Field+of+Dreams,+Chaeri+Jeong

Viewing Questions**
 * Thematic Elements

Directions: Please answer these questions after watching each film in the thematic unit. Please post your answers on your personal wiki page and bring in a hard copy to class after we finish each film.

Film Facts: Ray Kinsella: the main character of the story. He is a farmer who lives with his wife, Annie and his daughter, Karin. He hears these voices telling him what to do. It leads and guides him throughout the movie. In the beginning, he describes his relationship with his father and shows his fear of turning like him: refraining from doing spontaneous things.
 * List the main characters and write a short description about each one.**

Terence Mann: Terence Mann is a famous author and an activist in the novel. After Ray hears the voice telling him to “ease his pain”, Ray decides that “he” refers to this author who turned himself into a recluse. He shows arrogance towards Ray at first, but later becomes a companion and follows Ray throughout the journey.

Archibald “Moonlight Graham”: He is essentially a ghost, but he appears as an old doctor who used to be a baseball player. He never had the chance to bat in a major league game, but desires to do so. Ray and Terence help Moonlight make his wish come true.

Shoeless Joe Jackson: Shoeless Joe Jackson is a famous baseball player who is very passionate about the sport. After Ray builds the baseball field, Joe appears during the night and later brings his companions with him to play baseball.

The central conflict is Ray vs. his inner self. Ray keeps hearing a strange voice which tells him what to do. He decides to follow the voice, for he feels a certain eagerness and motivation to carry out such actions. Part of the reason is that he doesn’t want to become like his dad, who never did any spontaneous things.Nevertheless, he does not know the reasons for performing the tasks. He knows that he wants something, but he doesn’t exactly know what.
 * What is the central conflict?**

Furthermore, he faces difficulties in maintaining the baseball field because he does not have enough money to support his family and the field can help them get out of such position if he sells it. This is hard for Ray because the field is very significant to him but at the same time, his family is in potential danger of being broke.

This story takes place in Iowa where the majority of the area is cornfield. I felt that Iowa was a great place to shoot this movie because it provided the appropriate ambience, which is warmth and love. Anyone who comes to Iowa seems very relaxed and at home. This definitely played a crucial role in the movie. The time of the film is long after the 1919 World Series Baseball when Shoeless Joe Jackson along with his teammates were banned from playing the sport. It is clear that there is some nostalgia included in the movie. It brings back the spirit of baseball.
 * Describe the setting (both time and place) of the film.**

The general mood of the film is warmth and love. As I described in the previous question, the setting really attributed to such mood. It is also nostalgic because it deals with people yearning for specific moments in the past. When visiting Iowa, they receive the warmth that they longed for. All the characters try to support each other be there for them. Both Shoeless Jackson and Ray’s dad perceive the cornfield as heaven because the mood and the feeling the characters receive from the field is so welcoming and pleasant. I feel that the sunlight plays an important role in portraying such mood because during the sunset, it almost creates a big blanket of warmth, which embraces everyone around the area.
 * What is the general mood of the film? Be detailed!**

Ray is a typical father and a husband who hears a voice in the cornfield, telling him that if he builds it, he will come. This leads him to replace large acres of corn with a baseball field, hoping that Shoeless Joe Jackson will one day appear. His vision comes true when he spots Jackson out in the baseball field. Following that night, Jackson comes back everyday with his teammates to play a game of baseball. Unfortunately, Ray faces difficulties in trying to maintain the field, for he doesn’t have enough money and may go bankrupt if he doesn’t return it to farmland. In spite of such hardships, Ray hears the voice again, but this time, it leads him to find Terence Mann, a famous author who turned himself into a recluse. Then, both Ray and Terence are led by the voice to find “Moonlight Graham”, a baseball player who never got to bat in a Major League game. Despite their efforts to bring Graham to Iowa to make his wish come true, Graham decides to stay where he belongs as a doctor. While driving back to Iowa, they spot a teenager boy who is really Graham and take him to Iowa where he finally gets to bat in the game along with the major league players. He then, transforms from a teenager to an old man and disappear into the cornfield with satisfaction. When the time comes for Jackson and his teammates to leave, Jackson invites Terence to go with him and they disappear together into the cornfield. After their departure, Ray spots his dad as a young man and plays catch with him in the baseball field.
 * Briefly summarize the plot.**

