different layers of depth and meaning.ppt
- 2. Film Synopsis Charlotte’s Web is an animated film from 1973 put out by Paramount Pictures and Hanna-Barbera based on E.B. White’s classic children’s novel of the same name. Both focus on a little pig named Wilbur who is spared from slaughter by a sweet young girl on her father’s farm and the friendships and hardships he endures as this little girl and himself grow up. Wilbur moves to a new farm further away and as he grows apart from Fern, his first savior, his loneliness is soothed by a new friend: Charlotte. When Wilbur is then again on the chopping block, his new friend Charlotte devises a clever scheme that saves his life once more. White, having his own farm, wrote this story after the passing of his own sick pig, “saving his pig in retrospect”. Our heroine Charlotte however, is not spared, and the fate of us all is realized in her passing at the end of this story and film. The ending of the story Charlotte's web is sad,but relates to the real world. The main theme in Charlotte's web is the reality of life and death, and having good friends and acquaintances so you can be happy while you live your life. Wilbur has Charlotte which makes him very happy throughout the film but when she passes away in the end there is a hole in his heart.
- 3. Production The film Charlotte's Web is filled with some lively characters such as Charlotte, Wilbur, and Templeton, who are played by very good actors, whose voices fill the roles adequately. I would say there are some downsides to the film such as all the sing along songs and the "so-so" animation quality, but this was produced in the 70s so film animation wasn't at its finest yet. The film relates to the book for the most part but does not quite compare to the text, which is usual for film-text adaptations. Even E.B White was disappointed in the film because of all the sing along songs and the "Disney -like interpretation" of the Blue Hill Fair.
- 4. Production Critics talk about how "The animation in the '70's was still stuck in the Saturday-morning- cartoon format" where instead of animating every individual cell, they would animate every three to five cells, resulting in lower quality. Although some critics look down upon the quality of the film animation, the adapted story of E.B Whites text makes up for the animation quality. This film was also made for entertainment purposes, not only for children because of all the farm animals, but because of the theme of the story on the reality of life and the process of life and death.
- 5. Book Synopsis Charlotte’s Web is an award winning novel that was written by E.B. White. Written in White’s dry, low key narrative it is enjoyable for children and adults. Published at HarperCollins in 1952, and carries 192 pages. It became so wildly popular that it has spawned multiple recreations, including movies and videogames.
- 6. Charlotte’s Web has many layers full of depth and meaning. One of the first to bubble to the surface is gender roles. Though they do not show any negative connotation, many of the females in the book and movie are shown to be caring and kind. Fern is a young girl that saves a young pig’s life by acting out against her father. She believes that all things have a right to live and acts on that impulse. The same can be said about Charlotte. After meeting Wilbur she is looked upon a maternal figure for Wilbur, caring for him as she would a child.
- 7. Gender Roles Wilbur himself throughout the tale is viewed as helpless, weak, and quite pitiful; relying on the saving grace of the women in his life.
- 8. Women are heroic yet exemplify femininity and maternity. Fern instinctually connects with the baby pig and thrusts herself into the position of “mother” by forcing her father to spare the pig’s life; here the contrast of the murderous male figure is clearly evident.
- 9. Later when Wilbur moves further away and is lonesome on his new farm he is consoled and befriended by the compassionate and clearly gifted spider Charlotte. Charlotte again saves Wilbur’s life by devising a very intelligent scheme. She too has a maternal relationship with Wilbur and later these aspects of the character are defined by her bearing children. Charlotte sorrowfully dies before the birth of her children, but her legacy lives on through Wilbur’s retellings.
- 10. Class The animals are the focus but are ultimately viewed as “less than” by most of the human class (Fern is the exception, and for this reason a Heroine). Wilbur’s life is constantly hanging in the balance because of the lack of regard for animal life that the human’s in this story have. At the fair the animals are gawked upon, viewed as entertainment solely. The purpose of the animals in this story are only to serve and benefit the human counterparts.
- 11. Classism The classism in this novel is a great reminder to be good to not only your fellow man, but animals as well. Multiple times in the novel it is pointed out that animals are used only for what they are good for. The sheep grows wool, chickens plant eggs, and pigs are eaten. Continually the author makes the farmer stigmatizes the animals that are lower class than he. Bringing issues that are still relevant in the 21st century.
- 12. Discussion Is it shocking to find death as a central theme of a children’s novel and animated film? Why or why not? Are there any heroes? Are there villains? Discuss the theme of “miracles” in this film