Existentialism American Beauty - 1763 Words

Existentialism: American Beauty American Beauty is a movie that sets in suburban America. The story is about Lester, whom is a middle-aged writer working in a magazine company. He was having a midlife crisis where he felt lonely and numbed by continuous unchanging routine of his everyday life. In the movie, his wife portrayed as a successful real estate agent, but she was also going through her own midlife crisis in both her career and personal life. Lester’s daughter, Jane Bumham had alienated her parents and was going through puberty. They have a new neighbor who is a U.S. Marine Corps Colonel Frank Fitts, and he has a son, Ricky Fitts, who is a drug dealer. Lester was going to get fired from his company that he had worked for fourteen†¦show more content†¦Let me then address their pride. Let me speak of them of what is the most contemptible; but that is the last man† (Soloman, 73). Lester also has similar characteristics of the â€Å"last man†. Before his transformation, he even confessed that he was living a life of a â€Å"dead man†. Nietzsche saw the â€Å"last man† among the middle class and he was afraid that they would be suffocated by the dreadful office space. This greatly relates to Lester’s working environment and the suburban area where he lived. Everyday felt like yesterday, nothing changes. There is no creativity or passion in Lester’s life and Nietzsche believed that people should be pushed and encouraged to break the cycle. Lester’s transformation speaks of Nietzsche’s existentialist theme: â€Å"we philosophers and ‘free spirits’ fell, when we hear the news that ‘the old god is dead.’ As if a new dawn shone on us†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (68). The â€Å"new dawn† that Nietzsche mentions in his book have similar portrayal in the movie, which is Lester’s transformation of his new life. From a miserable and coward person, Lester changed into a new courageous and free spirited individual. He was able to confront his wife and make his own decisions without being afraid of her looking down on him: â€Å"Its a great thing when you realize you still have the ability to surprise yourself. Makes you wonder what else you can do that youve forgotten aboutShow MoreRelated Tis: A Memoir Frank McCourt Essay646 Words   |  3 PagesIrishman who has rotten teeth, bad eyes, and no high school diploma has no real chance. He finds himself in the lowest of jobs, scrubbing the lobby of a swanky hotel. I am going to discuss the mental effect poverty has on McCourt in Tis. The American way of life make Frank feel like an outsider. In Ireland, everyone was an equal and they all struggled together. However, across the water, there are girls with tanned legs and boys with broad football shoulders and pearly white teeth. Frank didRead MoreAn Analysis Of The Other Towards `` The Subject Essay1984 Words   |  8 Pagesstraight from the pages of the history books. With the concept â€Å"the Other† coined by French feminist writer Simone de Beauvoir in her book about existentialism, the Second Sex, I would mainly focus on analyzing Nesbit’s struggle and try to prove she eventually changes her position from an â€Å"Object† to a â€Å"Subject†. Keywords: Ragtime, Feminist existentialism, Evelyn Nesbit I. Introduction Ragtime is a historical fiction written by E. L. Doctorow, and it is featured in the fiction and historical materialsRead MoreNo Exit, By Jean Paul Sartre1859 Words   |  8 PagesExistentialism is a relatively new philosophical concept, which flourished soon after the end of World War II. It is focused around a belief that existence precedes essence, meaning that there is no meaning of life, other than the one each individual assigns during his own lifetime. In the play No Exit, Jean Paul Sartre explores this philosophy through a triad of individuals whose lives and post-death experiences reflect a range of existentialist ideas and their contradictions. The three charactersRead More Emersons Theories of Education vs Modern-day Theories Essay1874 Words   |  8 Pagesheadlines have read American students are behind other international students. In Gerald W. Bracey’s article, Are U.S. Students Behind?: American students look better in international tests than the critics woul d have us believe, and the schools have little to do with the competitiveness of economy (Bracey 1). The government is pressuring students to do better than other country counter parts for no other reason than to fulfill their own agenda. 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This state of mind comes to life generally, when they believe human life is in no way complete and fullyRead MoreMy Own Beliefs And Values1808 Words   |  8 PagesTexas, in the United States, in the 1990s, have shaped how I see the world. The schools I have attended (Baylor University for undergraduate), the jobs I have held (yoga instructor, rock wall attendant, AmeriCorps VISTA with the Menominee Native American Tribe, etc.), my friends and their c ultural backgrounds and experiences, and the books/information I read and learn all influence my thoughts and values. In my Multicultural Counseling class I learned of Pamela A. Hays` ADDRESSING model, and howRead MoreAn Overview of Modern Philosophies of Education3464 Words   |  14 Pagesthings in art or literature according to ideal standards or patterns; -- opposed to realism. Idealism is a philosophical approach that has as its central tenet that ideas are the only true reality, the only thing worth knowing. 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