Strictly Ballroom Essay

Strictly Ballroom Essay

English Belonging Essay

Belonging is as much about choice as it is about circumstances that an individual cannot control. To what extent is this view of belonging communication in your prescribed text and one of your choosing?
Belonging is as much about choice as it is about circumstances that an individual cannot control. The film ‘Strictly Ballroom’ directed by Baz Lurhman, explores the different choices and circumstances that individuals are faced with when trying to belong. Lurhman uses a number of linguistic and costuming techniques to portray the struggles faced by his characters trying to belong in an oppressive society. Just as the film ‘Strictly Ballroom’ highlights the struggles of choice and circumstance that an individual cannot control, the novel ‘A clockwork Orange’ written by Anthony Burgess, explores the experiences of the main character and narrator Alex, living in a dystopian society. He is referred to as ‘a victim of society’ and once involuntarily stripped of his freedom of choice, he begins to realise life is not worth living at all.
‘Strictly ballroom’ is a comedic ‘mocumentary’ set in the highly competitive world of ballroom dancing where the plot follows an attractive male lead dancer Scott Hastings and highlights the idea that belonging is a much about choice as it is circumstance. He finds love with an ‘ugly-duckling’ female partner who dances from the heart and performs in a manner not “Strictly Ballroom”. In the film the protagonist Scott is a champion ballroom dancer and struggles to find a sense of belonging amongst the glitz and glamour of the dance Federation. In the initial scene the opening red velvet curtain is representative of the theatricality of the experience and it also aims to introduce the element of fantasy and pantomimic aesthetic. The first image we are presented with is the silhouette of the dancers, the use of light in this shot disguises any recognisable features of the dancers and thus removes their...

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