Comparison Between Ted Hughes 'Fulbright Scholars And Your Paris'
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A composers’ representation of conflicting perspectives deliberately shape our acceptance of their point of view through deliberate selection and emphasis of dynamic textual elements. Such manipulation is demonstrated in Ted Hughes’ 1998 anthology Birthday Letters through the poems, “Fulbright Scholars” and “Your Paris”; employing the poetic medium to craft a personal response to his contentious relationship with wife, Sylvia Plath. Similarly, Sam Mendes 1999 film American Beauty explores a dysfunctional marriage to continuously evoke conflicting perspectives. Both composers intentionally use textual features that enable them to privilege their dominant perspectives while integrating an opposing view to achieve their purpose.
Relationships that begin to deteriorate often develop conflicting perspectives as represented within Ted Hughes’ anthology…show more content… This aspect is clearly portrayed in the car scene, where poor lighting is used to represent the dark and repressing situation, whilst depicting the tension between Lester and Carolyn. The use of mid shot angle depicts the slouched and uncaring body posture of Lester which heavily juxtaposes the conscientious and assertive body posture of Carolyn. Whilst Hughes biblically alludes to the “first fresh peach” in “Fulbright Scholars” to express that he was not responsible for the destruction of the marriage, Mendes contrasts Carolyn’s accusatory and prevailing tone in “It’s a $4000 sofa upholstered in Italian silk; this is not just a couch” with the masculine point of view – “This isn’t life, it’s just stuff” to depict their apprehensive marital relationship through the conflict in their perception of life and interests. Thus, Hughes and Mendes have adequately manipulated their audience into achieving their purpose by presenting incongruity between events and personal