How The Shoe Horn Sonata B

Introduction

The distinctive experiences of women captured by the Japanese in World War II and the plight of the homeless in cities such as New York and Sydney are portrayed in distinctively visual ways in John Misto's play The Shoe-Horn Sonata and Van Genderen's short film, Mankind is no Island. Distinctively visual images are emphasized through a variety of techniques such as camera shots, language techniques, lighting, imagery, visuals, and music. These are all used to create the distinctive experiences of survival, hope, injustice, and friendship expressed throughout The Shoe-Horn Sonata and Mankind is no Island.

Injustice and Pain in The Shoe-Horn Sonata

John Misto uses the injustice committed against vulnerable groups as a reminder of their inflicted pain and suffering. Injustice in The Shoe-Horn Sonata is projected through the image of Australian and British female prisoners in rags from camp-styled beds (Act 1, Scene 1), emphasizing the filthy environment during their imprisonment. This is portrayed through the dim lighting on the empty set, creating a foreboding atmosphere and drawing attention to Bridie as she enters the set. The deafening sound of machine-gun fire and the cries of women on the diegetic soundtrack create a vivid image of the Japanese officers taking part in this injustice against innocent women. It portrays how human life is seen as worthless and expendable.

There is also the injustice of the British Empire against the women, supported through colloquial language, "British were a bit thick," which criticizes the British resistance in evacuating the women. However, this injustice isn't only seen by the British Empire but also in how the Australian government neglected the Australian nurses. This can be seen through the dialogue, "Japanese destroyers had been sighted in the area," which shows the carelessness of the empire that put innocent women in jeopardy and how the government actually caused the women to be captured. Misto also uses the superstitious event, "it was the thirteenth of Friday. Friday the thirteenth," to show the danger the women were in. Injustice can be seen not only through the actions of the Japanese but also by the British Empire and the Australian government, allowing the audience to understand that they are equally hostile and showing that no one is safe.

Survival and Hope in Mankind is no Island

Mankind is no Island by Van Genderen portrays the injustice of society towards the homeless in Sydney and New York, but also shows survival and hope. The fact that the film was constructed solely through a camera phone creates a dialogue about society's attitude towards the homeless population of Sydney and New York. High-level shots along with eye-level shots of the homeless people show how they are ignored and neglected by society. The music complements the visual actions and dialogue, showing multiple interpretations of society, hope, injustice, and ignorance. The soft melody transitions into a fast melody, "mothers, boy, father," engaging the audience and inciting empathy by relating to the family they once may have had.

The use of low-angled shots of the statue of Jesus symbolizes hope and power because he is a great biblical figure; the heart-balloon symbolizes the love and hope in both cities, emphasizing that hope is not lost. However, the deflation of the balloon rolling along the street in the end symbolizes the fragility of hope and emphasizes a sense of worthlessness. Van Genderen uses the montage of homeless people sleeping on the streets to force the audience into feeling compassion and question society's perception of homeless people. The close-up shot of a weary, tired-looking face of a homeless man with saddened eyes portrays the pain and suffering the man is forced to endure. This makes the audience gain a better understanding of the difficulties of surviving every day without support.

Van Genderen further emphasizes the difficulty of survival through the repetition of the phrase "No Standing," symbolizing that the homeless have nothing and highlighting society's obliviousness towards them. Mankind is no Island shows how society is ignorant and neglectful, but individuals can bring hope by helping if they are willing to.

Friendship and Loyalty in The Shoe-Horn Sonata

Relationships can be strengthened through these tough experiences, which Bridie and Sheila had to endure while being prisoners of war. The departure of Sheila after the war and Bridie's loss of connection with her results in Bridie experiencing abandonment and betrayal, expressed in a tone of disbelief, "I couldn't believe you would leave me." Friendship is conveyed through stage directions, "Sheila takes the shoe-horn out of the drawer and throws it on the bed," indicating Bridie's discovery about Sheila's self-sacrifice during their imprisonment by the Japanese. Through this, Bridie portrays her love for Sheila and their reconciliation, demonstrating the strength of their relationship and how their survival throughout the war was dependent on their friendship and loyalty.

"A beautiful, kind and brave young woman… she is - the other half of my life" is an image of their friendship along with the stage direction, "Squeezes Sheila's hand and tries to smile gently," demonstrating their loyalty and the strength of their friendship. While in the ocean, Bridie and Sheila begin to sing the hymn "Jerusalem," creating a biblical allusion of hope and strength. The comradeship of Bridie and Sheila is symbolized by the shoe-horn as Bridie uses it to keep Sheila awake and from drowning, using the shoe-horn as their will to live.

Conclusion

The visual images of hope, survival, injustice, and friendship are effectively conveyed through The Shoe-Horn Sonata and Mankind is no Island, inciting emotions within the reader that allow them to have a clearer understanding of the issues which the play and film represent.

References

Misto, J. (1996). The Shoe-Horn Sonata. Currency Press.

Van Genderen, J. (Director). (2008). Mankind is no Island [Short Film].