English 102
Up in the Air ; how the message changed.
Up in the Air, the novel, was written by Walter Kirn in 2001. The movie to this book came out in 2009, obviously there are change in events between these two dates, another factor that changes the movie aside from saving screen time. The book came out on the year in when a new historical day was created, 9/11, which when terrorists flew planes straight into trading towers. After the shock wore off from that event many people became to believe it was an act of conspiracy. In the novel Up in the Air, the main character , Ryan later on believes he himself is within a conspiracy made by the airline he is loyal too. However in the movie that conspiracy he talked about is removed; the message of the content is changed as well. In the novel, the writer gives the message that big companies are more powerful than we think, meanwhile the movie gets a different message, its message is telling us to "grow up" and "stop being children". This change in message happened because of the economy downfall that happened over the eight year gap between the novel and movie. Thus, the message that is expressed within the book and movie are different because of the events that happened within the years between.
Between the year 2001 and 2009 many events had taken place that has changed the ways in which people think and act. One of the most obvious would be the terrorist attack on September 11th when two hijacked planes crashed into the world trade buildings. After this incident, security in many airports succumb to paranoia. Tom Bearden, a reporter in PBS Newshour says; “After 9/11, the government created the Transportation Security Administration, which was the largest single federal startup since World War II.” This ‘attack’ on the public's rights ended up leading to many conspiracy theories on how this might have been an inside job. Even a chain letter was started about 9/11, in this letter it demonstrates on how many of the names involved within the event can be broken down into one of the numbers in 9/11. This chain letter even goes as far to show that when a flight number of the first plane is typed into the Word program--and after changing font-- one would get the image of a plane crashing into two towers. Needless to say all of America was scared by this attack and wanted to blame it on someone.
Another event happened, economy recessions pop between these years. Many homeowners began to experience the value in property dropping and were forced to into foreclosure. Stock owners felt the same affects, taxes began to rise and many jobs were no longer available. In summary, the economy began to decline leaving many people to leave what was once luxury to a state of financial crisis and panic.
In correspondence to the book, the terrorist attack happened during the creation of the novel. Thus the effects of surrounding paranoia began to work its way into the pages. In the same way when a plague would affect the style of art in the past. A good example would be when the main character begins to believe that the company he is getting flight points from is using him as a guinea pig. The reason would to see if there was a way to make other customers more like him. He ends up telling this idea to the husband of his ex-wife; who doesn’t believe him. Another example would been when he bumps into a young woman who was at one of his speeches. She begins to track him so that they would meet again, this is something he doesn’t notice at first until she mentions it. This ‘accidental’ bump in turned out to be planned, thus a smaller conspiracy. A more subtle way the author applies the subtext would be with Ryan’s sister. She ran off after two dogs had died before her. Behavior that he was not accustomed too and had no real solid ground to stand on; according to him. Later she does tell him that it was about the dogs and the stress that she was under. This was against the image that he had of her and thus can be seen as some sort of conspiracy. Overall the writer, Walter Krin, was attempting to send a message through to the reader that there might be conspiracies afoot, and that everyone should begin to manage their own assets. Much like how Ryan fought against what might have been credit card thieves, and others trying to steal away his frequent flyer points. Basically it tells us to watch out money because something bad might happen to it. Which did with the economic crisis.
However the message in the movie is quite different. Instead of promoting the notion to protect assets, the story tells us to ‘grow up’. The reason to tell us all to grow up might simply have to do with the wars that began back then, and the economic downfall that put everyone into shock. A few good examples of this message would be when a young worker is added to Ryan’s group. This girl ends up attached to Ryan in attempts to have her gain experience. During their travels she receives a text message from her boyfriend, in this message he broke up with her. Text messaging, something that is fairly new to communication, would be something considered childish. This would lead people to want to wish people who use text messaging for serious matters to grow up and talk it out ‘properly’. Later on the girl looks at Ryan while on a docking bay taking pictures for his sister. She leaves him there after telling him to ‘grow up’, this was a more direct approach for the message. Ryan would represent those who are attempting to run away from problems in their own way, while the girl represents those who have looked at the problems and want everyone else to also address them. One of the more complex symbols for this message would be when the husband to be cowers away before the wedding starts. Ryan goes in to talk to him, this dialogue takes place within a daycare room. A grown man sits in a small plastic chair, as he is talked to by Ryan who attempts to tell him to grow up. Even outside this child’s room is the other sister who watches like a disappointed parent waiting for the children to grow up and walk out of the playground. Overall the message is clear to the viewers, they need to wake up and look at the global problems, whether they do something or not is their own decision.
In summary; the message in the book is changed due to many events that changed the lives of many in those years. When the movie came out the directory ended up giving it a whole new message; “grow up”. This change was obviously caused by the most serious matters such as the 9/11 incident, economy downfall and wars that began in the middle east.
simple chain main: http://alexbeeonmyspace.blogspot.com/2007/07/911-chain-letter.html
Note: I know there are some obvious errors such as the work cited, character names, lack of quotes, etc. But right now this is just a draft, I'm still perfecting it.
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