The Dystopian Changes In Gary Ross's Pleasantville

Pleasantville is a movie written and directed by Gary Ross that reveals the dystopian elements hidden within seemingly utopian worlds by portraying the contrast between modern society and the idyllic setting of suburban 1950s’ America. The film follows the adventure of twin teenagers David and Jennifer as they find themselves transported into the world of the 1950s’ television show “Pleasantville”, replacing the main characters Bud and Mary Sue. In various events throughout the movies, both characters spark a series of changes in the conservative Pleasantville society that result in the town gradually transforming from repressive black-and-white to liberating Technicolor. In Pleasantville, Ross shows that the Technicolor version of Pleasantville

Johnson, the owner of the burger joint where David/Bud works. At the beginning, Mr. Johnson is almost completely reliant on David’s help in running the restaurant, believing immaturely that he cannot act by himself. However, when David teaches him how to work independently, he becomes disillusioned with his current life: “I'm just not sure I see the point anymore. … But it’s always the same, you know? Grill the bun, flip the meat, melt the cheese. It never changes. It never gets any better or worse” (Ross). Here, his taste of freedom of choice has opened his eyes to the lack of significance in his invariable job of flipping burgers. Through Mr. Johnson’s newfound desire to escape his mediocre existence, Ross reveals that Pleasantville’s regularity is actually oppressive since it stifles people’s drive to achieve something greater than what they currently have. Then, throughout the rest of the film, Mr. Johnson develops his love for painting through his interactions with David and his “mother” Mrs. Parker, with whom he has an affair. Eventually, after a mob destroys his nude painting of her and trashes the restaurant, Mr. Johnson confides to David: “I don't know what I'd do if I couldn’t paint anymore, Bud. I just don't know what I’d do” (Ross). This quote shows that he has become so passionate about painting that he cannot imagine returning to a life without it. Painting has essentially become his raison d’être and has introduced new meaning into his life, allowing him to reach a state of self-fulfillment in the Technicolor world. Thus, through Mr. Johnson’s character change, Ross demonstrates how the Technicolor world frees people to follow the dreams that they could not realize under the strict confines of the black-and-white