History Film / LiberalArts

* DarthWiki/SoBadItsHorrible: In universe example. Jesse described the ''Literature/{{Twilight}}'' books as this.
-->'''Jesse:''' This is the worst book ever written in English.
-->'''Zibby:''' So there are worst books written in other languages?
-->'''Jesse:''' Probably not. Unless this book is translated in other languages.

The film premiered at the 2012 UsefulNotes/{{Sundance}} Film Festival in January 2012 and was met with generally positive reviews.

* SweaterGirl: Zibby and Ana are constantly wearing cardigans, the latter more so.

* CryCute: [[spoiler:The normally witty Zibby is reduced to [[InelegantBlubbering a sobbing mess]] when her hopes for a RelationshipUpgrade with Jesse didn't go as planned.]]

* NiceHat: Nat is constantly wearing a chullo, further adding yo his CloudcuckooLander prsona. WordOfGod says it's to give Creator/ZacEfron anonymity. Zibby is also wearing a trilby in one scene.

* {{Hypocrite}}: Zibby. For a 19-year-old, she likes listening to classical music, prefers handwritten letters as a way for communication, and has no issues with classical literature.

* TakeThat: Mainly, the film is this to Romanticists. Also to modern vampire novels, particularly ''Literature/{{Twilight}}'', which is funny because Elizabeth Reaser is part of the cast of TheFilmOfTheBook.

* UnexpectedVirgin: [[spoiler:Zibby. [[AmbiguousSyntax The way]] she laments on how relationship has become so casual earlier in the film causes Jesse to assume it was Zibby regretting a past sexual encounter. Finding this out is what made Jesse realize that she's pushing too fast to have a relationship without thinking things first, which was the sign he needed to end their budding relationship.]]

** Growing old is part of life, so enjoy youth while you still can. And growing old isn't necessarily bad.
** Always think things through because you might ended up regretting things in the end.

* AgeGapRomance: The film follows the UnresolvedSexualTension between 35 year-old Jesse and 19 year-old Zibby. [[spoiler:He also had a one night stand with his former professor, who is at least twenty years his senior. Ultimately, he ends up with the more "age appropriate" (as he calls it) Ana.]]

* ChickMagnet: Jesse has been involved with four women throughout the film. He starts the story breaking up with Leslie, spends most of it in an UnresolvedSexualTension with Zibby, acting out on his college crush over his favorite professor Judith Fairfield, and Ana the librarian at the bookstore he frequents clearly likes him. [[spoiler:He ultimately ends up with Ana.]]

* OnlyOneName: Jesse and the two professors are the only characters with given full names.

* ArcSymbol: Books, which was in fact described almost word for word as such. Characters compare themselves or others, as well as where they or those people are in life, to literary terms (e.g. Zibby calling herself a "rough draft" and Jesse telling Dean that the latter's struggles will just be a "footnote" in his life).

* BigApplesauce: Jesse lives here. Prof. Hoberg formerly does too.

* HotLibrarian: Ana, the cute librarian of the bookstore Jesse frequently visits in New York. [[spoiler:They ended up together.]]

* OfficialCouple: Jesse and Zibby [[spoiler:are a subversion]]. [[spoiler:He instead ends the film with Ana.]]

''Liberal Arts'' is a 2012 ComedyDrama film [[DescendedCreator directed by, written by, and starring]] Creator/JoshRadnor. The film also stars Creator/ElizabethOlsen, Creator/RichardJenkins, Creator/AllisonJanney, Creator/JohnMagaro, Creator/ZacEfron and Creator/ElizabethReaser. Rounding up the cast are Creator/KateBurton and Robert Desiderio as Susan and David, Zibby's parents. Creator/GreggEdelman as Robert, Prof. Hoberg's former protegee and the current college dean. And Creator/KristenBush as Jesse's ex-girlfriend Leslie. Creator/MichaelWeston also appears as Jesse's friend Miles, who was [[DeletedRole cut in the theatrical version]] but included in the DVD release.

* BlandNameProduct: Although not mentioned by name, the "vampire book" that sparks an argument between the two main characters is based on ''Literature/{{Twilight}}'' and is titled "Lunar Moon" (based on ''Twilight's New Moon''). This is likely done to avoid a CelebrityParadox with Elizabeth Reaser, who [[TheFilmOfTheBook is part of the movie adaptations]].

