Belonging_Visual_Representation

Characters in the texts; “as you like it”, the play by Shakespeare, “standing in the shoes of others”, the speech by Linda Burney and “Girl Interrupted” the 1999 film directed by James Mangold, find a sense of belonging under the influence of place. A physical place is often symbolic of whether a character feels accepted. Their relationship with their external environment conveying how the character feels they fit in with the world around them. The river that bisects the work is a metaphor for the elements that prevent belonging. Two glass bottles float in the water, the glass representing the barriers that prevent them from belonging. As a result the figures are isolated and unable to belong to the communities. The river representing how elements such as hate, distrust, or preconceived judgment can restrict the natural human desire to belong. Susanna in girl interrupted does not belong to society, one of the ways this is manifested is in her rebellious attire; dark boy clothes and short cropped hair that contrasts with the light feminine formal wear. This is why contrasting patters of spots against stripes have been used to further emphasise the figures displacement. In as you like it the natural setting of the forest of Arden is representative of belonging. The forest is characterised as a place of reconciliation, that remedy the negative effects of the corrupt court (show in how Oliver is changed). The dominance of the natural elements in the work mirrors the dominance of the Pastoral setting in the play, as it was one of the key features that shaped characters sense of belonging. Aborigines cultural and spiritual relationship with their traditional land is a feature that shapes their sense of cultural identity. (Another reason for the dominance of land in the work, referencing “in others shoes speech”) The colours of the figures vary, as they are decorated to fit in with the colours of their surrounding environment, linking with how in aboriginal culture humans are considered part of the land. The group in the foreground shows a community, a family, with one figure of a slightly darker shade straining to break free of this group. Susanna and Orlando are examples of individuals who feel detached from their place of birth, creating a sensation of isolation. “Bars me the place of a brother and minds my gentility with my education”. As a result they must search for a place that will provide them with a sense of belonging, connection and acceptance. Orlando finds it in Rosalind and Susanna finds it in the relationships she builds with the girls at the asylum. Toby’ Jacobs: Common, Susanna! You don’t belong here. Susanna: I have friends here. Toby’ Jacobs: Who, them' Those girls... They’re eating grapes off the wallpaper. They’re crazy. Susanna: If they are, then I am. The figure in the far background of the right, is masking an element that may isolate them (spots), with a feature than will enable them to fit in with another group (stripes). Lisa, in girl interrupted, toys with a solution to Polly’s feelings of social rejection and Isolation (Polly has burn marks on her face) Lisa: No one’s ever gonna’ kiss her, (Polly). You know, they’re building a new Disney Land in Florida. If I could have any job in the world, I’d be a professional Cinderella. You could be Snow White, Polly could be Minnie Mouse. Everyone would hug her and kiss her and love her and no one would ever know what was in that big ol’ head of hers, you know' Touchstones wit and role as a fool enables his to gain acceptance into higher status groups through his humour and social commentary. As Rosalind becomes the male Ganymede, she is able to also speak more freely among men, and gain more control in her relationship with Orlando, giving them a relationship based on equality, not male domination. The stripped figures a top a rock are representative of how relationships with people can influence our perception of our place in the world. (Romance being a key element in the Shakespearian play). The intertwining of the ‘tails’ to show connection and intimacy. The way the two figures fit together like puzzle pieces, conveys the harmony between the two. This is a general statement of couples in as you like it, as not all couples fit so harmoniously. Celia and Oliver’s relationship is sudden yet sincere, William has unrequited love for Phoebe, and Touchtone and Audrey are more comical than romantic, a parody on Pastrial love. My Study guide cover has represented the ideas and issued of the area of study through the symbolism of the river as a barrier to belonging, the bottled figures as people isolated as a result of these barriers, stripes to unite the figures to those of the same group, the fit of the couple to show relationship belonging and a stripped coat on a spotted figure as a metaphor for the covers / masks that allow people to be accepted by a different group.