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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