The thesis is about the film drama “Dinner with Friends” by Norman Jewison. In that contemporary drama “Dinner with Friends”, written in 2000 by the author Donald Margulies, and in the following filmic adaptation one year later by Norman Jewison, the two modern families show that reviving the ideal of the traditional postwar suburban nuclear family of the 1950s as well as falling apart can still mean the fulfillment of the American Dream as a peak target in life.
In “Dinner with Friends”, the situation of going through divorce and finding a new personal orientation in life is depicted by the couple Tom and Beth. In contrast to that, the other couple Gabe and Karen depict the opposite way of living together, which is the convinced will of maintaining the traditional suburban values of loyalty, love, intensive care and honoring each other. Inspite of changing moral concepts among the society of the 21st century, in many heads the latter attributes still represent the prototypical ideal of a perfect family. Nevertheless, this does not mean that any of those two ways is better than the other one, the only secret is just that they are both differently realized.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. The American Dream and the problem of the postwar suburbs of the 1950s
3. Gabe and Karen respresenting the traditional values of perfectness
4. Suburban family ideals in modern times
5. Tom and Beth representing a model of modern family life
6. Conclusion
7. List of works cited
Research Objectives and Themes
This academic paper examines the evolving perception of the "American Dream" and the traditional suburban family ideal as depicted in Donald Margulies' play "Dinner with Friends" and its film adaptation by Norman Jewison, contrasting traditional marital values with modern, individualistic lifestyle choices.
- The historical construction of the 1950s suburban family model.
- Feminist critiques of the domestic sphere and the "American Dream."
- Analysis of traditional values through the characters Gabe and Karen.
- Shifting perceptions of marriage and family in contemporary society.
- The portrayal of modern divorce and reorientation via the characters Tom and Beth.
Excerpt from the Book
3. Gabe and Karen respresenting the traditional values of perfectness
Although, the couple, Gabe and Karen, in Dinner with Friends (Jewison, 2001) openly 'celebrates' and lives out the traditions and values of the suburban society of the 1950s, they are nevertheless relatively open-minded and in this way they depict the stereo-typical myth of the postwar picture-book family adjusted to todays times. The main diffe-rence to those couples back then is certainly the fact that they both present themselve in terms of, e.g. cooking, professional life and child rearing, on an equal basis. As in the retro-spective scene on 'Martha's Vineyard', Karen's friend Beth indicates that they both know each other from their job at “Doubleday” (54:32), which is a huge publishing house belong-ing to the Random House Group. At the very beginning of the movie appears a close-up of the cover of the “Gourmet” magazine that shows Gabe and Karen, together with an older lady, happily united and smiling (1:07). The whole office scenery there with magazines and photographers looks like as if this is some kind of publishing house. Therefore that might be an indication that both, Gabe as well as Karen, are employed in the larger field of creati-vity, where they also can integrate their love for fancy food. Right after that shot follows a cross-fading to their kitchen at home with several close-ups of different dinner ingredients, like freshly boiled rice, roasting steaks, cake and wine (1:26-2:42). The viewer obviously witnesses them cooking with so much love and passion for each other. They truly show their sense for delicious food and transform the process of preparing an extravagant dinner into a scene of intimate togetherness with little affectionate kisses and tendering words as “honey”, “darling” and calling each other “amazing” (3:44-4:53).
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: Outlines the changing societal norms regarding family structures and introduces the core conflict between traditional suburban ideals and modern marital realities as portrayed in the work.
2. The American Dream and the problem of the postwar suburbs of the 1950s: Analyzes the historical context of the 1950s American Dream, the suburban nuclear family ideal, and the subsequent feminist critique regarding the domestic sphere.
3. Gabe and Karen respresenting the traditional values of perfectness: Examines how the character couple Gabe and Karen embodies and updates traditional suburban values through modern professional and emotional partnership.
4. Suburban family ideals in modern times: Discusses statistical and social changes in family structures, including the rise of single-parent households and diverse cohabitation models that challenge the 1950s standard.
5. Tom and Beth representing a model of modern family life: Explores how Tom and Beth's divorce and transition into new lives serves as a counter-model to the traditional perfect suburban family.
6. Conclusion: Summarizes that there is no singular model for a "perfect" life, emphasizing that individual authenticity and personal happiness are the true markers of the American Dream.
7. List of works cited: Provides a comprehensive list of academic sources and references used to support the analysis.
Keywords
American Dream, Dinner with Friends, Postwar Suburbs, Nuclear Family, Traditional Values, Marital Discontent, Modernity, Divorce, Gender Roles, Suburban Lifestyle, Domesticity, Feminist Movement, Family Structures, Happiness, Societal Change.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this work?
The paper explores the representation of the "American Dream" and the traditional suburban family ideal within the context of Donald Margulies' play "Dinner with Friends" and its film adaptation.
What are the central thematic areas discussed?
The work covers the evolution of family structures, the historical significance of the 1950s suburban myth, gender roles, and the tension between traditional marital commitment and modern individual fulfillment.
What is the core objective of the research?
The goal is to analyze how the characters in the story either uphold or break away from traditional societal norms to find personal happiness, thereby redefining the "American Dream" for the 21st century.
Which academic methodology is applied?
The author uses a literary and media-analytical approach, examining the text and film through historical context, social theories (such as feminism), and cultural studies to interpret character dynamics.
What does the main body of the paper address?
It provides a comparative analysis of two couples, Gabe and Karen versus Tom and Beth, mapping their respective choices against historical postwar suburban ideologies and modern realities.
Which keywords characterize this study?
Key terms include American Dream, suburban lifestyle, marital transition, domesticity, and social change.
How do Gabe and Karen serve as a contrast to Tom and Beth?
Gabe and Karen represent the attempt to modernize traditional values by maintaining an egalitarian, long-term committed partnership, whereas Tom and Beth embody the radical break from these norms through divorce to seek new personal fulfillment.
How does the author interpret the film's usage of domestic settings?
The author argues that the interior design and domestic activities (such as cooking or sitting by the fireplace) are utilized by the director to reveal subtle signs of emotional harmony or "psychic chaos" within the households.
- Quote paper
- Julia Schart (Author), 2013, Suburban Lifestyle and the American Dream in 'Dinner with Friends' by Norman Jewison, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/503005
