Choose one literary technique, common to one text on your comparative course, and compare how skilful the different authors are in using this literary technique in these texts. Support your answer by reference to the texts.
Most great movies or texts have one thing in common- they use great literary techniques throughout. Pride uses techniques like motifs, great camera shots and angles and symbolism but uses none more skilfully than music, which is optimised throughout to highlight key moments of importance in the film. Music can influence the soul and stir our unconscious in a way different to how any visual can and Pride takes full advantage of this.
The movie starts with the song "Solidarity Forever", which along with shots of the protests gives the audience immediate context for when the movies set. While music is used more for atmospheric purposes in later scenes of the movie this is used purely for its lyrics, the song says "Solidarity forever... for the union makes us strong!". From the start, the theme of unity and friendship that's highlighted through the movie is skilfully woven into the very first thing we hear. The song "Solidarity Forever" also reoccurs a few times at various different points in the text and using it from the start is a small but skilful use of foreshadowing.
When the LGSM support group visit Onllwyn in Wales for the first time, they are met with a mixture of caution and sometimes hostility. However, the directors skilful use of music in the very next scene, highlights it in the context of the whole movie. The scene starts with Jonathan, dancing among the ladies of the town to the song "Karma Chameleon", which instantly fits in with the theme of being yourself and not just trying to fit in and camouflage to your surroundings (like a chameleon). After hearing that the men of the village do not dance, he decides to give them a lesson. He goes to the band and tells them to play the song "Shame, Shame, Shame"- the name itself (which is included in most of the songs lyrics) instantly contrasts to the very name of the movie-"Pride"- and is skilfully woven into the theme of being proud of being yourself and is the exact opposite of what Jonathan is doing- expressing himself for exactly who he is. The way the director uses music to not only give a great atmosphere to a scene but tie in the lyrics to very important themes in the text highlights his skilful use of literary technique. Moreover, after Jonathan was dancing for a while, the score is added to the background of the the otherwise repetitive song that is “shame, shame, shame”, giving it more shape and allowing the song to build and build into the glorious finale of “brass glory” (in director Matthew Warchuss’ words) behind the close up image of Jonathan dancing in slow motion. The score invokes emotion and a sense of momentous importance and is the magical, brilliant side to what’s achieved in the scene.
The next time LGSM go to Onllwyn, the mining town looks bleaker than ever, funds are slipping and hope looks all but lost. However after a brief speech by Mark to the people of the town in the working men’s club, the directors skilful use of music again raises spirits and adds substance to the text. A lone voice rings out in the hall, one of a young woman singing the song "Bread and Roses". This song has its roots deep in history, originating from early twentieth century America where the phrase "The worker must have bread, but she must have roses too," was used as political slogan, "Bread" being the physical needs for life and "Roses" being the spiritual. The songs opening lyrics in the text, sang acapella, are "As we go marching, marching, in the beauty of the day, a million darkened kitchens a thousand mill lofts gray,"- this refers to women leaving the kitchens and mill lofts, traditional places women would work, to strike and protest. Again, the director is skilful in his use of music he picked, to always keep it relevant to major topics found in the film, like the
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