[英语学习]美国丽人Americanbeauty鉴赏.ppt

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1、AMERICAN BEAUTY,Presented by：Angus,David H.,David K.,Denis,Didier,Ginger,Yvette.,Nucleus Family and Suburban Life in America,Suburbia in the United States:The Ideal Image of A Home:At the very beginning,also in the end of the film,we can see the neatly lined up houses.A perfect neighborhood,tranquil

2、 and peaceful ambience.Normality:On the surface every house is identical,the shape,the silhouette,the colour of the houses,the size of the gardensetc.However,the interior varies so are the different families.They encounter different obstacles and share different values.,Family Tree:The Burnham Famil

3、y,Lester Burnham-Carolyn Burnham|Jane Burnham,Character:Lester Burnham,Lester Burnham is in a mid-life crisis,caused by his stressed wife Carolyn and rebelling teenage daughter Jane.He became obsessed with his daughters best friend Angela,and decided to change his life.He is looked down upon by both

4、 his wife and daughter,and he admitted that he himself is a gigantic loser.He also thinks to alter the fact that he Is a loser is futile.(Before meeting Angela),For instance,Lester and Carolyn are driving to the basketball game to watch Janes dance team gig Lester Burnham:Well what makes you so sure

5、 she wants us to be there?Did she ask us to come?Carolyn Burnham:Of course not.She doesnt want us to know how important this is to her.But shes been practicing her steps for weeks.Lester Burnham:Well,Ill bet money shes going to resent it,and Im missing the James Bond marathon on TNT.Carolyn Burnham:

6、Lester,this is important.Im sensing a real distance growing between you and Jane.Lester Burnham:Growing?She hates me.Carolyn Burnham:Shes just willful.Lester Burnham:She hates you too.(Clip),Sexually Frustrated by His Wife,Carolyn Burnham:Dont you mess with me,mister,or Ill divorce you so fast itll

7、make your head spin!Lester Burnham:On what grounds?Im not a drunk,I dont fuck other women,Ive never hit you,I dont mistreat you.I dont even try to touch you since youve made it so abundantly clear how unnecessary you consider me to be!But I did support you when you got your license,and some people m

8、ight think that entitles me to half of whats yours.So,turn off the light when you come to bed!(CLIP)Lester is inferior to his wife in many aspects.So in their relationship Lester does not represent the phallus.Hes physical needs and desire are not taken care of by the other half.He does not share in

9、timacy with his wife,instead he masturbates himself.Lester Burnham:Look at me,jerking off in the shower.This will be the high point of my day;its all downhill from here.,Nostalgic,(clip)Lester Burnham:When I was your age,I flipped burgers all summer just to be able to buy an eight-track.Ricky Fitts:

10、That sucks.Lester Burnham:No,actually it was great.All I did was party and get laid.I had my whole life ahead of me.Lester goes on a few nostalgia trips during the film.It shows that he precious the old good times he shared with his family.The last flash back is the most pronounced,vivid evidence.Th

11、e images of Jane and Carolyn(back then)are what he cherished the most.,Lester Burnham is also,ConsiderateBefore:He cares very much about Jane,more than he shows.He tries to talk to her a few times but was turned down by her.Later on he stopped being so nice to her out of frustration.After:Lester Bur

12、nham:You better watch yourself,Jane,or youre going to turn into a real BITCH,just like your MOTHER!Easy-goingHe is humorous and easy-going.We can tell from his interaction with Ricky Fitts and his neighbours(the homosexual couple.)Also,from his conversation with Ricky,he used to get laid and all tha

13、tShows there it is possible that Lester used to be quite popular.,Lester Burnhams Relationships With Others,Lester Burnham Carolyn BurnhamCarolyn Burnham:This is a$4,000 sofa,upholstered in Italian silk.It is not just a couch.Lester Burnham:shouts Its just a couch!Lester and Carolyn are on different

14、 levels of values.Lester tries to convince his wife(above)but in vain.He then becomes numb to her complains and ignores her demands.He also starts exercising his individual freedom,which may challenge Carolyns convention.,Such as:,Working out,playing music out loud in the garage.Buying the car he al

15、ways dreamed of:Carolyn Burnham:Uh,whose car is that out front?Lester Burnham:Mine.1970 Pontiac Firebird.The car Ive always wanted and now I have it.I rule!(Clip?),Lester Burnham Buddy Kane,Carolyn is introducing Lester to the Real Estate King Carolyn Burnham:My husband,Lester.Buddy Kane:Its a pleas

16、ure.Lester Burnham:Oh,weve met before,actually.This thing last year,Christmas at the Sheraton.Buddy Kane:pretends to remember Oh yeah,yes.Lester Burnham:Its OK,I wouldnt remember me either.Carolyn Burnham:laughs nervously Honey,dont be weird.Lester Burnham:OK honey,I wont be weird.Ill be whatever wh

