Pleasantville
Part 1
The basic story: Two teenagers from the 1990s somehow are transported
into the world of a 1950s television show called "Pleasantville". The
world of Pleasantville is an idealized version of small town life with traditional "family values". And because it is the world of an old T.V. show, it is a limited world--everything is in black and white and the
people know nothing about the world outside of their town.
Because they come from outside, the two teenagers cause things in
Pleasantville to change.
Main Characters:
- David, who becomes Bud in
Pleasantville)
- Jennifer (nickname Jen), who becomes Mary Sue
in Pleasantville
- George , Bud and Mary Sue's father
- Betty , Bud and Mary Sue's mother
- Bill Johnson, the soda shop owner
- Skip Martin , Mary Sue's boyfriend
- Margaret Henderson, Bud's girlfriend
- The Mayor of Pleasantville
Questions about Part 1:
- What is life in the 1990s like for David and Jennifer? What is
their family like? How do they spend their free time?
- What is the world of Pleasantville like? Why do you think David
likes to watch the T.V. show so much?
- How do Jennifer and David first react when they find themselves
in Pleasantville? When does Jennifer first start to think it might be
an interesting place?
- Pleasantville is clearly not the real world. What are some of
the things that show this?
- What is "pleasant" about Pleasantville?
- After Jennifer and David arrive, things start changing in
Pleasantville. What are some of the ways they disrupt everyday life?