Comments on: Math in the Movies: Revolutionary Road http://www.mathgoespop.com/2009/07/math-in-the-movies-revolutionary-road.html Ruminations on the Intersection Between Mathematics and Popular Culture Tue, 07 Sep 2010 20:20:57 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Matt http://www.mathgoespop.com/2009/07/math-in-the-movies-revolutionary-road.html/comment-page-1#comment-65 Matt Wed, 22 Jul 2009 06:09:26 +0000 http://www.mathgoespop.com/2009/07/math-in-the-movies-revolutionary-road.html#comment-65 I actually found Givings to be the least flawed character of the bunch - granted everyone's lives seemed cripplingly depressing, so this isn't saying much. I'm sure they could've played with this notion of insanity without giving him a math background, but I don't think the film does much of a disservice to the stereotype, especially as compared to other films. I found Givings to be the most likable character in the film, but maybe that's my own bias. I guess they could've made him a crazy physicist instead.<br /><br />as for your second question, outlandish awkward, no doubt! I actually found Givings to be the least flawed character of the bunch – granted everyone's lives seemed cripplingly depressing, so this isn't saying much. I'm sure they could've played with this notion of insanity without giving him a math background, but I don't think the film does much of a disservice to the stereotype, especially as compared to other films. I found Givings to be the most likable character in the film, but maybe that's my own bias. I guess they could've made him a crazy physicist instead.

as for your second question, outlandish awkward, no doubt!

]]> By: Smith http://www.mathgoespop.com/2009/07/math-in-the-movies-revolutionary-road.html/comment-page-1#comment-64 Smith Fri, 17 Jul 2009 23:47:26 +0000 http://www.mathgoespop.com/2009/07/math-in-the-movies-revolutionary-road.html#comment-64 I don't think you should give this a pass on the first stereotype of Givings being insane, because he's the most sane from our contemporary stand point. The film plays this into being a major character flaw, and leads the viewer into believing this is at least associated with his mathematical and/or academic brilliance. If anything, it will cause people to believe that those with a mathematics PhD will be one of two extremes of insane: Quiet awkward, Outlandish awkward. Which are you? I don't think you should give this a pass on the first stereotype of Givings being insane, because he's the most sane from our contemporary stand point. The film plays this into being a major character flaw, and leads the viewer into believing this is at least associated with his mathematical and/or academic brilliance. If anything, it will cause people to believe that those with a mathematics PhD will be one of two extremes of insane: Quiet awkward, Outlandish awkward. Which are you?

]]>