10 Themes

Canon's "Project Imagination"

A Ron Howard Production

Using the story themes/elements we reviewed from the "Project Imagination", please identify the 9 elements used in the film. Include screen shots from the film as evidence. Describe how the film incorporates each element/ theme. 

Character

Canon defines character as a person, and that persons traits, virtues, etc: Anyone or anything. This picture expresses character because of its interesting composition and unique image of a moment of time. The crisp focus makes the viewer focused deeply on the kid. The boy himself, is interestingly wearing a suit and has a determined look in his step and forehead, this gives him a back story and thus a character, increasing the viewers interest and understanding. He also seems a bit sad from how his mouth and eyes look. The angle of the photo also adds character and story: the high angle suggests that it was taken by an adult, probably a parent. The grainy image adds to the grit of the cityscape, adding the realism and the viewers perception of reality, giving the character realistic depth. The grain/scratches and blue grade also add to the backstory: the use of photographic film actually creates both a sense of history and nostalgia for the viewer; The viewer can determine that this character existed in a long past time, and that we connect feeling from that time (the feeling of youth for example) with the photo. The visual vector also adds to the feeling of determination, as it hints that he might have walked down the far sidewalk from what artists call the "vanishing point"."

Relationship

Canon defines Relationship as A bond of knowing between anyone or anything. I had a special interest in this photo because I felt most people in the contest would submit simple relationships between people, which I found cliche. This photo depicts an old woman grasping a doll, and i chose it because of its nice composition. The constant of the soft skin of the doll and the wrinkled skin of the old woman accentuate the woman's age. Thus, we imply that she has had the doll since she was a child The ring on her finger suggests that we was quite well off, that she has been married, another example of relationship. The dolls face is dirtied, and we can assume that it has been used by the woman for a very long time.The tightness of the grasp by the woman also suggests that the woman really doesn't want the doll to fall, that sher really cares for it. We know that it is hers because if it were someone else, you would daintily grasp it to not damage it.

Setting 

Canon defines as a location or environment. This photograph showcases "Setting" because it not only encompasses location, but literal environment. This photo has a nice composition and it is one I can personally vouch for. In other words, its my picture, that i uploaded to the Canon Imagin8tion Project! Anyway, I like this setting because it sets us only in the rural landscape but also sets us in a time further back. The old rustic farm-looking house adds to the rural feel and the blurred out of focus background adds to the viewer's, well, focus on the house.

Goal

Canon defines goal as "something achievable" This photograph portrays a group of people making there way across a large span of water towards the Statue of Liberty. The flag that they fly is that of a revolution era flag. We can imply that these people are anti-large-government and that this might be a protest. It uses the rule of thirds and color to make us focus on the stark red flag and distant green Stature in the background, as well as the boat and its occupants. This photo maybe a modern representational of immigrants moving to the us during the interwar boom. The physical distance is very large between the people and the statue, however the long lens compresses that space to make it seem acheivable. Also, the contrast between the small row boat of a few people and the large sailboats exagerates how small the row boat is. Also, the wind powered sailboats contrast the human power and effort that it takes to operate a rowboat, thus symbolizing the hardship that change instills upon people. They are also moving away from the statue, which might represent government, and the industrial yards in the far background.

Back Story

The story behind a certain character or place, that makes us better understand something by contextual pre-history. In this photo we see a man who appears down on his luck: frowning, sitting in the bathtub waiting for something inevitable. The small duck in the tub is a police duck, which could be a visual metaphor for the man's woe's: he might be on the run from the law. He stares down at the duck, knowing what we can only assume. From his large belly, we can assume he might be someone who sits in a desk most of the day, maybe a banker; the glasses also add to the idea. From that we can hypothesize that he might be being chased for fraud or something similar. The fact that he is sitting in the bathtub with his suit on could mean that he knows that the suit doesn't matter anymore, or he has more important things to care about.

The Unknown

Canon defines the unknown as anything unexpected or a twist in the story.  In this photo, we see an man walking into the sunset, or in art terms "the vanishing point". His dress indicates that we is beyond caring for his fashion, and his slight slouch (as well as white hair) indicates that he is and elderly man. The man is walking towards a light, probably the sun, an unknown destination. We can assume that this is heaven or afterlife. The light rays provide a visual vector that, along with the selective focus, brings the viewers attention onto the man and the sun.

Mood

Canon defines mood as something that conveys tone atmosphere of emotion. In this image, we can see a girl in a decaying room. The tone of atmosphere in this image is that of decay and forget, forsaken. The crumpled wallpaper and the molded, rusted sink further imply this point.  The girl is in a goth like position; she is not in a pleasurable emotional state. She is slouched, another indicator that she is not in a positive state. The detail in this image is superb, its the entire collection of the little details that really make this image unique. The tall framing and wide lens ad to the depth of the image, and we feel more lonely as a viewer. The lighitng creates the dark contrasts that is associated with negative feeling.

Obstacle

Canon defines obstacle as "anyone or anything standing in the way of the character." On the surface, we can determine that the chair is used by someone to go down the stairs. The leather antiqueness of the chair and the many old photographs on the back wall suggests that it is an elderly person (or a hipster). Selective focus is used to focus the viewer, and thus of the chair's importance. The obstacle is not the chair itself, rather, it is the implied disability that is the cause for the need of the chair, and the stairs they must descend and ascend. The wide angle lens used creates depth, thus increasing the perceived distance between the viewer's standpoint and the distant door. This distance increases the implied difficulty of passage and thus the increasing need for the chair.

Time 

Canon defines time as something that represtent a time of day or story. This photo represents "time" because of its composition. The first metaphor for time is the butterfly. It has passed its time, not killed or smashed, but died when its time was up. The rule of thirds comes into play due to the small water droplet on its wing, which, along with the Instagram selective focus. helps us focus on what is important. The leaves are also a visual metaphor for the theme of time, as time is what kills and drops them. The the range of color in the photo is mainly earthy tones, and lighting is also that from the sun. This "natural" feel is akin to time itself, that all things in nature come to and end. The photo is taken from a higher angle to show that the butterfly is weak and is dead or dying.