17、at you want me to be.Lester kisses Carolyn wildly,then looks at the Real Estate King Lester Burnham:We have a very healthy relationship.(clip1,2-At the Smileys)Lester does not think Buddy Kane is intimidating”as his wife does.He presents a rather sarcastic way of self introduction and does not reall

18、y care about the outcome.The kiss is intended to clarify that Carolyn is His Wife,and make sure that Kane draws a clear line between them.However,when Carolyn and Kanes affair was busted,he hides his emotions makes himself sound calm.,Lester is intelligent and eloquent.He does not pursue a material

19、life,his values toward materials effects his career life and attitude.He is not fussy about jobs,as long as he gets paid.From his previous working experience we can tell that he does not want to lie to people(what he thinks about the advertisement company.)Insert 2 clips Brad Dupree:reading Lesters

20、job description My job consists of basically masking my contempt for the assholes in charge,and,at least once a day,retiring to the mens room so I can jerk off while I fantasize about a life that doesnt so closely resemble Hell.Well,you have absolutely no interest in saving yourself.Lester Burnham:B

21、rad,for 14 years Ive been a whore for the advertising industry.The only way I could save myself now is if I start firebombing.,Lester Burnham Brad Dupree and Smiley Manager,Mr.Smileys Manager:I dont think youd fit in here.Lester Burnham:I have fast food experience.Mr.Smileys Manager:Yeah,like twenty

22、 years ago!Lester Burnham:Well,Im sure there have been amazing technological advances in the industry,but surely you must have some sort of training program.It seems unfair to presume I wont be able to learn.,Lester Burnham Angela,Lesters relationship with Angela can be interpreted differently.Leste

23、r sees her as his daughters best friend.The love that he wants to give to his daughter was turned down.So he turned this love for his daughter to her best friend,which is the closest person to her(from Lesters point of view.)Lester sees Angela as a new target of life.An alternative to his static liv

24、e style.A challenge and a desire he closely developed in his reveries.He knows that Angela fancies him to some degree,and he thinks if Angela accepts him,Jane will do the same.Pure sexual desire.Out of fascination and helplessness.,Lester Burnham(After Meeting Angela),Hes attitude towards life chang

25、ed.Before meeting Angela Lester leads a stale life.He was on low level of energy.We can compare this change to Schopenhauers thought:The Relationship between Will and Desire.The desire is a kind of drive,we all run on desire fuel so we become fascinated with life and purpose.When we have something i

26、n mind,and we want to go after it,we become more creative and productive.Angela brings a new desire into Lesters life,which inspires him to change his way of living.Clips:For years I was like being in a coma,and now I am awake(Lying on the bed,with Angela on the ceiling covered with roses),Symbols:T

27、he Roses,Windows and Family Portraits,Roses:The symbol that interweaved the filmIn Lesters imaginary world,Angela is always covered with roses.Roses stands for sexual lust and is the commonly used to represent beauty.Roses come out flying from Angelas breasts.Roses dropped from the ceiling where Ang

28、ela lie looking down at him on his bed.Angela taking a hot bath filled with roses.Lester imagined Angela touching him,and pull out a pedal from his own mouth.Here the rose pedal is produced by Lester himself.Angela provides only her image,however,Lester can project the original imagine into his own

29、dream world,can her seem more seductive.And so hes desired is provoked and can later on,be satisfied.,There are many scenes that Lester is present behind the windows.It seems like Lester is trapped inside the building.-For instance:Through Ricky Fitts camera,we see Lester working out behind the wind

30、ow.The shadows of the bars on the windows cast on Lesters body like he was caged within it.,Windows:,Family Portraits,The photos of Burnham family appears very often through out the film.The family,as the photo frame that bound the three of them together.The smiles in the photos shows the time that

31、they used to be happy,and enjoy each others company.That is the reason of Lesters frequent flash backs.And the solid evidence of how much he cherishes his time with Carolyn and Jane.The ending part clip*,Lester Burnham,RepressionWork Doing stuff he doesnt want to do forcedly Too honest and ordinary

32、to be neglected(didnt get promoted to the place he deserved)My job consists of basically masking my contempt for the assholes in charge,”“for 14 years Ive been a whore for the advertising industry”Family Being looked down by his wife and daughter“I am sick and tired of being treated like I dont exis

33、t.You two do whatever you want,whenever you want to do it,and I dont complain.”,Methods of Self-LiberationJerk off in the shower and the mens room“and,at least once a day,retiring to the mens room so I can jerk off while I fantasize about a life that doesnt so closely resemble Hell.Talk back to his

34、boss and wifeThe only way I could save myself now is if I start firebombing.Lester throws the asparagus plate at the wall Dont interrupt me,honey!“Oh,yeah,and one more thing,from now on were going to have alternate dinner music because frankly-and I dont think Im alone here“Im tired of this Lawrence

