The Color Red in American Beauty Essay - 1628 Words

The Color Red in American Beauty The beauty that addresses itself to the eyes is only the spell of the moment; the eye of the body is not always that of the soul. George Sand hit the nail right on the head when he said this in 1872. Appearance versus reality has been a central theme in many American creative works including the film American Beauty. American Beauty is a film that delves into your typical, middle-class suburban American home and slowly uncovers all of the abnormalities that lie within. The family is portrayed as normal but as the films tag line suggests look closer then it is possible to fully understand the implications that takes place in this seemingly happy home. The film is masterfully directed by the famous†¦show more content†¦Another adaptation of the title is the beauty of a perfect American home much like the Burnhams home appears to be. But all have flaws, the rose has thorns to prick, Angela has her fear of being ordinary and the Burnhams home, well it too is cursed with th e reality that they are a dysfunctional family. Red roses become not only a motif in the film; they come to represent symbols. They are prevalent in almost every scene. They are in the garden; almost every room in the house has a bouquet of brightly colored roses in a vase. They are the centerpieces to the dining room table. This table becomes a motif in the film as well, the family has its nightly dinner ritual and over the course of the movie we see a delineation of the family at this table. Rose petals are the symbol of sex as well, they are seen surrounding Angela for Lester, they burst out of her blouse, they pop out of his mouth after he fantasizes of kissing her and they fall from the ceiling onto his face when he pictures her above his bed. The front door to the house becomes a motif as well, with constant references from neighbors about the house with the red door. As if the door is a gateway to the oddities lurking inside the house. Within the house Mendes restricted the colors to a monochromatic blue-gray scheme to emphasizeShow MoreRelatedAnalysis Of Ori Gersht, An Israeli Photographer Essay881 Words   |  4 PagesIsraeli photographer. He is a modern photographer and the names of his work are Blow Up #1; and Black Soil: White Light Red City 01. His works often reference violence, beauty, life and death. The medium vary from different printing methods. Blow Up #1 is light jet print, mounted on aluminum and size 96 x 72 in. (as the rest of the Blow Up series). Black Soil: White Light Red City 01 is a chromogenic print and size 47 1/4†³ x 59 1/16. 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In muted tones of blue and yellow, Harry Oosahwee’s (Cherokee) One Fall Morning depicts a Cherokee family in a barren rural landscape; animals and plants dot the landscape, and a small wooden house sits on the far right of the painting accompanied by a father , mother, and childRead MoreAmerican Beauty: Analysis of Lester Burnham Essay1658 Words   |  7 Pagesknow what movie to choose. After watching the two hour long film on the multiple characters that seemed to be struggling to find their inner happiness: American Beauty. I knew that I should not look any further. One character that especially stood out was, Lester Burnham. A forty-two year old father with a mid-life crisis. In the film, American Beauty Lester Burnham is portrayed as an ordinary man, with a perfect life, but of course that is far from the truth. From the outside, Lester seems to haveRead MoreAmerican Beauty Analysis999 Words   |  4 PagesThe 1999 American film, American Beauty directed by Sam Mendes and written by Alan Ball, is a story about a father who is sexually frustrated and has a mid-life crisis after falling in love with his daughter’s best friends. This is a movie where there are many hidden themes and symbols throughout the movie by the use of ci nematography techniques and colour. The director, Sam Mendes, is trying to leave hidden messages and meanings to the audience without directly telling them by using narrative elementsRead MoreWomen s Influence On Women765 Words   |  4 Pagesright to vote and equal pay. Yet, the many beauty ads in magazines prove that American women still remain obsessed with physical beauty. Foundation, mascara, and lipsticks are being important things these days and all the women cannot live without them any more. 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