The Great Gatsby
This book has been adapted into a movie twice.
Say, Old Sport:
What does the green light at the end of Daisy and Tom's boat dock mean?
Why is Doctor T. J. Eckleburg compared to God seeing everything?
Why do people think there's no E, despite the word "great" being in the title?
Is Gatsby is “worth the whole damn bunch put together”?
If you've read the book or seen either movie, you probably know the answers to this.
Ever notice that there are a LOT of flappers at the parties in the movies? They dance the Charleston, a dance that came out a year after the book is set (spring of 1922). Here's a post about Flappers by Sarah Zama (whose blog, The Old Shelter, is also in the #AtoZChallenge).
Jordon certainly qualifies as a flapper. She is defying her social group as much as possible without being actually exiled. She is, in some ways, the opposite of Daisy.
Jordon certainly qualifies as a flapper. She is defying her social group as much as possible without being actually exiled. She is, in some ways, the opposite of Daisy.
I think if Daisy were a true flapper, she might have left Tom for Gatsby. Though the term hadn't been coined yet, WASPs appear to be the dominant social group in the book. While Gatsby found a financial way to infiltrate the group, he could never be one of them. "New Money" isn't "Old Money," no matter how much of it one has. Daisy lacks the courage to risk being ostracized from her group. She would sooner be in a bad marriage with an abusive, cheating spouse.
"I hope she'll be a fool—that's the best thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful little fool."
Myrtle doesn't qualify as a true flapper because of her desire to become part of the social group. Gatsby uses money, and Myrtle uses seduction. But neither Tom nor Daisy would ever actually marry outside of their social group. Myrtle and Daisy are both dependent on men, something a true flapper hopes not to be.
Cultural appropriation might be applied if the defense is that "maybe they just liked the style." The point of the style was to make a strong statement. The original meaning of the style isn't respected if the dominant cultural group (women who weren't feminists, or who valued the opinions of men or their elders) doesn't appreciate or agree with the non-dominant group, but will copy their form of expression.
The Great Gatsby (1974)
The Great Gatsby (2013)
Do you feel the flapper movement was adequately represented in The Great Gatsby book or either movie adaptation?
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Please vote in our poll! https://forms.gle/8cvCehkUKHMxx5C86
"I hope she'll be a fool—that's the best thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful little fool."
Myrtle doesn't qualify as a true flapper because of her desire to become part of the social group. Gatsby uses money, and Myrtle uses seduction. But neither Tom nor Daisy would ever actually marry outside of their social group. Myrtle and Daisy are both dependent on men, something a true flapper hopes not to be.
Cultural appropriation might be applied if the defense is that "maybe they just liked the style." The point of the style was to make a strong statement. The original meaning of the style isn't respected if the dominant cultural group (women who weren't feminists, or who valued the opinions of men or their elders) doesn't appreciate or agree with the non-dominant group, but will copy their form of expression.
The Great Gatsby (1974)
The Great Gatsby (2013)
Do you feel the flapper movement was adequately represented in The Great Gatsby book or either movie adaptation?
Our usual posting schedule will resume in May. The next Pass or Pages is June/July. Thanks for visiting!
Please vote in our poll! https://forms.gle/8cvCehkUKHMxx5C86
