Utopian socialists were a group of thinkers who believed that it was possible to create a moral and just society by eradicating evil. They presented a distant vision of an ethically just society in which everybody had good morals and people were treated equally. One of the major utopian socialist ideas is the promotion of good morals (DeMartino & McCloskey, 2016). During the industrial revolution, individuals worked for many hours and were subjected to fatalities due to exhaustion. Their goal was to improve the working conditions and improve the economic, social, and political systems that existed at the time. They also believed in the creation of a utopian socialist society in which problems would be minimized because of people’s good morals (DeMartino & McCloskey, 2016). Utopian socialists believed that education was an important aspect of a humane society, change was possible without violence, and it was possible to distribute wealth equally among people (DeMartino & McCloskey, 2016). They held that people of good morals put the welfare of the majority before theirs. As a result, violence would not be needed in the fight for equality and justice.
Why Early Socialists Fail to Make Changes
The early socialists fail to make changes because the system that they proposed did not deliver its promises of security, prosperity, and equality. On the contrary, it created poverty, tyrannical authorities, and widespread misery. Critics have argued that equality was only achieved in the sense that every individual was wallowing in misery and poverty. Early socialism failed primarily because of the lack of central planning (DeMartino & McCloskey, 2016). The initial illusion of success gave governments the impetus to fully embrace the system, disregarding its apparent weaknesses and potential for failure. In many civilizations, the system has resulted in tyranny and severe poverty. Socialism always fails because of its inconsistency with regard to the principles of human behavior (DeMartino & McCloskey, 2016). For instance, people work harder when they are motivated either internally or externally. Socialism fails to make changes because of its disregard for incentives. An economy in which property is state-owned and market prices or profits are nonexistent lacks incentives that are needed for the direction of economic activity (DeMartino & McCloskey, 2016). The failure of socialism can be attributed to its failure to recognize the role that incentives play in influencing human behavior, and therefore, stimulating economic activity. The security that it promises is illusory because with time, people lose the impulse to work as personal development is limited.
How Scientific Socialism Improved from the Utopian Ideas
Scientific socialism was a system of understanding and predicting social, political, and economic outcomes by studying their historical trends using scientific methods in order to predict their future changes (DeMartino & McCloskey, 2016). Unlike utopian socialists who believed that social developments were determined by ideas, scientific socialists believed that societal developments were primarily determined by economic conditions. Utopian socialists believed that change was only possible through shifts in moral values and external conditions (DeMartino & McCloskey, 2016). However, scientific socialists held that revolution and socialism were the major components of progress.
References
Ayres, R. U. (2020). On capitalism and inequality: progress and poverty revisited. Springer.
DeMartino, G. F., & McCloskey, D. N. (2016). The Oxford handbook of professional economic ethics. Oxford University Press.
Hausman, D., McPherson, M., & Satz, D. (2017). Economic analysis, moral philosophy, and public policy (3rd ed.). Cambridge University Press.
Hodgson, G. M. (2015). Conceptualizing Capitalism: Institutions, evolution, future. The University of Chicago Press.
Daniel Barenboim is one of the most re-known pianist and conductor in the world. He is an Ashkenazi Jew born in Argentina. His passion for piano started at a tender age of five with his mother teaching him some piano lessons.
He gave his first official concert at age seven and from then he never looked back. His postings on YouTube are very fascinating to watch. Some of the postings include the famous Beethoven Sonata and later some pieces by Wagner.
The clips are just amazing and incomparable in terms of quality and passion the Barenboim demonstrates. The G-major sonata truly rocks and has attracted a lot of admiration and respect for Barenboim. This paper will discuss Barenboim’s musical journey, life philosophies and political views.
A strong personality is what is needed for one to play the piano and conduct at the same time. Being a high profile international artist, having a warm personality is a basic ingredient.
Barenboim expressed this when performing Beethoven’s masterpieces. Daniel has always had a modest performance without any pretence. His musical personality has made his performances to be so compelling to the audience (Lewin 32). Barenboim is always regarded to as a spontaneous and impulsive performer. Some people see Daniel as being very impatient in the way he plays the piano at the podium.
