500 Days of Summer: Postmodern Perfection | Video Essay
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- Опубликовано: 30 сен 2024
- In this (500) Days of Summer video essay, I unpack all the aspects of the film that make this a postmodern love story; the male gaze, gender roles, intertextuality, cinematic devices, non-lienar narrratives and postmodernism in the context of romcoms.
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What’s your favourite romcom??
The one they don't talk about gender roles constantly.
I love this movie. It's Brilliant, from the acting, writing, directing, music, cinematography, etc. It's just such a smartly made film that helped me find my passions throughout life.
I agree the movie is so underappreciated
@@FoundInFrames As someone who is very passionate about film analysis and does a lot of it myself, I'm glad to gave found your channel. Your thoughts come across as intelligent, detailed, and most importantly: objective. Keep up the good work. I'd be interested in hearing your thoughts on TDK Trilogy, btw. Just a suggestion :)
Thank you so much that means a lot :) I also love TDK (who doesn’t lol) and I have a soft spot for Rises so I might do a video at some point
@@FoundInFrames I agree. I think The Dark Knight is a masterpiece. The Dark Knight Rises isn't as good, but I definitely would not say that it's "bad" like some other edgy people. It definitely has the most flaws out of the movies in the trilogy, but there's still a lot of well-done stuff too.
i think if you watch 500 days of summer from summer's pov tom is the real villain and at the end he did not fully learn his lesson but he did start to see more clearly all thanks to summer pushing him to pursue his passions....he found someone willing to try...summer made it clear..she did not want to try..but he ignored it for his own fantasy happiness and desires...cause hes a selfish man...and thats how to enjoy the film...
I only disagree with the notion that Summer doesn't have growth. We don't *see* it, but in their final conversation, she hints at the fact that she DID grow through her relationship with Tom as well. That their relationship was necessary for her to open up to something that she then found later.
Agreed. Summer said at the end of the movie that Tom was not completely wrong about love. It feels like she definitely learned something from her extreme negative view of love at the beginning.
Actually, she didn’t grow. Count the days. She met a guy, dated him and got married to him in three months or so. This is really irresponsible. Summer is still the same: she does what she wants, without thinking about the consequences. She is still impulsive and immature. Or do you really believe that she really loves someone she married three months after meeting him? It’s just infatuation. Excitement. She’ll get bored eventually, as she did with Tom. My only issue is with the ending, which is unrealistic. Their final meeting would have worked better if it were Tom’s day dreaming about getting closure from Summer. In fact, the ending is ambiguous on whether Tom matured at all. Is Autumn the start of a healthier relationship? Or just another fantasy?
@@licmir3663 People like you will always have to make Summer a villain beyond the scope. Work on your issues. Have some therapy. Live a happier life.p
my ex was summer in my story - and I guess this helped me accept that he will find someone who is compatible as compared to me "not compatible to him" and I will be where ever life will take me but its okay cause I will be on the right path rather than living the expectation of one
‘’never, ever tell her side of the story and we’re doing this on purpose, that she (summer) doesn’t get a fair share at this’’
Man, they did a great job with that because ALOT of dudes hated summer, and still do, when they first watched this movie and are still in denial even when they’re told Tom didn’t listen.
Totally agree, it’s sort of this misinterpretation that drew me towards the film cause I find it so funny that some people still don’t realise how one sided the story is
I never hated Summer. I thought upon first watching it was a cautionary tale about "oneitis". What I will say is I'm not a fan of all her actions. She kind of knew going into it that he was really into her, but instead of doing the right thing and leaving him alone, she kinda kept going back to him because she was lonely, bored, horny, whatever. Doesn't seem fair to say she did "nothing" wrong. I don't hate Summer the character or think she's a bad person, but when Tom calls out her behavior at the end ("you just...do what you want, don't you?") I think it was obvious she was not totally innocent.
@@Jazzmaster1992 again, she told Tom she didn’t want anything.
She even told his ass TWICE.
“Doesn’t seem fair that she did nothing wrong”
@@steverogers7601 Nah.
She said she wanted him as a friend in the beginning of the movie. He accepted her rejection and "friendzoning". He didn't push the issue, he didn't whine or beg her to give him a chance.
The following week, SHE makes out with him in the copy room, unprovoked. Then they started "hanging out" and having play-dates in Ikea. Then she says that she's "not looking for anything serious". He says "sure, taking it slow" and she offers no refutation, no clarification like "I just want casual, I'm not interested in anything further".
This goes on for a bit. They have their argument after he fights the guy in the bar. She says "I like you Tom, I'm just not looking for a relationship" and when she says they are "just friends", he rightfully calls out the definition and boundary issues, even if he is a little bit too aggressive about it. Instead of leaving the man alone, she comes back to him with puppy dog eyes, says she's sorry for yelling at him and they hook up again. To me, the whole thing just seemed like a dysfunctional relationship between two people who don't know what they want, and are therefore unable to communicate intentions and boundaries clearly. Again, at the end of the movie, this becomes obvious when she says she was "unsure" about Tom, alluding to the fact that she didn't really understand her feelings.
