Movie: Pleasantville

The Assignment: Create a five -minute video response to the film. This video will be available for viewing to other members of the class. This is an academic assignment. Consider this as an oral presentation similar to how you would present in class. Please outline your ideas prior to making the video using the format you have used in other Dialogue courses. Rehearse, and make eye contact with the camera in your computer during the recording. DO NOT READ YOUR PRESENTATION. Your presentation should flow from one idea to the next. Look up how to pronounce “Freud.”

[Please remember that the film is a fantasy and as such does not have to make “sense.”]

The Questions: THIS IS NOT A SUMMARY OF THE FILM OR YOUR REVIEW OF IT. PLEASE ADDRESS THESE QUESTIONS [1 AND 2. BELOW] IN YOUR RESPONSE TO THE FILM.

We see in the film two worlds – the world in which David and Jennifer live: their social relationships, their family, their high school, and the modern world presented to them in their classes. And we also see the TV fantasy world of Pleasantville. In their journey to Pleasantville, David / Bud and Jennifer / Mary Sue transform the TV world of Pleasantville, themselves and others. Explain how they change the world of Pleasantville and how they change as individuals. .What is the connection between how they and Pleasantville change and Freud’s ideas on libido? See my short lecture on that! Lastly, is the transformation of the world of Pleasantville for the better or for the worse in your opinion? Why? Try to be as specific as you can as to what happens in the film. Do characters change for better or worse? Support your ideas with examples from the film.

This video is your opinion. There is no one correct answer. Just state your ideas BUT YOU MUST support them with the film and / or references to Freud.

Your video should be at least five minutes in length and follow the rubric below.

Your Presentation: Consider this as an oral presentation in a formal setting. However, please outline your ideas prior to making the video, rehearse, and make eye contact with the camera during the recording. Your presentation should flow from one idea to the next. Lastly, remember what I am seeing. Consider the background in the video. Do not have your dog running around behind you and barking. Try to get the camera as level as possible to your eyes so I do not have to look up your nostrils the entire time. You don’t have to dress up, but dress how you would if you were presenting this in class. FOLLOW AN OUTLINE AND REHEARSE! PLEASE JUST DON’T RAMBLE ON.

THERE IS NO POWERPOINT REQUIRED WITH THIS VIDEO!

This video will be graded on this basis:

33% = the ideas in the video are expressed in a clear and organized way; HENCE, OUTLINE.

33% = the ideas expressed are those of the speaker and not directly taken from the Internet or restated from the readings.

33% = the video is presented in an effective way. It has been rehearsed.