This is debatable because Barenboim’s performances have always been unpredictable. Some people attribute this to his spontaneous personality. Generally, Barenboim is an accomplished performer with a musical personality that is warm and compelling. These qualities have made many people allover the world to like his performances.
Barenboim’s musical philosophy is a very pragmatic one. According to Daniel Barenboim, music is an art that has neither a beginning nor an end. He argues that sensuality and feeling can only find some form in music. According to Barenboim, true music is a combination of form and freedom and not emotionalism which he considers as lifeless. Barenboim has the ability to make music to appear as it was born at the time of performance.
Barenboim’s music always takes a rigorous form combined with deep strategy and endless knowledge (Lewin 56). Daniel believes that sound perfection should be done in the living moment because music sounds unique every time it is performed. Daniel argues that the only way music can thrive is by performing it repetitively. According to Daniel, people can learn a lot of things about life from music than the opposite.
Barenboim believes that music and politics can not be separated. He has been at the forefront in criticizing the Israeli foreign policy especially against Palestine.
Fearing for his life, Daniel Barenboim gave up his intention of performing Wagner in his native Israel. This did not stop him completely from continuing with his mission. He has gone ahead to collaborate with Palestinian musicians by developing the Barenboim –Said Initiative.
According to Daniel, the Israeli-Palestine conflict can only be resolved if the two sides take the initiative of trying to understand each other’s suffering. Despite being a Jew, Daniel accepted honorary Palestinian citizenship in 2008 after one of his concerts in Ramallah (Barenboim 45).
He made history by being the first Israeli to accept Palestinian citizenship. Daniel regarded this as a public gesture of promoting peace between the two nations. This action sparked a lot of criticism in Israel with some leaders calling for the stripping of Daniel’s Israeli citizenship (Barenboim 68).
From his performances, Daniel Barenboim portrays his authoritative nature. His high minded persona makes him to freely air his political views with any fear. Barenboim is very commanding and his level of confidence is just unbelievable. These qualities have made him to be very influential on stage and out of stage.
His authoritative conducting is just a beauty to watch. Daniel commands a lot of respect and trust wherever he goes and is always one of a kind. By being authoritative, Daniel has made a lot of friends and enemies alike. Barenboim has received a lot of praise and recognition because of the unique way he looks at issues (Lewin 116).
Daniel Barenboim views music from a very different angle. He reiterates that subjectivity is very necessary in music. According to Daniel, music making should be both objectives.
Daniel believes that the nature of music and the kind of associations generated by it need to be differentiated. Barenboim believes that transparency, power and strength as used in music would make the world look wonderful just like music does. According to Daniel, music is so powerful because it communicates to the entire body system.
Daniel argues that all issues whether personal, social or political are completely depended on each other just like the different voices and elements in music. He further clarifies that all the elements in music are dependent on each other and so is the case with life.
Daniel encourages us to understand this vital lesson from music that everything in this life is dependent on each other (Barenboim 20).
Daniel has greatly emphasized the concept of learning through music. This concept is widely used by early childhood educators to who use music to transfer knowledge to children.
According to Daniel, music is helps us to have a better understanding of the whole society in terms of political and social aspects. There needs to be integration in our education systems for a complete revolution to be witnessed in the education sector. Daniel is of the view that human activities are all associated with music in one way or the other (Lewin 123).
According to Daniel, there should be a change from the traditional way of knowledge delivery right away from the Kindergartens to universities. Daniel has continued to popularize the concept of education through music especially for children in early childhood centers. Kindergartens have started to use music in teaching because of the aggressive campaigns done by Barenboim. Daniel calls for the integration of musical abilities and skills in all kinds of training.
Daniel Barenboim and other musicians have continued to support these initiatives by offering to give free music lessons in the institutions that have implemented the concept of learning through music. The concept of education through music has become very popular around the world with many kindergartens imparting knowledge to their early childhood pupils through music (Lewin 142).
