Lester Burnham's pursuit of happiness: the film 'American Beauty' and its socio-cultural and spiritual dimensions

Nonfiction, Entertainment, Drama, Anthologies
Cover of the book Lester Burnham's pursuit of happiness: the film 'American Beauty' and its socio-cultural and spiritual dimensions by Alexander Kasten, GRIN Publishing
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Alexander Kasten ISBN: 9783638059749
Publisher: GRIN Publishing Publication: June 9, 2008
Imprint: GRIN Publishing Language: English
Author: Alexander Kasten
ISBN: 9783638059749
Publisher: GRIN Publishing
Publication: June 9, 2008
Imprint: GRIN Publishing
Language: English

Seminar paper from the year 2007 in the subject American Studies - Culture and Applied Geography, grade: 2,3, Dresden Technical University (Department of American Cultural Studies), course: The US: 1980's till today, 12 entries in the bibliography, language: English, abstract: If one takes a look at the 1999 Sam Mendes picture American Beauty and its overwhelming success both at the box offices and at the countless movie festivals all around the globe, one might start wondering what it was that made this relatively cheap ('only' 15 Million $ budget) film about a middle-class All-American father and his struggle with life in a consume oriented suburban environment so successful? The film not only grossed more than twenty times its production cost, but is also one of the highest critically acclaimed movies of all times. Many main-stream critics trace the films success back to its genre twisted plot, the outstanding performance of both its main and supporting actors and its broad appeal that, as Begeman has put it: 'transcends genre, a narrowly defined audience, and cultural and socioeconomic borders.' The story of a burned-out average middle-class American who tries to regain his personal freedom through dramatic personal changes in his life, seems to provide just the perfect material for yet another short-lived movie experience whose half-life is comparable to those of the many 'Help yourself' guidebooks published each and every year. But those superficial conclusions are as far away from the truth as the movie is from being ordinary. On the contrary, it seems that even more than seven years after its initial publication, film scholars and analysts have not yet managed to interpret the movie in its multidimensional entity. Without even trying to claim to have found the key approach to understanding American Beauty, this paper will focus on main character Lester Burnham's quest for happiness and meaning in life and follow him through the movie's structure and narrative in order to answer the rather simple question: what is this film about? Is it simply a critique of a materialistic American middle-class society that is driven by the superficial 'suburban pressure to conform and to acquire' ? Or does it also offer deeper reaching motifs that needed to be examined in order to get to the core meaning of the film? To answer those questions, this paper will first provide a comprehensive summary of the films structure, narrative and characters by applying it to the analytical pattern of Syd Field's 'Paradigm' , putting its main focus on the character Lester Burnham and his interaction with his environment.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

Seminar paper from the year 2007 in the subject American Studies - Culture and Applied Geography, grade: 2,3, Dresden Technical University (Department of American Cultural Studies), course: The US: 1980's till today, 12 entries in the bibliography, language: English, abstract: If one takes a look at the 1999 Sam Mendes picture American Beauty and its overwhelming success both at the box offices and at the countless movie festivals all around the globe, one might start wondering what it was that made this relatively cheap ('only' 15 Million $ budget) film about a middle-class All-American father and his struggle with life in a consume oriented suburban environment so successful? The film not only grossed more than twenty times its production cost, but is also one of the highest critically acclaimed movies of all times. Many main-stream critics trace the films success back to its genre twisted plot, the outstanding performance of both its main and supporting actors and its broad appeal that, as Begeman has put it: 'transcends genre, a narrowly defined audience, and cultural and socioeconomic borders.' The story of a burned-out average middle-class American who tries to regain his personal freedom through dramatic personal changes in his life, seems to provide just the perfect material for yet another short-lived movie experience whose half-life is comparable to those of the many 'Help yourself' guidebooks published each and every year. But those superficial conclusions are as far away from the truth as the movie is from being ordinary. On the contrary, it seems that even more than seven years after its initial publication, film scholars and analysts have not yet managed to interpret the movie in its multidimensional entity. Without even trying to claim to have found the key approach to understanding American Beauty, this paper will focus on main character Lester Burnham's quest for happiness and meaning in life and follow him through the movie's structure and narrative in order to answer the rather simple question: what is this film about? Is it simply a critique of a materialistic American middle-class society that is driven by the superficial 'suburban pressure to conform and to acquire' ? Or does it also offer deeper reaching motifs that needed to be examined in order to get to the core meaning of the film? To answer those questions, this paper will first provide a comprehensive summary of the films structure, narrative and characters by applying it to the analytical pattern of Syd Field's 'Paradigm' , putting its main focus on the character Lester Burnham and his interaction with his environment.

More books from GRIN Publishing

Cover of the book Data mining and data based direct marketing activities by Alexander Kasten
Cover of the book Get the Sony Style - a case study on Sony`s marketing, branding and advertising strategies by Alexander Kasten
Cover of the book The Impact of the Euro and the EMU on Intra-Euro Area Trade, FDI, and the Euro Area Balance of Payments by Alexander Kasten
Cover of the book A Consumer Bahaviour Case Study by Alexander Kasten
Cover of the book Economic, environmental and socio-cultural impacts of tourism: An analysis from Mexico by Alexander Kasten
Cover of the book Warum benützen Menschen virtuelle Welten als Kommunikationsplattformen? by Alexander Kasten
Cover of the book US foreign policy in 21st century by Alexander Kasten
Cover of the book Sexuality in Charlotte Brontë's 'Jane Eyre' by Alexander Kasten
Cover of the book Places of Pilgrimage by Alexander Kasten
Cover of the book Self-efficacy, self-monitoring and self-esteem by Alexander Kasten
Cover of the book Witchcraft in early modern Germany by Alexander Kasten
Cover of the book Supply Chain Performance Measurement & E-Business Supply Chain Management: Including a Practical Excursus on the Intel Case by Alexander Kasten
Cover of the book Photogrammetrische Luftbildbearbeitung - Anleitung an einem Kartenbeispiel by Alexander Kasten
Cover of the book A Clash of Cultures? by Alexander Kasten
Cover of the book An Estimation Procedure for Parameters in Segmentation by Alexander Kasten
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy