Rising water drags many into sleep

Rising water Review

Set on a mariner in Fremantle the play Rising water leaves much to be desired.   The dense language and eighty style jokes provide a hurdle in trying to follow the never ending dialogue between the four lifeless characters. 

Each character has retreated to the edges of Australia's coast to escape their previous lives that are full of regret.

Baxter the main character is a previous headmaster and geography teacher. He was exploited by the media when he was accused of 'fiddling' with a fifteen year old mother who he was helping get back on her feet.  This plus the separation from his family has left Baxter with a very cynical humor.  He sold up his past life and retreated to his boat 'shirley'.

The set consists of three boats sitting on a black stage which due to the lighting gives the illusion of rippled water.  These realistic boats capture most of your attention reflecting the characters who live on them.  Jackie's boat is refined and appears to have a sense of superiority over the others.  The two guys boats however need a little elbow grease and adopt their attitude of not caring about life.  The set remains the same throughout the entire performance.  Light is used to emphasis dramatic moments in the play such as Dee's drowning.  During which the lights become apart of the audience and drag them under.  Sounds are also used with the splashing of objects in the water and partying of lively souls.

Col can be seen as a fatherly figure to Baxter.  He to is running from his past.  Once an accountant Col was forced to flee his life when he got caught up in a corrupt government project.  Col's character is sarcastic and uses language far from that of a supposedly well educated accountant.

The arrival of British backpacker Dee sparks debate as she causes the secrets of the characters to be exposed.  Dee also provides a window into the racism associated with Perth culture.  She is portrayed as rough due to her rock star appearance but we discover that she is just a kid who was in search of the backpackers dream and is in search of the attention which she missed out on from her mother.

The arrival of Dee sparks concern from Jackie the supposed lesbian and recovering alcoholic.  Jackie appears to be of healthy soul and in need of companionship as she leaves her life of mystery behind and reaches out to Baxter in order to feed her curiosity. 

The quick banter between characters hints towards the idea that our culture is very shallow and pointless as Winton has a go at Australia day conveying the idea that it's just an excuse for a drink.

All the characters are hiding.  Their boats provide a camouflage and shields them from the change that they crave. Their laid back and ritual lifestyles leave the three main characters like the boats they live on drifting, tied to the one spot and never leaving it.

While known as a famous Australian author by many Winton still has much work to put in when it comes to play writing.  The witty banter between characters would have been far better suited to that of a novel.  To much was packed into the two hours. 

However I must say the special effects used during Dee's drawing and the set were phenomenal and managed to give the production the giant lift it needed.

Fix you- By Coldplay

The song in which i find the lyrics most compelling is Fix you by Coldyplay.  The lyrics are listed below.

When you try your best but you don't succeed
When you get what you want but not what you need
When you feel so tired but you can't sleep
Stuck in reverse

And the tears come streaming down your face
When you lose something you can't replace
When you love someone but it goes to waste
Could it be worse?

Lights will guide you home
And ignite your bones
And I will try to fix you

And high up above or down below
When you're too in love to let it go
But if you never try you'll never know
Just what you're worth

Lights will guide you home
And ignite your bones
And I will try to fix you

Tears stream down your face
When you lose something you cannot replace
Tears stream down your face
And I

Tears stream down your face
I promise you I will learn from my mistakes
Tears stream down your face

And I
Lights will guide you home
And ignite your bones And I will try to fix you

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JI-o25K6B-E 

after researching the meaning behind the song it is no wonder that i can feel a strong attatchment between the singer and the lyrics.  the lead singer Chris wrote this song for his wife when her father died.  as he has obviously thrown his heart into these lyrics it is no wonder that everytime i listen to this song i feel revived.  the lyrics when sung truely have the power to lift your heart and fix you. 

the song is very descriptive of the raw emotions being felt by the victim and it is this that makes it so realateable. anyone who is feeling down or lost can relate to this song as it appeals to your emotions and sings to your heart.

the wrods used are very emotional and are written poetically.  with the use of well chosen wrods and the voice of Chris this song has the ability to move you and i'm sure that it helped to fix his wife's broken heart.

My favorite movie scene

I would have to say that one of my favorite scenes would have to be a scene from the movie 'The Notebook'. My favorite scene from the movie is when the two lovers Ellie and Noah are finally united and finally admit their love for one another. I like this scene because the whole movie has been working towards this moment. The scene is so happy that it lifts your heart and for the criers like myself it leaves you sobbing. The scene is shot from above from and angle and then zooms in as the couple link arms to show the distance closing between them. This scene is very bright and reflects the happiness of the mood. It's a simple scene but it says so much and is able to sum up the love between the two characters.

Psycho

Today in class we watched the world famous film directed by Alfred Hitchcock, Psycho. Fifty years on this movie is still known by all for its shower scene and thriller music.  Psycho became the benchmark for all horror movies and a benchmark for films in general.  This is due to the originality of the film.  The film although a little tame compared to modern day films pushed social boundaries of the sixties community. The film shows led actress Janet Leigh in her underwear numerous times and hints towards her having a rather promiscuous life with her secret lover.

The film pushed the viewer’s emotional boundaries.  The thought of someone being murdered in their shower was unthought-of and still is.  Therefore the main characters death in the shower added a new level to horror stories and the now famous scene has been remade numerous times.  The complex story line behind Psycho also added a new depth to horror movies. Filmmakers have also used the shooting style used to shot Psycho-making films far more sophisticated.  These shots include showing the neck of a character to show emotion and tension.   

Psycho almost didn't go to the cinemas when The MPAA refused to pass the film because they claimed they could see Janet Leigh's nipple during the shower scene. As a result of the apparent nudity the film bore an R rating.

The film managed to really grip its audience from the beginning.  The sharpness of the music made me feel a sense of tension.  The filming and portrayal of the characters left a feeling of unease in my stomach.  As many were shown as people who couldn’t be trusted and bore a mentally deranged side.  On watching the shower scene I felt extremely shaken.  This is mainly because I usually feel safe and secure in the shower and to see someone get killed in the shower leaves you feeling invaded and insecure.  It's quiet disturbing thinking that you could be killed in a place where usually you have privacy. 

The use of music in the film was very well done.  Music was used to set the mood and I think that the director used it to his advantage in order to create the perfect horror movie.

The idea of killing off the main character half way through the film was unthought-of of and therefore started a whole new idea about the sequence of films. 

Even though Psycho had an extremely low budget it turned out to be one of the most influential horror films in history because it broke the rules of society and challenged the world of film.  

Film Texts

Film Texts

Today in class we watched a series of snippets from films and responded to them.

Don’t look now -1973

For this film we watched the first 5minuets and after doing so a great deal could be drawn from the movie.  Tension is immediately established as scenes showing a small girl playing and her parents flip to and fro.  The young girl is wearing a red coat and from this we can tell that she is going to play a significant in the story.  She plays with a war figurine and this allows the viewer to place a sense of time with the film.  The young girl seems innocent and petit.  As the young girl plays we and taken into her house where her parents sit.  Her father’s expression is very dramatic and he seems withdrawn.  We can tell that something is at play and the switching between the girl and her parents quickens and their actions become mirrored.  When the girl drowns the scene moves in slow motion allowing you to feel the pain being experienced by the father.  The viewer is also left feeling sick in the stomach from the intensity of this scene.  The scene seems so real as the father tries in vain to save his little girl.  As the girl drowns the photo, which the father was looking, at previously beings to change shape and form to connect the girl’s tragic end to the photograph.

2001 A Space Odyssey-1968

The film opens with a very famous piece of music that reflects man’s superiority and conquers over the universe.  As the music plays the scene zooms in on the plants as they aligned and the sun can be seen rising over the earth symbolising the rise of man.  This scene illustrates man’s superiority and sets a new revolution in film that is now widely used by other directors.

The Seventh Seal- 1957

Images of the sky appear introducing the theme of God and a high power and sense of freedom. A bird flies through the skies showing the freedom and purity of life.  The music is the background is soft and the symphony of instruments combine to form a mood setter for the actions of characters.  A figure in a dark coat with a white face appears.  Automatically we can see that he is mysterious and his character is related to religion.

