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Bleak House builds up mystery in a number of ways, a key method is using blurred objects under or around the characters adding the effect depth of field thereby making the audience feel like they are spying into an event they shouldn't be.
The depth of field is further used throughout the sequence enabling the viewer to see who the action is centred around such as the conversation between the lady and the lawyer enabling the audience to see vivid detail of their expressions.
Tension is built up throughout the first minute or so by the ladies bluntness to cut to the chase, portraying nervousness as well as fear, which is also shown through shots with the reflecting of the characters on glass as thought there is another layer to the true goings on.
The tension is truly built up when the lady views the dropped letter. Firstly we have the extreme close up of the name "John" along with a non-diagetic screeching noise. This shocks the audience who due to only having quiet music and a little diagetic noise in the background, which all adds to the connation of fear.
Secondly we then have the ladies heartbeat quickly increasing in speed and her nervous questions asking about the writer of the letter yet the lawyer says he does not know. This then creates a sense of a critical happening due to all things mentioned and the increasing fidgety movement of the lady and her escalating heartbeat.
The audience is then shown a point of view shot from the ladies perspective looking at the letter which is displayed with an edited outline being blurred adding the overall affect of being dizzy and confused, with this added to the escalating overlayed heartbeat it all leads top the climax of the lady fainting dramatically onto the floor.
The tension slowly dissolves when the lady is taken out of the room however it quickly rebuilt via the lawyer actions. We first have a zoom in of the lawyer and then an extreme close up of the same name "John" and a sudden close up of the lawyer looking after her with a curious expression as thought he is privy to some information we're not.
To conclude Bleak House builds up tension and mystery through the lady and lawyers actions and reactions to each other.
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1 comment:
Firstly Matthew, I would appreciate you completing this piece.
I like your comments on the symbolism of the glass - you could also extend this to consider the use of the mirror.
Next time, when you are considering the depth of field, take time to mention that it is the composition that you are analysing. You can also add comments on how the rule of thirds is also used to highlight certain characters.
You also need to analyse the middle scene that splices through this action. How is the man in the attic room contrasted to the scene we are initially shown, and how is the mystery around his character built up?
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