The Pleasantville Code of Conduct
Read this section of the script and think about the implications of the code of conduct. While this may seem like a way to keep all citizens safe and well and to keep the town pleasant, there is a sinister undertone here that leads to the events of the court scene.
Answer all questions in full sentences. This is revision, not close reading. The longer and more detailed your answers, the easier it will be to write essays later.
Big Bob: This is not the answer, people. No matter how upset we may get, or how frustrated we may be, we're not gonna solve our problems out in the street. It's just the wrong way to do it. We have to have a "Code of Conduct" we can all agree to live by. Now, I asked George and Ralph here to sketch out some ideas — and I think they've done a terrific job. If we all agree on these then we can take a vote and I think we'll start to move in the right direction. "ONE: All public disruption and acts of vandalism are to cease immediately. TWO: All citizens of Pleasantville are to treat one another in a courteous and pleasant manner...
[The kids are hiding in the ruined malt shop]
Lisa Anne: "Courteous and Pleasant manner." That doesn't sound too bad.
David/Bud [reading the new Code of Conduct]: "THREE: The area commonly known as Lovers’ Lane as well as the Pleasantville Public Library shall be closed until further notice. FOUR: The only permissible recorded music shall be the following: Johnny Mathis, Perry Como, Jack Jones, the marches of John Phillips Sousa or The Star Spangled Banner. In no event shall any music be tolerated that is not of a temperate or "pleasant" nature."
Kids: Oh my gosh.... No....
David/Bud: "FIVE: There shall be no public sale of umbrellas or preparation for inclement weather of any kind. SIX: No bedframe or mattress may be sold measuring more than 38 inches wide. SEVEN: The only permissible paint colors shall be BLACK, WHITE or GRAY, despite the recent availability of certain alternatives. EIGHT: All elementary and high school curriculums shall teach the "non-changist" view of history — emphasizing "continuity" over "alteration." Wow.
The Pleasantville Code of Conduct
- Why would the mayor leave a job like this up to “George and Ralph”? Why do you think he asked George to be involved, in spite of his relationships with Betty, Bud and Mary-Sue? Why does the mayor put so much praise on the two men?
- Who does it seem like the code of conduct may help in the first two points? Why do you think these are the first two points in the list?
- Why does the mayor think that closing Lovers’ Lane and the Library will help make the town pleasant again? What do the words “further notice suggest”? Will closing these buildings make any difference?
- What is the town council trying to stop by demanding that only “temperate or pleasant” music be played? Why do the kids react so badly to this? What moment in history does this have connotations with? Can you think of other times when music and dancing has caused a “moral panic”? And bonus points if you can think of any other films that address this.
- What is the point in banning the sale of umbrellas (ellas, ellas, hey hey hey – sorry, Rihanna has ruined the word umbrella for me)? Will this do any good?
- Who is the mayor affecting with the ban of double beds? What good will this do anyone?
- Why ban paint colours? And is it important that they added “despite the recent availability of certain alternatives”? Is art considered controversial in real life? How do Bud and Bill use art to rebel after this moment? Is art ever used as an act of rebellion in real life?
- How will changing the curriculum help keep the town pleasant? Does the idea of “the "non-changist" view of history” have connotations of anything you may have come across in the real world? Who will this impact on the most? In what ways is this one of the most dangerous rules in the code of conduct? Is there an inside joke with” emphasizing "continuity" over "alteration””?
- Are these rules really used to keep Pleasantville pleasant or is there something more sinister going on?
- How would it even be possible to police these? If this film were not a light-hearted independent comedy, what may have happened after these rules were issued? Think about “The Hunger Games”. Are there any similarities here? Remember that they are both directed by the same person.