* ChickMagnet: Jesse has been with involved with four women throughout the film. He starts the story breaking up with Leslie, spends most of it in an UnresolvedSexualTension with Zibby, acting out on his college crush over his favorite professor Judith Fairfield, and Ana the librarian at the bookstore he frequents clearly likes him. [[spoiler:He ultimately ends up with Ana.]]

* MasterOfTheMixedMessage: A variant. While Jesse ''is'' attracted to Zibby, he struggles to restrain himself from pushing a romantic relationship with her due to their age-gap. [[spoiler:He ultimately didn't go through with it, but Zibby wants to. They have a fallout and she's an emotional mess. He apologizes to her in the end.]]

''Liberal Arts'' is a 2012 ComedyDrama film [[DescendedCreator directed by, written by, and starring]] Creator/JoshRadnor. The film also stars Creator/ElizabethOlsen, Creator/RichardJenkins, Creator/AllisonJanney, Creator/JohnMagaro, Creator/ZacEfron and Creator/ElizabethReaser. Rounding up the cast are Creator/KateBurton and Robert Desiderio as Susan and Richard, Zibby's parents. Creator/GreggEdelman as Robert, Prof. Hoberg's former protegee and the current college dean. And Creator/KristenBush as Jesse's ex-girlfriend Leslie. Creator/MichaelWeston also appears as Jesse's friend Miles, who was [[DeletedRole cut in the theatrical version]] but included in the DVD release.

* ArcWords: Variations of "Don't Say No". [[labelnote:Explanation]]It's based on the principle of {{Improv}} in that one must say "yes, and..." to whatever scene or combination is handed to them in order to keep the scene going. This is a recurring theme in the movie, even applying this principle to life in the following scenes. Life, like an improv scene, cannot advance if we do not respond with "yes, and..." This is one of the central conflicts faced by Jesse. He was allowing outside forces to dictate "yes, and..." so his scene had stopped advancing. He was stuck in the romanticized version of life he had created in college and he wasn't happy. Zibby represented the "yes, and..." conflict, and throughout their early interactions he says "yes" to everything and lets Zibby dictate the "and..." The film makes clear that this relationship is unhealthy. The resolution finally comes when Zibby tells him that she wants to have sex with him. He finally takes control of the "and..." then thanks her for teaching him this lesson. For the rest of the film we finally see him advancing his scene. He advances his love life with Ana and they show that he is now happy.[[/labelnote]]

* MeaningfulEcho: "I can't just say yes to everything". Also, The GrowingUpSucks speeches above.

''Liberal Arts'' is a 2012 ComedyDrama film [[DescendedCreator directed by, written by, and starring]] Creator/JoshRadnor. The film also stars Creator/ElizabethOlsen, Creator/RichardJenkins, Creator/AllisonJanney, Creator/JohnMagaro, Creator/ZacEfron and Creator/ElizabethReaser. Creator/KateBurton and Robert Desiderio also have small roles as Zibby's parents.

As he somewhat lost his passion in life, Jesse Fisher, an admissions officer at a New York City post-secondary institution who loves English and literature, has a chance to find that passion again when he is invited to the retirement dinner of his second favorite Ohio University college professor, Peter Hoberg (Creator/RichardJenkins), as his time there was when his life held the most passion. Jesse's encounters with five people there may determine if he does find that missing passion. They are: Hoberg, who is resisting the notion of retirement; Judith Fairfield (Creator/AllisonJanney), Jesse's favorite professor, although for a different reason than his like of Hoberg; Nat (Creator/ZacEfron), a free spirit who navigates life at the institution on his own terms; undergraduate student Dean (Creator/JohnMagaro), who Jesse sees [[ShadowArchetype as a younger more destructive version of himself]]; and undergraduate student Zibby (Creator/ElizabethOlsen), who is seemingly [[WiseBeyondTheirYears wise beyond her years]] and with whom Jesse embarks on a relationship despite their sixteen year age difference.

* ArcSymbol: Books, which was in fact described almost word for word as such. Characters even compare themselves or others, as well as where they or those people are in life, to literary terms (e.g. Zibby calling herself a "rough draft").

%%* HairOfGoldHeartOfGold: Nat and Zibby.

