Journal #44: Postmodernism in Movies

The movie Beastly, which is based off of a book by the same name, shows many characteristics of Postmodernism. Probably the most obvious theme of Postmodernism present is the different/multiple worlds theme. People in our world, to the best of my knowledge, do not make a habit out of getting placed under a spell that horribly disfigures them for the sake of finding true love. A lot of people in this world don't even believe in true love, let alone magic enchantments. Also, there is the undercurrent of fear that the main character faces throughout the movie. He's mostly afraid that he wont be able to turn himself back to normal. Then he becomes afraid that he may have lost his girl. Not to worry, though. He gets his girl, and they apparently live happily ever after. Another, slightly less obvious, characteristic of Postmodernism found in Beastly is the embracing of traditional storytellers. Beastly is basically just a more modern take on the fairy tale of Beauty and the Beast, which is about as traditional as a story can get. Another thing is the blurred line between fiction and nonfiction. While the story is fiction, it is told as if it is nonfiction. This is a common theme in Postmodernism. Another indicator of at least the time period of Postmodernism is the use of computers throughout the movie. They are also present in the original version of the book. The use of computers places the setting firmly in this time period. The main character is also eager to stand out at the beginning, which shows the trait of how postmodernists tried to fight assimilation in society. He's a total snob about it, but , following his way of thinking, he's pretty, so why should it matter? And the final and least scholarly characteristic of postmodernism in this movie is that I liked it immensely. More often than not, if I enjoy a movie, book, poem, or whatever it's from the postmodern age.

Modernism Project

Byrd, Steven. "Modern America, 1914." The University of North Carolina at Pembroke. Web. 25 Apr. 2011. http://www.uncp.edu/home/canada/work/allam/1914-/lit/index.htm.

"Introduction to Modernism and Postmodernism." Walters State Virtual Campus. Web. 26 Apr. 2011. http://vc.ws.edu/engl2265/unit4/Modernism/all.htm.

"James Thurber Biography - Life, Family, School, Book, Information, Born, House, Time, Year." Encyclopedia of World Biography. Web. 25 Apr. 2011. http://www.notablebiographies.com/St-Tr/Thurber-James.html.

"Landscape With The Fall Of Icarus - A Poem by William Carlos Williams - American Poems." American Poems - YOUR Poetry Site. 20 Feb. 2003. Web. 25 Apr. 2011. http://www.americanpoems.com/poets/williams/1335.

"Landscape With The Fall Of Icarus by William Carlos Williams." PoemHunter.Com - Thousands of Poems and Poets.. Poetry Search Engine. Web. 26 Apr. 2011. http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/landscape-with-the-fall-of-icarus/.

Langley, John. "Introduction to Modernism." Lecture. Mr. Langley's Digital Classroom. Apr. 2010. Web. 20 Apr. 2011. http://sites.google.com/site/mrlangleysroom/treasure-chest/video-lessons.

Thurber, James. "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty." Web. 21 Apr. 2011. http://www.monte.k12.co.us/delta/ola/classes/eng3/The%20Secret%20Life%20of%20Walter%20Mitty.htm.