Jasper Jones Techniques

Images can have a powerful effect on the way a person perceives a story. It can be the line that connects two dots together and adds a visual emotion to just a plain text. Matt Ottley’s multimodal text, Requiem for a Beast, uses illustrations, music, text and changes in point of view to highlight the major themes that develop throughout the text. Themes such as reconciliation and the Stolen Generation are explored and the hardships that the Aboriginal people endured are present as well. The Stolen Generation is interpreted as a time when Aboriginal children were forcibly removed from their homes and then taken under custody of the Australian Government.

The enchanting and heart-warming film Satellite boy, directed by Catriona McKenzie is a story set in the Kimberley Region, north of Western Australia and follows the character of Pete on a journey of discoveries and learning Indigenous culture. McKenzie delivers and utilises a range of different film techniques which help develop the themes of conflict between tradition and changes, confronting challenges and sense of belonging. Through these film techniques, the audience is able to understand that indigenous culture will be more appreciated because of its significance to aboriginals in their life.

Jocelyn Moorhouse’s The Dressmaker is a thought provoking film exploring revenge and small-town politics providing a compelling reflection on aspects of Australian culture. Through powerful symbolism present in fire, mirrors and clothing, the audience is able to interpret its themes and forge a deep connection with its

“Analyse, evaluate and compare the techniques used to dim the horror of the real life events discussed in the novel The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas and the film Life is Beautiful.”

The film Pleasantville shows the changes in American society over the past 50 years by placing two teenagers into the Pleasantville show, which was from the 50’s. The movie depicts how there is no longer the “American Dream” and no longer a perfect way of life and the changes the world has made. The world that the teenagers come from is filled with sex, drugs, money, and is very different from the way the world was in which the Pleasantville Show took place in. Morals and values have changed in the people and in society that the teenagers came from and shows it would be impossible to return back to the kind of life style the world had in the 50’s.

This film highlights the flaws of humanity in a western world. The films ability to touch on topics of classism, prostitution, and alcoholism makes the content mature and unlike typical western films. This revolutionary and innovative western created a foundation for many future films. The sophistication of the content, and lack of adherence to the production code makes this film an “adult”

With their contemporary representation of indigenous people and the issues they face today, Jeff Barnaby’s Rhymes for Young Ghouls and Chris Eyre’s Smoke Signals are films that try to fracture the stereotypical Indian image that has persisted since the beginning of the Hollywood industry. Written and directed by Native American filmmakers, both stories comment on the condition of indigenous people in and outside the United States by confronting topics on poverty, death, drugs, alcoholism, and parent abandonment. While released almost a decade apart from one another, both cinemas follow the similar stories of their protagonist as they try to deal with these problems by trying to understand themselves and the obstacles in their respective

Throughout the excerpt, the author grants the reader with vivid imagery to help show the unity Moses shares with nature. Jones begins with imagery to describe the magnificent lifelike scenery of a fading sunset and it’s “red-orange laid out in still waves across the horizon between two mountains on the left and right”; this is where the reader first sees Moses’ connection with nature. Jones then describes Moses eating the soil, after catching the reader's attention with the strange act the author then describes the changing of the soil through the seasons and includes imagery to describe the taste of the moldiness” of fall to winter and the more “sweetened metal” taste of July. As the passage continues, the author becomes more severe in describing

An important idea that is relevant to young people in the text is the idea of change is needed for social and personal development and progression in society. This is relevant to young people today because without change we would not be able to better ourselves and evolve. Ross uses the techniques of colour, symbolism and cinematography to assist the viewer and help us understand this important idea. The film is about two teen age siblings named David and Jennifer who are teleported into an ideal and restrictive community which is in a 50’s black and white television show called Pleasantville. Jennifer and David introduce the idea of change to the community of Pleasantville which change the community from restrictive and ideal to an open and

Eve’s Bayou, a 1997 film by Kasi Lemmons, displays the meaning of family. Eve Batiste is constantly abused and belittled by her father Louis Batiste. Louis’ role in the film includes fathering three children: Eve, Cicely, and Poe; also Louis is the husband of Roz Batiste. Louis betrays his wife and family for other women. He Even has’ sexual intercourse with another woman in the same place of his wife. Louis is not the best father figure for the kids and he also constantly cheats on his wife. Louis has multiple dilemmas that he has a problem getting rid of to help strengthen his family. In the film Eve’s Bayou, sex, drinking, and secrets lead to the death of Louis.

In the film ‘Mean Creek’, the director Jacob Aaron Estes uses visual and verbal techniques to successfully convey the main idea of loss of innocence; this idea is relevant today to teenagers and shows their actions due to it. The main idea is presented to the viewer in three vignettes; banks of the river, burial site, and taking the police to the burial site.

Through his directing Kaye shows the viewer the link between Danny and Derek, highlighting the issue of racial traits being passed down through modern American families and warning the audience about the future. His use of camerawork and soundtrack in uncommon ways compared to how other films of this genre make this film stand out and provide a more visceral and realistic sense of how racism affects many Americans’ in modern times. Kaye’s use of close-ups provide the raw and gut wrenching emotions in every scene, be it the stomach turning sense of teeth touching the curb or to highlight the emotion on a character’s face. His use of soundtrack further enhances every scene seamlessly building tension and then bringing it all crashing down in a high pitched threnody. Through studying this film it is clear to see that Tony Kaye’s masterful use of camerawork and soundtrack in these two scenes successfully pushes the message of the film home, which is that even though we may not be able to see it, racist traits are still passed down through families in today’s world.

The film is important and gives the viewer a chance to experience Gibbon’s work on a personal level. He uses his life experience as material for his films while remaining professional. Even though the film might be viewed as an autobiography, Gibbons introduces extremely personal confessions into it that make it a unique type of psychodrama. A series of events unfolds with Gibbons narrating how he descended to destructive behavior. It is clear that he has had a hard

Eve’s Bayou, a 1997 film by Kasi Lemmons, teaches the true definition of family. Eve Batiste is constantly abused and belittled by her father Louis Batiste. Louis’ role in the film includes fathering three kids: Eve, Cisely, and Poe; also Louis is the husband of Roz Batiste. Louis betrays his wife and family for other women. He even has’ sexual intercourse with another woman in the same place of his wife. Louis is not the best father figure for the kids and he also constantly cheats on his wife. Louis has multiple problems that he has a problem getting rid of to help strengthen his family. In the film Eve’s Bayou, sex, drinking, and secrets lead to the death of Louis.

Thursday, October, 29, 2015, I was privileged with the opportunity to see the production, Realistic Joneses, written by Will Eno, and directed by Scott Yarbrough. Realistic Joneses takes place in an unnamed small town, somewhere near the ocean and mountains. Realistic Joneses, is presented in a conventional fashion, with its use of props and stage settings. The standouts in the performance were undoubtedly Bob, played by Darius Pierce, and Jennifer, played by Kerry Ryan. In the play both Bob and Jennifer are struggling in their marriage and seek out others only to come running back to each other. Without strong performances by Bob and Jennifer the play would have been a complete failure, because they are the heart of the production.