One of Pleasantville’s underlying themes is one of a 1940’s dictatorship similar to that of the Hitler regime. This is shown most clearly in the scene of the movie in which the mayor of the town orders books to be burned and then holds a town meeting for all “true” citizens of Pleasantville. These two scenes are entwined in each other as the camera goes back and forth between each. This book burning is a critical point in the movie because it really shows the change in attitude of the people and also the power of the mayor. The city has started with the most “perfect” place on earth and has now changed into a form of hell. He gains this power by turning all the “true” residents of Pleasantville against the colored people. This dichotomy is a mirror image to that of the Aryan race against the Jews during WWII.
Book Burning Scene...(2:20-7:00)
This incredibly moving scene actually shows the incredible change from the 1950’s back a decade to the days of Hitler. It’s interesting that the movie shows this book burning and dictatorship symbolism because these people would have just come out of a war fighting against that. The painting on the wall done by Bud and Mr. Johnson shown above shows a picture of a burning book and is representative of the 1940’s Germany. These books were burned in both situations as a result of a change in government to a dictatorship resulting in total control.
They don’t even realize it’s happening to them and they get caught up in this sick world. The symbolism of the colored people can not only be representative of blacks and whites, but also of the Jews in Nazi Germany. That oh so obvious symbol that they’re different can be compared to wearing the Star of David on their clothing. This Star was a humiliating piece of evidence that you were different and was meant to segregate and demean, just as separating and mistreating the colored people was.
2 comments:
I must disagree with this point. The mayor was against the violence and had nothing to do with the book burning. Although one can argue revolution themes, wholly the film is about change, but depicts conservative violence.
I must disagree with this point. The mayor was against the violence and had nothing to do with the book burning. Although one can argue revolution themes, wholly the film is about change, but depicts conservative violence.
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