Far From Heaven Analysis

Words: 1094
Pages: 5
Open Document
Composers raise social and political issues that reflect the context in which they are exposed, in order to critique and analyse the values and prejudice of their time towards the outsider. The Victorian text ‘Scarlet Letter’ by Nathaniel Hawthorn concentrates on the Puritan religion in relation to the outsider. It explores the social restrictions and ill-treatment of the society and its limitation on individuality and consistent alienation. Similarly, Todd Haynes, 2002 film ‘Far from Heaven’ reflects issues of homosexuality, gender, and segregation of race in the conservative Post World War 2, 1950- 1960’s America. Both composers raise issues of social restrictions and hypocrisies that reflect the alienation of individuals in the results …show more content…
He conveys the truth behind the facade of a Christina family and ventures to show social prejudice and stereotypical attitudes of the conservative suburban communities. The social gender norms of the time included men going to the office and women staying home with domestic duties. In the All-American alienating society, homosexuality was a ‘disease’ it was unacceptable as discussed by Eleanor emphatic statement “I just like all the men I'm around to be all men ”, this metaphor exposes the social concern about homosexuals and confirming that they were outsiders in this context of time. Women were also discriminated against as they had unequal rights and had no representation in the political or professional line of work. Cathy’s social norms mean her duty to stay home and take care of motherly issues. In the film, she is marginalised when gossip runs about her association with an African American man, Raymond. She holds a pretty mask to conceal her emotions “It's all smoke and mirrors”, a metaphor for her inner turmoil. Cathy as an outsider is subject to hypocrisy and alienation due to her gender and association with people. Haynes social concerns about gender and sexuality divers from the social stigma and norms of the 20th century. He uses of language devices and controversial issues reflect the concerns her raises. This …show more content…
In the 1960’s civil rights movement still held a social stigma against African Americans and interracial association. Raymond as an Africa American man had many experiences of being an outsider and expresses his concern “mixing in other worlds. I've seen the sparks fly. All kinds” , expressing imagery and symbolism about the of the two societies, comparing them as different worlds. Additionally, the idiom “sparks fly” symbolise the violence in society. Further in the film a key scene feature which depict the true alienation against Raymond when he tries to stop Cathy from leaving.The camera zooms to a close-up of the place of contact, immediately followed by a man shouting “You boy, hands off!” and then the camera focuses on the public who have frozen at the situation. The camera zooms on several disgusted faces spanning a 360 shot of the community. This shows the prejudice against Raymond and how in the scene, he is the only African-America there makes him stand out even more. Raymond asks Cathy “Do you think we ever really do see beyond those things? The surface of things?”, this self-reflection question depicts the utter grief, Raymond. This high modality rhetorical question is the main area of concern. Todd Haynes depicts the film in the perspective of different outsiders from different perspectives of life.His concern of alienation and racial
Show More

Related Documents: Far From Heaven Analysis

Essay on Melodrama and Heaven Allows

Sirk’s film melodramas in their films. Discuss the differences and similarities between their uses of Sirkian melodrama in their films Ali: Fear Eats the Soul and Far From Heaven. In developing your analysis you should engage with theoretical debates about these filmmakers’s work and theories of melodrama, and you should support your analysis through close reading of the films Douglas Sirk, a Danish-German film director, is best known for being the father of Melodrama. He is commonly referred to as…

Words 2143 - Pages 9

Egyptian Culture History Essay

4/19/13 Culture History Artifact Analysis Egyptian Pyramids The ancient pyramids is a site that has inspired perplexed and fascinated people for centuries. From travelers and conquerors of ancient times, to Tourists and archeologists of modern times, the pyramids are a wonder and beacon of ancient man’s achievement. Tombs of early Egyptian kings were bench-shaped mounds called mastabas. Around 2780 B.C., King Djoser's architect, Imhotep, built the first pyramid by placing six mastabas, each…

Words 780 - Pages 4

Fictional Analysis Essay

Zach Larsen Period 3 12/26/13 World Literature: Fictional Analysis Title/Author of the book: The title of the book is All Quiet on the Western Front. The author of this book is Erich Maria Remarque. The meaning of the title of this book is basically what the title reads. It takes place on the Western Front of the German side of World War I. The front here is the front lines of the section of the war between Germany and the French and the British. And the quiet implied in the title is…

Words 482 - Pages 2

Prometheus The Fall Myth

the creation of this new race, Prometheus strove to make men surpass all the other creatures and beasts of earth. Because men had no "protective covering" that shielded them from dangers, he stole for them fire. "[...] and then he went to heaven, to the sun, where he lit a torch and brought down fire, a protection to men far better than anything else, whether fur or feathers or strength or swiftness" (69). Still focused on his intent to aid the human race, he tricked the gods into taking only the…

Words 815 - Pages 4

A Guide To The Foundation Of The World

footings set, or who laid its cornerstone—while the morning stars sang together and all the angels[a] shouted for joy? “Who shut up the sea behind doors when it burst forth from the womb, when I made the clouds its garment and wrapped it in thick darkness, when I fixed limits for it and set its doors and bars in place, when I said, ‘This far you may come and no farther; here is where your proud waves halt’? “Have you ever given orders to the morning, or shown the dawn its place, that it might take the earth…

Words 3777 - Pages 16

Humanities: Sparta and holy Land Essay

Jerusalem in the land of Palestine was claimed by three different religious groups to be their own holy land. The Christians, who proclaimed that this area was where Jesus Christ had been crucified and sent to heaven. The Muslims, who proclaimed this was where Muhammad had gone to heaven. And the Jews, who believed that their God had promised them that land. Though they all fought for this land, Arabs took control of this land around 600 CE. The Arabs however allowed the Christians and Jew’s to…

Words 1327 - Pages 6

Christian Worldview Analysis

their beliefs are God, humanity, Jesus, and restoration. God The cornerstone of the Christian worldview is their belief in one God who created and sustains all that exists. In the beginning of time according to Genesis 1:1(NIV), God created the heavens and earth. Even though these passages offer a view of a…

Words 1395 - Pages 6

Poe Essay

writers in American history, and in essence, one of the greatest American writers ever. Many believe him to be the first person to dwell into the depths of criminal minds and their motives. With all his gore and somberness, one would be easily deviated from his true self. Even though he is mainly reckoned for his great crime stories, many are oblivious to the few other stories in where he carefully depicted his own sufferings and emotions. Among these few are “The Raven”, “Annabel Lee”, and “Alone”. All…

Words 1245 - Pages 5

Sherman Alexie and Victor’s Uncles Essay

party. Victor’s uncles Adolph and Arnold brawl in the yard. As he watches the fight from the window, Victor thinks about the “tiny storms” (5) that have marred his childhood - difficult moments like the year his parents could not afford Christmas presents, and the time a man drowned in a puddle after passing out drunk. However, Victor has survived so far with the help of his mother and the strength he’s taken from the occasional happy moment, like eating dinner with his family at the restaurant Mother’s…

Words 597 - Pages 3

Hate And Hatred In William Shakespeare's Romeo And Juliet

cause people to do pretty foolish actions in the moment. These extreme feelings can change one’s thoughts and influence them immediately. The play Romeo and Juliet is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare. It tells the story of two lovers who come from feuding families these strong emotions lead Romeo to be an impatient and careless character. Romeo Montague is loyal to his friends in Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet through the use of his language and actions. Despite his loyalty, Romeo is a careless…

Words 549 - Pages 3