preview

Donzoko High Socioeconomic Perspective

Decent Essays

Oppression is a prologue of unjust and cruel control. It is closely associated with low socioeconomic statuses making the desire to escape it very scarce. In Donzoko, by Akira Kurosawa and The Lower Depths, by Maxim Gorky, characters are presented with low socioeconomic statuses. The absurdity and cruelness of having a low socioeconomic status is displayed as well as the characters’ persistent fight to escape it. The Lower Depths, by Maxim Gorky and the cinematic adaptation, Donzoko, by Akira Kurosawa portray the inescapable oppressed socioeconomic status of characters, however, the mean ways in which this is displayed vary as Gorky relies on dramatic conventions and Kurosawa relies on cinematic conventions. In Donzoko, Akira Kurosawa utilizes the cinematic convention of varying camera angles as it exemplifies the inescapable oppression and socioeconomic statuses by expressing a multitude of perspectives. Throughout the movie, a reoccurring angle was shot from below. The low angles intend for the audience to feel a sense of entrapment since only little sky and high walls are seen in the background. In one scene Sutekichi- whom is given a low socioeconomic status- walks outside. As a result of the low angle, the character is viewed from below and the audience perceive a sense of entrapment. This sensation is justified by the seldom appearances of sky and frequency of walls which expresses the impossibility of escaping this status. Additionally, the low angle provides the

Get Access