- Published: September 27, 2022
- Updated: September 27, 2022
- University / College: University of Notre Dame
- Language: English
- Downloads: 2
Good Morning class my name is benatrina and I’m going to be talking about how john misto uses distinctively visual in his play
In the shoe horn sonata, john Misto use Distinctively visual techniques to highlight the past distinctive experiences during world war II shared by two friends sheila and bridie. John misto is able to portray a powerful message through the use of powerful dialogue, language techniques and photographs of the war.
In the beginning of the play the audience is introduced to their first image of the women and children waving goodbye with smiles on their faces as they board the ship on the 13th of February 1942 this image is a contrast to the descriptive story telling about the sinking of the ship, Quoted “ the ship rose up from the water- then crashed on its side. It layed there like a wounded animal spilling out oil instead of blood” the use of simile creates an image of a dying animal which builds an understanding of this traumatic event. contrasting ideas in both texts allows the understanding of the audience to strengthen yet also create a sense of sympathy to the lives that were lost through this traumatic event.
In the play Misto uses lighting to communicate to the audience more effectively “ By luck or a miracle…A blink of light.” This lighting technique emphasises the start of something new. This is the blink of Bridie and Sheila in the War at Singapore and within their friendship and the beginning of their voyage to freedom within the play. The blink of light may also articulate a sense of awareness, catching the audience’s absorption and making them speculate as they endeavour and distinguish what is to come.
Music and sonatas has strong presence within the play, Providing variety and emotional subtextx to many of the play’s scenes. The use of powerful music was a way to lift the prisoners spirits. a Quoted that is used is
Bridie: “ To us we still had harmony…The japs could never ever take that away”. The audience sees that Music is what kept Bridie and sheila alive and a will to not give up. In song bolero in scene 5 symbolises high spirits, determination and triumph of the women “ we forgot the japs – we forgot our hunger – our boils – barbed – wire – everything…together we made this glorious sound that rose above the camp – above the jungle – above the war – rose and rose and took us within. Fifty voices set us free”. In the play The song happy times is also used being voiced over with the sounds of machine guns and cries of women on the soundtrack However, This creates vision of being in the middle of a war zone these sounds are confronting and expresses the theme of war to the audience.
Misto uses language techniques to potray that Both bridie and sheila were affect by the war not only physically but emotionally during and after the war Quote:“ All we have in common was the camp. I didn’t want to keep talking about it. I couldn’t, bridie, it hurt too much.. And when something hurts you run away.. Or you dig a hole and burry it”. – Sheila through this metaphor and ellipsis the audience is able to understand the pain and suffering these women went through during the war, further to this the audience is able to witness how the past has still affected their everyday life as sheila is unable to talk about her experience in the war.
Quote:“ All we have in common was the camp. I didn’t want to keep talking about it. I couldn’t, bridie, it hurt too much.. And when something hurts you run away.. Or you dig a hole and burry it”. – Sheila through this metaphor and ellipsis the audience is able to understand the pain and suffering these women went through during the war, further to this the audience is able to witness how the past has still affected their everyday life as sheila is unable to talk about her experience in the war.
Misto demonstrates the devastation of war and the will of the human spirit to survive through flashbacks of Bridie and Sheila’s memories of the war. This is evident in their desire to use all they had at hand as a reminder of life apart from their current situation. As Bridie recalls their conversations of food and “ normal” life, Misto uses the chop bone Quote “ We’d chew on this every night before bed.” – bridie
as a symbol of hope in returning to their lives before the war.
in the play, the shoe horn represents an object that evokes the supposed reason for survival, strengthening and abundantly prolonging the relationship between Bridie and Sheila, however it is also a reminder of the experiences endured throughout their journey in partnership. This is highlighted through Sheila’s heart felt monologue in phrasing Quote- “ Id lay there listening…with your shoe horn hidden under my pillow”
In conclusion the use of distinctively visual techniques is most effective in the play as it conveys a powerful message allowing the audience to feel sympathetic towards the women and children who suffered during this horrific event. It’s also effective as it is able to successfully educate the audience, by the use of language techniques, lighting, pictures and music to potray the message creating a greater awareness of those whose lives were lost during this horrifying event this is achieved through using module A the distinctively visual.