ipl-logo

Does The Graduate Support The Theme Of Entrapment?

519 Words3 Pages

The cinematic techniques utilized in The Graduate support the theme of entrapment. Director of Photography Robert Surtees was “given license [by Nichols] to experiment with filming techniques” (Nixon 7). Surtees uses zooming to visually express the feeling of entrapment. After Ben confesses to Elaine he has been having an affair with her mother, Mrs. Robinson, the camera zooms out on Mrs. Robinson trapped in the corner of her home. Her cowering figure dressed in black is sharply contrasted by the sterile, prison-like white walls of her loveless home. This shot shows a vulnerable Mrs. Robinson, whose “dissatisfaction with life can be linked to her passionless marriage” (Wyllie 3). The innovative use of the telephoto lens is another cinematic technique utilized by Nichols and Surtees to stress the theme of entrapment. …show more content…

The effect is Ben “appears to be running in place without getting anywhere” (Schuth 4). His race to the altar is futile, Elaine offers no salvation from the weight of society's expectations that imprison him. Instead “the consuming goal of this aimless graduate is to marry the pretty all-American girl next door”, an action that will not free him from the older generation’s rigid beliefs (Holden 2). The collaboration between Nicolas and Surtees and their choice to use formalistic camera techniques emphasizes the theme of entrapment in the film. The theme of entrapment in The Graduate is underscored by deliberate sound choices. Nicolas choice to use sound from a single character's point of view reiterates the film’s theme of entrapment. For his

Show More
Related

  • The Small Town Of Holcomb In Truman Capote's In Cold Blood

    649 Words  | 3 Pages

    This description of the sounds is giving the readers a look at what will be happening later in the

    Read More

  • How Does Edson Show The Connection Between Forgiveness And Relationships

    1234 Words  | 5 Pages

    Additionally, the camera gradually zooms in on Vivian, visually allowing the audience into Vivian's mind and serving to highlight the significance of her internal journey and evolving perspective of forgiveness (Nichols 1:06:10-1:07:13). The deliberate approach of the camera reflects the gradual shift in Vivian's mindset, mirroring her growing

    Read More

  • How To Survive A Plague Film Analysis

    494 Words  | 2 Pages

    Sound is very important in this film because of lot of sound is edited to fit in certain spots including music. During the activist movement, we can clearly hear the hurt in these people voices. Riots, shouting and clapping were all heard in most of the shots along with a voice in the background explaining exactly what is going on. Music was edited into some of the scenes to help give more of a scary or haunted approach. There was also sounds that were in scenes which sounded like someone or something huge is about to take place.

    Read More

  • Symbolism And Motifs In Alfred Hitchcock's Rear Window

    672 Words  | 3 Pages

    Rear Window by Alfred Hitchcock is a fillm full of symbolism and motifs that provides viewers with a bigger meaning. It shows these rhetorical appeals through Hitchcok’s eyes that would not be recognized if not analyzed. Through these appeals I have recognized the window as being a symbol and marriage and binoculars as motifs. After understanding much more than what the eye anitially sees when viewing this film there is a fine line between understanding what is going on in the film and observing what the protagonist Jeff is viewing.

    Read More

  • Analysis Of Hitchcock Etudes By Nicole Lize

    270 Words  | 2 Pages

    It makes the overall work more dark and robust.” Avery said that the variety and doctoring of the sounds made her feel disassociated from her surroundings and engaged in the new occurrences within the video. There is not one specific fear or theme to focus on, but rather a

    Read More

  • Raising Arizona Cinematography Analysis

    481 Words  | 2 Pages

    Once the camera comes up to the ladder propped up against the window, it rapidly rushes up, then zooms in on Mrs. Arizona’s face as she lets out a gut wrenching screech. The camera

    Read More

  • Relationships In Alfred Hitchcock's Rear Window

    827 Words  | 4 Pages

    Alfred Hitchcock’s Rear Window has several themes. One major theme is relationships. The lead character, Jeff Jeffries, a photographer and committed bachelor, is involved in a relationship with Lisa Fremont, a model, although the relationship has some tension due to Jeff’s lack of commitment. When Jeff is confined to his apartment recovering from a broken leg, he begins spying through his rear window on his neighbors in a nearby apartment. Through her frequent visits, Lisa is drawn into this spying as well.

