Maestro Distinctively Visual Analysis

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In society we are surrounded by images, immersed in a visual world with symbols and meaning created through traditional literary devices, but augmented with the influence of graphics, words, positioning and colour. The images of Peter Goldsworthy’s novel, Maestro (1989) move within these diameters and in many ways the visions of Ivan Sen’s film Beneath Clouds (2002) linger in the same way. Both these texts explore themes of appearance versus reality and influence of setting, by evoking emotion in the responder through their distinctively visual elements.
Misleading impressions directly relate to the concept of appearance versus reality and the naive nature of the first impression. Maestro is a novel written in first person and the opening constructed from a number of simple sentences that create a visual contrast between the rustic physical characteristics of Keller and the strict material characteristics of his clothes. This descriptive language highlights the visual absurdity of the scene, the climate being no factor in Keller’s choice of clothing, yet his physical being of a ‘boozer’s incandescent glow” demonstrated distinctive imagery. The narrator also reflects that Keller’s greeting, his suit and accent had passed judgement from his father, and the narrator’s first impression was tainted by his father’s visual perception. Emphasis is also put on the naivety of Paul’s first impression of Keller, only years later can the narrator suggest that the judgements he made of Keller were ‘misleading’. The narrator adds ‘of course’ suggesting the naive closed personality of the narrator in the opening scene has changed.
Similarly in Iven Sen’s film Beneath Clouds the concept of misleading impressions is explored through distinctive vi...

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...olours of the opening scenes combines with the horrid lifestyle of Vaughn and Lena, whilst the greens and clouded with droplets of rain as they drive over the range brings in the ideas of hope and a future for both of the characters. The vital role the changing images that surrounds the pair gives insight into the influence of settings on plot and character development.
It is true that the essence of any story is emphasised through distinctively visual images created for the audience. The ability of any composer- an artist with paint brushes, a musician with chords or the writer with words- to entice and evoke is at the centre of a narrative. Both Peter Goldsworthy’s novel Maestro and Beneath Clouds by Iven Sen evoke emotions in the responder through distinctively visual elements and exploration of the concepts appearance versus reality and influence of environment.

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