For this discussion you will focus on one of the following aspects of production design in The Graduate:
Set design and props (objects, colors, shapes)
Costuming
The use of widescreen space (the placement of people and objects within the wide, rectangular aspect ratio of the film)
In a discussion of no fewer than 250 words, describe at least one major visual pattern or motif related to set design, costuming, or widescreen space that runs through The Graduate. Explain where it occurs in the film and how it helps to create the viewer’s understanding of those moments. Note: Your choice must occur at least twice during the film in order to qualify as a legitimate pattern.
You must be specific. You must clearly identify and describe your motif, specify where it occurs, and explain how it looks.
Credit will not be given for examples that are discussed in the textbook. The textbook examples are valuable guides to spotting and thinking about the abundance of visual information in the film. You need to move beyond the textbook examples to demonstrate your ability to discern significant elements of production design.
(To help you think about this, imagine those scenes without the colors or objects that you’ve noticed. How would the scenes be different? This will help you pinpoint what your images contribute both to the story and to our understanding of the characters.)
Textbook is Movies and Meaning Stephen Prince pages 82-105
