Lolita, Lo-lee-ta and American Beauty Across Medium and Culture

The Story Troubled writer, Humbert, goes to America Falls in love with a pubescent girl - Lolita Marries girl’s mother to get close to Lolita. Mother dies, Humbert and Lolita embark on romance filled road trip Between protagonist they are lovers, for world they are father-daughter. Eventually Lolita, with the help of another older lover, Quilty, runs away and later marries a peer. Humbert learns of Quilty ’s relationship and murders him.

Main Points Transformation from literary to visual medium in Lolita deals with changing voice and perspective, and film censorship Implications of transformation from high to pop culture

Establishing a Foundation Opening credits play to image of Humbert painting girl’s toenails. Establishes Humbert’s fascination with and reverence of young girls Erotic

Visual Substitution for Background In novel: Humbert is obsessed with his first sexual encounter at age of twelve. In Europe, he has a history with pubescent girls. Theory of Nymphets: “Between the age limits of nine and fourteen there occur maidens who, to certain bewitched travelers, twice or many times older than they, reveal their true nature which is not human but nymphic (that is demoniac)” Erotic In movie: Toenail scene hints at fascination with young girls. Not showing specific girl creates a general characteristic.

Eternal Recurrence : beginning at the end Movie begins with Humbert killing Quilty over Lolita Changes dramatic tension throughout film Humbert’s insanity in opening scene compensates for lack of explicit pedophilia –Gives same shocking effect Giver characterization of spontaneity and impulsive.

Explicit Sex and Censorship Characters “get what they deserve” in movie Movie is vague but nuanced to allow extrapolation of explicitly stated elements in book especially regarding Humbert’s psyche. Uses double-entendres “A game I learned at camp”

Lolita’s Characterization Lolita’s Characterization Kubrick’s Lolita is older, bigger and more developed Child aspect of character is lost to make room for sexuality – less of a nymph more of a sex kitten. Makes Humbert more sympathetic character. Movie does not have Humbert’s internal justifications.

American Roadtrip In novel, year long across America roadtrip. –“I did my best for hours on end to give her the impression of ‘going places,’ of rolling onto some definite destination, to some unusual delight.” In movie, year trip reduced to view of their rear- windshield. - Suggests not going anywhere at all. Reality is impression and images

Lester Burnham anagram of “ Humbert Learns ”Lester Burnham anagram of “ Humbert Learns ” –Nod to Nabokov’s word play (i.e. Vivian Darkbloom anagram of Vladimir Nabokov) Both dissatisfied with reality of life and seek ethereal substitute/imitation orBoth dissatisfied with reality of life and seek ethereal substitute/imitation or escape from it. escape from it. The escape is manifested in Angela/Lolita The escape is manifested in Angela/Lolita

Symbols  Common Symbols Rose  Feminine Mystique The Couch and Portraits  Maintaining state of American perfection  “Marvelous skin – oh, marvelous: tender and tanned, not the least blemish”(41 )

Angela Hayes and Lolita Haze Visually very similar in both films Humbert perceives ‘sex- kitten’ Lolita as innocent while Lester perceives the virgin Angela as sexually experienced. Both men fall in love with a fallacy. In American culture, image over substance

Transformation from Psychological to Cultural Commentary  Characters in American Beauty are more “generic Americans” whereas in Lolita the characters are extreme distortions of the “generic American”  Lolita uses story of pedophilia to explore Humbert’s psyche while indirectly commenting on pitfalls of a consumer society while American Beauty uses pedophilia to comment on an emptiness in image driven suburban society.

Othello and Lolita Background to Cannon/Storm and Gun at Beginning Background to Cannon/Storm and Gun at Beginning –Dramatic Background replaced by love-duet/toenail. Background replaced by love-duet/toenail. Modern-day interpretation moves emphasis from psychological and character development to cultural Modern-day interpretation moves emphasis from psychological and character development to cultural –“O” and “American Beauty”

A Progression from Psychological to Social As art moves from a literary to visual medium expository elements are transformed. As art moves from a literary to visual medium expository elements are transformed. As high art moves to contemporary culture, psychological character development is supplanted by cultural criticism. As high art moves to contemporary culture, psychological character development is supplanted by cultural criticism.