Symbols, metaphors and motifs can be used in films to develop emotional impact. The audience can connect their feelings to the symbols in the film and through the particular connotations that the symbols employ. Symbolism can be used to ‘connect aesthetics, cognition, feeling and thought’ (Salm 2010).
I aim to use symbols within my scene in order to help communicate meaning visually. To demonstrate and communicate an intended meaning through visuals rather than through words or dialogue.
These are some of the symbols within my visuals and the emotional connections that they might have:
-the character in the bath-could be seen as a symbol of drowning in emotions or cleansing them.
-the empty photograph- the character’s feelings of emptiness, loneliness and no sense of belonging.
-the kettle- a symbol of the character’s emotions hitting boiling point- the climax of his conflict.
-messy hair and dark clothes-reflects that the character is troubled, careless, depressed and chaotic.
-cluttered house-suggestive of the character’s chaotic nature, their cluttered and overwhelming emotions.
-reflections in mirrors-character’s conflict, schizophrenia, divided self, personality disorder
-character arranging photos on the ground-reflects his need for control, trying to find order and figure something out.
Salm, D 2010, April 5 2010.Visual Literacy. Available from: <http://vislit7.blogspot.com.au/2010/04/symbolism-se7en.html>. [9 May 2015].