    Read More

  • Rear Window Mise En Scene Analysis

    657 Words  | 3 Pages

    For example, when Jeff overhears the bickering between Mr. and Mrs. Thorwald, it reminds him of his own fears about commitment and marriage. Hitchcock masterfully used an abundance of noise and the almost complete absence of sound to affect the suspense in these two

    Read More

  • Alfred Hitchcock Rear Window Analysis

    1431 Words  | 6 Pages

    With Rear Window (1954), Alfred Hitchcock proved himself to be one of the best directors of suspense thrillers filled with mystery and humour. He himself called the film his most cinematic one because it was told only in visual terms (Morrow), but it was also a challenging “editing experiment” as the entire film was shot from one place, Jeff’s apartment that overlooked his backyard. The Film follows L.B. Jeffries “Jeff” (James Stewart), a photographer confined to a wheelchair in his apartment after breaking his leg at work. He spends his days watching his neighbours and eventually suspects that one of them killed his wife. His caretaker, his girlfriend Lisa and his detective friend, at first unconvinced of his suspicion, eventually join him in his voyeurism and help him to solve the crime.

    Read More

  • Carrie Film Analysis

    1019 Words  | 5 Pages

    Cinematic techniques of mise-en-scene, cinematography, and editing helped to exhibit this underlying meaning. The technique cinematography focuses on the male gaze by incorporating a peeping-tom impression with its camera angles, and reflecting on the way in which women treat other women as if to comment on female empowerment. While mise-en-scene helped tackle the topic of reproductive rights, and innocence through the prop of blood and costumes. Lastly, editing further examined this theme of feminism by including motion and slip-screen to show total control, and liberation. The film views feminism as becoming self-aware, and taking control of feminine power even if it means causing destruction to a system that causes

    Read More

  • The Memory Keeper's Daughter Analysis

    1346 Words  | 6 Pages

    A photograph is more than just a simple image; it tells a story. A story beyond a particular moment in time, it holds secrets and memories. The eagerness to comprise a moment in the perfect shot seems to become an obsession for many. In Kim Edwards ' novel The Memory Keeper 's Daughter, Edwards uses photography as a motif which coincides with the novel 's idea of secrets. David Henry, the antagonist of the novel, becomes fascinated with photography after choosing to give away his daughter and compresses his guilt with photography.

    Read More

  • Essay On Rear Window

    934 Words  | 4 Pages

    She argues that the act of moviegoing satisfies these voyeuristic desires in people. She writes, “The mass of mainstream film portray a hermetically sealed world which unwinds magically, indifferent to the presence of the audience, producing for them a sense of separation and playing on their voyeuristic fantasy,” (pg. 186). In this essay, I will further discuss her viewpoints on cinema and voyeurism, and how it connects to the film Rear Window by Alfred Hitchcock. Rear Window is a film that follows the

    Read More

  • Rhetorical Analysis Of The Secret Movie

    810 Words  | 4 Pages

    In the beginning of the movie they used suspenseful music and imagery to keep the viewer more interested and make the viewer want to know what the “Secret” is and this is part of the logical chain of reasoning known as Pathos. Pathos is

    Read More

  • Generation Gap Themes In The Film 'The Graduate'

    1146 Words  | 5 Pages

    The highly popular and widely discussed 1960’s romantic comedy film “ The Graduate “ displays an inner theme of what is called a generation gap, which is Benjamin Braddock’s alienated and social behavior contrasted from their parents social lives that are expressed by the use of the camera and the plot. From these first frequencies of scenes, in the beginning, the director Mike Nichols displays the camera on how Benjamin feels and acts in this world through the generation gap theme. He is completely silent, alone, and is conforming to society as if he were a zombie. The first twenty seconds of a zoomed out shot of Benjamin on the plane gives all the audience needs to understand the film’s theme: a generation gap leads to isolation through lack of communication. The song composed by Simon and Garfunkel “ Sound of Silence”, is being played as

    Read More

  • Auteur Theory In The Film 'The Godfather'

    1514 Words  | 7 Pages

    The Graduate depicts a college graduate from a middle-class, white family, as he rebels from his parents. He refuses to go to graduate school and follow his parents’ lifestyle of materialism and work. His parents base their lives on earning and spending money. They think more about the future, whereas the counterculture is more about experiencing the present. Ben wants happiness and satisfaction, and he tries to obtain that.

    Read More

More about Does The Graduate Support The Theme Of Entrapment?

Open Document