MovieChat Forums > Pleasantville (1998) Discussion > About far more than conservative vs. lib...

About far more than conservative vs. liberal.

posted 9 years ago by giygas-12533
3 replies | jump to latest

I'm not gonna go off on a long tangent here, I'm pressed for time. The message in this film is similar to messages found in novels like The Giver as well as Anthem by Ayn Rand (who is, btw, considered a promoter of conservative ideologies). It's just allegorical. It's about nonconformity/individualism vs. conformity and narrrow-mindedness, in a general sense. I can see how people liken that to liberalism vs. conservatism, but seriously people, open your minds up past the small box of American political diatribes. There's a whole world of philisophical ideologies out there. Not just two. I know conservatives who agree with the film's promotion of individualist values. So, step outside your boxes and see it for what it is.
Also....Back to the Future is conservative? You...seriously think so?

[–] giygas-12533 9 years ago

A good way to further point out that this isn't a liberalist agenda movie: The sister, "Mary Sue", attains color by giving up her cares for being popular. Rather than go screw around she chooses to stay and home and read. The film's message is against small mindedness in all ways. Stepping outside your comfort zone. It's about accepting change and growth as being part of the human experience.

[–] TxMike 9 years ago

Almost. What the writer/director does is present the two choices, to live in a world where everything is safe and people live scripted lives, or to live in a world where safety is not a given and everyone has the opportunity to choose and perhaps make mistakes. He used the B&W or color to signify when a character has chosen the latter. He strongly believes that for life to be worth living we each need the freedom to make choices and live with the danger.

But the nice thing about fictional stories is different viewers can take different things away for it. "Conservative" or "liberal" are just labels that some people feel they need to understand or explain something, but it isn't needed here.

..*.. TxMike ..*..
Take a risk, Take a chance, Make a change. Kelly Clarkson - Breakaway

[–] giygas-12533 9 years ago

I agree completely with your last statement there. I get tired of the labelling.