Daniel emphasizes the need for everyone to have a point of view about life and music. Daniel sees music as a powerful medium of bringing people together and making peace .This is clearly demonstrated by the number of numerous shows and performance he has had in Palestine whose main objective was to preach peace and understanding. Daniel sees music as a powerful universal language that is able to unite all the people in the world (Barenboim 36).
He is considered utopian when he refers to music as a great authority. Daniel sees himself as a musical prophet when he says that music is the most powerful tool that goes beyond the political and racial boundaries. Daniel’s utopian views are portrayed when he holds massive performances in Palestine in coordination with Said in attempt to bring peace in the Middle East. Daniel Barenboim has earned a lot of titles and praises from various important personalities.
His pragmatic political view together with a flamboyant musical career has made him to receive a lot of admiration and recognition (Barenboim 64). This recognition has come with a lot of titles for the musician. Daniel has enjoyed a lot of social capital over the years which have made him to be so authoritative.
Daniel’s performances have been regarded as among the finest in the world. His performances have been signaled out as an actual representation of the composer’s original thoughts. Many people refer to his performances as expressive and thoughtful at the same time. There are various social institutions around the world that totally support Daniel’s artistic persona.
The Barenboim-Said foundation plays a key role in promoting peace in the Middle East through music (Barenboim 76). The foundation plans and coordinates music education projects that are aimed at promoting peace and tolerance in the Middle East.
The Palestinian Medical Relief Society has taken music education to children in refugee camps. The education through music initiative is aimed at enabling emotional, social and cognitive balance by developing the children’s personality and creativity in their desperate social environment (Barenboim 151).
Civil society institutions in Europe pledged their support for Barenboim’s global initiatives through music. Ignor Markevich is a Ukrainian conductor and composer who speak highly of Barenboim. Having been his conducting teacher, Markevich probably knows Barenboim better (Barenboim 188). According to Markevich, Daniel Barenboim is not only a mere pianist but also a born conductor.
Markevich acknowledges Daniel’s noble efforts in promoting peace and togetherness in the Middle East through his music. According to Markevich, Daniel is a great leader whose leadership is always demonstrated in his performances. Markevich believes that a great conductor should offer something extra apart from just playing instruments.
This extra thing is what Daniel offers and that is why Markevich sees him as somebody very special. According to classical ideology thinkers, conductors have a great role to play apart from just playing instruments. Markevich sees three fundamental qualities in Daniel.
He regards Daniel as an exceptional musician, conductor and leader all in one. Barenboim is an ideology thinker whose philosophies and views are pragmatic and unique (Lewin 72).
Daniel relates music with life in a special way. His musical philosophies have convinced many people that without music there is no life. Daniel’s performances are so compelling and authoritative at the same time. This makes his performances to be very unpredictable sometimes. Daniel’s courage and approach to music has made him to be labeled as a musician with a high-minded artistic persona.
This high-mindedness is what has given him the social capital to have his own independent political views. Daniel’s political views have made him to lose favor with Israel which is his native country (Lewin 118).
Barenboim‘s stage performances are always compelling and electrifying. Barenboim recorded the Beethoven Sonata during the early stages of his musical career. He is regarded as one of the world’s best interpreters of the Beethoven sonata. The Beethoven sonata consists of six master classes each running for fifty-five minutes.
In the Beethoven DVD, Daniel is seen coaching young pianists on a number of Beethoven movements. At an early age of seven, Daniel had already performed an official concert (Lewin 120). This would mark the beginning of his illustrious career on stage.
He first recorded the Beethoven sonata when he was1 just eighteen. The historical background of Daniel’s recordings and performances is quite amazing. Daniel made recording of gramophones in 1954. He later recorded piano sonatas of Beethoven, Mozart, Brahms and Bartok respectively. He then started serious stage performances when he joined the English Chamber Orchestra.
During his time with the English Chamber Orchestra, he performed in many international concerts as a pianist and conductor. His 1967 performance in London with the Philharmonic Orchestra increased his demand by many orchestras in Europe (Lewin 154).
