Show how the portrayal of conflict between the Montagues and Capulets in Baz Luhrmann's 'Romeo and Juliet' is highlighted by the use of media techniques.
Choose a film or TV drama which involves conflict between two groups of people.
Show how the portrayal of the conflict is highlighted by the use of media techniques.
William's Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, directed by Baz Luhrmann, is a film in which media techniques are used to portray the conflict between two rival families: the Capulets and the Montagues. Mise-en-scene, camera movements and shots, editing and sound are all employed by the director to show the bitter conflict between these rival families.
The opening scene from this film is The Prologue, which sets the scene and uses mise-en-scene, camera movements and shots to introduce the theme of conflict. The mise-en-scene of a long shot of Verona Beach introduces the rival families by showing two large business towers bearing the names 'Montague' and 'Capulet'. These towers are elevated above a religious statue and show that - for these families at least - power, wealth and status are more important than religion. Furthermore, inserts are also frequently used to draw the audiences' attention to phrases such as "Ancient Grudge" which reinforces the theme of conflict and tells the viewer that this conflict is generations old. In addition, the camera pans across a series of magazines with images of guns and war which further serves to highlight the theme of conflict to the audience.
The Gas Station scene follows The Prologue and uses mise-en-scene to effectively portray conflict between the Montagues and Capulets by highlighting the differences between the two families. A mid-angle shot from behind introduces the Montagues: they are listening to loud, upbeat hip-hop music, which immediately suggests they like having fun. Their car is a bright yellow open top, which shows they are relaxed, cheerful people as the colour yellow implies. They wear unbuttoned Hawaiian shirts of bright, saturated colours and lots of loosely hanging jewellery: all of this tells the viewer they are casual and laid-back. However, this ...
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The Gas Station scene follows The Prologue and uses mise-en-scene to effectively portray conflict between the Montagues and Capulets by highlighting the differences between the two families. A mid-angle shot from behind introduces the Montagues: they are listening to loud, upbeat hip-hop music, which immediately suggests they like having fun. Their car is a bright yellow open top, which shows they are relaxed, cheerful people as the colour yellow implies. They wear unbuttoned Hawaiian shirts of bright, saturated colours and lots of loosely hanging jewellery: all of this tells the viewer they are casual and laid-back. However, this is in stark contrast to the Capulets who arrive in a dark blue car with tinted windows, bearing the word 'executioner' on the front. The cold colour blue, coupled with the tinted windows (which enclose the car and make it seems unwelcoming and faceless - in direct contrast to the Montagues open top) make the Capulets appear dangerous and uninviting. The word 'executioner' suggests they desire war, an idea that is furthered by the fact they dress in black and red colours. Their hair and persons are well groomed, showing that their appearance means a lot to them. The mise-en-scene of these shots displays the two families in direct contrast. While the viewer is not told of any specific reason for the conflict, it soon becomes apparent that they are very different and this helps to explain their extreme hatred of each other.
Camera shots, angles, movements and editing also help to give an effective portrayal of the conflict in this scene. A low angle shot of Abra Capulet helps to make him appear confident, arrogant and powerful whilst mid-angle shots of the Montagues show them grouped together, which highlights their fear of the Capulets and of war. Additionally, extreme close up shots of Tybalt and Benvolio's guns show the family crests there as well. This shows that although the families are opposites of each other in many ways, they are both equally proud of their family's status and power and display the crest and name to show this. Thus, this pride of family status and power implicitly explains to the viewer the reason for the conflict. Both families are very different to each other yet have one thing in common: they hold status and power as being important and each family wants to be the most powerful. In addition, close up and extreme close up shots of Tybalt and Benvolio's faces show the tension between the two sides. These close ups reveal a sneer of hatred on Tybalt's face which is in contrast to Benvolio's, sweating with fear and dread, unable to look directly into the camera. The Montagues' actions are impulsive, uncertain and reveal panic: they aim their guns unsteadily, wildly and miss their targets. The Capulets stride purposefully about, swivelling their guns skilfully, with Tybalt even smoking a cigarette as he fights. The conflict in this scene alludes heavily to 1950s spaghetti western films, using similar music to suggest this. Similarly, Tybalt sports cowboy-style boots and the Capulets handle their guns stylishly, suggesting that they see death and battle as an art.
In conclusion, the reasons for the conflict between the Montagues and the Capulets are never fully explained in the film. However, the fact that the two families are very different to each other suggests that they will not see eye to eye. Furthermore, the one thing that they do have in common is that they are proud of power and status, which suggests that they are perhaps fighting for power, or notoriety. Inserts are used in The Prologue to introduce the theme of conflict; low angle shots are used in The Gas Station scene to show the Capulets as seeming powerful and in control whilst the Montagues are shown as frightened. Also, close ups help to show tension between the two groups of people, heightening the sense of conflict before it happens. Thus, media techniques are used to effectively highlight the conflict between the two families.
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