Had she have said "I don't want anything serious, but I find you attractive and wouldn't mind something casual" from the jump, and had he have accepted it without expecting more, it would have been fine. Unfortunately, that's not how a lot of relationships turn out, which is why this movie is so great. But I definitely don't think she "didn't want anything" or that she "made her intentions clear". And she wasn't this innocent little victim being forced to hook up with a guy who had feelings for her. She could have just "friendzoned" the man and left him alone, but she didn't, and that much is on her.
@@Jazzmaster1992 the crazy thing is you genuinely believe that.
All I can say is good luck out there to anyone who thinks this.
14:13 Whoa! I think I’ve watched this film like 5 times and I’ve never paid enough attention to notice that quote on the wall! Lol
Yeah I watched that scene too many times…
I never thought about how the atypical sequence of the storyline was meant to represent the human memory. Also, as a guy, you don’t really think about Summer’s perspective not being told at all because we are so used to seeing things from Tom’s eyes in real life. This truly is my favorite movie on relationships
take a shot every time he says postmodern and 'subverting patriarchal gender roles'
I love this video essay! Didn’t even notice the Ikea quote, tbh. When I think of postmodernism, I default to deconstruction (which Summer certainly is, as a MPDG; and the movie, itself, as a romantic comedy) but I didn’t even think of the intertextuality being a postmodern element. You are so right!
Thanks!!! I think Summer is the most obvious “on the nose” interpretation for the film being postmodern but it’s so much more layered than that, postmodernism saturates the film. I’m glad you enjoyed the video :)
Wtf how is it possible for this pearl of a video to still be undiscovered!!
Thanks man :)
DO BOJACK HORSEMAN!!!
This movie is my favorite love story because it’s honestly in its own melancholy. I honestly get a little upset when people talk so badly about it.
The video was awesome. Your analysis and explaining skills are perfect and amazing .
Thanks :)
This movie was such a damn trip to watch whilst peaking on Psylocybin
Yeah, i’d probably cry
I JUST did that last night….
Summer gets worse and worse the more you think about her. The fact that she instigated a relationship wirh Tom, showed him love and affection knowing he had feelings for her, while also knowing she didn't actually intend to be with him.
A lot of women dont seem to see an issue with leading guys on, who they sont actually intend to be with. It'd selfishness to the highest degree. They are sacrificing the mental well-being of thr man in exchange for their own short term gratification.
to be fair, she did tell him from the start what she wanted - which was not a relationship. yes, she kept contradicting herself with the affection and whatnot. but, ultimately, people tell you what they truly want. it’s up to us to listen and not to try to twist fate and change their minds. learned this one the hard way.
@@gabejq Yes, that's not incorrect. However, that is and ideal, not reality. In real life, and in relationships especially, people say things they don't mean, and don't say things that they DO mean. Actions speak FAR louder than a few words. People judge eachother based on what they do, not what they may say at one point in time.
Even if Summer may have gave an indication in the beginning, her actions counteracted that. That's like telling somebody "no offense" before saying something very offensive. But he said no offense! It's not his fault you were offended afterwards!
wtf? this is actually so good hows this not famous yet
Gotta let gang know i fw this masterpiece
This is an amazing way of breaking down this movie! Loved the video so much.
Thank you :)
I've watched this film a second time and now I see it through different eyes and understand it so much better. My question though and what I still don't understand is why Tom and Summer are "incompatible". It is perplexing because they seem to be happy with each other and have fun together and love each other. The only incompatibility offered is that Tom is a Romantic and Summer is not, until she is and then she is but for someone else. So in the end the question is are they incompatible simply because they are each still "growing up" and starting from different perspectives? We never learn or understand what it is that made Summer switch from not believing in romantic love to being engaged to be married within months of breaking up with Tom and why she did so. I find it to be a strange and highly narcissistic view of romantic love when a partner is considered "incompatible" because they are still figuring out their lives. Wouldn't it also be fair to say that Summer definitely didn't have her life or career figured out even a little bit? Aren't partners in romantic love supposed to be strong for each other and devoted to each other to help each other to cheer on each other in their growth and quest toward finding their own personal successes? Do other people feel that this "post modern" view of romantic love as haphazard serial monogamy is dangerous and cheapens any future possibility of actual committed romantic love? Or is it inevitable that we all go through these stages of experiencing the pain of having our hearts broken as part of the process of discovering how to practice romantic love in a way where one learns to fully love oneself so they can be love for others rather than seeking that love through a partner? At the very least this film really makes one contemplate these questions far more than any other film about Love I've ever encountered. Just still wondering why they weren't compatible and asking the same question Summer asked Tom on their first date. Tom's answer "you just know" is obviously a colossal error because he surely didn't "know" when he thought he did and then this irony at the end that Summer uses the same line on him after finding it with someone else!
It's a good question, and I feel like I would need to watch the movie again to have a sure answer - it's been a few years. But I think Summer just wasn't really happy with him after a while, and didn't feel the same romantic connection. And we may not get an answer for exactly why, since the movie isn't from her perspective.
