Summary:
A comparative analysis of the dustjacket of Ivory Trail, by Victor Kelleher; an extract from The Wind in the Willows, by Kenneth Graham; and the film "Contact," directed by Robert Zemeckis. All three of these works present contrasting features of the imaginative journey, but all three shape our ideas through effective use of cinematic, language, and visual devices.
Imaginative Journeys- Analytical Essay
The dust jacket of 'The Ivory Trail' by Victor Kelleher, 'Contact', a film directed by Robert Zimeck, and an extract from the 'Wind in the Willows' by Kenneth Graham, all present the idea of journey. The dust jacket of 'The Ivory Trail' uses a variety of visual techniques while 'Contact' utilises cinematic devices and 'The Wind in the Willows employs prose techniques, in order to convey the concept of imaginative journeys and thus, shape our own understanding of them.
The dust jacket of The Ivory Trail uses a wide range of visual techniques, in order to shape our ideas regarding imaginative journeys. In the foreground, our eyes are immediately drawn to the face of a youth. The expression on the face of the youth is one of contemplation, which connotes that the youth is on an imaginative journey of his own. A closer look at the face reveals pixilation, which is used to create a sandy effect. The vast and seemingly endless sand on the face of the youth makes reference to the sands of time and allows the reader to go on an imaginative journey to a searing hot desert in an exotic location, which in this case is Egypt
Moving onto the middle ground, we see a pyramid and sphinx. This immediately takes the reader on an imaginative journey to the exotic location of Egypt, in Africa. The pyramid and sphinx not only imply journey to interesting parts of the world, but also signify mystery and the unknown. The sphinx is one of the most mysterious man-made structures of the world and the reasons why they were built still remain unknown. The physical journey to the pyramids and sphinx of Egypt acts as a metaphor for journeying into the unknown, which is often a feature of imaginative journeys.
In the background of the cover, we see Middle Eastern Islamic structures, once again bringing up the idea of journey to exotic locations. The sun rising in the background connotes the beginning of a journey either physical, inner or imaginative. The placement of a man standing inside the Islamic structure next to the sun rising, suggests that he himself is beginning a journey.
The colours used on the book cover are red, yellow and orange. They all evoke images of warmth and eastern locations journeyed to by the imagination. The other colours used are black. In the bottom, right hand corner of the page is an unidentifiable black and purple space. The unusual combination of purple and black stripes creates a sense of the unknown into which the vectors of the youth's eyes are looking into, making reference to the youth's imaginative journey into the unknown.
The text on the visual itself has qualities of the imaginative journey. The words "The Ivory Trail" have significance to the journey. Ivory is a substance obtained from the tusk of the dangerous African elephant and thus, is very valuable due to the danger undergone in obtaining it. Reference is therefore being made not only to the dangers of the journey, but also to the exotic location of it. The word trail connotes a slim and dangerous path through difficult terrain, which few take and therefore also refers to the dangers of the journey. The teaser at the top of it of the cover says, "Not all journeys have an ending", reflecting the dangerous aspect of journey. The text begins in the bright sunlight of the center of the page but finishes in the black right side of the page. The significance of this is that it once again indicates imaginative journey into the dark unknown.
The 'Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Graham is an allegorical story and contrasts to the Ivory Trail, by presenting the excitement and thrill of the imaginative journey, rather than the danger, mystery and unknown of the journey. The anthropomorphism used contributes to the effective characterization of the characters and reflect their views on journeys. The wind in the willows by Kenneth Graham contrasts to the Ivory Trail by presenting the excitement and thrill of the imaginative journey rather than the danger, mystery and unknown of the journey. Anthropomorphism is used in the text, creating a mix of human and animal traits, allowing many interpretations of the imaginative journey.
The three characters in the extract are Toad, Rat and Mole, and all three of them depict the different attitudes toward journey. Rat represents those with a negative attitude toward journey and is seen by his words and actions e.g. "I don't care" and "Rat only snorted and thrust his hands deep into his pockets." In contrast, Toad symbolizes those with positive attitudes toward journey and is seen by his excitement, eagerness and the imaginative journey he has undergone in planning the journey. Mole is a follower and therefore has an undecided view on journey.
In the first paragraph we are introduced to the "canary-yellow" gipsy caravan. The canary yellow colours symbolise the gaiety of the journey imagined by Toad. The fact that it is a gipsy caravan connotes the unpredictability and excitement of the journey, as imagined by Toad. In the second paragraph, we perceive the excitement of the journey through the intensity of Toad's voice. The cumulation of landscape images such as "Open road", "dusty highway" and "rolling down" convey the excitement of Toad's imaginative journey and his desire to make it a reality. The hyperbolic statements by Toad such as, "whole world before you" and "very finest cart...ever built" help achieve a similar effect.
