A Peek at Pecker

1
A Peek at Pecker
1 hour 26 min.

• Analyzing the film as fiction.

2
Art is.

• Mother
• Father
• Rory
• Shelly
• Friends of The Whitney
• Matt
• Pecker

3
Basics

• What fundamental elements go into the
  crafting of just about any story, and how do
  those elements function in this film?
• Character
• Setting
• Plot
• Point of view
• Theme
• Language (style, tone, diction)
• Image
• Symbol

4
Plot, character, setting, themeall intimately
enmeshed in Pecker !

• Whats the storys narrative question?
• Will Pecker become famous artist? How will
  he develop as an artist? What will happen to him,
  his community (Baltimore, family, friends), and
  his art as he becomes famous?

Good and interesting stories often involve a
character who is put into a situation which will
disrupt his equilibrium. In this case, we have a
kid who relies on his community and his
connection to that community for his well-being,
his equilibrium, and his art. His happiness
(even joy) seems to come from his ability to
frame/control/actively make and embrace his world
and life. So what situation would put such a
character to the test? What would amplify his
weaknesses or provide maximum tension--and
therefore maximum interest for us, the viewers?
Break or threaten to break his connection
to his community. Take away or threaten
his freedom and power to frame or own his own
life
5
Plot Structure of Pecker

• Exposition long sequence of scenes in which we
  are introduced to community and all people
  closest to Pecker. Art and community are closely
  linked, with Shelly at center. Pecker is an
  active framer of his life. Art and life are one.
• First hook or complicating action Rory sees
  his stuff on exhibit and he gets fired. (Or, even
  before this, we see the community react to his
  work.) First loss of control, ability to
  frame/make own life first loss of own vision.
  Disequilibrium.

6

• Second complicating action has a show in NY and
  sells work. First signs of rupture Shelly
  unhappy, homeless people mistreated. With fame
  comes increasing loss of innocence.
• Return home and further ruptures
• burglary of home
• Matt in trouble
• sister fired
• little sister changed
• mother used and abused
• Mi Mama rejected.
• I.e., the people he cares about are being hurt,
  so his art is suffering at its root. Also, the
  community is mad at him and so his art suffers
  needs love for his art to work. Note that the art
  industry at this point is in control of Peckers
  art and vision. Pecker relies for his well-being
  on art, which comes from his community and his
  ties to his community. The tension comes when
  those ties are severed or in danger of
  severinghis character is put to a test, must
  find new ways of connecting, regaining control
  and equilibrium.

7

1. Crisis, maximum rupture Shelly sees Pecker and
   Rory and splits. Loss of Shelly loss of his
   center.
2. Turning point throws down camera and says,
   Cancel the Whitney. Becomes active agent again
   not passive receiver of his own life. His art
   comes from his life and his life was appropriated
   from him. He chooses his life over art and thus
   regains his art.

8

• Gets Shelly back in voting booth notice how art
  Shelly are linked in Peckers well-being. (Note
  that, to some extent, this story is really about
  Shelly, who actually changes the most?)
• Reverse show in Baltimore Pecker regains (and
  even enlarges) his community and thus his art.
  The embrace of art is enlarged and tightened.
  Miracle of art/community/love affirmed.
• Notice too that the community actually
  becomes involved in his art. Maximum
  art-community synthesis.
• Mi Mama and Mother Mary real art happens
  when artist makes right choices? When art and
  world are in proper balance? When artist is in
  control of his own vision?
• Balance restored. Or rather a new equilibrium is
  found.

9

• Standard, rising-action, linear plot.
• Any plot devices?
• Flashbacks?
• Framing?
• Multiple, intersecting plots?

10
Consider

• If you were to do the written equivalent of what
  Pecker doeswhat would you be doing?
• How might the art of photography translate into
  the art of writing poems and stories? That is,
  how is writing like taking pictures?
• Community portraits!
• Exploring who you are by exploring where you are.
• Portraits as interpretations. How do you wish the
  community members to be seen? How do you see
  them? What would you leave in and leave out?

11
Reviewing perspectives
12
A confrontation with reality facing reality
The invention of reality
Formalist
???????????
(possibly mocking or interrogating?)
A magnification of reality you become more alive
The discovery of reality
Art
Formalist
An escape from reality a sedative or distraction
The improvement of reality (art as a hammer)
A craft or learnable skill
A mysterious inborn talent
???????????
13
Beauty
Something solely for others pleasing an audience
A passtime
Formalist
A process
A commodity
A product
Truth
The honoring of tradition connecting with our
most ancient roots
Art
Formalist
A hoax excuse for not having a REAL job
The subversion of tradition (make it new)
Emotional or psychological therapy
Self-expression solely for self exploration
of ones private vision
A way of seeing
Formalist
The most vital of all human activities
A form of prolonged childhood
14

• My thoughts on Joshs poem and Nicks story.
• Quiz credit for your feedback to them last week
  2 pts. I gave a for extra thorough material.
• Josh and Nick also get 2 pts. (partly for what
  they contributed last week, and partly for
  speaking today).
• Total quiz credit for term 20 pts.
• To date 13 pts.
• Writers Link!