looking for a movie illustration...

May 26, 2006 11:27 AM

help me find movie or TV scenes that vividly depict the cult of individuality OR the scary nature of fake / plastic ["i drank the cool-aid"] community...

looking for scenes [not whole movies, necessarily] that depict the forced individual nature of popular culture [it's all about ME], OR the intense, plastic, fake community that makes us all fall into line without questions, but still believe it's for our own good. the scenes can be funny [the cheer-ocracy from "bring it on"] or serious ["the king does what he needs" from mystic river].
bonus points if you can give reference of specifically where it shows up in the movie, or what episode of the show it is in...

posted by rubberfish to media & arts (17 comments total)

"But I'm a Cheerleader" is the answer to the second part of your question.
posted by Saucy Intruder at 11:30 AM on May 26, 2006

Also, the Movementarians episode of the Simpsons. "Na na na na na na na... LEADER!"
posted by Saucy Intruder at 11:32 AM on May 26, 2006

"We are all individuals"- as spoken by the throng gathered outside Brian's bedroom window- Monty Python's Life of Brian. (probably a good half dozen others there too.
posted by Gungho at 11:44 AM on May 26, 2006

Isn't The Stepford Wives all about fake community? I've never seen it, so I can't give you specific scenes that illustrate the theme, sorry.
posted by SuperSquirrel at 11:46 AM on May 26, 2006

American Psycho has several great scenes.

"Everyone in Bateman's . . . world is as shallow as he is. No one can remember who anyone else is, so everyone is always mistaking people for other people. They jockey to eat at the finest restaurant and wear the chicest designer clothes. Bateman and his coworkers spend an exorbitant amount of time comparing their new business cards, debating the merits of bone, eggshell, and off-white. His morning routine involves a myriad of shampoos, conditioners, and moisturizers, all designed to keep his skin in perfect condition. Everything is about how much money one can make. Bateman hates his job, but stays because everyone else is doing it. His only method of venting is to satisfy his homicidal tendencies.
posted by Neiltupper at 12:15 PM on May 26, 2006

There's a whole bizarre ritual/festival scene in Dragnet with P.A.G.A.N. (People Against Goodness And Normalcy), the evil cult bad guys of the film.

Bowfinger has the Scientology-esque Mindhead, which is featured throughout the film.
posted by O9scar at 12:30 PM on May 26, 2006

The Graduate, especially the scene near the beginning where a family friend gives him life advice by telling him to go into plastics.
posted by kingjoeshmoe at 12:32 PM on May 26, 2006

One of us, one of us
Gooble gobble, Gooble gobble
We accept her, we accept her
One of us, one of us
posted by marxchivist at 1:30 PM on May 26, 2006

Heathers has fake/plastic and the "follow the crowd" mentality.
posted by drew3d at 1:36 PM on May 26, 2006

The character of Bianca in Ten Things I Hate About You fits this mold pretty well, particularly in her conversations with her sister Cat toward the beginning of the movie.
posted by yogurtisgenocide at 2:09 PM on May 26, 2006

The Wave will utterly fail to chill you to any of your bones, but it fits the bill. Good lord, that takes me back.
posted by Skot at 2:57 PM on May 26, 2006

I second Heathers

"If everyone jumped off a bridge, would you?"
"Probably."


Also, the TV show "My So-Called Life" dealt with that theme quite a bit.
posted by clh at 3:20 PM on May 26, 2006

Mean Girls - pretty much the point of the whole movie.
posted by robhuddles at 4:24 PM on May 26, 2006

There's an episode of King of the Hill about a cult, similiar to, but not as ridiculous as the Movementarians episode of The Simpsons.
Also, the second half of Stranger in a Strange Land would be good.
posted by martinX's bellbottoms at 4:34 PM on May 26, 2006

Saved!
posted by necessitas at 5:12 PM on May 26, 2006

Would the episode of Family Guy where Meg joins a cult for popularity's sake count?
posted by hoborg at 7:16 PM on May 26, 2006

great answers so far! thanks, i'll be able to use a few of these.
Heathers and Life of Brian take the cake, though.
Thanks to the hive mind.
posted by rubberfish at 5:30 AM on May 27, 2006