The Pursuit of Happyness

Growing up, I have always been told that I can do anything that I set my mind to. I can become anything if I work hard at it and my gender, class, and race do not matter. As I would love to believe that is true, the real world is not that equal. I recently watched the movie The Pursuit of Happyness staring Will Smith, and found many concepts that we have discussed in class; struggling with the class system, the American Dream or Horatio Alger myth and the challenging of masculine ideals.

Storyline

The Pursuit of Happyness is a true story based on the life of Chris Gardner played by Will Smith. The setting is 1981, San Francisco and Gardner is a salesman for x-ray machines but is struggling to make ends meet. Beings he spent the family's entire savings on these machines they have no money and his wife leaves him and his son Christoper, played by Will Smith's son Jayden. Gardner is set on making a life for his child and gets an internship at Dean Witter. Many have applied and only one will get the slot but even before that there is six months unpaid training. While fighting for the internship Gardner is forced to move out of his home making him and his son homeless. Gardner goes through some tough times and tribulations but the ending is nothing but heart warming.

The System

As we have learned from our class discussions, class is a term that is used to categorize people based on their economic status: income level, profession, family lineage, and social standing all play a part in class determination. Hollywood's way of putting an issue about class out to the public is to make a movie about the issue. While it is good that the issue is being talked about, the way Hollywood goes about filming the movie is not always praised.
It is safe to say that Gardner has little to no income putting him in the lower class bracket. When you see his living conditions, it is clear to see that he is living in poor conditions, amongst other poor African-Americans. Hollywood is criticized on making existing stereotypes even stronger when they make moves such as this. Benshoff and Griffin say,

Hollywood films repeatedly construct stereotypical images of American poverty as
endemic to racial/ethnic communities... ...This allows racists the chance to
rationalize poverty as being the fault of those affected by it, and not the
result of racism institutionalized in capitalist practice.

Hollywood uses the trick that if the movie is set back to a different time then now then we can understand why there is a class struggle and racism. People in today's times are struggling everyday with those issues but we are taught to believe we are all equal. If we are suppose to be taught that race and class do not matter, then why are we always shown movies that portray the fact that class does matter? Gardner had to hide the fact that him and his son were homeless and poor, no one would have believed he would be working for Dean Witter.

American Dream and Masculinity

While this movie shows the typical stereotypes, the fact that it is based on a true story of someone out shines them. Gardner has the drive to make his American Dream come true and it is truly inspirational. Benshoff and Griffin define the American Dream as the expression that encapsulates national myths about equality and the free pursuit of wealth and happiness. He radiates the idea of the Horatio Alger myth, the idea that anyone in America can rise to economic success through hard work and the aid of friendly benefactors (Benshoff and Griffin). Gardner works his butt off, not knowing if he is even going to get the job, all to make his son's life better. All he wants is for his son to have a better life than he had. What parent doesn't want that for their children?

While it is touching to see a film about someone inspiring to better themselves, I found more inspiring was that the movie showed a single father, instead of a single mother bettering themselves. The most touching scene is the subway scene where Gardner breaks down after his son goes to sleep. Gardner trying to be that strong rock for his child, but ends up breaking down when things get really bad. This could be seen as a breach in masculinity but I believe it shows that even men are human and allowed to have a moment. Hollywood is not known for showing this emotional side making some to believe that men are not emotional.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dLwjEtY4uas

At the end of this film, as with many Hollywood blockbusters, everything turns out good for Gardner and his son. He overcomes his struggle with class and moves into the world of Wall Street. Hollywood once again benefits from the American Dream. I am excited to see if the same will happen in the upcoming movie The Soloist starring Jamie Foxx which plays into a similar story line as The Pursuit of Happyness.

The real Chris Gardner with Will Smith and Jayden Smith.