shoe horn sonata essay
Shoe Horn Sonata Essay – Raquel Russo
Distinctively visual explores how we see and or visualize images in a way that allows us to become aware of various aspects in society. The play, The Shoe Horn Sonata written by John Misto and the film clip Stupid Girls by Pink, use distinctively visual elements to create a sense of awareness about women. Misto’s script pays tribute to the Australian female nurses in WWII, revealing the realities of war through the strength and resilience of Bridie and Sheila. Similarly, the characterization of the ‘stupid girls’ in Pink’s film clip, highlight the toxic messages of consumerism aimed at young girls. She ironically does this by exploiting her celebrity status through the media. Both composers position the responder to question the past and the media, and realize what woman have gone and are going through.
In The Shoe Horn Sonata, Misto reveals the ignorance portrayed by the British and Australian government towards the women held captive in old Singapore. The contrast between the projected images of the “1942 Singapore” and the accompaniment of the patriotic song ‘Rule Britannia’ emphaises the idiotic attitude of the British government, as their belief towards the Japanese invasion was seen as surreal. This is further highlighted when the British state “don’t listen to rumour”. As a result of the British’s attitude the vivid images of “burning ships” and “women prisoners of the Japanese…skin and bone and dressed in rags” position the audience to become aware of the selfish views by the British. Similarly to this, the Australian government’s advice to “keep smiling” ironically implies their ignorant view towards the women. This is contrasted with the projected images of “Prime Minister John Curtain…quite distressed” and “emaciated male prisoners of war, starving” showing his concern for the dying male POWs. This shows an existence of sexism in which Misto positions us to become aware of this issue, raised during wartime.
Distinctively visual explores how we see and or visualize images in a way that allows us to become aware of various aspects in society. The play, The Shoe Horn Sonata written by John Misto and the film clip Stupid Girls by Pink, use distinctively visual elements to create a sense of awareness about women. Misto’s script pays tribute to the Australian female nurses in WWII, revealing the realities of war through the strength and resilience of Bridie and Sheila. Similarly, the characterization of the ‘stupid girls’ in Pink’s film clip, highlight the toxic messages of consumerism aimed at young girls. She ironically does this by exploiting her celebrity status through the media. Both composers position the responder to question the past and the media, and realize what woman have gone and are going through.
In The Shoe Horn Sonata, Misto reveals the ignorance portrayed by the British and Australian government towards the women held captive in old Singapore. The contrast between the projected images of the “1942 Singapore” and the accompaniment of the patriotic song ‘Rule Britannia’ emphaises the idiotic attitude of the British government, as their belief towards the Japanese invasion was seen as surreal. This is further highlighted when the British state “don’t listen to rumour”. As a result of the British’s attitude the vivid images of “burning ships” and “women prisoners of the Japanese…skin and bone and dressed in rags” position the audience to become aware of the selfish views by the British. Similarly to this, the Australian government’s advice to “keep smiling” ironically implies their ignorant view towards the women. This is contrasted with the projected images of “Prime Minister John Curtain…quite distressed” and “emaciated male prisoners of war, starving” showing his concern for the dying male POWs. This shows an existence of sexism in which Misto positions us to become aware of this issue, raised during wartime.