How does Marc Webb's (500) Days of Summer qualify as a new narrative - Essay Example

(500) Days of Summer as New Narrative The New Narrative, as a novel movement of literature is more concerned of meta-text rather than its structuralelements. When talking about literature, it is not only concentrated on print, but with movies as well. (500) Days of Summer does not follow the typical Aristotelian plot, thus making it a post modernist type of work. Furthermore, it goes beyond the typical boy-meets-girl movie themes. However, "Post Modernist" may be ineffective to serve as a description of this movie since a post modern film can follow the traditional plot structure.

The concept of New Narrative could classify well the structure, characters, events, and theme of the movie, (500) Days of Summer. Pop culture references of the film greatly contribute to the overall feel of the movie as a New Narrative. The first observable feature of the film is the sequence of events. It does not follow the linear narrative as what other movies do. Although the characters could resemble a next door neighbor, their beliefs are likewise, not typical. Mostly in other movies with the same genre as (500) Days, it is the female characters who are seen to be in the depressive mood every time there is a break-up.

On the contrary, Summer, the female lead character possesses a more masculine outlook about love, believing that there is no such thing as “true love” and is not interested in finding a boyfriend. In one of the scenes where Tom, Summer, and another character were having a conversation, he referred to Summer as “She’s a dude” (Webb). Tom, on the other hand, is a hopeless romantic. There was even a scene where the ecstatic feeling of Tom was portrayed in a way that it involves the whole setting of the film.

A series of dance routines and an appearance of a cartooned bird were used to serve as exaggeration elements to connote Tom’s happiness. A distinct characteristic of New Narrative is its emphasis on sex and emotions. In the movie, sex is an important part of Tom and Summer’s relationship to make it grow, although it appears to be one-sided on Tom’s part. The image of sexuality was portrayed in different views for the two major characters, but Summer’s has changed in the conclusion part of the movie.

Both has arrived a different conclusions which makes the movie realistic in all sense. Stereotype aside, it is not likely to meet a man like Tom whose willfulness when it comes to proving love. However, the concept of moving on is directed in a different manner so as to suit our everyday lives. Clearly, when Summer told Tom that she found true love with another man, he was disappointed considering what he has done to bring him back. It did not end with the both of them are literally happy with each other; instead, moving on for Tom came gradually and was shown when he met a girl in a job interview.

Whether or not the girl’s name, Autumn, who appeared at the last part of the movie is of any significance, it surely has an impact with the thought that Tom is ready to go on after the 500 days of Summer are over. Work Cited (500) Days of Summer. Dir. Marc Webb. Perf. Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Zooey Deschanel. Fox Searchlight Pictures, 2009. Film.