Daniel made marked his first operatic debut by performing at the Edinburgh International Festival in 1973. During the concert, he performed the Mozart sonata. Daniel Barenboim has also done chamber music in collaboration with his late wife. In 1996, Daniel recorded Argentinian tangos by collaborating with Hector Console and Rudolf Maderos.
Barenboim met Said in early 1990s and formed a strong friendship based on both music and the Israeli and Palestine political conflict. Having a common mind of promoting peace, the two started to collaborate in musical concerts to demonstrate their common interest of finding peace in the Middle East (Barenboim 87).
They held a series of concerts in the West Bank and Ramallah with an objective of preaching peace through their music.
In 2006, Daniel Barenboim recorded the Beethoven sonata for a second time. The recording consists of six DVD sets. In this second recording, Daniel works with six young pianists at various stages of development. The Beethoven Sonata has been so dear to Daniel and that is why he decided to do a rendition of the sonata (Lewin 134).
The young pianists include Aboud Asshkar form Palestine, Jonathan Bliss from America, Shai Wosner from Israel, David Kadouch from France, Allesio Bax from Italy and finally Lang Lang from China. Daniel trains the young pianists in sonata movements and at the same time demonstrating to them the relationship that exist in piano playing elements (Lewin 126)
Daniel was greatly inspired by the overwhelming interest of young pianists who were ready to perfect their skills. Daniel had chosen the Beethoven sonata as his first album because it was very well received from the first time he recorded it. The Beethoven sonata had been so dear to him in his entire musical career and by no doubt his best sonata.
This was a perfect way of finishing his musical career in style. After the first recording of the Beethoven sonata, Daniel Barenboim recorded over fifteen other recordings before doing the Beethoven rendition in the twilight days of his successful musical career (Lewin 140).
The Beethoven sonata popularly known as the appassionato sonata was played at F minor which is also Daniel’s favorite key. Realizing that he was almost retiring from the entertainment scene, Daniel thought that it was not enough to just be a mentor to upcoming talent without offering them any meaningful help.
Lang Lang is one of Barenboim’s best students and beneficiaries of his lessons so far. Because of the good musical foundation given to him by his musical mentor and teacher, Lang Lang has become a household name. His first major solo performance was during the opening ceremony of the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing (Lewin 135).
With almost 40 million people viewing him, this was a perfect opportunity for Lang Lang to showcase himself at the international stage. Barenboim introduced Lang Lang to real performing in his second recording of the Beethoven sonata. Daniel offers him and the other five young pianists some valuable master pieces in piano playing and conducting.
During the lessons, Daniel taught the young pianists about the key musical elements of rhythm, tempo and harmony. The electrifying performance he gave in Beijing was an outcome of some splendid tutoring by Daniel Barenboim. This budding young musician demonstrated his love for piano at tender age of two.
Lang Lang used to use pillows to in order to reach the keys at that tender age. His musical journey is almost similar to that of his mentor and tutor Daniel (Barenboim 43). Despite coming from a humble background, Lang Lang’s sheer determination and passion has made him who he is today. His supportive and dedicated family had to sacrifice a lot for him to achieve the success he has today.
Lang Lang has participated in many musical competitions before he finally got his break. Daniel Barenboim has been very instrumental in nurturing the talent of this talented young man.
The success of a student always speaks volumes about the teacher. In Daniel Barenboim, Lang Lang found the best teacher in piano playing and conducting .His experience on stage combined with his musical philosophies are just inspiring (Lewin 162).
In conclusion, it is no doubt that Daniel Barenboim has left an indelible mark in the world of music. The caliber of his performances and recordings are just world-class and that makes him one of the biggest performing artists in the world.
His personal philosophies about life have influenced his music and political views a great deal. Daniel Barenboim commands a lot of respect and recognition around the world which has earned him a lot of titles such as humanitarian, finest pianist, authoritative conductor, great leader and utopian.
Works Cited
Barenboim, Daniel. Music Quickens Time. New York: Verso, 2008.Print.
Lewin, Michael. A Life in Music, Daniel Barenboim. New York: Nicolson Limited, 1991. Print.
