C ORINNE M CW HINNEY

M AXIM F ISHMAN

Learning Outcomes:
(Grades 8-10)
show an awareness
of, and use of metaphor and allegory in
multimedia

Guide Topic
The topic of this media study is an examination of the film
Pleasantville (Ross,
1998). The purpose
of the study is to
guide students to
think critically about
the metaphoric
themes that are present in film and to
examine how the use
of colour, or lack
there-of, in film production can affect
the impact of the
story on the viewer.

demonstrate an understanding of a variety of social and

emotional issues and
challenges that affect people at different stages of life
demonstrate an understanding of the
tension between
individual rights and
the responsibilities of
citizens
describe various
ways individuals and
groups can influence
legal systems and
political structure

Film: Pleasantville
Release Date: 1998
Director: Gary Ross
Producers: Gary Ross,
Jon Kilik, Bob Degus,
Steven Soderbergh
Running Time: 125
minutes
Genre: Drama
Rating: PG
Country: United

demonstrate the
ability to use special
effects in multimedia
to influence a message
analyze how individual visual elements
and their physical
qualities are used to
create meaning and
effect

Synopsis
David Wagner finds
escape from his complicated teenage life with
his addiction to a
1950s sitcom called
Pleasantville. Life in
Pleasantville is predictable, innocent and, well,
down-right pleas-

ant. One night Davids

life takes a strange and
complicated turn when
he and his sister are
transported into the
black and white world
of Pleasantville. The
ideal town is transformed into colour with

the influence of David and his

sister on the community. The
film symbolically references
issues such as race, feminism,
loss of innocence, finding
ones passion, and challenging the established order.

Key Concepts
Pleasantville explores concepts such as acceptance of
change and its impact on
tradition. One of the central
themes of this film is the role
of racism in 1950s America.
Pleasantville initially exists as
an ideal romanticized town
which begins to change with
the introduction of David and
Jennifer. Within a short time of
their arrival, David and Jennifer introduce social concepts which are new to the
town, such as sexuality and
art. This causes the steady

transformation of the inhabitants of the town which creates the threat to existing tra-

Focus Questions
After viewing the movie, consider the following questions:

What role does color have in the

film? Is color a character?

Why do characters change color in

the film?

What does this film say about the

perception of small town life in the
1950s?

What is the role of women in the film

and how does it change over the
course of the story?

Why has the filmmaker deliberately

chosen to make a large part of their
film in black and white?

Why is the introduction of color is so

disruptive to the social fabric of
Pleasantville?

ditional race based context

and applies it to one of purely
visual perception.

Activity #1
A metaphor is a literary device in which a word, phrase
or idea is applied to an object, person or action to
which it is not literally applicable. It denotes one kind of
object or idea in place of another to suggest a symbolic
relationship or analogy between them. To further understand metaphor, Watch

Big Idea

the TedEd video The art of

metaphor (Hirshfield, 2012).
There are many metaphoric
references in the movie Pleasantville. The experiences of
the characters and the
events of the storyline reflect
real life situations as well as
current and historical realities. Examine the storyboard

below with big ideas and

concepts that are explored in
the movie. Complete the storyboard with examples from
the movie that relate to the
metaphoric theme and give
an example of a current or
historical reality or event that
correlates. Provide a drawing
or screenshot as well as a description.

Scene of Reference in Movie Relationship to Current or Historical Reality

Breaking Established Rules

Pleasantville is perfect. There

is no homelessness, poverty,
fires, divorce, or colour. Rules
are never broken until David
and his sister arrive. As rules
are broken, and the people
of Pleasantville cave in to
their desires, Pleasantville
comes to life with vivid colour.
Racism

Feminism - the changing role

of women in society
Art Threatening the Established Order
Self Awareness

The scene with the red apple

is a metaphor in reference to
Pleasantville as the Garden
of Eden. David and his sister
tempt the people of Pleasantville with the forbidden
fruit. (Sex, passion, self
awareness, art, books, etc.)
One can argue that the TV
repairman plays the role of
God.

Activity #2
In considering the work done
by the filmmaker and the actors, it is important to understand their perspective in developing their story and characters. Complete the following activity:
Take on the role of the Writer
and Director of Pleasantville,

Gary Ross. Write a script or

short story in which you are
explaining to one or two of
the actors in the film how you
would like them to present
their characters. You could
talk to them about the characters motivations, values
and beliefs, past experiences,
hopes for the future and how

they should make the viewing

audience feel about them.
Explain to them how to consider color as part of their
character.

Other Films with Metaphors

The Truman Show
The Truman Show depicts the
life of Truman Burbank who
grows up in, and lives, in a
fake town full of actors. Truman is unaware that
he lives in a giant dome of
special effects. This movie is a
metaphor for how the media
creates theatrical illusions that
affect our perceptions of reality.

The Chronicles of Narnia: The

Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
The Chronicles of Narnia: The
Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe takes place during WWII
and transports four siblings into
the magical world of Narnia. The movie is filled with
metaphors symbolizing biblical
stories and is an allegory to the
death and coming to life of
Christ.

Avatar
Avatar depicts the conflict between humans and aliens on a
distant planet. It is filled with
metaphors symbolizing ideas
such as the treatment of aboriginal peoples, the stewardship
of earth and racism.

References
Hirshfield, J. (2012). The art of the metaphor. [Video File] Retrieved from
http://ed.ted.com/lessons/jane-hirshfield-the-art-of-the-metaphor
Sanes, K. (1996) Truman As Archetype. Retrieved from http://
www.transparencynow.com/truman.htm
Sampson, S. (2010). Avatar as Metaphor. Retrieved from http://
www.gotquestions.org/Narnia_Lion-Witch-Wardrobe.html
Unknown. (2002). What are the Christian themes in The Lion, the Witch and
the Wardrobe? Retrieved from http://www.gotquestions.org/Narnia_LionWitch-Wardrobe.html
Images
http://www.timepilgrims.com/uploads/8/7/1/2/8712295/8321128_orig.jpg
http://www.humortimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/garden-ofeden.jpg
http://pop-verse.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/no-coloreds.gif
http://www.mediacircus.net/pleasant__1.jpg
http://www.asset1.net/tv/pictures/1140/380/movie/pleasantville-1998/
Pleasantville-LB-1.jpg
http://www.robertmills.me/wp-content/
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