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Abstract:Postmodernism emphasizes the voice from previously marginalized and attacks the dominate position of traditions and customs. Deeply influenced by Derrida’s deconstruction, many methods and techniques of expression in postmodern works are associated with deconstructive thought. Forrest Gump in 1994 is such an American film.
Key words: Postmodernism; Forrest Gump; deconstructed hero image
Forrest Gump is a 1994 American film based on the 1986 novel of the same name by Winston Groom. The film was directed by Robert Zemeckis, starring Tom Hanks, Robin Wright, and Gary Sinise. The story depicts several decades in the life of Forrest Gump, an Alabama “simpleton” who travels across the world, meeting historical figures, influencing popular culture, and experiencing firsthand some of the historic events of the late 20th century. That the “inferior” Forrest become icon of the country, and experiences, even influences the historic events is supposed to embody postmodern features.
The traditional hero type is classically depicted to possess an image that is larger than life. They are generally expected to be more physically attractive, stronger, braver, more clever or charismatic than the average everyman. They always use reason over human nature. The creation of hero image embodies cultural conventions in a society. It is a mouthpiece of the moral principles. Its existing deepens notions of dominant class, as Roland says: “it embodies a body of ideas and practices, which by actively promoting the values and interests of dominant groups in society, defend the prevailing structures of power.”
However, in postmodernists’ view, there is no superiority and inferiority. Heroes are not flawless. They may be ordinary people and have human nature such as cowardly, greedy, and selfish. A person is fraught with human frailties, unlike the perfect images of the white-hatted cowboy and the noble warrior. In the postmodern era, traditionally defined heroic qualities, akin to the classic "knight in shining armor" type, have given way to the "gritty truth" of life, and authority in general is being questioned. In order to break the shackles of the traditional concept, seeking self-liberation, postmodernists try to create "Anti-hero" images which are often ordinary person, especially persons who are invisible in modern society and are marginalized by traditional notions and morality. They are timid, or have some kind of moral, mental or physical defects. Forrest Gump is such a person with physical defect and inferior IQ. He is considered to be “abnormal”. Ironically, such a “abnormal” become an icon of the country and admired by people in “normal” world. Despite his below average IQ, Forrest’s ability to run very fast gets him into the University of Alabama on a football scholarship. After graduation, Forrest enlists in the Army where he makes friends with Bubba. Both of them are sent to Vietnam. When their platoon is ambushed, what Forrest wants to do is just run away. But Bubba’s disappearance makes him run back to search his friend and he just wants to save Bubba. In the course of search for his friend, Forrest hear men’s cry for help. He rescues many of the men in his unit. For his actions, Forrest is awarded the Medal of Honor. When Forrest tells Lt. Dan about his plans for a fishing business, the lieutenant replies jokingly that the day Forrest becomes a fisherman, he'll be first mate. However, Forrest successes and makes a lot of money. Jenny returns to visit Forrest tells him that she does love him,but she leaves the next day. On a whim, Forrest elects to go for a run and simply decides not to stop. Over the next three years, two months, fourteen days and sixteen hours, he runs coast to coast across the country several times, gathering a large following. His foul language "SHIT HAPPENS" became the slogan stickers; his shirt with a recession on the facial mud, actually became the best-selling painted face designs. He become an icon of the country. Forrest’s popularity subverts the traditional hero type. It makes people understand that everyone can be “hero” and value diversity.
References:
1.Docker, John. Postmodernism and Popular Culture: A Cultural History. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
2.John Storey. Cultual Theory and Popular Culture: An Introduction. Beijing: Peking University Press.
作者简介：侯倩（1987— ），女，重庆人，四川外语学院研究生部2010级英语语言文学专业硕士研究生，研究方向：主要英语国家社会文化。
Key words: Postmodernism; Forrest Gump; deconstructed hero image
Forrest Gump is a 1994 American film based on the 1986 novel of the same name by Winston Groom. The film was directed by Robert Zemeckis, starring Tom Hanks, Robin Wright, and Gary Sinise. The story depicts several decades in the life of Forrest Gump, an Alabama “simpleton” who travels across the world, meeting historical figures, influencing popular culture, and experiencing firsthand some of the historic events of the late 20th century. That the “inferior” Forrest become icon of the country, and experiences, even influences the historic events is supposed to embody postmodern features.
The traditional hero type is classically depicted to possess an image that is larger than life. They are generally expected to be more physically attractive, stronger, braver, more clever or charismatic than the average everyman. They always use reason over human nature. The creation of hero image embodies cultural conventions in a society. It is a mouthpiece of the moral principles. Its existing deepens notions of dominant class, as Roland says: “it embodies a body of ideas and practices, which by actively promoting the values and interests of dominant groups in society, defend the prevailing structures of power.”
However, in postmodernists’ view, there is no superiority and inferiority. Heroes are not flawless. They may be ordinary people and have human nature such as cowardly, greedy, and selfish. A person is fraught with human frailties, unlike the perfect images of the white-hatted cowboy and the noble warrior. In the postmodern era, traditionally defined heroic qualities, akin to the classic "knight in shining armor" type, have given way to the "gritty truth" of life, and authority in general is being questioned. In order to break the shackles of the traditional concept, seeking self-liberation, postmodernists try to create "Anti-hero" images which are often ordinary person, especially persons who are invisible in modern society and are marginalized by traditional notions and morality. They are timid, or have some kind of moral, mental or physical defects. Forrest Gump is such a person with physical defect and inferior IQ. He is considered to be “abnormal”. Ironically, such a “abnormal” become an icon of the country and admired by people in “normal” world. Despite his below average IQ, Forrest’s ability to run very fast gets him into the University of Alabama on a football scholarship. After graduation, Forrest enlists in the Army where he makes friends with Bubba. Both of them are sent to Vietnam. When their platoon is ambushed, what Forrest wants to do is just run away. But Bubba’s disappearance makes him run back to search his friend and he just wants to save Bubba. In the course of search for his friend, Forrest hear men’s cry for help. He rescues many of the men in his unit. For his actions, Forrest is awarded the Medal of Honor. When Forrest tells Lt. Dan about his plans for a fishing business, the lieutenant replies jokingly that the day Forrest becomes a fisherman, he'll be first mate. However, Forrest successes and makes a lot of money. Jenny returns to visit Forrest tells him that she does love him,but she leaves the next day. On a whim, Forrest elects to go for a run and simply decides not to stop. Over the next three years, two months, fourteen days and sixteen hours, he runs coast to coast across the country several times, gathering a large following. His foul language "SHIT HAPPENS" became the slogan stickers; his shirt with a recession on the facial mud, actually became the best-selling painted face designs. He become an icon of the country. Forrest’s popularity subverts the traditional hero type. It makes people understand that everyone can be “hero” and value diversity.
References:
1.Docker, John. Postmodernism and Popular Culture: A Cultural History. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
2.John Storey. Cultual Theory and Popular Culture: An Introduction. Beijing: Peking University Press.
作者简介：侯倩（1987— ），女，重庆人，四川外语学院研究生部2010级英语语言文学专业硕士研究生，研究方向：主要英语国家社会文化。