16 02 03 An Image example essay topic

10/02/03 Today we finally finished our study of the Truman Show and I am beginning to make sense of the relationship between image and meaning. It has become apparent that imagery and meaning compliment each other to an engaging extent. Image is one of the most powerful, meaningful, emotive types of mediums a composer has to offer and it becomes no surprise when directors and writers of film, use image to their advantage to convey issues, whether political or social, and the thoughts of not only the composer them self but of society also. Two films that I have recently viewed, Gattaca composed by Andrew Niccol and Wag the Dog composed by Barry Levinson, exemplify the relationship between image and meaning.

The various concepts that I picked up throughout both the films, were strategically placed by the composers and were designed to plant a seed into your mind and not only make you think about the issues at hand in the movie, but also broaden your own perspective on real life. Both texts have and array of ideas and issues, some easy to pick up on, others not so easy. For example, Gattaca explores the issues of individuality, acceptance, superiority, deception, competition, success, vulnerability, dreams, triumph of the human spirit and of course discrimination, I will discuss all of these in a later entry. Wag the Dog also has several concepts that I believe Barry Levinson in trying to portray in his film, these include, lies, deception and scandal, media control on the public, propaganda and corruption. These concepts will also be explored on a later date. 11/02/03 One things that I found interesting about both the texts were the words that appeared on the screen before the introduction sequence.

Gattaca had quite a fitting Bible verse "Consider Gods handiwork; who can straighten what he hath made crooked" Ecclesiastics 7: 13. I found this rather fitting as a preface to the movie and also to one of the main concepts of the film, perfection. the first quote was followed "I not only think that we will tamper with mother nature. I think mother nature wants us to" Willard Gay lin. Through out the movie both of these quotes come to life through image.

Even the proceeding image is the main character, Vincent (Ethan Hawke), scrubbing and cleaning himself. Now at this early stage in the movie we do not know exactly what he is doing, but one concept that comes to mind is that he is scrubbing and eradicating the imperfections of his body, to a large extent this is true. Perfection, imperfection and being perfect is portrayed throughout the film, many images convey this concept again and again. For example, when Vincent is "faith born" and his imperfections are exposed seconds after his birth through genetic testing, the father no longer wants his first son to be named after him, and spontaneously gives his son the name of Vincent. This greatly reflects society, in the way that every human being wants to be perfect in their own eye, and when some one is not close enough to our own idea of perfection they and persecuted. This goes on in everyday life, and its not that no one notices, but it has become an accepted way of behaving.

Perfection is also shown in the text, by the genetically enhanced son worthy of his fathers name, Anton. Furthermore he fact that "faith born" people are actually referred to as "in-valid" speaks for its self, this also falls under the category of discrimination. 13/02/03 In my viewing on the set text Gattaca I found that Individuality is also thoroughly explored by the composer, Andrew Niccol. At first it was my interpretation that the ever changing world did not have the capacity to accept Vincent as a person, but after thinking about the images of the film I found that my original conception was wrong. I now feel that Vincent is a young man caught in a society he doesn't accept, this is articulated in the filmic techniques, as in most scenes he is in centre frame. Vincent's individuality is most obvious in the final scenes as he is being launched into space, he not only fought the system, he totally annihilated the preconceptions about the ability of the so called "in- vail ds".

This idea is also greatly entertained when Vincent decides to try and beat society, and take on the identity of a "valid", in which he does successfully. Niccol also shows individuality, or the lack of, through his depiction of the workroom of the space centre, where all of the genetically perfect employees sit at their desks, which look exactly the same and are all positioned in the same way the lighting of these particular scene is usually low key. Ranks of genetically superior office slaves all sit in the same position at identical desks working on identical tasks is a strong commentary on the new world which the film tries to represent. The names of the characters also symbolizes individualism and purpose, Vincent to me recalls Vincent Van Gogh, obsessed with visions that no one else could appreciate. Jerome, the name Vincent takes on, suggests Jeremiah the weeping prophet.

