Packed_to_the_Rafters_Main_Ideas

Directors and Writers manipulate the filmic codes and conventions to represent a particular idea and to evoke responses from viewers. Packed to the Rafters is an Australian television drama directed by Beavin Lee. It depicts the experience of the Rafter family living the typical Australian contemporary middle class suburban lifestyle. This essay will focus and analyse the episode titled ‘playing googly’ as through Beavin Lee use of the filmic codes the ideas of that using drugs can bring harm to the person you love and their families, things in life can be variable and not always perfect and that family members help and guide each other in times of difficulty and sadness, has been conveyed. Using drugs can bring harm to the person you love and their families is one of the themes that have been conveyed in the TV drama, through the symbolic code of actions, and appearances and the technical code of lighting. In this case Rachel’s boyfriend Dave who has a drug addiction problem abuses and hits Rachel. The scene where Dave goes to Daniel’s house the lighting and setting were very dark and gloomy creating a suspense and problematic atmosphere, through the lighting it has positioned the audience to view Daniel as the antagonist as evident while Dave approaches David’s house it the lighting tells us that he is approaching trouble. This leads on to the event where which David hits Dave predicted by the problematic atmosphere, this is symbolic as through David’s action of hitting Dave it tells the audience he is violent and has aggressive problems as a result of his addiction to drugs, further through David’s body language especially through his red tired face and angry expression and unstable posture symbolises to us that he is not normal, not in his right state of mind and has drug problems which has caused his aggressive behaviour. Therefore it is evident that through the filmic codes of using drugs can bring harm to the person you love and their families is constructed. Things in life can be variable and not always perfect is a theme that is prevalent in the drama. It was shown through the symbolic code of audio of dialogue and setting. “Have you ever thought of what you’re going to do in life”, this dialogue said by Nathan to his father after Dave decides to quite is current job is very symbolic as it tells us the issues in life that can cause us to wonder what we want to do in our life and that things in life are always changing as seen when David quits his job and wants to open his own business. Another example is seen through the symbolic code of setting, the setting of the house garage is very messy and is unsorted this can be symbolic as it symbolises the current issues in Dave’s life and how his job and family problems and issues are not sorted out. Hence through the filmic codes and convention the theme that things in life can be variable and not always perfect is conveyed. Lastly, family is an important aspect to an individual’s life and the way they grow. In the TV drama packed to the Rafters the theme that family members help and guide each other in times of difficulty and sadness is seen to be conveyed through the author’s manipulation of the symbolic code of audio and action and body language of the characters. This was particular shown in the episode when Rachel returns home to her parents for help and guidance after she was bashed by her abusive drug addict boyfriend. This is evident when Rachel comes home and how Julie and Dave reacts when they see her face all bashed up as symbolically through their body language of disbelief, sad and angry expression on their faces and posture was made clear to the audience that Rachel’s family members were worried and cared about her in turn this helped to convey the theme. “Rachel if you need any help or need to talk just come to us”, this dialogue of Dave to Rachel is very symbolic as it shows how Rachel family cares for her and want to help her in her time of misery and pain as they are always there for her. As we can see it is evident that through the filmic codes and conventions the theme of that family members help and guide each other in times of difficulty and sadness is seen prevalent throughout the TV drama.