Aug 12, 2014

"Adam's Rib" watchers. How to approach this task

 Let's assume that the entire universe of post war professional couples is available in this movie.  Now let's list "events" or phenomena that can be "counted" and assessed.
1.  who makes more money; who "needs" whom financially
2.  where are the children to take away the woman's attention
3.  who talks more
4.  what is the subject of talk:  work, household, personality matters, sociability, operations
5.  when there is conflict, what is the source?  who initiates the conflict?  who articulates that it "is" conflict?  is there a resolution?  do they each seek a resolution?
6.  is this a relationship where one is "on top" and the other subservient?  or is this one which is a "panel of equals"?
7.  who looks at whom more?
8.  is there one who would be more devastated if the other disappeared?  Does this person know that s/he would be more devastated?
9.  does one bring up the past?  does one bring up the future?
10.  which one is more connected with "culture" and "current events"
11.  which one would be Democrat and which one Republican?  does this follow the gender pattern?
12.  which one (if either) is more attractive?
13.  does one or the other have a friend or support system outside the marriage?
14.  is there any housework?  who does it?
15.  who drives?
16.  which side of the bed does each sleep on - sit on - drive on - walk on?  count the times!  If someone is to my right, I "peer at him" with my left sense-making brain.  If someone is to my left, I feel toward him with my "wholeness".  Remember it is not "screen right"  and "screen left" - it is flipped.  (ask if you don't know)
17.  which one uses profanity
18.  which one seems more intelligent.  Does one or the other impugn the other's intelligence?
19.  which one laughs more - at what?
20.  does one belittle the other?
21.  which one changes clothes - color-style-cut - more?  does the other wear a standard thing as if the outward appearance is not what counts?
22.  does either one have a "secretary?"

proceed as if the answers are in the particulars and the patterns of this movie.  We are taking it to be the sample of the "whole" of post War america.

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