An American Beauty, in the most literal of senses, refers to a breed of roses. The breed of roses first seen in the movie of the same name are most likely that breed. The appropriateness of that name is without question. The American Beauty is an aesthetically pleasing rose. It is, as the name implies, beautiful. Yet American Beauty, as a film, begs the viewer, in its tagline, to "Look Closer." This simple two word phrase was on movie billboards across the country, and were in the trailers for the movie. In fact, the phrase is visible in Lester Burnham's cubicle during the movie. This command also forces the viewer to take a deeper look at what may seem ugly on the surface. In the course of this paper, I plan to discuss how the movie, through its words and its cinematography, makes the claim that beauty is not limited to the sheer aesthetic beauty that has been the definition for so long. The movie also suggests that there is no place for people who see the inherent beauty in the world among those who do not, who constitute the majority. Those who do not see this beauty will be unhappy. I will also discuss how Plato's famous "Allegory of the Cave" relates to the cases of two of the protagonists, Lester and Jane Burnham. Furthermore, I also aim to explore how Mulvey explains Ricky Fitt's plausibility as a narrator.
[...] This is why she goes home with a gun, most likely with the intent of killing Lester. However, finding Lester already dead, she realizes that this is not what she wanted. She cries, collapsing in his closet. I make the claim that Carolyn's feeling of powerlessness comes from her inability to appreciate life's beauty. Lester was in the same situation, which is why he says that he is trying to help her when they fight over the sofa. If one were to look very carefully at the sofa, it could be explained thus. [...]
[...] It is because Angela only sees beauty as skin-deep. The case of Angela falls into roughly the same concept as that of Carolyn. She holds her physical beauty so dearly that she fails to recognize any other aspect of herself. This is why Ricky's words pierce her so deeply. Angela, in her fight with Jane, claims that she is her friend. Ricky sees through the facade of friendship, “looking closer” as the movie suggests, and says, “She's not your friend. [...]
[...] 843) I contend that this is true, but American Beauty adds a fourth look, through Ricky's camera within the film. When Ricky is using his camera, the audience is subordinate to this look, and not, . that of the characters at each other within the screen illusion” (pg. 843). The fourth look that I have just suggested replaces Mulvey's third. The third look as defined by Mulvey then becomes a narrative voice, that of Ricky. Therefore, when Ricky speaks through the camera, the viewer tends to believe him as an impartial voice, separate from the characters within this screen illusion. [...]
[...] When Ricky and Jane are together, and Ricky is filming Jane, she protests and says, don't like how I look.” To this, Ricky replies, can't believe you don't know how beautiful you are.” Again, this goes to show how Ricky appreciates beauty where there is none in the eyes of others. This entire incident goes to show how Jane is still unaware of her own inner beauty, and it explains her insecurity. However, at the end of the film, Jane shows that she has truly changed. [...]
[...] You need structure, you need discipline.” Since Frank believes this with such conviction, the viewer could see it as a reason that he murdered Lester, whose very existence is based around doing as he pleased. The movie makes a claim that even that anything can be seen as beautiful, even the seemingly grotesque. Throughout the movie, there is a motif of red. The color red is, in the movie, associated with things often pleasing to the eye. The red roses that Carolyn's neighbor Jim admires are the first major example. [...]
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