This movie is told from Ray’s point of view. Ray is the protagonists and his actions are what creates the story line of this movie.
 * From whose point of view is the story told?**

At first, Ray introduced his family and explained his childhood with his father. This helped set the background for the movie. From watching the very beginning I knew that the movie would be something personal. Then, the movie starts off as Ray in his mid 40s with his wife and daughter living in Iowa.
 * What was the structure of the film?**

What is the film’s primary focus: plot, mood, character, style, or ideas? Answer one of these questions:
 * Theme and Focus:**

Plot- summarize the action abstractly in a single sentence or short paragraph Mood- describe the mood or feeling that is conveyed Character- describe the unusual aspects of his or her personality Style- describe the qualities that contribute to the special look or feel of the film Idea- identify the subject in a single word or phrase; explain what comment or statement the film is making about the subject

The film’s primary focus is the development of different characters. Each character has his or her own apprehensions and troubles, which attributes to the unusual aspects they exhibit in the movie. For example, I perceived Terence Mann to be unusual because after his great accomplishments, he suddenly turns himself into a recluse and isolates himself in his little apartment with no contact with others whatsoever. He ignores Ray and his ambition to help him. I didn’t understand why he was acting so arrogantly in front of Ray because since he is a powerful author and a speaker, I expected him to be friendly and wise but he turned out to be just the opposite. Then, he suddenly gains interest in Ray’s journey and decides to follow him all the way to Iowa. He is in a sense mysterious because it’s hard for the audience to understand the reasons for his actions. In the end, I realized that he wanted to be free and needed someone to cure him. This can be seen when Terence steps into the cornfield with a hearty laugh. He has been hiding his feelings all along.

What was the primary aim of the film? Give reasons. providing pure entertainment--escape from the real world developing a pervasive mood or emotional effect providing a character sketch of a unique personality creating a consistent, unique feel or texture criticizing society and social institutions and raising awareness of a problem providing insights into human nature creating a moral riddle to ponder making moral implications to influence the viewers’ behavior exemplifying the struggle for human dignity exploring human relationships providing insight into a growth experience
 * Identifying the Theme:**

The primary aim of the film was to develop a pervasive mood or emotional effect by making a connection between Ray and the audience. Ray is a typical father and his emotions and experiences can definitely relate to many “dads” in their middle 40s. He desires to do spontaneous things such as following the voice and building a baseball field; yet, every time he takes a step forward, he gets hit by the reality - to take care of his family. He is in danger of being bankrupt and this almost prevents him from moving on. He feels a mix of emotions and is put in a difficult position that many fathers are probably in. The viewers, therefore feel sympathetic towards Ray throughout the movie.

Providing pure entertainment to escape from the real world can be considered as a secondary aim because there are some elements within the movie that can not be explained logically. This grabs the audiences’ attention, for it interests them and motivates them to continue watching the movie.
 * Which items could be secondary aims? Explain your answer.**

It also provides insight into growth experience because all the characters grow in spite of their ages. Ray discovers his love for both his family and his father. In addition, he didn’t realize that he has been living in heaven all along. He becomes a more wise person, who trusts his own instincts.

The film’s basic appeal is to the moral sense because there are so many morals involved in the movie that can relate to everyone in everyday life. Ray’s bold move to follow his ambitions and dreams teach us that if we try hard and are passionate about our aspirations, dreams can become a reality. I believe that this is aimed at the heart because the characters form a direct relationship with the viewers and succeeds in touching us at an emotional level. For example, when Ray finally gets his wish come true, he and his dad reunite at the baseball field and this certainly affects the viewers directly in the heart because it’s a personal moment that everyone can relate to.
 * Evaluating the Theme**:
 * Is the film’s basic appeal to the intellect, to the funny bone, to the moral sense, or the aesthetic sense? Is it aimed at the erotic sense, the viscera (blood and guts), the heart, the yellow streak down the back, or simply the eyes? Support with evidence from the film.**

