English Literature & Creative Writing
Document Type
Oral Presentation
Location
Indianapolis, IN
Subject Area
English Literature & Creative Writing
Start Date
11-4-2014 10:45 AM
End Date
11-4-2014 12:00 PM
Sponsor
Lee Garver (Butler University)
Description
More than anything else, Wong Kar-Wai's 2000 film In the Mood for Love chronicles an ill-fated relationship through the repeated use of motifs. By introducing the viewer to a series of recurring images and sounds-- including clocks, outfits and music-- one can examine the interactions between Mr. Chow and Mrs. Chan through a multifaceted prism encapsulating both past and present. When a new scene presents itself, it proves impossible to ignore how the doomed lovers' dynamic has developed since the last time a particular motif was introduced. Therefore, when on notices the abundance of Mrs. Chan's tight-fitting floral dresses, connections to other floral imagery are forged and shed light on her motives and actions. During the proverbial winter of an unsatisfying marriage, Mrs. Chan's fulfilling, albeit uncomsummated relationship with Mr. Chow provides an opportunity for growth, culminating in a new life as a strong, independent woman, effectively mirroring the political development of a turbulent Hong Kong in the early 1960s.
The Age of Blossoms: Mrs. Chan's Transformation in In the Mood for Love
Indianapolis, IN
More than anything else, Wong Kar-Wai's 2000 film In the Mood for Love chronicles an ill-fated relationship through the repeated use of motifs. By introducing the viewer to a series of recurring images and sounds-- including clocks, outfits and music-- one can examine the interactions between Mr. Chow and Mrs. Chan through a multifaceted prism encapsulating both past and present. When a new scene presents itself, it proves impossible to ignore how the doomed lovers' dynamic has developed since the last time a particular motif was introduced. Therefore, when on notices the abundance of Mrs. Chan's tight-fitting floral dresses, connections to other floral imagery are forged and shed light on her motives and actions. During the proverbial winter of an unsatisfying marriage, Mrs. Chan's fulfilling, albeit uncomsummated relationship with Mr. Chow provides an opportunity for growth, culminating in a new life as a strong, independent woman, effectively mirroring the political development of a turbulent Hong Kong in the early 1960s.