And as Jerome becomes Eugene, he weeps less for himself, and sees a purpose finally in his life. 15/02/03 Vulnerability is an idea that Niccol has used as a sub-plot to the film. It is shown in the imagery of the early stages of Vincent's life when he was treated like he was chronically ill and even the slightest scratch was treated as life threatening, I am reminded of the long shot of young Vincent in an open frame falling over and his mother quickly coming to his aid. Jerome is another character that is mis-viewed as vulnerable, for the simple fact that he is in a wheel chair but this is contradicted by the fact that most camera angles of Jerome are eye level. Vulnerability is also symbolized cleverly through nudity, when Vincent sheds his "inferior" DNA, in opening himself to Irene, and finally, in showing his true strength and the depth of his pain to his brother.

16/02/03 An image which I repeatedly think of when I think of the film, is the close up of Vincent's eye lash on the windowsill. The sequence has no dialogue what so ever but meaning is still successfully conveyed purely through image alone and when the police vacuum it up, we all know that Vincent will be the main suspect in a murder case. An interesting thing I have noticed about Gattaca is the lighting through out the whole film has artificial yellow tinge to it and I can not seem to work out why, is it because its practically a different world? Does the yellow represent difference?

When I researched this I found that yellow can represent happiness and cheerfulness, so I am no conclusion on this matter. 19/02/03 The human spirit is an idea that holds strong through out the plot, particular images I am drawn to is the constant competition between Vincent and his brother, and the swimming races they partake in when they go to the beach, although Vincent was not "valid" he could still beat a genetic hybrid. Another image which shows the human will is when Vincent is hanging upside down from the ceiling doing sit-ups holding a book on celestial navigation, this is put forward to the responders from a low angle. The the book drops and shortly after Vincent drops beside it, the audience is then receiving this through a high angle shot.

This image represents the will to live and to fight, and even with the odds stacked against him he still perseveres to make a reality out of his dream. "There is no gene for the human spirit". 21/02/03 "Why does a dog wag its tail? because a dog is smarter than its tail. If the tail was smarter, the tail would wag the dog". As in Gattaca, Wag the Dog also uses script as its opening scene, the above quote, although some what abstract, describes Barry Levinson's perspective on the world and the various points of control, authority has on that world. The text also reflects his perspective and different concepts using imagery.

I feel that wag the dog is demonstrating and exploiting the control the media has on an audience on a satirical level. 24/02/03 Control is the main concept throughout the film, and is exemplified many times over, one image in particular shows the responders that the characters of Conrad and Motto are in control, this happens quite early in the film. We see a mid shot of both characters standing behind a large globe of the world with an low angle shot, which slightly blurs the globe, and to even further show their sinister nature the room has low key lighting. I have also noticed that when ever one of the main characters is speaking about the cover-up the are filmed with a low angle shot, and the lighting is always low key, almost all the time there is a pure white light that shines on them from a window or some other source. This makes me think that although the characters are sinister they still have purity in some form or another. Control of the media is furthermore displayed when the responders are shown a television, usually with an image of the white house on it, within a television, in effect framing the white house.

I found that even the people behind the scandal seem sucked in by their own lies, for example, there is a high shot of Willie Nelson and another man, sitting making up a song for a old shoe, who does not even exist. They do this with a lot of emotion and it seems that they actually believe the lies they are helping to cultivate, they then show the responder their false sense of patriotism. 25/02/03 I have noticed that in the early stages of the film the sinister characters, when talking touch their face alot, this is usually interpreted as the telling of lies. Conrad also wears a beard which could show that he is trying to hide something, this is also shown in the character of Mott, as he wears dark glasses. Lies, deception and scandal also play a critical role in the text, as the plot is based around a war that does not exist, the image of the actress acting as an Albanian shows this and in turn shows the medias over powering control on society once again. Jim belushi is also a tool of the media sowing lies and deception.

25/02/03 I have just discovered an amusing irony, the "hero" is not a hero but a convict, two very contrasting positions. 27/02/03 After studding both texts it became apparent that image and concept go hand in hand and is the most effective form of communication from composer to audience. Filmic techniques also aid the communication of the composers ideas and concepts. I found it very enlightening that just the position of the camera and framing and the brightness of the lighting can alter the whole meaning of an image..