How The Shoe Horn Sonata B

"Discuss how distinctively visual features in John Misto's 'The Shoe-horn Sonata' and ONE other related text to your own choosing, convey distinctive experiences"

The distinctive experiences of women captured by the Japanese in WW2 and the plight of the homeless in cities such as New York and Sydney are portrayed in distinctively visual way in John Misto's play ‘The Shoe-horn Sonata' and Van Genderen's short film, ‘Mankind is no Island'. The distinctively visual images are emphasised though a variety of different 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 'Shoe-horn Sonata' and 'Mankind is no Island'.

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 the image of Australian and British female prisoners in rags from camp styled beds (Act 1 Scene 1), to emphasise the filthy environment during their inprisonment. This Is portrayed through the dim lighting on the empty set, which creates a foreboding atmosphere and draws attention to Bridie as she enters the set. The deafening sound of the machine gun fire and cries of women on the diegetic sound track creates a sad visual 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, it is backup through colloquial language, "British were a bit thick" this is critisising the British resistance in evacuating the women. However this injustice isn't only seen by the British Empire but also how the Australian government neglected the Australian nurses. This can be seen through the dialogue, "Japanese destroyers had been sighted in the area" this shows the carelessness of the empire which put innocent women in jeopardy, and how the government actually caused the women to be captured. Mistos also uses the supersticious event "it was the thirteenth of Friday. Friday the thirteenth" to show the danger the women were in. Injustice can be seen not only the Japanese but by the British Empire and the Australian government, this allows the audience to understand that they are equally hostile and shows that no one is safe.

'Mankind is no island' by Van Genderen portrays the injustice of the society to 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 the eye level shots of the homeless people shows how they are ignored and neglected by society. The music also complements the visual actions and dialogue, it shows the multiple interpretations of society, hope, injustice and ignorance. The soft melody, transitions into the fast melody, "mothers, boy, father' engages the audience and incites empathy, by relating to the family they once may have had. The use of the low angled shots of the statue of Jesus symbolises hope and power because he is a great biblical figure, the heart-balloon symbolises the love and hope in both cities and emphasises that hope is not lost. However the deflation of the balloon rolling along the street in the end symbolises the fragility of hope and emphasises 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 everyday without support. Van Genderen further emphasises the difficulty of survival through the repetition of the phase 'No Standing', it symbolises that the homeless have nothing and the obliviousness that society has 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.

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 looses connection with her, results in Bridie experiencing abandonment and betrayal 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 in on the bed' this indicates Bridie's discovery about Sheila's self sacrafice during their imprisonment by the Japanese. Through this Bridie portrays her love for Sheila and their reconciliation, it demonstrates the strength of their relationship, and how their survival throughout the war was dependant on their friendship and loyalty. "A beautiful, kind and brave young women… 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' demonstrates their loyalty and strength of their friendship. While in the ocean Bridie and Sheila begin to sing the hymn 'Jerusalem', this creates a biblical allusion of hope and strength. The comradeship of Bride and Sheila is symbolised by the shoe-horn as Bridie uses it to keep Sheila awake and from drowning, she uses the shoe-horn as their will to live.

The visual images of hope, survival, injustice and friendship are effectively conveyed through ‘The Shoe-horn Sonata’ and ‘Mankind is no Island’ and incites emotions upon the reader which allows them to have a clearer understanding of the issues which the play and film represents.