Mirror images of ourselves in text are less likely for society to change. Tom Ford directs A Single Man. While the film is set in 1960s America, Tom Ford shows how the movie portrays a society of people and events. However, these issues are still common in modern society. This film addresses issues such as stigmatization, fear of being unknown, and the pursuit of happiness. These issues have been caused by various factors throughout history. The 1960s setting allows the audience a more objective look at these issues and allows them to compare them with modern society.
Fear is a natural human response. We don’t have the ability or knowledge to predict what the future holds. The 1960s A Single Man society saw fear control and influence the population’s decisions and actions. Fear is a constant presence in society due to the Cold War. Fear of nuclear destruction, fear of communism gaining control of the world and fear of communism have all infiltrated American society. This fear is a source of selfishness and lack concern for other people. Society is no longer united. They now worry about their safety, not the safety the masses. Fearful of communism’s threat, the society has convinced itself that nuclear war is possible. They don’t know the consequences of war, so they prepare and believe that this is their only choice. “If the minorities are somehow invisible, the fear is greater. That fear is what makes the minority feel persecuted. In 1960’s society, Communism and Cold War aren’t the only threat to society. The film also shows the rise of awareness of various sexualities and the black civil Rights movement. This shift in society was seen to be a threat the ‘natural American society. These fears weren’t about the object at all, but rather of change and differences. Fear is an essential part in human nature. It serves as the brain’s survival mechanism from danger and risks. People were terrified that Christopher Columbus would sail off to the end of the world when he crossed the sea. Human brains have been terrified of the unknown since childhood. This is why people fear falling or the dark. We don’t know how to react when we do. We can see it in our society. History will continue to repeat itself. Terrorism has triggered the same fear as communism. Terrorism can be described as ideals and thoughts, and therefore we fear the unknown and unknowable. We can relate to the movie and draw lessons from the characters. Many social expectations influence how we behave and act in our complex social world. It will be a constant pressure for society to conform to its standards. These expectations and stigmas can lead to restrictions in people’s lives. Charley, the movie’s protagonist, is bound by 1960s social expectations. Although she has accomplished everything society expects of her, she is still unhappy and unfulfilled. She was married and had children, but she is still unhappy. Clay. I don’t really know. “You raise children and they leave when they’re old enough.” But after her marriage fell apart, she felt that she was lacking a purpose and a role in her life. She doesn’t have the stereotypical image of a housewife anymore. Charley lost the happiness and contentment she had expected from society. Charley’s life is in constant darkness. This is what the audience sees from a mid-closeup. Charley is locked in her house by the door. She is not free from her husband or child.
Charley is limited by her society’s limitations and the gender roles she has to play. She is limited by her society’s expectations of Charley as a housewife. Today’s society has less stigmatized females, although there are still expectations. Even though we are still subjected to some rules for women, the stigma surrounding marriage and the birth of children still exists. We have more options than in the 1960s society. People cannot be themselves because they have to conform to stereotypes and stigmas. This film depicts 1960s society from a modern perspective, allowing us to judge its actions and features more harshly than if it were focusing on a contemporary world. Because a modern audience can more easily justify certain characters’ actions and issues, while a past world allows us to express our opinions without regrets or apologies. Sometimes, tragedy and loss can help us see the world in a different way. George, who recently lost his long-term partner, shows this. George is in pain and he becomes so depressed that he commits suicide. The color is almost monotonic throughout the day. It shows his lackluster happiness and the ‘colourlessness’ he felt throughout his life following Jim’s funeral. George is able to see the good things in life as he lives them. These moments are filled with color, and they show George’s moments of joy and clarity. These moments are the most important in life and he begins to realize that they are essential. The film’s drowning theme is a reminder of this idea of happiness. The opening scene shows George in a blue-filtered shot of him drowning. However, he isn’t trying to keep his head above the water but rather is letting his body sink to the bottom. This is George’s symbol of his life. He is drowning in his emotions and is lonely. His lifeless movements indicate that he’s not trying to live happy and fight off negative emotions. Instead, he’s letting himself fall into depression because he doesn’t know how to get out. While we were previously shown a matching film cut, this one shows George fighting against the water to reach the surface. This metaphor represents George’s struggle to overcome his depression and grief to find happiness. The red indicates the transformation in George’s view of life. He no longer feels the sadness and blues, but is now covered by the joy and happiness life can offer. This depicts his progress to a happier life. It doesn’t mean that Jim has been forgotten or that he is not accepting of the emotions associated with him. Everybody experiences loss at one time or another in their lives. Everyone can learn from George and use these lessons to improve their lives. Even though George isn’t a modern character, the emotions that he experiences are very similar to what we experience today. This is a good thing for George, as it shows his audience that the emotions they experience today are similar to those of people who have gone before them. Emotion and humanity are both the root of all problems, but also the seeds for solutions. We, as contemporary viewers, can see how history evolves and repeats itself in A Single Man by Tom Ford. This is something that we would not be able to do in a modern text. This text shows us how we are similar to those who have come before us, and what we can expect from those who will follow us. It shows us the power of emotion and the need to accept ourselves and how this affects our actions and reactions. We can compare our society with the 1960s to see how we feel today.
