Affinity & Contrast

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Affinity & Contrast

description

Affinity & Contrast. Pretty much what it sounds like. affinity : visual elements look the same, similar, or analogous contrast : visual elements look different, etc. More vague explanations:. contrast = greater intensity, more drama, implied conflict - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Transcript of Affinity & Contrast

Page 1: Affinity & Contrast

Affinity & Contrast

Page 2: Affinity & Contrast

Pretty much what it sounds like.

•affinity: visual elements look the same, similar, or analogous

•contrast: visual elements look different, etc.

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More vague explanations:

•contrast = greater intensity, more drama, implied conflict

•affinity = lower intensity, less drama, implied harmony

Try to manipulate contrasts and affinities to communicate information to your audience.

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Contrived example:

One of creatures below is a ‘malooma’ and the other is a ‘taketa’. Which one is which?

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Real example:

Dune (Frank Herbert, 1965)

Plot revolves around conflict between House Atreides and House Harkonnen.

Based on no other information -- who are the good guys and who are the bad guys?

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Film clip: About a Boy - expository opening

sequence

• What do the contrasts between their environments say about their apparent circumstances?

• What affinities are there which might suggest deeper things that the characters have in common?

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• cool apartment, but sterile

• the character seems cool, but really has no close friends or relationships

•organic home, but pretty crummy

•the character is an all-natural dork and outcast

Contrasts and affinities between settings:

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•cool fish, nice to look at

•clean, ‘hands-off’

• invisible cage

•hamster on a wheel -- just like high school

•dirty, ‘hands-on’

•cage is obvious

Contrasts and affinities between pets:

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Film clip: Revenge of the Sith - climactic

lightsaber duels

• What do the contrasts between the duels say about them thematically?

• What do the contrasts/affinities between the duelists (and their environments) say about them psychologically?

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• environment is poorly lit, low contrast, hazy, dirty

• suggests moral ambiguity, psychological ambivalence

•environment is well lit, high contrast, sharp, clean

•suggests that the underlying conflict is clear cut, black and white

Contrast between settings:

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• pasty old man vs. little green muppet

• red and green lightsabers

• suggests that they’re polar opposites with no qualms about killing each other

• two handsome young men

•both have blue lightsabers

• tells you that it’s “brother against brother”

Contrasts and affinities between duelists:

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•brutal, occasionally hand-to-hand and dirty

•suggests inner turmoil -- messy feelings mirrored by messy fighting

• relatively clean, ‘hands-off’

•suggests lack of inner turmoil; the Emperor seems to be having a good time

Contrast between fighting styles:

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• takes place inside the senate chamber

• this duel determines the fate of the Republic

• takes place on the shores of hell

• this duel determines the fate of Anakin’s soul

Affinities between settings and themes:

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Summary:

• think about how your characters and situations are thematically similar, then express that with visual affinities

• think about how your characters and situations are thematically opposed, then express that with visual contrasts