Strictly_Ballroom

“You cannot belong to anyone else, until you belong to yourself.” You cannot belong to anyone else until you overcome fear and conformity in order to find the courage and strength to belong to yourself, is a notion that is reflected via the characters in the film Strictly Ballroom, directed by Baz Luhrmann as well as in the piece The Scream, painted by Edvard Munch. The sense of belonging in each text is explored within a personal, social and cultural context. Themes about discovering and accepting one's self and others as well as the search for one's true identity are also explored in the two texts. Further ideas and examples of belonging can also emerge from connections made between people, places, groups and the larger world. The texts explore many aspects of belonging, including choices not to belong or barriers which forestall belonging. These perceptions and notions of belonging or of not belonging are shown via language modes, visual techniques and a variety of film techniques. Scott Hastings, the main character of Strictly Ballroom is a prime example that before you can belong to anyone else you must first belong to yourself. One of the very first scenes in the movie displays an eye-level long shot of a Scott's silhouette jumping and twirling in contrast to the strict steps of ballroom dancing. This personal and private moment shows a glimpse of Scott's true identity and that Scott must dance in the shadows so no one will see him, thus making it evident to the viewer that Scott has not yet accepted himself or his non-conformist style of dance so therefore the rest of the dancing community won't either. Moreover, as the movie progresses the paused image of a medium shot of the number 100 on Scott's shirt peeling away at the edge is a metaphor for the fact that Scott is beginning to break free from the strict world of dancing. This idea is further reinforced when the camera image slows down whilst panning and dramatic music begins playing as he pushes his way through the 'block' created by Ken and Pam and begins to dance his own steps. By doing this it emphasises the fact that Scott is now overcoming his fear and going against the rules by being courageous and thus taking the first steps toward accepting himself. Furthermore, before Scott can properly connect with anyone, especially Fran, he must break away from the Strictly Ballroom world and the people within it, for example, Liz. A long shot shows Scott also throwing his polka dot shirt that matches Liz's costume into the corner of the dance studio, which symbolises that he is finally breaking away from her and thus another barrier keeping him from belonging to Fran is now non-existent. Another long shot shows Scott's costume design where he is wearing plain black pants and a white singlet. This reveals to the audience that Scott no longer relies on the glitz and glamour to assist in expressing himself in dancing, thus making evident his strength and courage when he has no one to support him. At the end of the scene the song 'Standing in the Rain' by John Paul Young begins to play as Scott begins to dance his own steps. The upbeat tempo conveys Scott's feelings of joy and delight clearly in this personal moment of his whilst also making it clear to the viewer that the 'rain' is washing away the mask he was forced to wear. Moreover, connections begin to form between Scott and Fran the more he belongs to and accepts himself. When Fran finally meets Scott, Luhrmann has her stand with her back to the spotlight making it obvious she does not yet belong. Fran soon asks Scott if she can dance with him and he refuses to which Fran says “A life lived in fear is a life half lived.” this quote reveals Fran's inner passion and courage and these are the qualities that convince Scott to give her a chance, thus a connection between the two begins to form. Furthermore, connections via a cultural context are also displayed between Scott and Fran's family. After Ya Ya teaches Scott the proper way to dance the Paso Doble a long shot shows Rico, Fran's father, and Scott dancing like a bull and matador, which symbolises the fact that Rico has accepted Scott. The image of Scott dancing with them along with his strong posture and hand gestures show that he is now thankful that he has the courage and confidence to belong to and with other people. To further reinforce the fact that he belongs a medium shot shows Ya Ya and Rico embracing him. This scene clearly proves that once you belong to yourself it is easier to belong and make connections with everyone else, even people from different cultures. In addition, Fran also shares a connection with Doug. In contrast with the other characters both Fran and Doug wear no make-up and plain costumes. As Fran is introduced a close-up shows her frizzy hair, blotchy skin, large glasses and plain shirt. Similarly, Doug is also introduced in neutral colours with no make up and large glasses. These two characters represent 'reality' and are the complete opposite compared to the world of dancing. A long-shot shows the two awkwardly standing side by side behind a crowd of clapping people. The pairing of the two in the same frame foreshadows a connection between them. Seeing as though both of these characters already belong to themselves they can now easily belong outside the world of Strictly Ballroom together. Likewise, the painting The Scream created by Edvard Munch also reflects the idea that before belonging to anyone else you must belong to yourself. Firstly, the persona who is situated in the centre of the frame can be seen with a facial expression that gives the viewer the impression that they are screaming. From this facial expression and the way the figure is almost clawing at his face the viewer can see that the persona is obviously feeling trapped or isolated, therefore, they may come to the conclusion that this figure does not belong in this world, much like how Scott does not truly belong in the world of Strictly Ballroom. However, the two figures on the left in the background, though fairly blurry, are painted relatively close, therefore the observer may think that the personae share a connection thus making it evident that each of them has accepted themselves and thus they can now accept each other, which makes it easier for them to belong in this particular world, unlike the screaming persona. This idea of belonging together is similar to that of Shirley and Les who in many close ups are seen with the same hair colour and matching glamourous costume designs fit for the world of Strictly Ballroom thus reflecting the fact that they both belong to one another and to the world of dance. Moreover, the bold black brush strokes and use of different colours like red, orange and green in the painting also emphasise the feelings of the different personae. The red sky with tints of orange accentuates the feelings of the screaming persona. It reinforces their frustration that they are trapped in a world where they don't belong. This relates to Scott when a close up of his frustrated expression showed the red curtains in the background, which further reinforces what he was feeling when Ken and Pam created a 'barrier' or 'block' that prevented him from dancing. Furthermore, the glimpses of green in the sky also contribute to the pessimistic vibe within the painting and the traces of nausea the screaming persona is feeling, much like the nauseating feeling Shirley displays in the mockumentary while a close up of her face shows her pale and embarrassed facial expression after she had spoken about Scott's illegal dance moves. Wavy, bold brush strokes used to create the river and the sky that surrounds the personae further emphasise their feelings of belonging and not belonging. The messy swirls used to create the river further reinforce the feeling of sickness and nausea that a person, especially the screaming persona, feels when they are trapped in a place they don't want to be, thus making evident that the persona simply doesn't belong nor do they want to belong. A prime example connecting the two texts is when Scott makes a choice to remove his polka dot shirt and throw it in the corner, leaving him colourless and dull, like the river in Munch's painting, therefore revealing his detachment from the glamour and glitz of the dance world and demonstrating his choice not to belong to a world he doesn't want to belong in. Strictly Ballroom, directed by Baz Luhrmann and the artwork The Scream, painted by Edvard Munch clearly explores the notion that you cannot belong to anyone else until you overcome fear and conformity in order to gain the courage and strength to belong to yourself. This idea is shown via the characters in the film, Strictly Ballroom and the personae in the painting, The Scream. The feelings that accompany belonging in each text are explored within a personal, social and cultural context. Further notions and examples of belonging can also egress from connections made between people, places, groups and the larger world. The texts successfully explore many aspects of belonging, including choices not to belong or barriers which prevent belonging. These ideas of belonging or of not belonging are shown via language modes, a variety of film techniques and visual techniques.