500 Days of Summer Movie Analysis

In Marc Webb’s film (500) Days of Summer, visual content and narrative form are combined to create a traditional Hollywood style post-modernist and post classical film. Tom Hansen and Summer Finn’s story about love is told in a non-linear fashion that involves multiple editing devices. Post classical style is applied through mixing of genres, scoring, and a downbeat ending while post modernistic style is enforced through use of intertextual references, pastiche, and loneliness. The editing and narrative draws in audiences as the story of boy meets girl unfolds.

In Tom and Summer’s case, their styles in managing conflict played a part in the deterioration of their relationship. The nature of the conflict that exists in their relationship is that there are incompatible goals from both sides. Throughout the film Tom grew more anxious and uncertain about whether his connection with Summer was romantic or simply platonic.

Although they could continue to engage in romantic acts to satisfy both parties’ desires, the commitment that Tom needed in their relationship could never be there until Summer decided so. Like the textbook states, “as long as they perceive their goals to be mutually exclusive, a conflict exists” (247). When first confronted with the discussion of how they can define their relationship at IKEA, Tom is seen accommodating to Summer’s desires. The textbook defines accommodation as “an occurrence when you allow others to have their way rather than asserting your own point of view” (350). Specifically, when Summer disclosed that she did not wish to have a serious relationship, Tom managed to agree and tell her that it was fine with him. In actuality, he truly wanted to be more than friends and progress to a serious romantic relationship. By choosing to accommodate, Tom maintains Summer’s desires at the expense of his own wants and needs.

The textbook explains that if accommodation is done out of genuine kindness or love, then it will enhance the relationship. However, since there was no concrete relationship established other than friendship, Tom gave up a chance at expressing his own desires and let their connection remain neutral unless Summer changed her views. At the relational turning point of Tom and Summer’s relationship, Tom also used competing to manage the big fight. He strongly insisted that everything they have done together were clearly romantic despite what Summer consistently believed otherwise. He stated that she was not the only person in the relationship to have a say; he had enough of accommodating to her needs. Tom used this conflict style to assert the power that I believe he lacked all throughout the relationship.