The novel by the classic of American literature, John Fante, is a story about a young Italian Arturo Bandini who comes to Los Angeles to start a new, “American” life and gain fame as a famous writer. The harmonious interplay of conflict episodes with the surrounding external reality confirms the literary genius’ talent and skill. The primary attention is paid to the complexity of relationships, but a slight irony smooths out rough edges and relieves tension from the reader. However, one of the main themes in the book is the description and reflection of the city of Los Angeles.
The book deals with many issues on which the author focuses the attention of the reader. The author uses the theory of the grotesque as a prism through which to show the problems associated with “assimilation and ethnicity” (Pascu 153). Thus, the author presents to the reader the West American way of life, the main criterion of which is suffering, and this image manifests itself in the grotesque depiction of the city and its inhabitants. A California mystery dating back to the nineteenth-century gold rush and the quest for Clear Destiny made the state famous as a place full of success and wealth. However, the charm of California is artificial and based on illusion, especially when you consider its development in harsh physical conditions. California, specifically Los Angeles, imagined themselves and then embodied that vision through sheer willpower stemming from the Platonic concept of self, The Great Gatsby of American Cities.
The novel’s portrayal of Los Angeles is characterized by the constant mix of ethnic, racial, and cultural differences, as well as fear of them. This distinguishes the novel Ask the Dust as a work with a grotesque and painful depiction of life in the West and “class oppression” (Pascu 157). Older people and their neighbors live on the edge of the continent. Nevertheless, sultry Los Angeles, seized by the Great Depression and polluted palm trees, is inhabited by both Californian Malaysians and girls, as well as representatives of different peoples.
However, the irony of Los Angeles’ description lies in the landscape’s depressing, intimidating, grotesque nature. Los Angeles is described as being nestled in an empty city, dry and sultry. The terrain is not conducive to growth, and what grows there, namely palm trees, will turn black from smog. The city is permeated with an image of dust that awakens biblical sentiments. The people inhabiting the city live mechanically and consider themselves successful; nevertheless, they do not feel alive (Fante 113). As a result, Los Angeles becomes a sinister and ominous place where hope dies. This leads to the fact that the city is a kind of symbol of death, despite its external attractiveness and utopianism.
Despite the fact that the city is the personification of civilization, there is always a desert next to people, awaiting death. Therefore, the whole life of people seeking happiness in Los Angeles turns into darkness. In the novel, the city is described as a perfect idyll, and the main grotesque is that people understand the city as a hopeful illusion where happiness and rich life can be found. Therefore, in Ask the Dust, the city is seen as a place where people come to die. No ideal perspective of this city can save people from bitter disappointment in their dreams of wealth. This is the basic meaning of the city’s utopia depicted in the novel. The catastrophe is reflected in the fact that people see Los Angeles as a sunny city where they can be happy. However, in his novel, Fante says that people become aware of the hardships of life in Los Angeles when people arrive there (Fante 178). Everyone understands that the utopian city they dreamed about does not exist.
The movie LA Confidential also debunks the myth of utopia that every visitor dreams of. It is an outstanding and original film that is well-shot and staged in every sense. It is a very entertaining contemporary film noir with meticulous attention to detail, where destruction is rampant as many layers are peeled off. The success and wealth that people count on are replaced by realizing that this is a city where money can buy everything. Los Angeles of the 50s is a filthy, stinking swamp where corrupt police officers are friends with bandits, where anyone can be purchased for a certain amount.
This story in the film takes place in Los Angeles, but it’s a part of the city that most people don’t see. Behind all the Hollywood glamor, Los Angeles has an underside that unfolds more and more vividly throughout the film. In the 1950s in Los Angeles, a group of cops – good, bad, and everyone in between – solve crimes against a backdrop of show business and political meanness. The main problem in the movie is the iniquity of the city and “dead bodies left by the side of the road in post-war Los Angeles” (Harris 97). The only prominent gangster – the head of organized crime in Los Angeles – was imprisoned for a long time, so that crime ceased to be organized and slipped to a completely artisanal level. However, there are problems. Problems cannot but be because as long as there are people who use heroin and other drugs, there will always be people who supply these drugs and earn huge money from them.
