Strictly Ballroom Analysis Essay

* Concept: ‘the struggle or fight to belong is an innate (essential) quality in people’

Certain texts raise certain perspectives about belonging, whether it be belonging to particular groups through conformity to rules, or belong to a place where you find inspiration to express your own sense of individuality. The film Strictly Ballroom, directed by Baz Luhrmann portrays many different perspectives in regards to belonging. The opening scenes of Strictly Ballroom explore aspects of not belonging and non-acceptance. To belong to the world of ballroom dancing means sacrificing self-expression and individual identity. Scott Hastings represents the individual who repels against the group as it threatens to consume him. From this we understand that some people may have to sacrifice their own true identity to belong to a certain

The film The Great Gatsby (2013) incorporates brilliant mise-en-scene and the costume design is reminiscent of the 1920’s. The set design is consistent in the creation of the film’s atmosphere depicting a post WWI super wealthy in the “Jazz Age”. For example, the party scenes depict flappers and significantly wealthy characters, which pursue a superficial “American Dream”. As for Gatsby (Leonardo DiCaprio), he obsesses his love for Daisy (Carey Mulligan) in his own illusory unreality. Additionally, the film depicts the 1920’s artistic styles in the Art Deco era. For example, the party scenes clearly have an Art Deco style and fair in décor, costumes, and diegetic music that creates the 20’s era mood in the atmosphere which accompanies the

There are many differences to be discovered between Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby, written in 1925, and the movie directed by Baz Luhrmann in 2013. Clearly, as time drastically changed between the two, it is easy to assume that some aspects of the story have as well. Scott Fitzgerald and Baz Luhrmann both captured the essence of the world in the 1920’s in different ways. These differences can be seen throughout the characters and themes of the story.

Ballet “Cry” simply showed to us real life of all African women. Every single American people know what kind of life they went through. Therefore it touched their heard. Alvin Ailey’s “Cry” presented wonderfully combined movements, technique and emotion. Ms. Donna Wood uses tragic face, a mask of sorrow. It is a face born to cry, but when she smiles it is with an innocent radiance, joyfulness that simple and lovely. She never tries consciously to please an audience. He was not only concentrating in movements and physical performance, but also using flowing white gown

People have the longing to belong and to be accepted by a group or community. A sense of Belonging can emerge from the connections and acceptance we have with other people, communities and the larger world. These ideas of belonging are represented in texts which explore aspects of belonging and an individual’s potential to challenge or improve a community group. The film ‘Strictly Ballroom,’ directed by Baz Lurhman, the film ‘Looking for Alibrandi’ directed by Kate Woods and the exaggerated true story of an African American youth’s fight to belong in the song “dance with the devil” by immortal technique all represent ideas of belonging formed by life experiences.

The Great Gatsby film compared to the novel is very fast and busy. It zips through all the details that Fitzgerald puts into the novel at such depth. Luhrmann skips through all of the important stuff and instead focus on the parties and the material goods that the characters possess and not so much there relationships with one another. In the book Fitzgerald describes things very well, but in the movie they only brush the surface of what Fitzgerald was trying the say. The parties are also very loud and they don’t seem to belong in the 1920’s.

Baz Luhrmann’s films Strictly Ballroom, Australia and The Great Gatsby take their viewers on a journey. They hold the audience’s attention and are able to teach them something. However, I do not think that all three films are completely fulfilling. All films take an attentive audience on a journey. The deciding factor for a great film should not be whether the journey took place but whether the journey was enjoyable.

The dance that I will be focusing on is entitled: thinking sensing standing feeling object of attention. The dance, to me, symbolizes the socialization of persons in Western civilization concerning gender roles. In the beginning there are gestures that are separated from emotion and full-embodiment, but as the dance progresses the gestures become more meaningful and recognizable. The lighting starts out very specific and narrow, then the light encompasses the entire stage, and eventually the dancers are silhouetted as they return to a familiar movement motif in the end. The music is mainly instrumental with occasional soft female vocals, and the lyrics suggest emotion, which is interesting because the dancers do not convey emotion until

“The Great Gatsby” movie is based on a well-known book by F. Scott Fitzgerald’s, a well-known author that wrote American fiction. Maurer wrote that F. Scott Fitzgerald was known for his imagistic and wonderful composition. He could analyze the inclination of his era during a politically complex time of American History (Maurer, 2016). There have been a number of reincarnations of “The Great Gatsby” in cinematography. Baz Lurhmann, a popular director of all times recreated the movie and took the story to a whole new level. Baz Lurhmann has adapted the story and fit his visual style of production similar to other recognisable Lurhmann films such as Moulin Rouge and Romeo and Juliet but he manages to preserve the core story.

After seeing this clip from the The Great Gatsby and having the past few weeks to view and study dance I have come to the conclusion that people will have various opinions on Luthrmann’s use of modern twist of music and dance in his classical yet modern film. I agree with Luthrmann’s use of hip hop in his film and feel that I was able to better connect with how individuals back in the 1920s viewed their modern society.

The 2013 movie adaptation of ‘The Great Gatsby” certainly steps out of the cozy boundaries of the novella of less than two hundred pages by F. Scott Fitzegerald with its gaudy attitude and fast-paced scenes that at the same time is quite picturesque and full of details reproduced to match the prose that has been written. Some lovers of the classic might be horrified at the big top-esque film that Baz Luhrmann has made it into, for this director is no stranger to flashiness and taking risks, as shown in his past films “Moulin Rouge!” and “Romeo + Juliet”; and the same desire in the both of them is still present in his installment of “Gatsby”: the want to capture the contemporary audience, even if it

The 2013 drama/romance movie, The Great Gatsby, is the second movie adaption made based off the novel written by F. Scott Fitzgerald in 1925. Co-written and directed by Baz Luhrmann, this film received both glory and criticism upon its release. The Great Gatsby is well known for its “Gatsby era” as well as the love encircled between money and power. Without the glitz and glam of this story in conjunction with the forever love Jay Gatsby, a millionaire known for his magnificent parties, holds for Daisy Buchanan, The Great Gatsby would not be as acclaimed of a story. Baz Luhrmann makes sure to emphasize these characteristics throughout the film through his use of symbolism, irony, and imagery.

Baz Luhrmann is an Australian born director. He is known for his adaptation of Romeo and Juliet in 1996 and The Great Gatsby in 2013, amongst others such as Strictly Ballroom and The Moulin Rouge. He is the creator of “Red Curtain Cinema” and in his eccentric filming methods: highlights important themes and ideas through the fast pace, camera angles, and use of modern music in period films.

A series of set of movements to music, either alone or with a partner. That is the definition of dancing. Dancing is a way to express one's feeling and to get active.