as favorable. As observed in the film, Avalon, a majority of the significant scenes take place on Thanksgiving-a traditional holiday most often including a celebration with family. With each year, the crowd is thinning. This can be contributed to by many factors-all leading to the decline of family. Here, the television is symbolic. One year, a disregard for family members and eating before their arrival, results in their bitterness and ultimately their withdrawal from the Thanksgiving tradition. The blame is quickly placed on the affect of wealth, resulting from a growing success in the television business-it is assumed with the wealth has come a loss of respect for those lower ones. Another year, not only has the crowd thinned, but there is no extended family present and, as television continues to signify assimilation, forget the fact that they are not eating at the table, more importantly, there is no conversation as they sit tuned into the television while inhaling their meal. One might ask whether or not they even "gave thanks". And finally, the last scene takes place on Thanksgiving as well. This year, not only is there little family participation, there is no meal. Sadly, Michael (Sam's grandson) goes to visit Sam in a retirement home. Of course, Sam is sitting alone in front of the television when Michael arrives with his son. Here not even an immediate family is complete, as I assume Michael's wife was left behind-God forbid they be divorced. In addition to the increasing decline the observance of the Thanksgiving tradition, another neglect for tradition is noted by Sam upon introduction to his grandson, Sam. Michael is quickly reminded by his grandfather that in accordance with the Jewish religion, you are not to name after the living. Through a consistent show of the lack of interest to uphold custom, Levinson uses the television to symbolize the cost of assimilation. What one may be giving up in order to be...
