In Much Ado About Nothing the change in perspective is shown through the use of film techniques. The garden sequence is an example of how these particular techniques are used to represent the change in perspective of the characters. Within this scene, Beatrice and Benedick are “Made” to fall in love with each other by the other characters. This idea of being “made” to fall in love is particularly ridiculous and from this comes the humour of the scene.
A contrast between Beatrice and Benedick is shown using a variety of techniques, which shows their rather humorous, dramatic and instantaneous change of perspective, one such technique is the use of camera. The camera angle alternates between the characters involved in almost “conversational” shots. This allows for an un-interrupted flow to the conversation between the characters. This use of camera also allows for the expression of the characters to be shown, and their reactions, which show their change in perspective.
Complementary to this camera work is the use of music embedded within the scene, the use of orchestral musical families such as the woodwinds and strings. This music creates not only a romantic atmosphere, but is comically timed with close up shots of the characters reactions, to help show this surreal idea of changing perspective.
The scene ends with a montage of images of Beatrice and Benedick from a crane shot of the garden setting. The music builds up from that of a flute and violin to that of an entire orchestral arrangement at the end to heighten the joy and happiness of the characters, which plays during the montage that contains comical images of Beatrice upon a garden swing, and Benedick dancing in the fountain.
Much Ado About Nothing takes the idea that a small event, can change your perspective in a huge way. This directly contrasts with Jennifer Saunders’ Absolutely Fabulous (Episode: Death), an early 1990s British comedy Television series, deals with change in a humorous fashion. Within this text the director takes the idea that a huge event, such as the death of a parent, can have no effect whatsoever on the protagonist Edina. The director deliberately looks at this change in perspective from a comical and ironic perspective to cause a reaction from the responder.
The episode begins with Edina and her friend Patsy dancing in what appears to be a nightclub. This is shown through the use of lighting within the scene, and the close up and blurred shots with the camera. The lights then turn on to reveal Edina’s daughter Saffron dressed in a nightgown and reveal the room as an upstairs bedroom. This shows the idea that the episode will be about seeing things from different perspectives.
Within the episode, Edina is told by her mother of her father’s death. Her reaction to this is juxtaposed with that of Saffron’s. Whilst Saffron is sad, and quite upset, Edina’s reaction is completely and utterly inappropriate for the context, and in-fact needs to be told by Saffron to “Stop smirking”. Edina is then driven into a melodramatic and clearly false emotive state when her mother comforts Saffron, this reaction is purely to get attention and is out of jealousy, which shows Edina’s self-centred perspective of life.
Another scene within the episode is that which takes place in the early hours of the morning. This is shown through the deliberately under lit scene and Edina dressed in a nightgown with messed hair. The tone is one of seriousness; the responder expects a change in perspective. Edina is then joined by Saffron and she speaks to her in a serious tone about death, the audience is led to believe that Edina has had a major change in perspective, until she beings to shout, “I don’t want to die, I’ve invested so much into this body and this lifestyle”. This once again shows Edina’s self-centred attitude toward her life, and the fact that this event has caused no change within her whatsoever.
Both these texts show that there is no one definitive ‘Truth’ on how a change in perspective alters people. It is based upon the ideas, beliefs and opinions of the composers. This is shown through the basic ideas of changing perspective within the texts. Both suggest that a change in perspective is possible, but that it takes a different point of view on the event to change your perspective.
This idea of challenging a universal truth is also shown in the Board Of Studies “Changing” booklet Texts 2a and 2b, as is the ideas of change. These texts suggest that for a change in perspective, there must first be a change in society.