%%* ManicPixieDreamGirl: Zibby has traits of this. In a non-romantic example, Nat.
* MasterOfTheMixedMessage: A variant. While Jesse ''is'' attracted to Zibby, he struggles to restrain himself from pushing a romantic relationship with her due to their age-gap. [[spoiler:He ultimately didn't go through with it, but Zibby wants to. He apologizes to her in the end.]]

%%* MeetCute: Jesse and Zibby.

* OnlyOneName: The surnames of Zibby, her parents, Dean, Nat, Vanessa and Ana are never revealed.

* {{Reconstruction}}: The film does this with many things. For instance, Jesse's alleged accusation of "shallowness" of the Literature/{{Twilight}} books becomes a factor when he acknowledges its somewhat light plot by suggesting them to [[spoiler:a suicidal Dean, who is into heavy-themed classic romantic novels]].

* TimeSkip: Twice. the beginning and middle of the film is accommodated with a TimePassesMontage of Jesse and Zibby writing each other. The middle and the last arc is only mentioned.

* WildTeenParty: Nat took Jesse into one where he eventually meets Zibby for the second time.

* ArcSymbol: Books, which was in fact described almost word for word as such.

* BittersweetEnding: [[spoiler:Jesse and Zibby did not get together, and although she did not take his rejection well at first, they ultimately reconciled [[BetterAsFriends and settled as friends]]. It's also implied that Jesse's positive outlook in life is starting to rub on Dean, meaning he'll likely avoid his suicidal tendencies from now on. And finally, Jesse ultimately finds happiness with Ana. However, his and his favorite professor's relationship is significantly damaged and there's no clarification on what will happen to Prof. Hoberg now since the university refuses to hire him back.]]

* BreakHisHeartToSaveHim: [[spoiler: Jesse ultimately did this to Zibby. She didn't take it well but they eventually got better.]]

* GodwinsLaw: Downplayed. Zibby compares Jesse's dismissive attitude towards ''Literature/{{Twilight}}'' to the {{book burning}}s done by repressive regimes.

* {{Irony}}: Lampshaded.

* NotNamedInOpeningCredits: Creator/ZacEfron, as Nat, is intended as a "surprise guest" and is not credited in the OBB and promotional posters. He is in the CBB though. Likewise with Creator/KateBurton and Robert Desiderio as Zibby's parents.

* ToiletHumor: According to Zibby's parents, her shows are both filthy and funny.

As he somewhat lost his passion in life, Jesse Fisher, an admissions officer at a New York City post-secondary institution who loves English and literature, has a chance to find that passion again when he is invited to the retirement dinner of his second favorite Ohio University college professor, Peter Hoberg (Creator/RichardJenkins), as his time there was when his life held the most passion. Jesse's encounters with five people there may determine if he does find that missing passion. They are: Hoberg, who is resisting the notion of retirement; Judith Fairfield (Creator/AllisonJanney), Jesse's favorite professor, although for a different reason than his like of Hoberg; Nat (Creator/ZacEfron), a free spirit who navigates life at the institution on his own terms; undergraduate student Dean (John Magaro), who Jesse sees [[ShadowArchetype as a younger more destructive version of himself]]; and undergraduate student Zibby (Creator/ElizabethOlsen), who is seemingly [[WiseBeyondTheirYears wise beyond her years]] and with whom Jesse embarks on a relationship despite their sixteen year age difference.

The film premiered at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival in January 2012 and was met with generally positive reviews.

* ArcWords: "Yes" for Jesse, which is triggered by Nat's earlier statement that "Fortune never smile on those who say no". For Zibby, "And" which follows Jesse's aforementioned "Yes" [[labelnote:Explanation]]It explains the concept of improvisation as [=NemDam=] shows: the principle of {{Improv}} is that you must say "yes, and..." to whatever scene or combination is handed to you in order to keep the scene going. The next scene explicitly applies this principle to life. Zibby tells Jesse: "Have you ever thought about that? How basically everything in life is improvised? There's no script, we're just making this up as we go." This is a theme that the movie continually comes back to throughout the movie. It is one of the more exciting messages that I pulled from the film. Life isn't a script. Our paths are not already set out in front of us to follow. Instead, when something in life happens, or when a set of circumstances occurs, where our life then goes is very much dependent on where we take the "yes, and..." How we answer "yes, and..." is what defines our lives. Life, like an improv scene, cannot advance if we do not respond with "yes, and..." This is one of the central conflicts faced by the main character, Jesse. He was allowing outside forces to dictate "yes, and..." so his scene had stopped advancing. He was stuck in the romanticized version of life he had created in college and he wasn't happy. Zibby represented the "yes, and..." conflict. Throughout their early interactions he says "yes" to everything and lets Zibby dictate the "and..." The film makes clear that this relationship is unhealthy. The resolution finally comes when Zibby tells him that she wants to have sex with him. He finally takes control of the "and..." He thanks her for teaching him this lesson. For the rest of the film we finally see him advancing his scene. He advances his love life with the book store woman and they show that he is now happy[[/labelnote]].

