Belonging refers to a cherished sense of being part of a communiny or fitting in well with the surroundings. Individuals belong to a vast range of groups such as schools and sporting teams. In contrast, the idea of not belonging refers to when a person or object does not assimilate, is rejected or seems out of place. They may feel isolated and unnoticed. A sense of belonging is vital for people to develop a sense of their own identity in an increasingly diverse world. Not belongiong can create lonely feelings of isolation or alienation which result in a loss of identity and self esteam.
Director Baz Luhrmann’s film, Strictly Ballroom (1993) and the 1939 poem “Refugee Blues” by W.H Auden both convey distinct concepts concerning the subject of belonging and not belonging. Both texts emphasise the positive power of a sense of belonging has for an individual and the negative effects created by a sense of isolation or alienation.
Strictly Ballroom is a postmodern pastiche, a hybridised genre of fairy tail romance which focuses its attention on the gaudy, fantastical world of ballroom dancing and the fixated characters that live within it. Luhrmann employs a range of cinematic techniques to create scenes depicting realism for family and developing interpersonal relationships and hyperrealism for the artificial world of the Australian Dance Federation. The film relies upon binary opposites of opposing ideas and contrasting characters to represent the extremes of belonging and not belonging.
The Term Paper on English Notes Belonging – Strictly Ballroom
... from exploring his individuality because the traditional world of ballroom dancing gives them a sense of belonging and they don’t want this to change. ... Scott doesn’t care about winning. Scott’s decision creates a real stir in the world of ballroom dancing. The chant of ‘new steps’ and ... power supply and the music stops. However, Doug begins to create the beat by clapping and soon the whole crowd joins ...
When Scott is dancing in the Southern Districts Waratah opening scene where the red curtains are drawn and the dancers begin their monotonous, yet colourful routines. The use of the red curtains signals that the viewer is entering a theatrical world and the need for a suspension of disbelief. The red curtains symbolise that the film’s main purpose is to entertain. The illustriousness of the dance world is further emphasised through the exaggeration and self-depiction of Shirley in the mockumentary at the beginning of the film.
Shirley is vicariously trying to live her life through Scott and, to some extent; her sense of identity depends on her son belonging to the world of the Dance Federation. Close-up camera and low angle shots are used to show the authority and cruelty of Barry Fife within the world of ballroom dancing. The close-ups show the raw expressions on his face. His face is crimson red representing his fiendish ways.
Barry only cares about money, the corrupt dance academy and keeping its monotonous dance moves ‘strictly ballroom.’ High angle shots are used to show that Fran and Scott are inferior and defenceless in the face of the dance authority. Their sense of not belonging alienates them from the flamboyant dance society. Luhrmann uses techniques of dialogue and irony.
Liz: What do I want? I’ll tell you what I want! I want Ken Railings to walk in here right now, and say Pam Short’s broken both her legs, and I want dance with you!” Ken: Pam Short’s broken both her legs, and I want to dance with you. Kylie: That was unexpected.
The irony here creates a sense of humour and emphasises the façade of the world of dance in which they are ensnared and serves to remind the audience of the abnormality of such a world. Through the use of bright, flamboyant costuming and exaggerated make-up of all the “accepted” dancers, Luhrmann underlines the façade of the materialistic dance world, where appearances are more important than reality. Luhrmann uses costume and body language to stress who belongs and who does not belong in such a world.
The Essay on Character Study: Scott Hastings
... world only revolves around him. In Les Kendall’s dance studio, Scott is irritated by les and Shirley because they showed their disgust about Scott dancing ... the opportunity to reveal Scott. Rico confronts Scott about the kind of dancing Scott is doing with Fran and Scott lies to Rico ... through to the ending sequence when Scott portrays freedom and the sense to respect everyone, no matter what ...
Doug wears monotone clothing and integrates with the background, showing that he does not belong. Doug’s secret outlandish dance moves, stress his desire to belong to the world of ballroom dancing. Ironically, Doug has been alienated because of his dancing. Fran also does not belong. She wears baggy, washed out hermaphroditic clothing, hiding her figure. She wears unfashionable glasses and has acne, conveying our stereotypical view of an outsider. As the movie frames progress, and especially towards the end of the film, we come to realize that Fran has changed.