In the rugged Los Angeles of the 1950s, fame is a booming industry, and it all comes down to looks and visuals. At first glance, however, drug use is widespread, prostitution is rampant, and police are violent thugs. This is the city where everything looks perfect, where everyone goes to become a movie star. However, this is not as good as it sounds: “City of Angels” is run by the clones of Al Capone and the police (LA Confidential 29:45–32:37). It happens that many of the LAPD are among the unofficial mafia officers.
This film gracefully but aggressively and sophisticatedly fights corruption, loyalty, and treason. LA Confidential covers many topics, making it a suitable choice for a vast audience as it navigates the world of the LAPD and the oddities of its members and some outsiders (Harris 98). Tabloid writer Sid Hudgens loves to advertise the City of Angels as a heaven on earth, where people can raise an entirely American family, meet a movie star, or even become one. Nevertheless, the film soon shows the other side of the city.
As in Ask the Dust, LA Confidential raises the problem of the destruction of the city-painting utopia that leads to disaster and dashed hopes. In both works, the catastrophe is inevitable, as people initially hope for utopian dreams. Thus, behind the curtain of the prosperity and wealth that people seek in the West, they face an act of moral degradation based on the disintegration of dreams and ideals of life in Los Angeles. Both in the book and the film, instead of a city of dreams, people are presented with a city plagued with poverty, corruption, and lust.
LA Confidential. Directed by Curtis Hanson, performances by Kevin Spacey and Russell Crowe, Regency Enterprises, The Wolper Organization, 1997.
Pascu, Nicoleta Teodora. “Border notes on Arturo Bandini’s ethnic identity in the incipit of John Fante’s Ask the Dust”. Annales Universitatis Apulensis Journal, vol. 21, no. 1, 2020. pp. 151-171.
Have you ever dreamt of living in a Utopian society? Can you believe that one day we all will be living in an ideal world without evil, wars, and crimes? In 1561, Thomas More described an imaginary island with a perfect social system. It was called “Utopia.” At that time, it was too difficult to believe in such a world. Sir More hoped that people would get used to such life in the future. Unfortunately, with time, it becomes more and more difficult to believe and accept the idea of “Utopia.”
In 2002, Steven Spielberg directed the movie Minority Report. That was another attempt to create and describe Utopia. The movie was based on the same name story written by Phillip K. Dick. The movie Minority Report interprets lots of ideas described in the book. Of course, the plot was changed a bit in order to make the movie a real action-adventure fiction. Minority Report is an amazing story about a world without murders and conflicts. This presentation of Utopia on-screen is verisimilar and impressive due to the successful implementation of film techniques, though the movie itself is aimed at proving that it is impossible to live in a perfect world where the actions of each person can be predicted and where free will and right of choice are ignored and changed for a life without crimes and conflicts.
Minority Report is a story about one of the possible versions of our future. Scientists created a new method to prevent crimes. Three pre-cogs (mutants with extrasensory perception) can see murders that are going to happen. They transmit the information received to the members of the police force. They name the murder, victim, date, and time of the crime. The pre-cogs visions make it possible for John Anderton (Tom Cruise), a member of precrime police, to discover the place where the murder is about to happen.
The film starts with a scene when pre-cogs see a murder. A quick reaction of the police, rapid searching, numerous images, and task-oriented actions – this is the way Spielberg chooses to begin the story. Such a beginning lets the viewers understand that a “utopian” society does not hesitate in making decisions. People do not pay much attention to the reasons for the crime. The only purpose they want to achieve is to prevent the crime and punish the perpetrator. Everyone believes that the chosen system has no drawbacks. Once, John said: “There has not been a murder in six years. The system, it is perfect.” (Minority Report) He could not even imagine that in several days all his ideas and beliefs will be wrecked.
After one more vision of pre-cogs, Anderton gets to know that he will commit the next murder. And what is more, he even does not know the victim. One of the pre-cogs sees that Anderton is not guilty, but unfortunately, the “majority” report has much more authority. So, John, with the help of one pre-cog, tries to prove his innocence.
