As you may have noticed, I did not have a graphical representation of the patterns although I did discuss it in my last blog entry. I tried that yesterday but it is a really hard nut to crack.
So, I tried to do it again this morning. Sadly, I did not manage to do so but gladly, I have discovered a few new points in the process of trying to create my graphical representation that I would like to share.
Images:
- The first two images index friendship or the lack of while the third image(Tanya) index true friend. This part, together with the voice over serves as the Abstract(Labov).
- The graphic that contains skeleton index death but together with the words No Fear superimposed on the graphics, this transforms the meaning to what the voice over says "facing death give her more strength to live." This part, together with the voice over serves as the Orientation(Labov).
-image of two garden chairs index lack of friendship
- multiple images of Tanya's work which changes the pace of the stroytelling via images collectively indexes the determination, strength and Tanya's cause.
I believe he CODA is the drawing at the end, which unfortunately, I do not understand....
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My analysis of: Tanya by Monte Hallis
ReplyDeleteI must agree with you first and foremost that the background music was quite distracting for me as well. I had to listen really hard to follow the story. As you’ve mentioned the narration is really important to be able to follow the story line.
I think this story is way beyond me as it is quite abstract and I couldn’t make meanings of several images in it. The first image of the swing, for several people and yet it is totally empty, I agree with you that is an index of the lack of friendship and it functions as an abstract according to Labov’s narrative model. But I didn’t get the purpose of the image surrounded by many smaller images which followed it. My guess is it could represent being surrounded by people who are alike signifying being popular, to align to the narration, yet they are not your close friends as they are surrounding the main picture but from far away.
The photograph of Tanya which came up next, followed by an image divided into 3 different pictures and the image of Tanya’s 2 girls. I think this part already serve as the Orientation of the story as the reader/viewer are told who is involved in the story and the situation of the story. I interpreted the image which was divided into 3 parts as – virus + transparent human body with blood circulating the veins + skeleton – as indexing what is happening or going to happen to Tanya. Her body being infected by the virus would soon lead to death, which as you pointed out was superimposed with the words ‘NO FEAR’ to go with the narration of ‘facing death give her more strength to live’ as very meaningful in communicating the message to readers/viewers that although she is going to die, she is not afraid.
The image of the 2 empty garden chairs covered by cloth and littered with dried leaves to me index loneliness or lack of friendship for a long period of time. But I don’t understand why it was placed there in the story.
The other image which had me puzzled was the image of target boards used for shooting that came together with the narration: She could only accomplish one thing. Is it because when you shoot you can shoot only at one thing and that one thing is her ‘target’ in life? I’m not so sure if this was the message but I looked at it that way.
The montage of images with the narration: I couldn’t let her dreams die with her. I couldn’t make out what the images were. So this part I couldn’t make any meaning of it.
As for the coda, I agree with you that the last image of an abstract painting is the ending. I’m not sure how to interpret that either. The ovalish thing over the face could be like a halo or a garland of flowers. Perhaps to tell us that the main character of the story has died and gone to heaven?
Like I said earlier this story is perhaps too abstract for me to fully understand. I also realize that some stories are harder for me to analyse and even follow - if I don’t have the background or contextual knowledge. I skipped a number of stories related to American history, civil war, etc. I don’t know much about those and I don’t like history in general
Hi! Just thought I'd add what I think about the last drawing in the picture. I believe it is a reference to the main character as Ras mentioned. If you noticed, the character is of a dark skin and has a halo to indicate an angel. If you try to listen to the music, I think there is a phrase "like an angel". So I think it refers to Tanya who has gone to heaven as an angel.
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