In the fourth paragraph, a description of the caravan's interior is given. Cumulation of household object images such as, "Cooking-stove", "bookshelves" and "jugs and kettles", present the imagined excitement of the physical journey. The "bird-cage with a bird in it is ironic, however it shows the desire of Toad to "explore the world and it is this desire to experience the world, that triggers Toad's imaginative journey.
The excitement of the imaginative journey is again depicted in the fifth paragraph. This is achieved once again through cumulation of food, drink and games images- e.g. "biscuits", "potted lobster", "soda-water" and "cards and dominoes." At the end of the paragraph Toad says, "we make our start this afternoon." The statement displays the excitement and power of Toad's imaginative journey, which has made him so eager to begin the physical journey.
In the seventh paragraph, Toad ceases his attempts to share his imaginative journey with Rat and instead speaks about the bleakness of Rat's present existence, to convince him to come along on the physical journey. Words such as "dull fusty" and "hole in a bank" are used in order to achieve this. In the final line Toad says, "I'm going to make an animal out of you, my boy." The inversion of this colloquial saying adds persuasiveness to Toad's argument and thus shows the determination of Toad to make his imaginative journey a reality.
In the final stanza Rat says, "I don't car" and refuses to share Toad's enthusiasm. The connotations of this are that imaginative journeys are individual and have greatest significance, only to their creator. Toad ceases his attempts to share his imaginative journey with Rat and instead speaks about the bleakness of Rat's present existence, to convince him to come along on the physical journey. Words such as "dull fusty" and "hole in a bank" are used in order to achieve this. In the final line Toad says, "I'm going to make an animal out of you, my boy." The inversion of this colloquial saying adds persuasiveness to Toad's argument and thus shows the determination of Toad to make his imaginative journey a reality.
Toad is used in this extract of the 'Wind in the Willows' to show the excitement, enthusiasm and power of imaginative journeys, These ideas of imaginative journeys are implanted in the reader and hence, shape our understanding of imaginative journeys.
The film 'Contact', directed by Robert Zemeckis, is a science fiction film depicting many qualities of the imaginative journey. In is about an astronomer names Ellie Arroway (Jodie Foster) who has dedicated her life to discovering life in the universe. She accomplished this and overcomes many obstacles in becoming the Earth's representative to visit the distant star Vega. Once on the alien designed spacecraft, Ellie's imaginative journey begins. Through effective use of cinematic techniques, we the audience are taken away on the imaginative journey.
The opening scene of the film takes the audience on a journey across the universe; showing the vastness, beauty and wonder of the universe. The camera technique used captivates the audience, taking them slowly through the solar system galaxies and into the vast black space. The sound accompaniment, also aids by creating the effect of journeying through time. This is achieved by playing modern rock music and as the camera moves through the universe; the music is gradually transformed to gramophone and classical music. This is accompanied with historical headlines which increase in age as the audience is taken on the imaginative journey, further and further into the universe. The camera zooms out the universe to focus on the eyes of Ellie, in which the universe is reflected. The use of Ellie's eyes as a mirror implies that it is her imaginative journey that the audience has been taken on.
The imaginative journey of Ellie in the spacecraft (later on in the film) is conveyed by allowing the audience to view the journey through Ellie's perspective. This is achieved through movement and sound. The rapid scene changes and sharp movements of the camera accompanied with the quick tempo computer associated music, creates the journey in which the audience participate
Once the spacecraft lands, the camera cuts straight to Ellie floating in a crouched position outside. The scene outside the spacecraft is surreal. The surreal aspect is created by Ellie being able to touch the air around her and see it vibrate, and more effectively by challenging our assumptions of what other parts of the universe look like. The scenery on the star is a beautiful beach surrounded by palm trees and water. While there, she also meets her deceased father. These postmodern qualities create the imaginative qualities of the journey by challenging our assumptions
The 'Wind in the Willows, 'Ivory Trail' dust jacket and 'Contact' all present ideas about imaginative journeys and shape our understanding of them by captivating us, the audience and taking us along on the journey. While all three texts present contrasting features of the imaginative journey, all three texts shape our ideas through effective use of language devices- cinematic, language and visual.
This is the complete article, containing 1,758 words
(approx. 6 pages at 300 words per page).