Well, is everything so “perfect” in Utopia? Can it be that people forget about the right of choice and free will just in order to live without murders and conflicts? This is what the major character John Anderton of the movie will clear up.
John cannot understand how it is possible that he will kill a person whom he does not even know. He starts to think about whether the Pre-Crime system is really perfect. He wants to find cracks in the system that causes much indignation of other members of the Pre-Crime Policy—his abilities to plan and think logically over each step help to find and choose the right way. John has a purpose, and he knows that he must achieve it. It does not matter what ways he will use. His living principles turn out to be false. He should find a new way and accept the world as it is. So, his behavior deserves respect.
The physical settings of the movie also deserve special attention since they are indeed remarkable. Spielberg has always been famous for using rich decorations. Minority Report is not the only movie where Spielberg describes the future or past using modern technologies (among others are Transformers, Jurassic Park, War of the Worlds, etc.) Flying cars, high-speed trains moving vertically, and transplants – all these captivate the viewers.
Spielberg’s use of sound and light is worth attention as well. Let us consider the fact that this movie earned nominations for Best Sound Editing (Academy Awards) and Best Visual Effects (BAFTAs). The sound design of Minority Report is rather aggressive. Even during the quiet moments, the sound background makes a viewer prick up ears. The greatest example is, perhaps, the scene when Agatha tells John about her mother’s murderer:
John Anderton: Agatha, just tell me, who killed your mother? Who killed Anne Lively? Agatha: [whispering] I’m sorry, John, but you’re gonna have to run again. John Anderton: What? Agatha: [screaming] RUUUUUUUUUNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN! (Minority Report)
After these words of hers, disturbing background music becomes louder. Such change with sounds makes the viewer worry about the character.
When I watched a movie on DVD for the first time, I thought that there was something wrong with my DVD because of its bleak and dark appearance. Yes, Spielberg’s use of lighting is quite unique. Steel and grey tones help to underline each detail in the movie. White light in the lab attracts attention and emphasizes that it is something different, not inherent to each character of the film.
Spielberg’s cinematography also contributes to the movie’s deeply impressing the reader. His way of presenting ideas and attention to each detail is noticeable from the very beginning. A scene when Howard Marks is going to kill his wife and her lover is a good example. He ascends the stairs slowly; the viewer does not see clearly his face or body. Spielberg uses shadows to underline that Howard’s presence at home is not that important and his role in his wife’s life is insignificant. Even when he is standing in front of their bed and is watching his wife making love with another man, he remains unnoticeable.
The flashforwards should be considered as anti-narrative attributes of the movie. Their presence distorts the plot of the story and hinders the derivatives. However, the methods Spielberg used while editing Minority Report are perfect. He mixed various methods of continuity editing. Remember the scene when Anderton and Agatha are walking in a crowd. She tells him to take an umbrella. A camera moves to a person with an umbrella, then to Anderton, showing how adroitly he takes an umbrella, and again moves to Agatha in expectation of what she will tell further.
Therefore, the unique plot of the story reminds the viewers that life in a perfect world involves a number of problems other than those which people encounter in a normal society; though people are able to live in a world without crimes and conflicts, they face unpleasant limitations of their free will and right of choice. Moreover, even the most perfect system can break down someday, leading to irrevocable mistakes. The director’s ability to make this idea clear for the viewers and his fantastic and appropriate usage of film techniques make the movie unforgettable.
In conclusion, Minority Report is a provoking and quite exciting fiction that leaves viewers in thoughts about the values of their lives. It is a story about people who got used to doing what is predetermined by someone else. They live in Utopia. What can happen when something goes wrong? Who is responsible for our future? Maybe, it is high time to understand that we can change our future in accordance with our own desires, rather than with the desires of someone else. Minority Report helps to perfectly realize the essence of life and even change it for the better.
Works Cited
Minority Report. Dir. Steven Spielberg. Perf. Tom Cruise, Colin Farrell, Steve Harris, and Samantha Morton. DreamWorks. Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation. Cruise/Wagner Production. 2002.