After watching Being John Malkovich, my initial question was, “what’s so great about being John Malkovich?” They made it pretty evident in the film that yes, he was an actor, but not a very popular one, and his personality seemed bland and unappealing. I didn’t see anything incredible about his identity that would make these characters so obsessed with becoming him. Then I realized that that was just it. The fact that his identity is uninteresting and lacks any incredibility was why it was so easily manipulated by so many people. The characters of Craig and Lotte did not feel free in their bodies before experiencing the John Malkovich portal. Craig could only reveal his identity through puppeteering, also a form of manipulation, and Lotte was shoved into the position of domesticated wife, suppressing her true masculine personality. With this blank slate of John Malkovich, both were able to reveal their true identity through his body. However, one also questions why society accepts their identities only in John Malkovich’s body and not their own. Why did Craig become the successful puppeteer he had always dreamed to be in Malkovich’s body, but not his own? And why was Lotte sexually accepted by Maxine in Malkovich’s body. but not his own? I think these questions can be answered through an analysis of what is viewed as acceptable in society, and what isn’t.
1 comment:
This is really interesting Katie! I thought this too as I was watching the movie. I think the way in which Craig was successful only as John Malkovich was a way in which the filmmakers took a shot at society. It shows that it is ridiculous that those who already have wealth or fame are able to what they want and be paid for it, however the normal person doesn't always have those same opportunities.
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