The Coming-of-Age Theme in She’s Coming Undone and Girl, Interrupted Use of Setting and Techniques

Group Members on Coming-of-Age Theme Rasheeda Phillips Sarah Raymond Saria Druan Kayla Ten Cate

Coming of Age and Crisis in SCU Dolores had to overcome all horrible events of childhood (rape, mother’s problems, dad leaving, etc.) Self esteem Grandmother’s pressure to be a lady and religious.

Coming of Age and Crisis in GI Accepting her problems and admitting she had one.

Overcoming the Crisis in SCU Hospital and psychiatrist work. Maturing

Overcoming the Crisis in GI Therapy with Valerie and Dr. Wick Friends’ support (stood up for her) Journal

Similarities in Coming-of-Age Theme Both overcome problems in hospital therapy Both had friends’ support Parents not so much help/cause of problems

Memorable Coming-of-Age Quotations and Moments in the Works GI-at end when Susanna talks to Tobey. “I tried to kill myself.” SCU-writing letters to grandma Jack had an affair with her mom Mr. Pucci before he dies, tells love, able to accept marriage and love from Thayer.

Group Members on Television Rebecca Mitchell Molly Moskal A.J. Maljevic Amy Fredrickson

Television Programs in SCU “Queen for a Day” “Tic Tac Dough” “$64000 Question” “Winner Take All” “The Ed Sullivan Show” “Love of Life” “Three’s Company” “MASH” “The Twilight Zone”

Specific Televisions in SCU Dolores’s first memory is of the delivery men moving in the first T.V at 4 years old For her 15 th birthday, Dolores’ mother bought her a T.V, but then cut the cord so she would go to the doctors. T.V set in her apartment not shared with Dante; he thought that it was mind-dulling Dolores, at the end of the book, bought a big screen T.V with satellite dish from settlement check; she ends up returning the T.V

Role of Television in SCU Escape into illusionary world for Dolores Comforter in hard times TV raised her Watched it at pivotal moments in her life, such as when her Mom died and Neil Armstrong landed on the moon.

Television in GI Main T.V. is usually seen in the film in Claymoore in the social room. T.V. in Daisy’s apartment, which is turned on when Susanna and Lisa arrive.

Use of Television in Pivotal Scenes in GI T.V. is the window to the outside world. Shows the draft of Toby, Death of MLK, opening of Disneyland as well as the Wizard of OZ The T.V. is used to show the sequence of time. (Montage)

Purpose of Television in the Two Works The T.V is used to show important information as well as keep a timeline of current events during the time period of both Girl, Interrupted and She’s Come Undone. T.V acts as a comfort to both Dolores and the girls at Claymoore. It keeps them connected to what’s happening in the “real world.”

Group Members Music and Art Emily Lincoln Stacy Striekauskas Meghan Fluckinger

Music in SCU Respect Mocking Bird Song Worm’s ~ song that Jeannette and Delores used to sing

Importance of the Song She’s Come Undone Delores was able to express her feelings through songs. She had a rough life and was confused and found a way out through songs.

Music in GI Downtown Played twice at both turning points in story line. End of the World It showed when daisy committed suicide and song was relevant. How To Fight Loneliness - Wilco It's All Over Now Baby Blue - Them feat. Van Morrison 03.The Weight - The Band Got A Feelin' - The Mamas & The Papas Time Has Come Today - The Chambers Brothers Comin' Back To Me - Jefferson Airplane Angel Of The Morning - Merrilee Ruch & The Turnabouts The Right Time - Aretha Franklin The End Of The World - Skeeter Davis Downtown - Petula Clark Original Motion Picture Score (tracks ) - Mychael Danna

Importance of the Painting GI Looking off to side being distance from the world around her. Maybe she feels lost or confused about where’s she supposed to be in life.

