Blog Assignment
Cinephile Approach
In Tom Ford’s A Single Man there are many moments with many details from which a spectator can make a personal connection to the film. However, the most prominent of these details, for myself, is the manner in which Colin Firth’s character George, handles receiving the death of his lover.
On learning of his true love’s death, besides being devastated, George says “Thank you for calling.” The irony in this statement is outrageous, most directly so because George is most certainly not thankful for learning of his boyfriends death. Furthermore, such is George’s futile attempt to bring some order to the world which has just collapsed down around him, leaving him suddenly alone. Regardless, George’s response poses the question, “What significance do manners hold for us, as people, in contemporary society?”
For George, they represent a former life of normalcy. For most people, they represent positive context. For instance, manners manipulate requests into compliments as opposed to turning requests into commands. Manners, although incredibly superficial, are seemingly vital in society. Although most people are aware that manners hold no real meaning, the same people are much more agreeable via the use of manners.
According to outside sources, the exact history and origin of the development of manners and etiquette is unknown. However, it is clear that they are an additional manifestation of culture, meaning that they develop wholly in respect to one’s specific culture. While what one does in America might seem polite, it may be entirely disrespectful in Thailand. From this, we can gather that manners are learned and instilled in us rather than being an inherent trait. Human society has perpetuated manners since at least the days of the very first empire, and more likely since the Neolithic Revolution and the beginnings of social stratification. Although a learned trait and seemingly pointless trait, manners are a necessary component to human dialogue.
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