Like any true art form, film is a medium that communicates meaning and value. Instead of paint or prose, however, it is a sequence of images alongside music and dialogue. These three diverse elements, when synched together, allow the audience to participate in a coherent experience that is custom tailored according to a director's vision. To this extent, a film may function similar to a novel with the exception that there is more control allotted to the director, as a film forces the viewer to come to terms with the reality being shown rather than building it in their mind's eye.
The tools with which a director crafts this experience or reality are myriad. The way an object is framed, its color saturation, and angle from which it is viewed are few of the many possible variations that affect the way one interprets the meaning of a situation. For example, a camera looking up from a low perspective will make whatever it is recording to appear gargantuan in comparison to the viewer. In stark contrast, when fixating on an object below from a high perspective, the resulting image allows the viewer to feel tall looking down. This subtle difference in camera location provides two significantly different feelings to be produced in the viewer. Additionally, objects which have an established symbolic meaning may be integrated into the narrative of a film to intensify a situation. Similar to methods incorporated in literature, visual symbols may create additional layers of meaning to an already significant situation. Animation provides a third outlet, the likes of which allow a director even more freedom than any other as they are not limited to the use of real-world objects and people. Instead, symbol, narrative, and form may be pushed beyond all limits. It's absolute freedom of expression.
Bunny: Unlike all the other clips we viewed in class, Bunny was exceptionally direct—like a visual haiku. Stripping itself of dialogue, the film focused on distinct visual imagery and symbolism which was accented by dynamic, sometimes unreal, cinematography. To put it bluntly, the film was solely concerned with illustrating the concept of death and how one cannot escape it. To that extent, it is something of a “momento more.” What makes it so interesting, however, is the subtle symbolism of the oven as transformer and the moth as harbinger of death. The allegory played out through the interaction between the bunny and moth significantly enhances the symbolism.
NorthFork: What I found so fascinating about Northfork was the subtlety of its overt symbolism. While that may sound like a contradictory statement, it is the only way I can describe the experience. One clear example is the scene with the priest giving his sermon, which illustrates a clash of the profane church architecture with the sacred expanse of beautiful nature behind. Instantly, the audience perceives the scene to be other-worldly but the actors conduct themselves as if it were any old church. The juxtaposition of the coffins on cars, which represent the transitory nature of humans, to the mountain-range, which represents the permanence of nature is also a subtle, but overt message.
Paris, Texas: This film, which fundamentally focuses on the theme of alienation, utilizes compositional elements as well as symbols to drive home the main character's inability to connect with others. Roads, power-lines, and planes are few of the many symbols of communication that follow travis on his journey. Throughout most of it, he rejects, or walks against these methods. What's particularly interesting about his journey is the pacing. A man of few words, Travis's journey on foot is silent and takes up a significant proportion of film. This slow and contemplative progression of scenery adds significantly to the running theme of isolation. At the end of the film, when he finally confronts his wife, the physical separation between glass as well as their reflections further enhance the theme.
Cabeza de Vaca:
Two areas where Cabeza de Vaca shines are in symbolism and pacing. The scene when deVaca performed a resurrection similar to Jesus's resurrection of lazarus illustrates the striking symbolism. Serving as an allusion to the biblical text, the scene portrays deVaca in the standard form of Jesus on the cross which creates an additional layer of significance. In the same scene, the pacing or progression of the act added to the meaning as well. The resurrection was performed slowly and deVaca spoke in foreign, almost primal, chanting. By taking spending so much time chanting in this scene, there is an inherent anticipation that is automatically raised in the audience. Additionally, the strange nature of the chants make the act appear all the more mystical.
The Wall:
Overall, the imagery in The Wall combined with the philosophical lyrics allows the audience to perceive abstract ideas that are literally illustrated. The scene playing “Goodbye Blue Sky” exemplifies this artistic freedom wherein it communicates a smooth stream of visual symbols to the viewer that indicates a singular conclusion—namely, that war is a meaningless sacrifice. It begins with a dove, a common symbol of peace which morphs into a hawk of war. The hawk swoops in and snatches up a city leaving behind only a pool of blood. This harsh imagery alone symbolizes that war comes quickly and leaves pain and suffering. Later, a British flag is seen falling apart resulting in a white cross covered in blood. The blood proceeds to stream off into a nearby gutter. The visual imagery here suggests that the Flag, which signifies patriotism, is a facade for the sacrifice of the soldiers. The blood represents this sacrifice going “down the drain,” reiterating that their death was pointless. This type of cohesive cinematography would be extraordinarily difficult to capture using real-world objects but animation provides a fast, yet powerful medium. Pink being represented as a rag doll, his teacher as a puppet, and the students on the “no more individuality” assembly line are other great examples of the literal illustration of abstract themes.
No comments:
Post a Comment