those in my post.
I do not know the other two but your suggestions are very welcome and I will keep an eye for them! ;)
As classics go, I'd add On the Waterfront. Just brilliant. From the most recent ones, I'd suggest Crash. Oh, and Annie Hall, because it deconstructs so many myths, it's hard to list them all.
Πάντοτε είχα την απορία αν αυτού του είδους τα έργα μας αφυπνίζουν ή μας κάνουν να δεχόμαστε ακόμη περισσότερο το σύστημα. Προβληματίζομαι για το αν πραγματικά μας βοηθάνε να πάμε μπροστά. Μήπως αντιθέτως περιορίζουν την όποια δυναμική υπάρχει μέσα μας για ανατροπή της δομημένης και υπάρχουσας κατάστασης μεταβάλλοντας μας σε απλούς θεατές που νομίζουν οτι αντιστέκονται ενώ στην πραγματικότητα απλά παρακολουθούν εφησυχασμένοι; Μήπως μετατρέπουν τα κακώς κείμενα σε μια ακόμη μορφή θεάματος κάνοντας μας να πιστεύουμε οτι έχουμε επιτελέσει το όποιο καθήκον μας επειδή τα είδαμε; Κάτι σαν άλλοθι..
Απο την άλλη θα μου πεις υπάρχει και η θεωρία οτι τα κάστρα πέφτουν εκ των έσω..
Μην δίνεις σημασία. Είναι μια ακόμη απο αυτές τις σκέψεις μου που οι αυτοαναιρεσεις δεν της επιτρέπουν να καταλήξει πουθενά...Εσωτερικός διάλογος, ας πούμε, που βρήκε τον δρόμο προς το διαδίκτυο...
@Ladydontmind: Merci ma cherie!(i can't comment because I havent seen them but i trust your judgement ;))
@ βροχοποιος: Βροχοποιέ μου η τέχνη καλώς η κακώς είναι θεαματική, το ίδιο το μέσο του κινηματογράφου και του θεάτρου το επιτάσσει, περιέχει το 'spectacular'. Από εκεί και πέρα εξαρτάται την ταινία (το Dogville ή το Happiness δεν είναι to ίδιο θεαματικές με ταινίες του Ταραντίνο και των αδερφών Wachowski). Για μένα, η πρώτη μορφή 'αντίστασης' είναι η κριτική, ξέρω πχ ότι το Αμερικανικό όνειρο είναι απατηλό και έχει de facto δομηθεί για να χειραγωγεί.
Από κει και πέρα όλοι έχουμε τις τύψεις μας για το κατά πόσο είμαστε μέρος του συστήματος και υπακούμε σε αυτό. Δεν μπορούε να αντισταθούμε ολοκληρωτικά σε ό,τι μας πασάρεται, είμαστε όλοι μικρά ή μεγάλα θύματα. Το θέμα είναι παίρνεις το μπλε χάπι και ξεχνάς ή το κόκκινο και είσαι συνειδητοποιημένος του τι εκτυλίσσεται γύρω σου;
Αυτούς τους εσωτερικούς διαλόγους νομίζω τους έχουμε οι περισσότεροι και αξίζει να τους δίνουμε σημασία ;)
"Spectacular consumption of ideological radicality, both in its hope to set itslef apart hierarchically from its neighbours and its permanent disillusionment, is one with the actual consumption of everyday spectacular commodity, and like it [it is] doomed to dissapear" The Real Split in The International, Guy Debord
Yes, we are all aware of the overwhelming function of the spectacle and we cannot deny that we are not part and complicit to it. But I would not go that far to claim for the annihilation of small resistances within the whole....or as vroxopoios put it, 'τα κάστρα πέφτουν εκ των έσω.'Τώρα αν θα πέσουν ή όχι αυτό είναι ένα άλλο θέμα...
Afto to metaphor me ta blue ke red hapia poli m'arese...poli accurate. Akouo vevaia ke poli to Meds aftes tis meres ke mallon eho epireastei kapos...Alla iparhei mia exeretika endiaferousa analogia mou fenetai. Mipos telika ola einai thema farmakeftikis agogis, siniditis i iposiniditis...?
(Me epirease o Brian, ase)
Χαχαχα, είναι φιλόσοφος ο άτιμος ο Μπράιαν τελικά! ;)
whoa, i just remembered Blue Velvet.
oh, and i stole your post. nyah and thank you. :-)
does Twin Peaks count? i mean, it was a longass TV series, but still.
Oh, yes it does!!And I think Lynch's work on the whole is appropriate!
Haha, you are welcome, I am glad you liked it!
ahh, how could i ever forget 'barfly' and 'illtown'? duhhhhh. and 'to die for' although i can't stand nicole kidman, the film's dynamite IMO, truly the obverse of the so-called amer. dream, as are the two above; all three are highly recommended.
thanks for your comments on my pics, Mia. for now, i'm a lucky grrl.
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