The Purple Rose of Cairo

In the movie The Purple Rose of Cairo there are many inanimate objects. Each object has its own meaning and significance to the plot and characters of the movie. I chose to explore the inanimate object of money. The theme of money is shown throughout the movie. We first see money when Cecilia’s husband is playing with pennies outside of their house. The use of pennies shows that they are poor and that there are no jobs available. The no jobs available show also the time period that the movie is set, which is the during the depression. The depression also has to do with money, because there was not a lot of money around and they had to savor every penny. Another time that we see money is when Cecilia and Tom are out to a fancy restaurant, and he tries to pay using fake money. This shows that in his world, the “movie world” money does not matter and there is no real value to anything. Then when they have to dine and dash it shows also of the depression and how they can not even afford a meal. Another time that money is used discreetly is when Gil the actor shows up in his fancy clothes and how he took a plane to get there and when he buys Cecilia a ukulele. This shows his wealth and how he will spend money on anything to get what he wants. Money in this movie represents the different worlds that the characters live in. Gil lives in a world where he has money and can do anything he wants, and he has a job. Tom lives in a world, where money has no real value and the worth of things are not important. Cecilia lives in a world, where she is scrapping up money for food, and needs to find a job, and goes to the movies to escape from reality of sadness and no money. Throughout the film money is shown and used to show the different worlds and societies that each one of the characters live in.

Truman Show Questions

1. During an interview, Christof says “We accept the reality with which we are presented. It is as simple as that.” How does this statement apply to Harold? To Gregor?

This statement applies to Harold, because before he heard the voice, his world was boring and the same routine everyday. He accepted the reality that he was presented, even if he did not like it. He was an IRS agent and was not happy, but he did not know anything else, so that was his reality. Gregor is the same. He was a drone and worked all the time for his family that did not even appreciate him. They used him for his money. Gregor did not know anything else and thought that was his purpose in his life to help his family.

2. At the beginning of the film, does Truman lead a life of quiet desperation, like Harold or Gregor?
Yes, I think so, because Truman does the same thing every day. He goes through the same routine everyday. Though he thinks that he is happy and likes what he does in life, I think that he deeply feels like he is being watched, and feels like he wants to get out.

3. What sets the conflict in motion for Truman?
I think that it is when he sees his father again on the bus and then he starts to realize everything that people are doing. He starts to realize his routine and about how his wife looks into the camera promoting products. He starts to look at his life in a different perspective.

4. As you watch choose a specific scene or shot that stands out to you. We will discuss it tomorrow and next week, so be sure to jot down notes about what made it stand out.
I thought the scene when his father and him meet again on the dock. It is like the typical sappy moment of a movie, but it does not make any sense why they would have him come back. There is no good explanation for any of it. I do like how they cue the music and fog and all that stuff though. It shows how the typical moment like that would happen in a movie.

5. Karen Eiffel and Christof each portray a god-like character in their respective films. How is Christof more or less god-like than Karen?
I think that Christof is more god-like than Karen. I think this because Christof is actually controlling of Truman. Since birth, he has been in control of what Truman did. When he wanted Truman to find a wife, the women came on the show. When he wanted Truman to be afraid of water he “killed” Truman’s dad in the water. He made it so Truman never left the little town that Christof created. The world was created for Truman.

6. When speaking of Truman, Christof states: "He could leave at any time. If this were anything more than a vague ambition, if he was absolutely determined to discover the truth, there is no way we could prevent him." Truman eventually does discover the true nature of his reality despite the strong efforts of Christof and the network. What does Truman’s triumph have to say about how much control characters possess in their lives?
Truman’s triumph shows that the characters do have control of the fate of their life. Although Christof set up everything for Truman and the reason that no one could go after him, was because they were all just actors, not real people. Christof tried to stop Truman as hard as he could. He was going to go the limit, and everyone thought that Truman was dead, and then the victory occurred. If you think about it, this was the perfect way for Truman to leave his world and enter the outside world. He overcame one fear and now he was going to enter an unknown world. I think that characters do possess the overall fate of their lives, but along the way the author or creator is in control, and the fate is partly because of them.

Stranger Than Fiction: Meet the Author

First when we look at the scene, Harold is being looked upon through a whole. This signifies that Harold is being looked upon, like he is in a fish bowl that the author of his life is on the outside of. It also shows the start to the power battle that comes up in this scene. In this scene it shows Harold having power and also the author having power. The author starts to seem like she is Harold's god, and Harold starts to gain insight, and figure out where he stands in life. Through out the scene Harold is always higher up than the author, and even when they are both standing Harold is taller. Also it shows the importance of Queen Latifah's character, as the authors assistant. If we go along with the plot that the author is like Harold's god, then we could say that Queen Latifah was the assistant to god, she was the link between god and its creation, which in this case is the author and Harold. This goes along with what happens right after the door is open. The first person that Harold talks to is the assistant, and this is after he is looked through by the bright hole in the door. Then he walks slowly into room, and the room is all white, as if he was walking into heaven or to see god. Then he walks through the white bright hall way, where at the end the author is sitting in a chair that looks like a throne. As disbelief comes over her, she lowers to the ground like Harold has all the power over her. He looks down at her and as soon as he talks, she looks up to him. After Harold states who he is, the author states that she knows, like god, all knowing. Then Harold explains how she was right about everything that happened, like she was over seeing what he was doing and knew what he was thinking at all times. The whole time, the assistant is just sitting on the other side of the wall just listening. Then when the author and Harold start arguing, the assistant steps in, this is showing her status in the relationship, between god and creation. The assistant is the one that thinks Harold should read his death. She is the one that is the link between the two worlds of the author and the character.

This is one of the first times that Harold starts to control his own fate, and tries to show the author that he exists and that she should not kill him. He tries to explain his side of the story, and before this he has not really stood up to anyone before. This standing up for himself, and finally realizing that he deserves to live, saves his life.