Sunny Side Up

“WELCOME TO FLORIDA! THE SUNSHINE STATE!”

When Sunny arrives in Florida, she is a vulnerable and anxious figure. The juxtaposition of her small, isolated form with the cheerful sign is designed to be ironic, at least on the surface, as there is nothing cheerful or welcoming about Sunny’s situation at the moment. However, the sign actually foreshadows the ways her time in Florida will restore Sunny’s positive and cheerful outlook on life, thereby elevating the theme of Embracing New Growth.

“POLAROID CAMERA! PICTURES APPEAR INSTANTLY! NEW MODEL!”

Like the special effects lettering that appears in Chapter 1 when Pat brags about his new car, the text surrounding the close-up image of the Polaroid camera conveys a sense of excitement over material innovations. This bombastic wording helps to establish common aspects of the 1970s setting; consumer culture flourished in the 1970s, and items like the new Polaroid camera were highly prized. The sign also helps to create a lighthearted tone that balances the narrative’s more serious premise.

“What if there was a shampoo that made everything terrific?”

Sunny’s lighthearted question introduces the motif of the word “terrific” in the narrative. It is simultaneously a comic moment that makes light of another popular consumer item of the 1970s and a moment of dramatic