Pleasantville

Work Title: Pleasantville
Medium: Film
Episode Title:
Year: 1998
Writer(s): Gary Ross
"Original" Writer: Yes Own work?: No

Summary:

A brother (David) and sister (Jennifer) in the present day are taken into Pleasantville, a TV show similar to “Leave it to Beaver” or “Father Knows Best,” that takes place in the 1950s by a mysterious TV repairman. Here, as Bud and Mary Sue, they integrate themselves into their TV reality: David attempts to play the character of Bud that he had previously seen on television, while Jennifer lives as she would in “normal” reality. Because of their interventions (even David does not manage to stick to the script), Pleasantville begins to change, most noticeably with the introduction of color. The change creates conflict in the town, but it is inevitable, bringing Pleasantville into a “real” alternate reality. David returns home, while Jennifer remains in Pleasantville as Mary Sue.

  • Self-Written?: 1
  • Source Name:
  • Source URL:

Era/Year of Portrayal: present_day

Distinctive characteristics of the world in portrayal:

The real world is in the present (1998). The Pleasantville reality takes place in 1958. Pleasantville is a suburban town similar to those found in the family TV comedies of the 1950s. It is completely self-contained and streets go in circles. Knowledge is also limited to Pleasantville, with books being blank and there is no knowledge of outsiders. It is “perfect”: basketball players make every shot, the weather is always sunny and warm, and individuals’ roles and tasks are fixed. The world begins in black and white, and as change occurs, color is introduced.


Technology

  • Name of portrayed presence-evoking technology: Magical TV remote; Pleasantville
  • Description of the technology: The TV remote is large, like one from the 1950s; Pleasantville is a 1950s TV show similar to Leave it to Beaver and Father Knows Best
  • Nature of task or activity: The remote is special as “it puts you right in the show”; In the present day, the show acts as a means of inducing nostalgia for the past. The TV repairman claims to look for people to put back into that time.
  • Performance of the Technology: David and Jennifer are magically placed into the show, Pleasantville. Their presence interferes with the finite abilities of the show and therefore introduces change that affects the reality of the show.
  • Description of creator(s): Unknown. The TV repairman has the ability to put David and Jennifer into Pleasantville, but is not omnipotent, as he is unable to prevent the change that occurs.
  • Major goal(s) of creator(s): To be in a society of particular moral values.
  • Description of users of technology: David and Jennifer (as Bud and Mary Sue in Pleasantville)
  • Type(s) of presence experience in the portrayal: both
  • Description of presence experience: Spatial presence: David and Jennifer are transported into Pleasantville (in a way, not telepresence as they are actually in Pleasantville).Social presence: David and Jennifer engage with the characters of Pleasantville as real people.
  • User awareness of technology during experience: Both are aware that they are in a TV show. As the movie progresses, the TV show becomes a “real” alternate reality.
  • Valence of experience: David (Bud) enjoys the novelty of being in his favorite TV show, but initially resists being fully absorbed into it. Jennifer (Mary Sue) resists being a character and therefore becomes fully absorbed in Pleasantville, eventually enjoying it to the point where she stays in it. The change of color in the town creates tension and fears in the townspeople.
  • Specific responses: David and Jennifer are effectively “real” in Pleasantville. As the virtual reality changes into a more “real” one, the characters and the town colorize.
Long-term consequences:

Pleasantville turns into an alternate reality, where Jennifer stays. David is able to bring back a jacket from Pleasantville.

Other:

Coder name: Byron Lee
Coder email: byron.lee@temple.edu
Coder affiliation: Temple University