* CryCute: [[spoiler:The normally witty Zibby is reduced to [[InelegantBlubbering a sobbing mess]] when her plans for a RelationshipUpgrade with Jesse didn't go as planned.]]

* DownerBeginning: The opening act sees Jesse getting robbed then subsequently dumped by his girlfriend.

* NiceHat: Nat is constantly wearing a chullo, further adding yo his CloudcuckooLander prsona. WordOfGod says it's to give Creator/ZacEfron anonymity.
* NotDistractedByTheSexy: [[spoiler:Though he was at the verge of giving in to the temptation, Jesse ultimately shrugs off Zibby's advances.]]

* SexyDiscretionShot: [[spoiler: When Jesse and Professor Fairfield are having sex, only her ImmodestOrgasm is heard with the scene showing Zibby making out with the guy who is courting him.]]

* ShipperOnDeck: Nat is a full-fledged Jesse and Zibby shipper.

** Although not mentioned by name, the "vampire book" that sparks an argument between the two main characters is based on ''Literature/{{Twilight}}''. Elizabeth Reaser, who plays Ana in this film, also plays Esme Cullen in the ''Twilight'' [[TheFilmOfTheBook movies]]. In the film, the book's title is "[[BlandNameProduct Lunar Moon]]". Its cover is similar to that of ''Twilight''.

* SirNotAppearingInThisTrailer: [[Creator/ZacEfron Nat]], Dean, Ana, Zibby's parents.

* SmokingIsCool: Dean, which he lampshades, saying that he knows it's bad for him. Jesse promptly tells him to just quit after graduating. [[spoiler: Jesse is later mocked by Prof. Fairfield after their one night stand for doing just that.]]

''Liberal Arts'' is a 2012 ComedyDrama film [[DescendedCreator directed by, written by, and starring]] Creator/JoshRadnor. The film also stars Creator/ElizabethOlsen, Creator/RichardJenkins, Creator/AllisonJanney, John Magaro, Creator/ZacEfron and Creator/ElizabethReaser. Creator/KateBurton and Robert Desiderio also have small roles as Zibby's parents.

* AndStarring: Elizabeth Reaser in the OBB.

* BigBrotherMentor: Jesse becomes this to Dean.

%%* CryCute: [[spoiler: Zibby had one when her plans for a RelationshipUpgrade didn't go as planned.]]
* CynicalMentor: Both Professors Hoberg and Fairfield in varying degrees.

* DrowningMySorrows: [[spoiler:After being rejected by Jesse, Zibby heads to a WildTeenParty and starts on a drinking spree.]]

%%* HotLibrarian: Ana.

%%* LonersAreFreaks: Dean.

* LoveHurts: [[spoiler:Zibby is clearly hurt and in tears despite agreeing that she and Jesse are BetterAsfriends.]]

%%* NiceHat: Nat is constantly wearing one.

* OneSteveLimit: Meta example. There are two actresses named Elizabeth in the film; Creator/ElizabethOlsen (Zibby) and Elizabeth Reaser (Ana).

%%* ThePollyanna: Nat.

* AdultFear:
** Professor Hoberg retired too soon, and even regretted it saying he needs three more years (likely to complete a payment to a plan).
** Zibby and Dean constantly worry about entering the real world. This is in fact true for many teenagers/young adults.

* CompletelyMissingThePoint: Zibby's mom doesn't get the improv regarding handing her "lemonades in a dessert".

* CryCute: [[spoiler: Zibby had one when her plans for a RelationshipUpgrade didn't go as planned.]]

* HairOfGoldHeartOfGold: Nat and Zibby.

* HotLibrarian: Ana.
* HotTeacher: Prof. Fairfield is a StatuesqueStunner at [[SilverVixen age 53]][[note]]Assuming she's born the same year as her actress[[/note]].

