When finishing reading, "Looking for Work", and " What We Really Miss About The 1950's". I started thinking of all the movies that portray this genre. Pleasentville was the one that stuck in my head. It is based on a T.V show portraying a perfect family in the 1950's. A brother and sister get stuck in this reality that life has to be lived a certain way. As they lived the "American Dream", They thought it was boring! They had already lived in the future and saw what it brought, and that was "color"! The future had more excitement and better opportunities! Imperfection was not looked down on. I agree completely that Television, books, magazines etc, show that 1950's was the perfect way of living, but is that what we want? What Little Soto saw in, "Looking For Work" was a Family life style that was no longer reality. He believed that all white families where living this perfect lifestyle because of this television show, "Leave it To Beaver". When in reality many white families were living less fortunate than some Hispanic families. Soto just saw the way his family was being raised and was unhappy it. Because of what he saw on tv... this perfect family being portrayed in the 1950's. So what do we really miss about the 1950's? The fact that life seemed perfect? but in acuatlity it's not really what we are looking for! I think the author did a very good job describing both of these stories. She brought both sides of reliving the 1950's, and the good and bad of Soto's life tying to look for work. Yes, we all look back and try to relive our past. We're always saying, man those were the good ol' days, but where we are now and what the future holds..... life is great and seems to keep bringing something new everyday & i wouldn't want to take back any of that!!
Lala! I like what you said. I was also thinking about that movie when I read both articles. Pleasantville kind of puts both articles into perspective because it sheds light on what we actually miss from the 1950's which is quality time with the family and having that bond with our immediate family that is rarely showed in todays society. It also shows what is wrong with portraying a perfect family on television because as families watch that type of show, it might make them question their own tactics on how to raise a family when in reality they really don't need to.
ReplyDeleteI like how you compared the two stories to eachother. When you compare the boy wanting his family to be like "Leave it to Beaver" even though most of the families did not really live like that. Television really does distort our lives and our thoughts and maybe we would've been beter of without it.
ReplyDeleteNice comparison with the two stories. I like how you summarized Soto's feelings and the message of his essay. I agree that the movie and the essay on 1950's families show appeal for most people, but lack color and excitement. They grind along, cloning each others lifestyle's, suck in the safety of the world they've created.
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