My statement of the film’s theme still stays; yet, now I now know the deeper meaning of the film. After analyzing the movie in different aspects, I came to a conclusion that the voices that Ray hears in the cornfield represents the voice from his heart to guide him to his dreams. Throughout the movie, Ray’s difficulty of listening to such voice while facing reality is clearly portrayed; nevertheless, his persistence helps him go through such situation.
 * How well does your statement of the film’s theme and focus stand up after you have thoroughly analyzed all the elements of the film?**

The films theme is very universal and therefore is successful at touching the audience at an emotional level. Ray is not a CEO or a rich millionaire, but he is a regular man who bears the responsibility of taking care of his family. At the same time, he has his desires and dreams. He represents the typical husband and father of the household who goes through the similar troubles that a regular man would go through; hence, he is applicable to many people in this world.
 * To what degree is the film’s theme universal?**

Yes, the theme is relevant to my own experience. Sometimes I had to do spontaneous things to accomplish my desires. In my freshman year, I wanted to be a part of the school musical, Les Miserables; however, I knew that I didn’t have the talent to get a role in the play. Nevertheless, I signed up for the play and auditioned for Gavroche, who is one of the important characters in the play. This was completely spontaneous for me because I don’t sing or act. For this reason, I didn’t expect anything, but I ended up getting the role that I wanted. As a result, I was able to make new friends and gain new experience in acting.
 * Is the theme relevant to your own experience?**

The film makes a significant statement because it lets the viewers know that sometimes in order to get what you want, you need to take action. It’s not just going to come to you. It takes courage and persistence to overcome the obstacles. This is especially significant because it affects everyone at all ages.
 * If you think the film makes a significant statement, why is it significant?**

The film’s theme is intellectually of philosophically interesting because the message is not explicitly shown in the movie like disney movies. It’s up to the audience to put the pieces together and discover the theme of the movie. The movie does an awesome job delivering such theme in an interesting and unique way. The voices act as Ray’s instincts and the cornfield represents heaven. The mystery of such voices and Ray’s actions are not revealed until the end of the movie when he realizes that he has been working towards his dream of reuniting with his dad. The theme also relates to reality; hence, it is more interesting than self-evident and boring.
 * Decide whether the film’s theme is intellectually or philosophically interesting or self-evident and boring. Defend your decision.**

The film does have the potential to become a classic because it creates a close connection with the audience and portrays the theme in an interesting way with the voice, cornfield and the ghosts. The setting, the actors and the editing of the movie are all outstanding, which made the movie flow smoothly together. Even though we know that ghosts can’t just appear and talk to you like a real person, the film does an excellent job fitting these qualities in nicely with the plot. Most importantly, it focuses on the life of a regular person, which makes the movie even more memorable.
 * Does the film have the potential to become a classic? Will this film be viewed watching it twenty years from today? Why?**

My favorite character was Annie because even though Ray’s talk about hearing voices and Shoeless Jackson sound crazy and nonsensical, she is always supportive and encourages him to follow his instincts. Many wives would think their husbands went mad and would try to prevent him from destroying the cornfield to build a baseball field; yet, Annie remains calm and encouraging.
 * Reflection:**
 * Who was your favorite character and why?**

My least favorite character was Annie’s brother because he continues to pressure Ray into selling the land and thinks Ray is crazy seeing baseball players out in the field.
 * Who was your least favorite character and why?**

My favorite part of the movie was when Ray spots his dad out in the field and plays catch together. There wasn’t much dialogue going on; yet, I felt the emotion from the scene.
 * What was your favorite part of the movie?**

My least favorite part was when Annie brother yelled at Ray for doing foolish things and seeing things that aren’t really there. He thought that Ray was trying to make him look stupid and foolish.
 * What was your least favorite part?**

I learned that sometimes you have to do spontaneous things to follow your dreams. I also learned that the setting plays a big role in conveying the mood and emotion of the film because the sunset in the cornfield really helped make the scene more dramatic and significant.
 * Did you learn anything from the movie? What was it?**