Group Members on Sixties Caitlin Ferraiolo Angela Howell Shannon Lusebrink

1960s: General Historical Events Mentioned in Both Works - Vietnam War - Martin Luther King, Jr. - JFK - First moon landing - Civil rights movement - Women’s movement - Hippie culture (drugs, sexual freedom) - Music – The Beatles, Woodstock

Specific Historical ’60s Events in SCU Moon landing – the night Delores’ mom dies Popularization of TV The Beatles on Ed Sullivan Woodstock- Larry and Ruth Beginning of the environmentalist movements- the beached whales Music of the sixties- RESPECT, Abbey Road- Paul McCartney being dead

Specific Historic ’60s Events in GI Assassination of MLK Draft- Toby wants Susanna to leave the hospital and go to Canada with him. Hippies- When Susanna and Lisa escape, the stay with some Hippies for a while. Music- “Downtown” and “End of the World” JFK signs Opening of the new Disney Land Homosexuality listed as a mental disorder

Relation of Time Period in SCU to Theme Radical social change- goes to college Experimentation with drugs and sex -smokes with Naomi, Larry and Ruth Sleeps with Dottie Mom is very sexually active (Jack) Television in the sixties- it is brand new, follows her throughout her life

Relation of Time Period in GI to Theme Social change- affects the way people were viewed to have had mental illness. (homosexuality) Sexual freedom- “What kind of sex isn’t casual?” first definitions of promiscuity Drug use- smoked in the van, prescription drugs in the hospital (valium)

The ’60s and the Women’s Movement in Relation to the Themes Susanna is told that women now have more choices Delores’ ability to go to college Abortion rights- Delores gets an abortion at Dante’s request Trisha Nixon- role model in Delores’ college essay.

Group Members on Parents Jamie Michaud Vassy Verbouk Cassandra Shepard Nicole Marsh

Parents: Role of Mother in SCU and how Dolores was affected. Depression and the institution Desperate and then the rape Guilt and buying food Her death

Role of Father in SCU and how Dolores was affected. Chapter 1 Example Allowing Petey to fly free Pages 26 and 276 The divorce

Surrogate Father in SCU Only parent that hadn’t left her or failed her Gave her a “rebirth” Forced her to face past How would she move on? Helped her with life

Role of Mother in GI Negative effect on Susanna Likes to ignore obvious problems Did not talk things over with her daughter Did not want to face truths

Surrogate Mother in GI She is a mother figure A good friend to Susana Valerie stuck by her while she was in Claymoore.

Group Members on Institutionalization Katie Pfau Samantha Cairl

Institutionalization in SCU Dolores was put in against her will Was a inpatient for the first 4 years, and an out patient for the last 3. She received injections Dr. Shaw was considered to be the only parent that didn’t leave Dolores. Didn’t keep any diaries or journals.

Role of Therapy in SCU She expressed her true feelings Dr. Shaw had faith in Dolores and believed that she could get better Preformed a “rebirth” experience Dolores did a lot of visualization

Institutionalization in GI Susanna signed herself in, but believed that her parents put her there. Kept a journal and expressed her feelings and ideas. Made friends with the other patients Spent only a year and a half at Claymoore Never had any injections.

Role of Therapy in GI Susanna talked to Valeria and expressed how she felt. She would talk to Dr. Wick towards the end of the movie, to express her feelings

Comparison of Institutionalization in the Two Works Dolores had injections while Susanna had to take sleeping pills Dolores had to put into a straight jacket, while Susanna never had to Dolores didn’t get visitors while Susanna had her parents and Toby come to visit. Dolores never snuck out, while Susanna escaped with Lisa to go and visit Daisy. Dolores was there for 7 years, while Susanna was there for a year and a half.

Comparison of Therapy in the Two Works Dolores was friends with Dr. Shaw from the beginning while Susanna had a working relationship with Dr. Wick. Dolores began recovering right away, but it took Susanna a while. The therapy helped Dolores realize why she was there, while it took Susanna a while.

New England Setting in SCU Starts in Connecticut—south east corner and shoreline Moves to Rhode Island Leaves New England to attend college in Pennsylvania but returns to New England Beached whales on Cape Cod Rhode Island – institutionalization and group home Vermont – pursues Dante Rhode Island – returns there Seeks whales in Maine Goes on whale watch with Thayer—final scene

New England Setting in GI Lives in an upper-class suburb outside of Boston Parents’ emphasis on prestigious New England colleges Goes to Claymoore (based on McClean’s outside of Boston) – private institution for the wealthy (Sylvia Plath, James Taylor) Leaves at end of the movie for a job in bookstore in Cambridge

1960s in SCU Dolores’ teen years are during the late ’60s When she goes off to college, it is the ’60s Mention of Woodstock and Hippie Movement Some mention of Civil Rights Movement and Vietnam while at college

