The Pursuit of an Unattainable Contentment

American Beauty

What do you think will giveyou contentment?

What are your ideas of contentment?

1. The Human aspect of Pursuing an Unattainable

Contentment

Carolyn Burnham

One character that clearly displays an

insatiable contentment

Pursues the American Dream of being successful in terms of materialistic wealth and her real estate career.

Carolyn Burnham •‘This is not just a couch. This is a $4000 sofa upholstered in Italian silk.’

•Has a high regard for materialistic wealthCan be seen by:

Carolyn Burnham

Picture from: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0169547/mediaindex

• Establishing shot communicates idea of perfection

•Has a high regard for materialistic wealthCan be seen by:

Carolyn Burnham

•Wide shot of Carolyn carefully trimming roses and Lester’s voiceover gives materialistic impression

Has a high regard for materialistic wealthCan be seen by:

Carolyn Burnham

•Wide shot of Carolyn carefully trimming roses and Lester’s voiceover gives materialistic impression

• Establishing shot communicates idea of perfection

•‘This is not just a couch. This is a $4000 sofa upholstered in Italian silk.’

Picture from: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0169547/mediaindex

Has a high regard for materialistic wealthCan be seen by:

Carolyn Burnham •Constant referral to succeeding and failing in conversations

Overvalues successCan be seen by:

2. The Destructive Potential of the pursuit

of an unattainable contentment

Consequences

Broken marriage/ Loss of family relationships

Loss of one’s own character

LESTER (leaning toward her) Whatever happened to that girl who used to fake seizures at frat parties when she got bored? And who used to run up to the roof of our first apartment building to flash the traffic helicopters? Have you totally forgotten about her? Because I haven't.

Consequences

Broken marriage/ Loss of family relationships

Loss of one’s own character

Emotionally Breakdown

UNATTAINABLE:

•Perpetual dissatisfactionNo limit to materialistic possessions

•Limitless ideal of success

•Consequences

Before Changed attitude

‘She used to be happy. We used to be happy.’

‘When did you become so... joyless? ‘

‘Whatever happened to that girl who used to fake seizures at frat parties when she got bored?’

‘You bloodless, money-grubbing freak’

Conclusion