Distinctive_Voices

Distinctive voices. The creation of distinctive voices is a language techniques used by all types of composes to promote and emphasise the ideas that they wish to communicate in their text. A thematic idea shown in ‘the life and crimes of Harry Lavender,’ is the reality of Sydney. Day exposes how the idyllic picture of Sydney is a false front; she clearly uses idiosyncratic voices of Claudia and lavender to show the underbelly of the famous city. Day has crafted these distinctive voices to shape meaning in her novel. Similarly, director Gary Marshall has used the technique of distinctive voices to shape meaning in his 1989 film, ‘Pretty Women’. Like day Marshall has juxtaposed conflicting perspectives of Beverly Hills through the distinctive voices of his main characters, Edward and Vivian. Not only does Marshall offer the two sides of Hollywood, the slums and the elite, but he also has created Vivian’s voice to explore how women are treated in this society according to their social manner and dress. The idea of Sydney is portrayed in a more dangerous place than it actually is, ‘poxy and plague ridden’ as Claudia conscience tells the reader. Claudia is the main character followed throughout the novel, she is described as a manlier figure in the lifestyle she has chosen of an investigator –‘black suit’ ‘black shoes’. Harry lavender, ‘the villain’ of the novel, has a distinct voice of evil – ‘show them my knife..’, ‘…hold it close to their eyes’, shows that Lavender is a very cynical person, he is classified as the person running Sydney, spreading crimes over the city, killing people like ‘cancer’ (ironically lavender himself is outlining the disease). Surfer boys are introduced into the novel. Focussing on one particular surfer – ‘Robbie’ and his surfer friends. They are portrayed as ‘laid back’ by their relaxed lifestyle, filled with ‘video games’, ‘ surfing’ and ‘doing a little bit of dope.’ Distinctive voices help shape the meaning by emphasising thematic. The distinctive voices of Claudia and Lavender reflect how sinister Sydney is. The surfer boys are shown is a casual, relaxed persona and reflect how people ignore the reality. Their drug use shows the underbelly. The voices of Claudia are used by Day to comment on how women are forced to choose a career and motherhood. In the film ‘Pretty Women’ Directed by Gary Marshall (1989) distinctive voices are established through the characters ‘Edward Lewis and Vivian Ward’ Marshall produces two completely different personalities throughout his movie; he provides this via the occupation of the characters. Edward Lewis is portrayed in a very well-motivated manner, he is also very calm, confidant and serious, even when he is involved in a break up during the opening scene, he is so in control of his emotions that he seems cold and emotionless. He is also well formulated in his speech when he discreetly asks Vivian ‘if you don’t have any prior engagements, I’d be very pleased if you would accompany me into the hotel.’ As Edward changes with Vivian’s influence, so does his language, his words towards his lawyer that his car ‘ corners like it’s on rails’, proves Vivian’s influence on him. Vivian changes her voice as her character is refined. Initially, she regularly speaks in a informal, casual drawl – ‘man this baby must corner like it’s on rails’ in a huge contrast to the lotus she is in and the immaculate style on Edward. She works to refine her voice, and it is shown when she is asked if she’d like Edward to order for her, her quick response ‘yeah’ refined in the correction of ‘please do so.’ This change in voice reflects her development from pauper to princess. Distinctive voices in materials are important to craft the meaning of the atmosphere aiming to be created, to show the differences and similarities between characters or the places that it is set, to create a whole new aspect for the views to experience. The voices of Claudia and Lavender reflect how insidious Sydney is, while the voices of Vivian and Edward are directly corrected to their professions. Moreover, through the prescribed text and the chosen other related text, one can conclude that both day and Marshall create distinctive voices for different purposes in order to represent their ideas and communicate forced realities.