Contextual Studies: Metaphor and Meaning

She's still, slow motion in the background. Well done flashbacks, aren't too generic.
film like
poe
tilted camera in lift
birds eye view shots
narrative

What is a metaphor?
Traditionally in literature its a figure of speech in which a word or phrase makes an implicit, implied or hidden comparison between two things that appear unrelated but share come common characteristics.

Shakespeare's "all the worlds a stage"
A creative means to simulate audience by getting them to think in new ways.


Allegory- An extended or complex metaphor, or connected series of metaphors.

Often used as a homage or to a related show or film, or writer/directors' inspirations.

Alien was a successful film. It wasn't util years after that film buffs started looking into it. They came up with the idea that there is an allegory for things like the fear of sexual reproduction and motherhood. Plays on thee metaphors to convey the subtext.















Analogy- A literal comparison without further meaning. (a metaphor uses an analogy with greater meaning). "Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you're gonna get".

While writers may use verbal or literary metaphors, most metaphors in film & TV will be visual. Metaphors generally need to be constructed of familiar visual symbols and references, and cannot be overly complex.
Like a verbal metaphor, they will break down if there are too many analogies to process at once. But there needs to be enough detail that the metaphors is recognisable and easily understood. 


Jessica Jones is based on he marvel Comic Book character. It is produced by a largely female cast team. Got some good critical reviews. 
Metaphors in Jessica Jones:
Works on a number of levels. Dominant narrative metaphors. 
Rape and PTSD
Child abuse 
Addiction: Drugs and alcohol.
Superpowers: Externalise characters interior trauma and struggle. 
Abuse as a metaphor character background to embellish the characters and give them greater depth than what they would perhaps otherwise have in the comics. Turns to alcohol as a coping mechanism. Metaphors often have to relate to different characters to see how they share characteristics. 

Surveillance metaphor
Jessica's surveillance Works is a metaphor for her need to control.

Superpowers Metaphor
Not just a physical manifestation of control, but metaphors for 'the other'. 
Mrs Eastman's attempt to kill Jessica is motivated by revenge and fear.
Marvel's X-men have been interpreted as metaphor/allegory for civil rights struggles and LGBT issues. 

The cockroach scenes that bookend episode 2 are examples of visual metaphor. They have an amazing capacity for survival, just like Jessica. Its not accidental, there extending the use of metaphor in this show. 

What filmmakers might use:
Aesthetic/artistic
Freudian/psychological  
Political 

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