The Pursuit of Happiness: the Political and Artistic aspects of the

JourneyAllyssa Kuhl

November 11, 2015PSC 394

Concept: The Pursuit of Happiness

• How is this concept political?• Fundamental right

• Protected and preserved in democratic societies• “American Dream”

• How does this concept connect politically and artistically?• The characteristic of variation in meaning and interpretation.

Artistic Work A: The Pursuit of Happyness

• Pursuit of Happyness Trailer, Columbia Pictures, 2006• Directed by Gabriele Muccino• How does this film show the political aspects of the concept?

• Liberty• Opportunity

• What artistic aspects of this film help deliver the political message?• Context, characters, music, plot line, setting, etc.

Artistic Work B: The Pursuit of Happiness

Vetis Hayes, Pursuit of Happiness, oil on canvas, 1937.

• How does the mural show the political aspects of the concept?• Liberty• Opportunity

• What artistic aspects of the mural help deliver the political message?• Context, mural scenes,

the intentions of the artist, etc.

Artistic Work C: The Pursuit of Happiness

“Remember, people only say that things Appear self-evident when they are not. And yet – we’ve inherited these words About our right to chase our happiness And we have used them well, and held that truth, Stumbling towards our more perfect union, A stumbling we must keep considering How to do. In all its imperfections, Part of its promise, we should celebrate That great pursuit and recommit

ourselves To it: our pursuit of happiness And everyone else’s pursuit of theirs, How to achieve it, how to make it work.”

-David J. Rothman, 2014, fourth stanza

Artistic Work C continued…• How does this excerpt of the poem relate to the political aspect of

the concept?• Additionally, how does the poem do so in it’s entirety?

• Liberty• Opportunity

• Call to action, evoking democratic beliefs within audience, etc.

• What artistic aspects of this film help deliver the political message?• Context, message, organization of poem, tone, call to action, etc.

Artistic Work D: Ragen Chastain Choreography

• "I'm Beautiful", Ragen Chastain, 2009• Her blog is entitled, “Dances with Fat: Life, Liberty, and

the Pursuit of Happiness are not Size Dependent”.• How do the blog and dance relate to the political aspect of

the concept?• Liberty• Opportunity

Artistic Work D continued…

• What artistic aspects of this film help deliver the political message?• Choreography• Blog

• Her writing• Why does she write it?• What is her message?

Conclusion: How does everything connect?Concept: The Pursuit of Happiness

Three particular themes connect each of the pieces to the political concept and each other:

1. Liberty2. Opportunity

3. A level of Equality in Diversity