She wears bright red clothes that represent her passion and desire for dancing. Her skin is clear, her eyebrows plucked and her glasses have disappeared. This change symbolises her natural beauty and new sense of belonging which has burgeoned as her relationship with Scott has developed.
Luhrmann uses techniques of juxtaposition to emphasise the contrast between Fran’s world and that of the dance academy. Scott lives in a hypothetical world of dance where his every move is choreographed by the dance academy and his unrealistic mother. In contrast, Fran lives in a natural world free from the superficiality of the dance society.
Frangipani trees growing in Fran’s backyard emphasise the natural beauty of her world. Luhrmann depicts the importance of earthy, realistic and reciprocal connections through the use of cultural themes. Fran and her family have an ethnic Spanish background. Fran’s family lives their cultural Spanish tradition of musical celebrations, dance and passion. This emphasises the authenticity of Fran’s world in contrast to the hierarchical world of ballroom dancing. Ya ya’s insistence that Scott search within for his natural rhythms underscores the importance of individuality in building a sense of identity. T
his idea is exactly what the Dance Federation rejects. The image of the nearby train tracks also suggests that Fran’s family accept the importance of an ongoing sense of journey in life whereas Barry Fife’s world remains stagnant and as unhealthy as the character’s portrayal suggests.
The Essay on Understanding World and Ethnic Dance
Before I enrolled in "Appreciation of Dance" cultural studies class, I don't think I had any appreciation of dance whatsoever. I thought dance was just something that weird people did to have fun, for entertainment, and to make money. After being in this class so far I've come to respect many aspects and values of dance "especially world dance".It seems as though dance is life or life is dance, in ...
The related text “Refugee Blues” by W.H Auden vividly portrays the impact created by a sense of not belonging and rejection. “Refugee Blues” is a ballad and has a sense of musicality that is created by its rhythm, structure and the repetition of certain phrases. “Refugee Blues” is narrated by one of a pair of Jewish refugees who are bemoaning their fate to each other.
The repeated use of “my dear,” suggests the couple is intimately acquainted. The first two stanzas set the context for the poem. The refugees have fled to a city where “some are living in mansions, some are living in holes.” Auden uses this juxtaposition, to emphasise the isolation of the refugees who repeat “Yet there’s no place for us, my dear, yet there’s no place for us.” Auden uses similes to also emphasise the plight of the refugees, “saw the fish swimming as if they were free.”
This juxtaposition in that the fish are free “only ten feet away” highlights the fact that the refugees are living in fear on the run. There is also tragi-comic irony in the lines “If you’ve got no passport you’re officially dead”: But we are still alive, my dear, but we are still alive,” which serve to emphasise the complete loss of identity of the Jewish people with “Hitler over Europe.” Hyperboles, “dreamed I saw a building with a thousand floors, a thousand windows and a thousand doors, ” are used to represent the idea that all they are looking for is a place to stay and fit in, however, this is still not possible even in their dreams.
A second related text, “Creep” composed by rock band Radio Head, further conveys ideas on the topic of both belonging and not belonging. The composer of this song expresses ideas that he does not belong. This is emphasised through the use of metaphors and stereotyped images, “I am a creep”, “I am a weirdo.” The use of metaphors expresses the negative self-image of the persona which is a direct result of alienation from society. The persona then refers to another person who does belong.
The composer uses similes to express feelings of belonging to the audience, “you float like a feather in a beautiful world.” The positive images created here are in direct contrast to those of the persona who expresses his need to belong and develop his own sense of identity. This urgency to belong is ultimately expressed through repetition of the phrase, “you’re so special, I wish I was special.”
The Essay on To what extent are business start up ideas down to luck?
There are many ways in which a business opportunity and idea is spotted and created. Sometimes the creations of these are ideas are sometimes down to luck, at other times due to creativity and knowledge. Many ideas for a successful business come from people who have experience working in a particular market or industry. This creates many advantages for the success of this idea: it provides a ...
