Friday, September 30, 2016
A Little Bird Told Me . . .
The gossip of the members of his community about his demotion, rather than the demoition itself, is the direct cause of the doorman's downfall in The Last Laugh. Some of the most expressive images in the film demonstrate the spread of gossip and the resultant mockery of the neighbors: the camera moves to an outstretched ear, the camera follows the doorman along a walk of shame, grotesque and blurry heads superimposed on the neighborhood mock him with unabashed laughter. What is the movie saying about gossip as a form of communication? What is it saying about the community that listens to it? How does what other people think of us influence how we think of ourselves?
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ReplyDeleteIn the Last Laugh, gossip is one of the main forms of communication for the doorman’s community. It is a very powerful form of communication for how fast it can spread news and we were able to see that when the doorman got fired and how quickly his community found out. Also, since gossip is such an easy form of communication, it makes it an ever more enticing option for the people of the community to use. For the people that are gossiping and the people that are listening to it, I think that it just shows how people can be two faced. When the doorman still had his superior job at the Atlantic hotel, it was as if he was the king of the world. All the people in his community greeted him and were very fond of him. However, as soon as he lost his doorman position and was demoted to the bathroom attendant, the people in his community wanted nothing to do with him as if he lost all of his worth. I also think this is a classic example of how people can either value you for you or they can value you for what you have. If they value you for what you have and you all of a sudden lose it, then you can expect them to no longer be there for you and talk behind your back. They only want to be your friend when you have something valuable like money or an important position. On other hand, I do think that the doorman let what other people think of him totally engulf himself. In today’s society, I think people care deeply about what their friends, family members, and peers think about them because positive relationships allow us to thrive. Also, words especially from those people whose opinion we care deeply about, have the power to influence us and the way we think and feel about ourselves.
Gossip is a way of life in the community. It spreads around so easily and once it spreads everyone believes it. Especially if it concerns a man of the doorman's status. His name was known about around the block so both his successes and downfalls were passed around. Gossip and the community connect in a few ways. It’s used so often because that’s how news around the city would get around and people enjoyed it. They enjoyed in my opinion whispering about the doorman’s success, but rather shouting of his failure. Everyone seemed to accept him once they saw his fortunes and what he had to offer, so they remained associates of him and acted very fond of him because of that, giving the doorman the idea that indeed they were dear to him. Yes they were there for him when things were going well, but as soon as things went downhill leading him to becoming a bathroom attendant, he wasn’t receiving the same care by the people who were there for him at first. It’s sad to see that but that’s the lesson the movie is trying to teach. That you must watch who you think supports you. Are they a fan of you or a supporter of you. And in the doorman’s case, he had fans of him who were very quick to turn on him and let others know of his failures too. And in the end, he ended up being by himself. In present day, that can still pertain to people. But commonly, I’m able to succeed due to the support of my family, friends, community, etc. They’re true supporters of me through the good and bad and that’s what keep me moving forward knowing I have people behind me who care.
ReplyDeleteDisgusting Gossip
ReplyDeleteCommunication, a defining characteristic of human society that can be both honorable and disgusting. During the period of German expressionism many aspects of civilization, such as communication and emotion, became muses to German artists, and film, a relatively new form of art, was a great new output for the artistic movement. One of which films include The Last Laugh, a cynical story of an aging doorman’s downfall. It contains a very interesting scene of spreading gossip; after the protagonist, a once high praised member of his community, is demoted, the news spreads through his neighborhood. When he returns home his friends and family, they instead of expressing compassion and condolences, sham and laugh at him. The movie uses blurred superimposed images of laughing faces to express the feelings and experience of the protagonist. The image itself is quite disturbing and unsavory, which corresponds with the ugly characteristics of mockery. It also gives a window into what kind of community the main character lives in, the entertainment and laughter of his once close friends indicates their lack of sympathy and their secret want for his failure. When watching this scene the audience is forced to think about their own society. The scene is depicting every person’s greatest fear when it comes to failure, judgment. Today in modern society this fear of other’s opinions are a constant factor in daily life, having huge influence in how people act, think, and feel. The thoughts and words of peers can be a powerful thing as seen in The Last Laugh and should be used carefully.