1960s in GI Vietnam War and the draft Sense of rebellion against establishment Robert Kennedy running for president but assassinated Martin Luther King, Jr. and the Civil Rights Movement – King assassinated Drug culture

Effect on 1960s on Dolores Dolores wants to go to Woodstock She is on the fringe of the Women’s Movement Issue of abortion Mention of drugs while she is at Merton

Effect on 1960s on Susanna She is in tune with Women’s Movement – does not want to be a housewife like her mother She is afraid that Toby will be drafted She says, “Maybe it was the Sixties,” suggesting that she it was the time period, not the people, who were crazy Sixties: time of rebellion, unrest, alienation Civil Rights Movement: taunts Valerie: Mangold added this theme to the movie DSM Manual with definitions of disorders did not exist

Lamb on New England and 1960s Lamb was born and has lived in Connecticut his entire life He returned to teach high school at the same high school he attended He graduated from UConn He wrote SCU at the library at UConn He sets all of his work in New England He went on a whale watch and decided to make one central to his book

Mangold on New England and 1960s The setting could have been anywhere Filmed in Pennsylvania We some fall foliage in the shot panning from the sky to the trees Colleges are Ivy League schools in New England schools and Susanna’s high school is in a wealth suburb near Boston, with pressure to go to college—Boston is a “college city”

Main Camera Techniques in GI Close-ups and extreme close-ups to show characters’ emotions: Daisy’s control and loss of control seen in her eyes, Susanna’s bewilderment seen in her eyes Reaction shots to show how characters’ react to one another: Susanna’s reaction when she signs in, Susanna’s mother’s reaction when BPD mentioned Montages to show the passage of time Cutaways to provide additional information (girl playing in opening scene, naked person outside during therapy session) Angle shots and shot composition – placement of characters in the frame define them and convey themes of alienation, loss of control, and power Partial or split lighting on faces conveys confusion, mixed emotions Lighting of Valerie in the final scene entering Susanna’s room shows Valerie with bright light behind her—she is offering hope

Close-ups Lisa and Susanna at the cell window: Lisa moves into the two-shot close-up as we see her eyes and realize she is accepting Susanna’s offer of friendship and reconciliation Many close-ups of Susanna’s express bewilderment, alienation, detachment Close-up as the camera zooms in on Melvin as Daisy is taken away in the ambulance: his sorrow and guilt Close-up on Melvin and Susanna on the return show their sadness Close-ups at the windows—show characters’ POV on the outside world—bars emphasize they are locked up and secluded from the outside world

Zooming Zooms in on Susanna and Lisa during the scene at Daisy’s to show the intensity of their emotions and reactions Zooms in on Melvin during the rain scene Zoom in on Lisa’s eyes at the seclusion window Zoom in on Lisa’s eyes when she yells at Daisy at Daisy’s apartment Zoom in on Susanna’s in the reaction shot when she tells Lisa to shut up after telling Daisy off

Angles Low angle on Daisy as she climbs the stairs Low angle on Lisa when she tells Daisy off—Lisa acts powerful—but is she? Low angle conveys her powerlessness and ugliness Low angle of Lisa when she leave Daisy’s house— Lisa is at a low point Low angles on the characters at the booths in the ice cream parlor—they are powerless in how society defines them—they look distorted as they scream back at the Gilcrests who are in high angle shots, looking like caricatures High angle shots of Claymoore at cars approach

Framing Susanna showed in close-ups off center in the frame Lisa and Susanna’s positioning and the barrier of the window and door in the final seclusion scene Val shown in the background in light in the scene when she comes to comfort Susanna at night Val in the extreme long shot when she arrives in the morning after the night Polly spends in seclusion The bathroom scene with Daisy hanging between Lisa and Susanna The hallway scene with Lisa leaving and Susanna at the top of the staircase—suggest the power of the institution

Voiceover Susanna talking at the beginning of the movie explaining her illness versus the ’60s Susanna talking at the end of the film telling about bonding and the ’70s—Mangold said he did not want to use place cards to explain the aftermath and preferred the voiceover so the films stays focused on Susanna and her POV and reflections

Soundtrack “Downtown” “The End of the World”

