The Shining
One of the hardest tasks to accomplish in writing and filmmaking is how to show something rather than tell it. While it is easy to simply write how someone is feeling, showing it through the scene has a much more powerful effect. Stanley Kubrick does a successful job of this in The Shining. The feeling of isolation is enhanced by the camera angles, diegetic noises, and the separation of characters.
In the opening scene of the film, the camera is at a bird's-eye-view angle. Jack's car is seen from way above, with nothing but nature surrounding it. This gives the effect of isolation because he is the only car or person for miles. The only diegetic noises in the film so far (aside from the dialogue), have been the sound of Danny's bike, and Jack slamming the ball against the wall. Since these two sounds are the only thing going on in the huge hotel, they echo and seem much louder than they should. This gives off the feeling of loneliness because the scene is only filled with noises the characters make, not from other people or things moving around. Finally, the feeling of isolation is shown through the separation of Danny and Wendy from Jack. Danny and Wendy are often shown exploring the hotel grounds, whether playing in the snow or searching through the maze. Jack is never with them, he is either in his study or playing with the ball. This shows how Jack is removing himself from his family and putting himself in a state of isolation.
How else do you think Kubrick shows isolation throughout the film so far?
In the opening scene of the film, the camera is at a bird's-eye-view angle. Jack's car is seen from way above, with nothing but nature surrounding it. This gives the effect of isolation because he is the only car or person for miles. The only diegetic noises in the film so far (aside from the dialogue), have been the sound of Danny's bike, and Jack slamming the ball against the wall. Since these two sounds are the only thing going on in the huge hotel, they echo and seem much louder than they should. This gives off the feeling of loneliness because the scene is only filled with noises the characters make, not from other people or things moving around. Finally, the feeling of isolation is shown through the separation of Danny and Wendy from Jack. Danny and Wendy are often shown exploring the hotel grounds, whether playing in the snow or searching through the maze. Jack is never with them, he is either in his study or playing with the ball. This shows how Jack is removing himself from his family and putting himself in a state of isolation.
How else do you think Kubrick shows isolation throughout the film so far?
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ReplyDeleteIsolation in the Shinning is probably the most relevant theme of the movie. It shows how being alone can change people to such different extremes. The sounds especially when Danny is riding the bike and it goes from loud to soft when he crosses from rug to floor really makes it seem like he is alone in the scenes and the hotel in general. All of this helps makes the movie creepier knowing they are alone at this sketchy hotel.
ReplyDeleteI think you covered most of the major scenes where isolation is shown throughout the film. The scenes particularly where Danny is riding his bike alone down these long halls show a sense of isolation. Having the camera follow him around each and every corner made it very suspenseful because you didn't know what was around each corner. The feeling of him riding his bike alone down these endless halls in a hotel where the viewers already know somethings very eerie about the place shows isolation. I also agree with you about how the sounds show a feeling of isolation, especially where Jack is sitting in the big parlor room alone typing on the type writer because all you hear is his typing of the keys. The camera zooms in slowly from behind Jack which is scary because just like Danny you can't see what Jack is typing. Until later in a few scenes later, Wendy comes in and there's a close-up of "all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy." Having the camera creep in behind Jack before this scene creates suspense because you can't see what he's typing, but that he's typing so loudly and fiercely.
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