The comparison of similar themes within varying mediums of text, in addition to each composer’s diverse individual perspectives on these issues, reveal the universality and importance of these ideas. Through the exploration of the themes of the importance of supportive relationships and the contrasting impacts that the suppression of free will can hold in differing mediums of text, Malorie Blackman’s ‘Noughts & Crosses’ and Boaz Yakin’s ‘Remember the Titans’ are able to effectively explore the distinct impacts that each of these themes can hold in contrasting contexts. Despite their differing mediums, both texts utilize respective literary and visual techniques to convey their powerful messages, thus highlighting the significance of their ideas.
‘Noughts & Crosses’ delves into the importance of supportive relationships for the people involved. Blackman’s novel explores how the relationship between two teenagers is crucial in allowing them to find meaning within life, and maintain their integrity as individuals. The utilization of polysyndeton and the repetition of ‘enough’ and ‘never’ in “If we could just love long enough and hard enough and deep enough, then the world outside would never, could never hurt us” exposes the powerful nature of their relationship, which acts as a vessel to propel them through the ups-and-downs of life, together, while protecting them against a surrounding society divided by racial prejudice. As their relationship begins to disintegrate, however, following Sephy’s move to boarding school, the true detrimental impact of the loss of their relationship is exposed. The utilization of hyperbole and low modality in “If I’d managed to reach her car before it sped away from me, I might’ve been very much alive, instead of ice-cold inside” conveys Callum’s uncertain/conflicted state-of-mind, in addition to his inability to find meaning in life without Sephy. The juxtaposition of being ‘alive’ and ‘ice-cold inside’ exposes the impact of the lack of a supportive relationship on Callum, and the hyperbole of ‘being ice-cold inside’ conveys his severe personality-shift as he becomes deprived of the ability to feel for anyone else due to his career as a LM agent. Overall, throughout the course of her novel Blackman explores the importance of supportive relationships on the lives of individuals with difficult external circumstances.
Save your time!
We can take care of your essay
- Proper editing and formatting
- Free revision, title page, and bibliography
- Flexible prices and money-back guarantee
In contrast, Boaz Yakin’s film ‘Remember the Titans’ delves into a contrasting impact of supportive relationships. Despite the Titans’ racial differences, their ability to move past what was considered socially-acceptable and create lifelong bonds with one another is a uniting factor that brings the community together, and reveals the importance of supportive relationships. Yakin’s utilization of a wide-angle panning shot across the crowd of ferocious and violent protests on the first day of school stresses society’s firm opposition against any form of interracial connection, the overcast lighting and aggressive body language reflective of the racial segregation existing within 1970s American culture. However, despite early hostility towards the Titans’ interracial friendship, due to the Titans’ successes, the community moves to realize that the integration of races is possible. The contrasting scenes of the close-up shot of Emma rejecting Julius’ handshake and another close-up later in the film of Emma reaching out to shake Julius’ hand, is symbolic of progress and a breaking of barriers between the two – a stark comparison to the previous tension between them. The contrast of the somber and bright non-diegetic music in the two scenes is reflective of change not only in Emma’s beliefs, but further of shifts within wider society. Overall, it is evident that the Titans’ acceptance of one another results in an impact that has united a community, conveying the importance of supportive relationships.
In summary, both Malorie Blackman in her ‘Noughts & Crosses’ and Boaz Yakin in his ‘Remember the Titans’ used appropriate literary and visual techniques to convey the importance of supportive relationships in people's lives.
Stuck on your essay?