Fanny and Alexander- 1982

This film beginning with water flowing calmly and then hitting small bumps causing the flow to become rough and rapid.  This is symbolic of the character’s journey in the film and sets the scene perfectly.   The young boy at the beginning of the film is seen playing with puppets reflects the innocence of the boy.  He sits slumped over a sign of boredom on his face.  His sluggish actions give the viewer the feeling that his parents neglect the boy.  As he wonders through the dark and empty house we feel empty and neglect.  As he searches for life suspense builds through the music and slow movement of the opening of the door.  

Mini review of 'they're not your husband'

Today in class we read a rather unusual piece in that it was very different from what is usually read in class. This story explored troubled mind of a sales man named Earl Ober. Ober's character is written to be disliked. He is heavily influenced by the opinions of two men to the extent that he can no longer look at his wife with the eyes of lust he once had for her. From that moment on Earl becomes possessed and like an anorexic teenager he becomes fixated on the weight loss habits of his wife. Like a true salesman he polishes his product, makes it appeal to the buyer and talks it up. In this case the product is his wife. Personally I wouldn't be surprised if later on in the story she left her over critical, poor excuse for a lover.

Odour of Chrysanthemums by D.H Lawrence

Today in class we read an extract from the story 'Odour of Chrysanthemums' by D H Lawrence.

The story is set in 1911 and explores a time in Great Britain when industry was taking over. Britain's economy was expanding through exports. Many men were employed in the mines and they worked long hours in poor conditions. Poverty was common and living standards were low. Machines were taking priority over the people. Many workers went on strike and demanded better pay and work conditions. The lower class consisted of laborers and the cycle was rarely ever broken.

Lawrence sets his story in the countryside. However, this isn't the kind of countryside full of fresh air and singing birds. It's a dying place.  'The fields were dreary and forsaken'.  Although the environment in which the story is set may not be as dark and dreary as it is seen as being a lifeless place through the eyes of those that live there. Clinging to life the 'large bony vine clutched at the house' as though it were just holding on.  A layer of thick smog settles on everything present in the scene.  Nothing can escape the industrial pollution.  Nothing can exists.  Lawrence uses a lot of language techniques such as personification and similes to drill into the reader's mind a picture as dark as the Britain in his head.  An example of a simile from the text is when Lawrence describes the pit-bank.  He says it 'loomed up beyond the pond, flames like red sores licking its ashy sides'.  This description makes the reader associate the landscape with unpleasant images usually associated with hell.  Through Lawrence's creative use of language and words he is able to position the reader so they see 1911 Britain as a dark, evil and bland place. 

The people in the story are suppressed by the blanket of smog that rules their lives.  Many of them exists without personality.  They are mealy just objects.  They are not people.  At the beginning of the extract we are introduced to a women who is startled by the loud locomotive engine as it clunks past her.  The woman is symbolic as she represents the British people who have had to take second place to industrial machines.  Next we meet the miners.  A majority of Britain's working class.  They follow each other in a collective mass of suffering.  'Like shadows diverging home' they march through life.  Without freedom.  Without heart.  Without life.  A woman waits outside her house.  Her white apron runs a contrast to her surroundings and we find that she is the only beautiful creature left in the godforsaken land in which she lives.  'Imperious mien, handsome, with definite black eyebrows' she stands with an expression of 'disillusionment'.  Her son nearby is the perfect example of poverty.  He is dressed in hard material that has been cut down from a man's clothes.  He is a future miner and you can tell this by his actions.  Aged around five he acts like a stubborn teenager.  Weighed down by his environment he is far from the optimistic child he should be. 

This extract communicates what a sad time 1911 was for Britain's lower class.  As the industrial era loomed so did the destruction of the environment.  The lower class were forced to live in conditions that shouldn't have to be endured by anyone.  They took the back seat to Britain's exports.  This story is a perfect example of a Marxist text this is because it shows what living in the lower class was like.  Many people were trapped in the vicious cycle of poverty.  Their jobs and fate weighing them down.  The woman is a symbol of thousands of women who were stuck in lives where their children were raised in poor environments and were married to lifeless men who sucked the end of a beer bottle until they could see no more.  

Overall the extract was a perfect depiction of life in 1911 and adds many depths to the way we as future readers see the industrial revolution.  Through clever writing techniques Laurence was able to paint the perfect picture of lower class life