Belonging_in_a_Strictly_Ballroom_World

Baz Lurhmans Film ‘Strictly Ballroom’ deals with issues of cultural and personal belonging. Strictly Ballroom is set in suburban Australia, in the harsh and competitive world of ballroom dancing. Scott Hastings is one of the best dancers who is targeted for a number of championships until he gives up the Dance federation’s steps in favour of his own. Scott must conquer his fear of failure and ridicule as well as possible rejection. The main characters are Fran & Scott. Through a range of experiences, they make a connection through dance which enables them to gain a sense of enhanced identity & a sense of Belonging. Similarly in the South Park episode “Here Comes the Neighbourhood,” the main character Token feels like he doesn’t belong due to his often negative interactions with the children in town. In both texts after making connections and overcoming challenges; the characters gain a stronger sense of cultural and personal belonging. In the film Strictly Ballroom an early scene shows when Scott meeting with Fran. Scott is in the dance studio alone the early scene uses a long shot of Scott and the spotlight is on him. He throws his poka dot shirt into a corner, showing the audience that he is breaking free from the traditions of the ballroom world. His simple outfit is very different compared to all the other flashy and artificial costumes the other ballroom dancers wear. He is trying to improve his dance steps by incorporating the chairs, poles and tables in his dance. This is very different to traditional ballroom dancing. Scott is showing his feelings of disconnection from the world of Ballroom and his desires for self-expression. To gain a better sense of self-acceptance and true belonging, Scott shows his need to be true to himself. Fran is watching him while Scott doesn’t realise. All of a sudden Fran builds the courage to walk up to him and convince him to dance with her. She uses a Spanish proverb and calls Scott ‘a gutless wonder’ which introduces the audience to the issues of multiculturalism in Australia. She stands in the spotlight with her back to Scott. It is her passion and courage that convinces Scott to dance with her. This image shows that through courage and passion, Scott is able to break free from the strict world of ballroom dancing. Close up shot of Scott & Fran’s feet focuses on the mistakes Fran makes, but also her ability to learn quickly. An Image of her feet wiggling in her gold sandals shows the audience her pleasure when Scott congratulates her. From the initial awkwardness between Fran and Scott, the two characters begin to make a connection based on dance, a passion to which they both share a sense of belonging. There is a sense of mutual acceptance here which enhances their sense of belonging. The most sympathetic scene was the scene in which Scott learns the “Paso Doble”. Scott goes to Fran’s house to tell her that he wants to dance with her but Fran reminds him, “We won’t win”. In this scene we learn what is important to Scott “I just want to dance our own steps”. This moment is full of romantic tension. All of a sudden Fran’s father Rico angrily pushes Scott, fearful for his daughter. Rico challenges Scott & his daughter to dance the Paso Doble. Scott is vain enough to attempt to relate to him by boasting he can the Paso Doble; however he is met with laughter by the group of migrants who have gathered at Rico’s house. Attention must be paid by the way the Paso Doble is performed by Fran’s father. It highlights Scott’s lack of knowledge of the steps and shows him a position of not belonging. Scott finds this difficult to accept but he is willing to learn, to extend his parameters of cultural belonging. It is passionate and sincere. Heart, passion, truth are all released in his version of the dance. Ya Ya Fran’s grandmother teaches Scott how to dance the Paso Doble the right way. She explains to him to listen to the rhythm and beats on his chest. The camera techniques include short quick shots/feet shots/clapping hands and climax of the scene and music. As Rico thaws towards Scott he puts on a gold matador jacket and Scott is embraced by Fran’s relatives. Scott has gained not only an improved understanding of the Paso Doble but also an enriched sense of personal and cultural belonging. This showed Scott that in order to dance the ‘Paso Doble’ he must dance from his heart and really feel the rhythm. Scott is absolutely elated at the way he has been welcomed into Fran’s family. Most importantly this scene showed us the struggle and different stages Fran and Scott went through in order to be able to express themselves and show their individuality through dance. Through this experience he is accepted into Multicultural Australia and belongs to a new culture where he can express himself from the heart, without the need for Glitz and Glamour. Both characters, through their positive connections, have gained a sense of belonging through self acceptance. In the related text “South park: there goes the neighbourhood”, issues of belonging are shown in Token’s attempt to belong to the community of the expense of his own individuality. This is most evident in the scene where Token goes to J-mart to “buy poor people clothes”, to get along with peers in class. Token is the only black child of South Park, and happens to be the richest kid in town; he becomes upset when he can find no other kids in the school he can relate to as all his other kids in school are poor. He tries to get himself and his family to act poor in order to belong. Evidently Token believes that in order to belong, he needs to be the same as other members of the group. His sense of belonging is limited. Token feels in order to belong he must be the same as everyone else so he decides to arrange for dozens of rich people such as Will Smith and Snoop Dogg to move into South Park, which leads to Mr. Garrison complaining about the "richers" in the town, which in turn leads to ire among the others, less affluent members of the community. However, Token discovers that the rich kids (who are even richer than him) are as different from him as he is from the poorer kids in town. Token feels so much like an outcast that he goes to live with lions in the South Park Zoo since there from his African Heritage. Token thinks due to heritage he can get along with them, eventually Token decides he does not want to live with lions anymore because they only play ‘practical jokes’ and leaves. Eventually token discovers that the kids, who tease him, tease each other too; implying being teased indicated acceptance and belonging. Token has learnt that you do not need to be the same as others. Eventually the ‘whites’ come up with a idea to get the ‘richers ‘out of town so they decide to dress as ghosts (resembling Ku Klux Klan robes,) so the rich people recognize that the town is “haunted” and respond with terror and chase the “richers” out of town. In conclusion the texts demonstrate belonging, through the interactions of the characters, their connections and how they change. It reveals that belonging is carried through both personally and culturally. Similarly in South Park “there goes the neighbourhood” shows a character, Token, who finally gains a sense of social belonging and self acceptance through his connections with others.