* LonersAreFreaks: Dean.

* ManicPixieDreamGirl: Zibby has traits of this. In a non-romantic example, Nat.

* MeetCute: Jesse and Zibby.

* NiceHat: Nat is constantly wearing one.

* ThePollyanna: Nat.

* SilverVixen: Prof. Fairfield is still a HotTeacher after all these years as seen with Jesse's reaction.

* SmokingIsCool: Dean, which he lampshades saying that he knows it's bad for him. Jesse promptly tells him to just quit after graduating. [[spoiler: Jesse is later mocked by Prof. Fairfield after their one night stand for doing just that.]]

* TakeThat: Mainly, the film is to Romanticists. Also to modern vampire novels, particularly ''Literature/{{Twilight}}'', which is funny because Elizabeth Reaser is part of the cast of TheFilmOfTheBook.

* TokenMinority: Vanessa, Zibby's best friend and roommate, is the only non-Caucasian character in the film (she's Asian descent).

-->'''Jesse:''' [[spoiler: Don't be a genius who die young. Be one who dies old. [[ComingOfAgeStory Being old is cool]]. Grow old, and die old. It's a better arc.]]

* ChekhovsGun: Jesse writes his number to a book Dean is reading at the middle of the film, stating to call him when the former needs someone to talk to. [[spoiler:It comes in handy after Dean [[BungledSuicide attempted]] suicide by overdose.]]

* DrivenToSuicide: Dean apparently did this the previous year according to Zibby. [[spoiler: He did it again at the end of the film. Jesse helps him snap over his depression.]]

''Liberal Arts'' is a 2012 ComedyDrama film [[DescendedCreator directed by, written by, and starring]] Creator/JoshRadnor. The film also stars Creator/ElizabethOlsen, Creator/RichardJenkins, Creator/AllisonJanney, John Magaro, Creator/ZacEfron and Elizabeth Reaser. Creator/KateBurton and Robert Desiderio also have small roles as Zibby's parents.

* EmoTeen: Dean in spades.

* GrumpyOldMan: {{Gender Flip}}ped with Prof. Fairfield. She's very, very jaded.

* JourneyToFindOneself: Jesse at the beginning.
* KnightInSourArmor: Jesse.

* AdultFear: Professor Hoberg retired to soon, and even regretted it saying he needs three more years (likely to complete a payment to a plan).

* TheCameo: Creator/ZacEfron, as Nat, is intended as a "surprise guest" and is not credited in the OBB and promotional posters. He is in the CBB though. Likewise, Creator/KateBurton and Robert Desiderio as Zibby's parents.

* ChekhovsGun: Jesse writes his number to a book Dean is reading at the middle of the film, stating to call him when the former needs someone to talk to. [[spoiler: It comes in handy after Dean [[BungledSuicide attempted]] suicide by overdose.]]

* TheCloudcuckooLanderWasRight: Nat is presented as a CloudcuckooLander EruditeStoner, but he does make several valid points.

* FutureMeScaresMe: While no time travelling is involved, this is Zibby and Dean's main worry. This is in fact true for many teenagers/young adults.

* {{Hypocrite}}: [[spoiler:After refusing to sleep with Zibby by using their age difference as an excuse, Jesse ''immediately'' sleeps with Prof. Fairfield.]]

* OlderThanTheyLook: Jesse is stated to look young for a guy in his mid 30s.
* OneSteveLimit: Meta example. There are two actresses named Elizabeth in the film; Elizabeth Olsen (Zibby) and Elizabeth Reaser (Ana).

* TimeSkip: According to character dialogues, months have passed between the beginning and the middle and of the film, as well as the middle and the last arc. How many months specifically is not mentioned.

* UnexpectedCharacter: Creator/ZacEfron as Nat.

** Zibby is intellectual and wise in many ways except the matters regarding the heart, [[spoiler:which leads her to her heart being broken]]. She does realize this flaw though.

* UnresolvedSexualTension: Between Jesse and Zibby. For Jesse's part, it's unresolved because he considers their [[MayDecemberRomance 16-year age gap as a factor]]. [[spoiler: Ultimately, they realize that they're BetterAsFriends.]]

* IntergenerationalFriendship: Jesse with several characters, namely; Prof. Hoberg, Dean and Nat. He and Zibby's UnresolvedSexualTension flirts with MayDecemberRomance.