Imagery In Parade

In a climate of turmoil and disorder, fear can lead people to follow an “us vs. them” mentality that pits them against an outside force which is deemed unfamiliar and therefore, threatening. This scenario, which has been demonstrated throughout history in a real-life context, also formed a theme in Ball State’s 2016 production of Parade through the interactions between the fearful townspeople and the vilified Leo Frank. During the course of the show, the townspeople of Atlanta feel threatened when one of their own is found dead and unite against what they perceive to be a danger to their traditional cultural values: a northern Jewish factory manager who has failed to assimilate to their local customs. The sense of fear, incited by the group

The scene where this is particularly present occurs in the court room and is accompanied by the song “Come Up to My Office”, during which, a caricature of Leo Frank is presented alongside a fabricated story of his crimes. This scene takes place in the shadows and serves to portray the jury’s perceptions of Frank as more monstrous (with the use of a mask) and lecherous (through the lyrics and his actions) than reality. The shadowy figure of Frank serves to represent how he is viewed by the townspeople who see him as an outsider who has come to their city to threaten their livelihoods. The low red lighting employed during this sequence amplifies the demonic presence of the shadowy Frank, again allowing the viewer to see Frank from the emotional perspective of the members of the

society. In the case of Parade, the society that Frank conflicts with is that of the Atlanta townspeople and southerners in general. This production of the show featured the townspeople formed into a homogenous mob to demonstrate the contrast that occurs between the values of a singular Leo Frank and those of his surroundings. One example of when this contrast is apparent occurs during the trial after Frank is found guilty. In this scene after the verdict has been reached, the jubilant crowd begins to dance around and lift up Frank, who has been condemned to death by his peers. This moment particularly exemplifies the person vs. society conflict through the contrast of an energetic and mobile crowd and the shocked, still Frank. The jury was persuaded by pathos based rather than factual arguments to see Frank as a monster and, as a result, sentenced him to