The artifact that I chose to analyze through pentadic criticism is my favorite movie Love and Basketball. This movie is a romantic drama of two characters that share a passion for basketball and eventually, a passion for each other. The movie takes place over a span of nearly two decades that is broken into four quarters, like a basketball game. Monica Wright, played by Sanaa Lathan is a tomboy that loves basketball and meets Quincy McCall, (Omar Epps) who also loves basketball, when she moves in next door when they are both 11 years old. It isn't until their Spring Dance in high school that they address their attraction to each other and reveal that they will be going to the same university in the fall. In college, they are apparently a happy couple and maintain their relationship while also playing basketball for USC. After it is revealed that Quincy's ex-NBA player father cheated on his mother, Quincy is affected by it and feels neglected by Monica who is struggling between preparing for championships and being there for her boyfriend, which causes them to break up. The next part of the movie skips to Monica playing overseas in Spain but comes home when she finds out that Quincy, who now plays for the Lakers, injured himself during a game. By now he has a fiancee', and Monica decides to give up basketball for a regular 9-5. Realizing that she still has feelings for Quincy, she challenges him to a one-on-one game for his heart two weeks before his wedding. Although Quincy wins the game, he still chooses Monica saying, "How about double or nothing?" The movie ends with Monica playing for the WNBA, with the name Wright-McCall on the back of her jersey.
Agent: Monica
Act: Monica's struggle to get her priorties in order; choosing basketball or her relationship with Quincy, which is addressed twice in the movie
Agency: Realizing what is more important in her life
Scene: USC
Purpose: To balance her passion for basketball and her relationship with Quincy, but knowing that she love him and he is more important in her life.
I think that the ratios in this artifact is act-agency. In order for Monica to overcome her struggle, she has to have some real soul searching, which happens when she goes overseas and realizes how much she misses her life back home and the people there who are most important to her, especially Quincy. After coming to the terms that everything she needs is at home, she realizes the void she's been trying to fill isn't basketball, but her love for Quincy.
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