Sunday, September 27, 2009
Shirley Jackson's "The Lottery" #2
USC professor James Durbin discusses Shirley Jackson's "The Lottery". This film accompanies the 1969 Larry Yust adaptation of "The Lottery" (and it was shot on the same location site in Fellows or Taft, California). This discussion has spoilers, so watch the short Larry Yust film first. To see the film, go here.
USC professor James Durbin discusses Shirley Jackson's "The Lottery". This film accompanies the 1969 Larry Yust adaptation of "The Lottery" (and it was shot on the same location site in Fellows or Taft, California). This discussion has spoilers, so watch the short Larry Yust film first. To see the film, go here.
Labels: james durbin, lottery, shirley jackson, usc, yust
¶ 11:38 AM
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Thank you for linking this discussion to the movie itself.
I first saw this movie when in seventh grade nearly forty years ago. It's just as unsettling now as it was then; I've been haunted by it ever since and have only recently discovered its being put up on the 'Net though I admit to memory of the actors' appearances had dimmed, except for Tessie. I have owned the written story for years.
I must respectfully disagree with the good professor, however. I do remember the campus riots and most of them were fueled by spoiled children. Neither is war a good illustration of victimization-the innate corruption of mankind seems to compel us to fight.
Still, I believe Tessie probably participated in past lotteries without ever consciously realizing the evil of it until she drew the marked ballot herself. Would Old Man Warner have been so sanguine about the tradition if he had drawn the unlucky ticket? We can only wonder, but at the same time be grateful that at least a child didn't have to die in the story although the distinct possibility of that happening added even more darkness to the tale. I have to believe little Dave seemed a bit hesitant about having to participate in stoning his own mother to death, though. We clearly know nothing of her family's participation, but likely they had to or face being shunned.
Thanks again for putting this up. I'll have the kids watch it and see what they think. The 1996 TV movie was awful.
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I first saw this movie when in seventh grade nearly forty years ago. It's just as unsettling now as it was then; I've been haunted by it ever since and have only recently discovered its being put up on the 'Net though I admit to memory of the actors' appearances had dimmed, except for Tessie. I have owned the written story for years.
I must respectfully disagree with the good professor, however. I do remember the campus riots and most of them were fueled by spoiled children. Neither is war a good illustration of victimization-the innate corruption of mankind seems to compel us to fight.
Still, I believe Tessie probably participated in past lotteries without ever consciously realizing the evil of it until she drew the marked ballot herself. Would Old Man Warner have been so sanguine about the tradition if he had drawn the unlucky ticket? We can only wonder, but at the same time be grateful that at least a child didn't have to die in the story although the distinct possibility of that happening added even more darkness to the tale. I have to believe little Dave seemed a bit hesitant about having to participate in stoning his own mother to death, though. We clearly know nothing of her family's participation, but likely they had to or face being shunned.
Thanks again for putting this up. I'll have the kids watch it and see what they think. The 1996 TV movie was awful.
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