Pleasing Others

In the film Edward Scissorhands, Edward creates beautiful works of art with his scissor like hands. Alike with many artists, Edward is very different from society’s norm. The film expresses the opinion that artists are meant to create for society’s popular enjoyment, and they are not meant to be normal and intermixed in society. The viewer see’s this opinion when Edward attempts to fit in to society. Edward has lived in isolation for what appears to be a long time. He faces social issues, and judgment of his grotesque appearance. Edward causes more trouble than good while he lives in with society, and he is not able to adjust. Edward did not cause trouble in isolation. It appears Edward feels most comfortable in isolation when he cannot cause harm. He seems to be happy knowing he is pleasing someone with his work. The movie suggests Edward is meant to be alone like many artists.  Because an artist is not normal, they are better off alone. Artists benefit from society’s resources, and society benefits from the artist’s work. An artist’s ultimate goal is to create arousal visually or mentally. Edward was able to please society with the snow that followed his ice sculptures.

Obsession

Imagine one's life being swallowed by an obsession. A person may give up their entire personal life for one goal. They do not realize the most valuable things in their life such as family. Obsession exists in many different situations, and has trade offs. A person cannot control their impulses. In the film The Prestige, all of the magican's viewed portray obsession. Angiers and Borden both risk human life to succeed as a magican. Good can come from an obsession. Angiers and Borden became two of the best magicans because of their transported man acts, but deep down an obsession will eat a person a part. Obsession is portrayed in the films The Dark Knight, The Prestige, and High Noon.

Obsession may be described by one as a fixation- one that may take over a personal life.  Obsession to me happens when a person loses sight of what should matter most. The Medical Dictionary defines obsession as a persistent and recurrent thought or idea with which the mind is continually and involuntarily preoccupied and that cannot be expunged by logic or reasoning. Commitment is much different than obsession, a person who shows commitment is impelled to do an activity. A person with commitment may spend a lot of time and effort on an activity, but at the end of the day that person can go home and forget about their work or goal. They can relax and spend time with their family. Commitment is defined in The Medical Dictionary as a sense of responsibility and dedication. "To pledge (oneself) to a position on an issue or question; express (one's intention, feeling, etc.)," Dictionary.com. The Joker is obsessed with his work in The Dark Knight. If the Joker ever had a life before he became a villain; one where he actually had a family, he gave that life away to cause destruction in Gotham. The Joker spends every moment we see planting evil into the city, nothing matters more.

Bruce is also obsessed with his work in The Dark Knight, he cannot leave his life as Batman even for his love Rachel. Good comes from Batmans obsession but it also has trade offs. Batman's obsession allows him to save many people, but deep inside Batman feels empty. His emptiness comes from the fact he cannot have much of a personal life. Rachel was not going to wait for Bruce, even though origianlly Rachel told Bruce she would wait. She knows Bruce's role as Batman is much more important than her. Check out this scene to the right. Bruce wanted to be with Rachel but he sacrificed that option. If Bruce would have chosen Rachel, I'm sure The Joker would have taken her away once he figured out Batman's identity. Even though Batman and Rachel may not be an item, the Joker realizes their connection. The Joker takes Rachel away, so Batman has no chance of living a full filling life, even being friends. In every situation of obsession trade offs exist. These trade offs are usually linked with ones personal life. In High Noon Kane reaches obsession when he trades for his obsession over his personal life.


In the film High Noon Kane spends every moment worrying about the towns safety, just as the Joker spent every moment ruining the town in The Dark Knight. Kane focuses much more on his situation with Frank Miller, rather than focusing on his new wife and her safety. Kane is committed to safety. Kane shows obsessive tendencies but never becomes fully obsessed, because he his able to walk away from his commitment. By the end of the movie the author represents obsession through Kane. Kane realizes his commitment has become an obsession. Check out the video to the left to watch this scene from High Noon. When Kane put his situation with Frank Miller before his wife, Kane crossed the line of obsession. Kane lost sight of what should have mattered most to him, in the end Kane does not continue. In comparison with the Joker, Kane is not obsessed. The Joker is unable to leave his destructive life, where Kane was able to walk away from his commitment. A person may be committed to a situation, but when that person loses sight of what matters most because of an uncontrollable longing to something, they have become obsessed.

 The line between commitment and obsession is clearly seen in High Noon. We know that Kane is commited to his work, and only shows obsessive tendencies when he sacrifices his wife for the town. Obsession will eat a person a part as we see in the Joker's corrupt acts, and also in Batmans longing for more in his life. In the film The Prestige, Angiers and Borden became so obsessed with their work. Borden gave up his personal life for magic. He shared one life with his brother. As an egotistic and self centered person, Angiers continued his inhumane trick without remorse for human life. What the viewer does not realize until the final scene is the extent Angiers and Borden take with their obsession. Check out this scene to the right from The Prestige. Not only does Angiers let Borden die, but he kills a clone of himself each night during his Transported man acts. Murder is an radical extent of obsession.

Success as a Magician

Obsessed is how I describe Angiers and Borden in The Prestige. Ultimately Angiers and Borden risk humanity to succeed as magicians. Angiers clones himself during every transported man act and then one of the doubles is killed. Whether Angiers kills his original or the clone, he is killing a person for a magic act. I find Angiers act cruel and wrong. One should not have to kill a person within every night to succeed as a magician. Angiers success as a magician does not outweigh the negative result.

 

Alfred Borden ends up killing his brother to succeed with his transported man act. Throughout Freddy and Alfred's life they switch roles in order to keep their magic act a secret. The men put their magic first without considering how this will affect their family. This is obsession. Borden becomes so obsessed with his magic act he loses sight of everything else. Alfred’s wife kills herself and still Borden’s acts continue. Someone who is sane would stop doing magic if their wife committed suicide as a result.  The only good that came from Borden and Angiers act was success in their career but it is likely both men are mentally unstable as a result.

Family First

In the film High Noon, Kane was left alone to battle Frank Miller and his crew. Kane felt he was doing the town a privilege by fighting the men but many others did not agree. Frank Miller was bad news and many people did remember his wrongful acts.  Some townspeople believed if Kane left the town then no trouble would arise. Some people also thought fighting Frank Miller and his men would cause a negative reputation on the town which would lead to bad trade and tourism. No one stood up to help Kane fight. Even though Kane had personal issues with Miller he believed the town was not safe with him in it. I understand why Herb did not join to fight with Kane- he knew that it would be very difficult with only two people against the three outlawed men. Herb did not want to be killed because he had a family which he cared a lot about. Family comes first. Herb's argument is the only one I agree with. The townspeople should have stood up and defended their town in a time of need but many were selfish. I’m sure there were many single men in the town that could have helped Kane out. Even though Kane fought alone he defeated Frank Miller and his men. The town was thankfully safe again because of Kane.