The Social Network/WMG: Difference between revisions

== The film's factual misrepresentation of Sean Parker is entirely intentional. ==

 

 

But these criticisms tend to overlook the film's use of [[Rashomon Style]]. Of all the main players involved in Facebook (Mark, Eduardo, Sean, the Winklevosses and Divya Narendra), Sean is the only one not heard from directly. Hence, the audience's impression of Sean is entirely dependent on the [[Unreliable Narrator|highly questionable]] testimony from Mark and Eduardo. Thus, testimony from Mark paints Sean as an extremely charismatic, stylish, competent and visionary individual; testimony from Eduardo paints him as devious, conspiring and obnoxious. That the film's Sean Parker is more attractive and well-dressed than the real Sean could be explained away as simply a method to visually represent his charisma and sense of style.

And this deliberate misrepresentation of Sean is not merely done for its own sake, but for the purpose of affirming one of the film's core themes: the sense of disconnect and dislocation engendered by the Internet and social networking. When Mark and Eduardo are about to meet Sean in the restaurant, both are already familiar with his history: Eduardo points out that he was something of a wild card, having crashed out of both Napster and Plaxo. Mark points out that he was partially responsible for founding the companies. Thus, both Mark and Eduardo both have preconceptions of what Sean is like, because of the Internet. Perhaps the most telling piece of dialogue in this regard is when Eduardo has just arrived in California and is welcomed into the house by Sean:

 

'''Eduardo:''' I've read enough. }}

 

[[Category:The Social Network]]

[[Category:WMG]]