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Marjie Williams
Mrs. Pritchard
American Literature
9 May 2016
Postmodernism Journals
Temporal Distortion is the use of non-linear timelines and narrative techniques
in a story. Unlike the book, Luhrmann and Peirce use this element
of postmodernism to give multiple perspectives in the story. It is established at the
beginning that Nick is a severe alcoholic, and talks to his therapist where Nick is
told to write about anything. Throughout the movie, the story switches from the
perspective of Nick, experiencing New York for the first time, and an older version of
Nick talking about his life. This gives the reader an interesting view on Nick and how
he feels about his experiences. During the movie, it is evident that Nick is not used
to the lifestyle of Tom, Daisy, and Gatsby. He goes along with them without
questioning their actions. After many years of reflection, it is clear Nick sees the
reality of their lifestyles.
NICK. They were careless people, Tom and Daisy. They smashed up things and
people and then retreated back into their money and their vast carelessness...
(128)
At the end of the movie, Nick is no longer clueless, and the reader would not have
seen the future Nick and his opinions without temporal distortion.
Luhrmann and Pierce also show how Nick is not familiar with Gatsby and Daisy's
lifestyle by using magical realism. Magical realism is the introduction of impossible

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or unrealistic event into a narrative that is otherwise realistic. When Nick goes to
the party with Tom, he realizes how out of place he is.
NICK. High over the city our yellow windows must have contributed their share
of human secrets to the casual watcher in the street...and I was him too,
looking up and wonderingI was within and without; enchanted and repelled
by the inexhaustible variety of life... (25)
Nick sees himself as a bystander looking into their hotel room and a person
contributing to the excitement of the city. Because Nick is known for being a little
clueless and bewildered by their overwhelming lives, comparing himself to a
bystander shows how unusual it is for him to be there.
Another element of postmodernism used by Luhrmann and Pierce is faction,
which is mixing historical and fictional events without defining what is real and what
is not. Throughout the movie, there is a mystery behind Gatsby and his life. There
are numerous rumors, but the reader never learns the truth about Gatsby's past.
NELSON. No, no, no, no. He's the Kaiser's assassin.
And the third of the East Egger trio, LANGUID GIRL, adds...
LANGUID GIRL. I heard he killed a man once. (23)
With so many different rumors, it is hard for the reader to figure out what real and
what is not real. At one point in the movie, Gatsby explains everything to Nick and
tells his about his travels, Oxford, and the war. Even after this explanation, the
reader cannot completely believe his story because of the secret phone calls that

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Gatsby receives throughout the movie. This shows that he has something to hide,
and nothing about Gatsby and his past can be considered the truth.