Lighting Lighting during tunnel scenes Lighting when Val enters Susanna room— there is a white light behind Val Dreary lighting during the rain scene and the approach to Claymoore: sky is gray—it is also gray in the scene when Susanna leaves and returns to Daisy’s apartment

Symbols in SCU Whales Television Cars Water: in whale scenes and water therapy Flying leg painting Etch-a-Sketch Gold fish—Dottie and later in Dolores’ house when Dante visits Dolores’ name—means sorrow

Symbol 1: Whales Beached whale: identity, death and rebirth—looking into the eyes of the whale is like looking into oneself—theme of self identity and personal growth—Dolores needs to bury the past to get on with the future—like the whale she is fighting the tide and stuck Going into the ocean and returning back to the beach—a rebirth: water symbolizes womb and birth—swimming back on shore is a rebirth after being caught in the ocean wave Jumping whale on final whale watch at Cape–-she is the first to see the whale release, freedom to move on—sees whale “swimming and flying both”—”soaked in her spray”- ”christened”—final words: “I saw”—she now sees her life clearly Goes to Maine to see whales but none appear—Dolores is not yet ready to accept who she is and move on

Symbol 2: Television Inaction Passivity False idols Escape Associated with her habitual eating and setbacks Needs to give back the giant television and reject what it symbolizes in her life Black and white television—Dante rejects it but it is on in the the the scene when Dolores discovers the affair Dante’s new girlfriend stops to watch television with Dolores Television symbolizes the distinction between illusion and reality—Dolores has to stop living in a world of illusions

Symbol 3: Cars Car killed Bernice The peach Cadillac: Mrs. Masicotte Dolores meets Dante when he is washing his car Dante buys the Volkswagen with the inheritance— cuts the teardrop window and goofs it Take-out food business – need a car Taxis – ride to Cape Cod Mr. Pucci gives Dolores a ride home Jack takes Dolores on the reckless car ride in his sports car to the deserted dog pound where he rapes her

First-Person Narrator in GI We see Susanna’s confusion, view of her parents, changing views of the characters at Claymoore, and her interpretation of the time period and people’s values We see her change based on her voiceovers at the beginning—where she is talking about the past—and her final words at the end, which show her final self-awareness of who she is

First-Person Narrator in SCU The story is Dolores’ life story and we see what happens to her from her perspective Her changing perceptions of her grandmother, parents, and others Her self-identity and journey through life is captured in the narration We see her naivety – we see that she cannot analyze all that is happening to her as a third person narrator might

Significance of Titles “She’s Come Undone” plays on the radio during the final car ride to the Cape “Girl, Interrupted” is the title of a painting by Vermeer—in the book, Susanna went to the Frick to see this painting with her teacher who seduces her in the next scene—in the movie, Susanna says she is a girl interrupted—her life is interrupted by her stay at Claymoore Both title relate to the coming-of-age theme—both characters have an “interruption” and “come undone” in their teen years before they can move on to adulthood—their past will haunt their adult lives but they gain perspective on what happened to them and use it to become stronger people

Vermeer’s Painting: Girl, Interrupted at the Frick Museum in NYC

She’s Come Undone Undone ( The Guess Who ) She's come undone She didn't know what she was headed for And when I found what she was headed for It was too late She's come undone She found a mountain that was far too high And when she found out she couldn't fly It was too late It's too late She's gone too far She's lost the sun She's come undone She wanted truth but all she got was lies Came the time to realize And it was too late She's come undone She didn't know what she was headed for And when I found what she was headed for Mama, it was too late It's too late She's gone too far She's lost the sun She's come undone Too many mountains, and not enough stairs to climb Too many churches and not enough truth Too many people and not enough eyes to see Too many lives to lead and not enough time

She’s Come Undone She's gone too far She's lost the sun She's come undone (Doe-doe-doe-doe-doe doe un doe-doe-doe un doe-doe-doe) (Doe doe-doe-doe-doe un doe-doe-doe doe-doe-doe) (Doe doe-doe-doe doe doe-doe-doe doe doe) [break] It's too late She's gone too far She's lost the sun She's come undone She didn't know what she was headed for And when I found what she was headed for It was too late She's come undone She found a mountain that was far too high And when she found out she couldn't fly Mama, it was too late It's too late She's gone too far She's lost the sun She's come undone (No no-no-no-no-no no) (Doe doe doe-doe)