They were "not" compatible.she even said all they ever do is " fight ".😊😊😊😊😊
The reason why they’re incompatible is because she’s looking for a man that is able to walk the walk. She’s attracted to him for his passion for architecture but he never leaves his dead-end job. He’s too obsessed with her instead of being obsessed about his career which would have attracted her much more to him. She left the job whereas he still was working in a job he hated. When they were role-playing she knew she couldn’t see a future with him because of his lack of ambition. It was the breakup that allowed him to pursue his passion and a new career; he should be grateful to her
@@creativeflowltd Accurate.
@@creativeflowltdyeah.. women moment there.
This movie was very entertaining. Tom projected all his fantasy and desire onto a profession in which he did not have experience. He saw too many architects in romantic movies, but he was rejected by the profession and relegated to a greeting card company. He did not pay attention to the reality of having to compete with lots of qualified applicants for few careers as well as the many different subspecialties in the profession. Tom was selfish in his expectations that he be given his manic pixie dream job when Autumn was more qualified. Tom's expectations of being an architect will fail to match the reality that his job at the greeting card company might actually be better.
Your last argument is that, essentially, the guy is doomed because if he was more passionate about architecture Summer would've dated him, but once he got really passionate, Autumn would've rejected him because he wasn't as qualified. You've got some sort of doomer or black pill mentality going on.
@@NicolasGarciaLanza I was trying to parody the arguments that Tom was projecting his fantasies on Summer. There is a lot of overanalysis of this movie, but hardly any of it mentions Tom wanting to be an architect. It seems like a lot of romance movie men are architects, but most movie writers did not research the profession beyond "architects have funny looking rulers and drafting tables." I thought Tom wanting to be an architect could use more analysis.
@@josefk7437 That's fair, I haven't thought about that. You could argue that it has thematic relevance in a "gendered" context to present the male lead as an architect, one who ultimately designs and "builds a home". It's interesting if you put it that way. Still I'd like to know if you'd think he wouldn't be capable of reaching that "goal" of his.
@@NicolasGarciaLanza The movie made it impossible to judge if he would be capable of reaching that goal of his. There were no situations in the movie that would have allowed the audience to make any judgment about his chances of achieving his goal.
Thoughtful essay on a wonderful movie. Hope to see more of your thoughts on great movies in the future.
I've watched this film more than a half dozen times and truly love it. I like delving into its deep meaning other than the straight up romantic notion of love in Tom's eyes. I just recently flew to LA just to see the bench Tom and Summer sat on and to see other sites from the movie. It was great! And btw the park is closed and if you want to visit the bench you would be doing so under trespass.
It’s the Best movie imo, do you know any similar films?
Amazing video bro, on point analysis. i didn't even know it had so many references.
Stop repeating yourself
I loved this movie. As far as Tom is concerned I don't think he was wrong for pursuing Summer even though she said she wasn't looking for a relationship.
I do think Summer is wrong for going along with Tom's desires already knowing what his intentions were ahead of time and seeing that he was falling in love with her.
However I don't have much empathy for Tom. He played the game and he came up short. Summer told him ahead of time what she was all about. He thought he could change her, he was wrong.
I believe Tom should have took his lumps and moved forward.
How could she?
This is the best video essay I have ever seen, wow this opened my eyes
wait wait, let me ask one thing, what is the fck thing called love? doesn't it even exist? why is it so random? is love only biological needs or only for reproductive means or its only tradition left by our ancestor from neanderthalis homosapiens?
My Favorite Romantic Movie
Song at 4.50?
in literal tears rn. thank you for putting why i love this movie sm into words
nice.
this is a great analysis, truly enjoyed
found this video 3 years late, but this HAS to be the best analysis on this movie. loved the video!
This is the best video essay of 500DS that I've watched
But why summer invite Tom over knowing how much he loved her or idk obsessed Ober their love? Or what because he's a unreliable narrator we can't believe him or what,? That invitation was a fact right? She's a bit cynical I mean idk I wouldn't invite a guy who was so in love with me and I wasn't to my party where I'm now engaged like wtf
Summer gets a pass as she (eventually) told him she wasn't ready for a committed relationship.
Tom has my empathy.
Tom, like Fred Madison in Lost Highway, wants to know his relationship “the way [he] remembers [it], not necessarily the way [it] happened.”
This is like my fourth analysis of the movie I watched. Watched 1 before (it made me watch the movie), and 3 after. I really enjoyed it.
this movie is very much for Incels. I love it.
Toms younger sister was in Kick Ass.
fucking excellent essay
Beautiful! So well detailed and precise
Good analysis!🤘🏽
I still hate Summer
The movie does not let the audience know Summer well enough to hate her.
who asked
@@cherrykitty1998 me
Only cause she’s a woman?
@@josefk7437I know she kissed a guy who said he was a hopeless romantic after he accepted her rejection. TWICE!! The second time she chased him to do so.
On the contrary, it is the most realistic love story...
12:07 what did you say? Implying what? The audio is a little choppy here.