Media Analysis - "Cast Away". Using the six perspectives, this paper will analyze these visual cues used by the creators of this movie that evoke an emotional response of sympathy for the main character.

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Media Analysis

Cast Away

Assignment Details

Introduction

Cast Away is a “story of a workaholic who must learn to live without work, without clocks, and without people” (Soares, 2011) after being stranded on an island. The amazing thing is that the majority of this movie contains no dialogue and is filled with many visual cues to get the message across as the movie progresses. There are four major visual cues that move this story along and are consistent visuals throughout the movie: a watch containing Kelly’s picture, a Wilson brand volleyball, wings painted on a FedEx box and the crossroads shown in the first scene of the movie and the last. They each symbolize important aspects of this story.

While there are many visual cues throughout the film, these four very important visuals speak volumes to the meaning of the story being told. They move this story forward as Chuck Noland, played by Tom Hanks, experience most people’s worst nightmare, survives and meets a major crossroad in his life. These visual cues affect viewers emotionally and allow us to sympathize and relate to Chuck Noland and his ordeal. Using the six perspectives, this paper will analyze these visual cues used by the creators of this movie that evoke an emotional response of sympathy for the main character.

Personal Perspective

I really appreciate this movie and connected with it because of the use of imagery and visual cues to tell the story. The first time I saw it, I was amazed at how the small amount of dialogue moved the story along and yet remained an interesting and intriguing story with profound statements and meanings. One visual cue that really spoke to me was Chuck’s transformation from a slightly overweight man to a weathered-tattered, tanned and slender character with matted hair. Visually, the movie producers show viewers how four years changed an experienced professional into a fierce island survivor. He becomes experienced with learned survival techniques and this is visually shown with his hardened and rough appearance.

The end of the movie was most profound to me. I was at a crossroads in my own life so I connected with the ending immediately. It was shown literally at crossroads in a place where nothing was around other than those roads. Since I was at my own crossroads when I saw this movie, it allowed me to connect with the movie in a unique way. When Chuck Noland was standing in the exact middle of the crossroads while looking and considering each direction, I could see my own crossroads. His facial expression said it all. I could feel the weight and importance of which route I would choose to venture just as Chuck Noland did. The final scene successfully depicts a happy ending even though he would not end up with Kelly. His final glare down the eastward road indicates that this is the road he will journey down. It is such a powerful depiction of making a life-changing decision and starting a new life.

Historical Perspective

Cast Away was released in the year 2000 so it was probably filmed in the late 90s. One of the key indicators of the time it was filmed was the use of pagers in the beginning of the film. Pagers were beginning to phase out in the mid to late 90s but a predominant factor in this movie. Chuck Noland was driven by time and his career which translated with his use of his pager. It was the pager that actually led him to the plane that crashed into the ocean which brought him to the island. He actually gave Kelly, his fiancée, a pager for Christmas right before he got on the plane so they could stay connected. The pager indicates their connection but it was the water and the fateful crash where they lost that connection. After he awoke from his journey to the island in the safety raft, he discovers the water logged pager in his pocket. The camera zoomed in on the visual cue of him emptying the pager of the ocean water– you can see that the connection was lost as the water drains. He is alone with no connection to the world he knew before he got on the plane.
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Other indicators were the visual cues such as old CRT monitors and computers. Those big boxy monitors weighing tons are unimaginable today. The technology for monitors and computers has advanced to sleeker, more streamlined flat screens since the 90s. Seeing that type of dated computer and monitor along with the beige coloring is a sure indicator of the technology during that time.

Their wardrobe, specifically the style of the sweaters that they wore early on in the movie also indicates a certain style during that time. In the 90s, most men sported colorful waffle-weave styled sweaters. ...

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