35、 Welk shit!”Quit his jobSinging LOUD in the carGet high Listen to Rock music,Smoke weedDreams,Lester Jane,They used to be close,but drifted apart*In the kitchen“We used to be pals”*At the dinner table“I mean,hello youve barely even spoken to me for months”*Family pictures of them displayed everywher

36、e in the houseConcerned a lot about Jane*Narrating about Jane,trying to know her”angry,insecure,confused”I wish I could tell her thats all going to pass,but I dont want to lie to her”*On the way to the stadium“What make sure she wants us to be there?”Did she ask us to come?”Ill bet shes going to res

37、ent it”*Asked Angela Hows Jane“Is she happy?Is she miserable”“Id really like to know,and shed die before shed ever tell me about it”*Look at the photo(Before he died),his satisfied peaceful smile*The flashback of his life at the moment he died,he saw Jane a lot of times Her importance in his mind,Le

38、ster Jane,Trying hard to make up,but always ended up badly*At the dinner table,asked her how was her school Received coldness(short and heartless answer)*To get her attention by being humorous”What do you expect?You cant all the sudden be my best friend just because you had a bad day”*In the kitchen

39、(After dinner)feel sorry about the distance,apologized to her Received coldness(Jane walked away)*In the Kitchen(In the morning)“Youd better watch out Janie,or youre going turn into a real bitch just like your mother”,Lester Ricky,Personal Hero*Quit his job very carelessly and mindlessly(Confident)C

40、atering Boss:Im not paying you to do.whatever it is youre doing out here.Ricky Fitts:Fine.So dont pay me.Catering Boss:Excuse me?Ricky Fitts:I quit.So you dont have to pay me.Now leave me alone.Catering Boss:.asshole.Lester Burnham:I think you just became my personal hero!*Drug dealing with denial a

41、nd courage Ricky Fitts:“My dad thinks I pay for all this with catering jobs.Never underestimate the power of denial”Purchase drugs from RickyReminder of his past and youth*Pink Floyd(While buying drugs from him)Lester Burnham:When I was your age,I flipped burgers all summer just to be able to buy an

42、 eight-track.Ricky Fitts:That sucks.Lester Burnham:No,actually it was great.All I did was party and get laid.I had my whole life ahead of me.,Lester Frank,To Lester,Frank is a serious controlling person*They greeted each other Frank didnt react much*Buying drugs from Ricky knew him collecting his so

43、ns urineShocked to see Franks confession Killed by FrankTheir relationship was dramatic:normal neighborhood sudden affectionate confession tragic death end,Carolyn Burnham,A house agent and housewife concurrentlyOutside:Apparently elegant,friendly and always smily.ex:Interacted with the gay neighbor

44、.Inside:predominated,overruled,and punctilious.ex:-She is the one who drives car.-Owning the command of dinner music.,Carolyn cares a lot about appearance,Quote 1.Carolyn:Are you trying to look unattractive?Jane:Yes.Carolyn:Well,congratulations.Youve succeeded admirably.Quote 2.【After cheerleading】C

45、arolyn:Honey,Im so proud of you.I watched you very closely,and you didnt screw up once!,Sweet home?,The setting of dinner table is neat and ordered.Roses and flowers in bottles everywhere.Intimated melody is played every night.Family portraits.,About Carolyns Job,To sell the beautiful fantasy and id

46、eal image of a HOUSE.To fulfill peoples expectation toward a house.Quote:-Carolyn Burnham:My company sells an image.Its part of my job to live that image.-Sale House Woman:The ad said this pool was lagoon-like.Theres nothing lagoon-like about it,except for the bugs.There arent even any plants out he

47、re!Carolyn Burnham:What do you call this?Is this not a plant?If you have a problem with my plants,I can always call my landscape architect!Solved!,Carolyns depression from job,From“I will sell this house today,I will sell this house today”to crackup.Slap herself and said“shut up,shut up”.Self-inhibi

48、tion.The blind and the empty room isolation.,Carolyn depression from home,See her husband as a loser.Sexually frustrated from the marriage.Mother-daughter relationship is not good,either.Quote:Carolyn Burnham:You ungrateful little brat!Just look at everything you have.When I was your age,we.lived in

49、 a duplex!We didnt even have our own house!,Her release,Her success-driven character renders her the most hopeless in the films tone of moral conviction.In order to be successful in life one must project the appearance of success-Buddy Kane.Turned her attitude toward Buddy from hostility to identifi

50、cation.,Having unfaithfulness with Buddy,Quote-Buddy Kane:Do you like getting nailed by the King?Carolyn:Yes,your majesty!-Carolyn:That was exactly what I needed.The royal treatment,so to speak.,Collapsed again after getting caught,Quote:Janine:Youre so busted.Carolyn:You know,this really doesnt con