How Does Hemingway Use Ironic Techniques In Hills Like White Elephants

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How would you feel if someone took away your ability to live? Imagine not having any say in whether or not you want to have a life. In Hemingway’s short story, “Hills Like White Elephants,” a couple argues over a debatable operation. This story takes place during 1927, where an American man and girl discuss a controversial issue at an outdoor café at a Spanish train station. Thus, this becomes very problematic in the lives of the couple. But will the girl ultimately follow through with the abortion, or will she keep the baby? At the beginning of the year of 2009, this short story was produced by a film known as “Hills,” directed by Brian Faucher. “Hills,” a film version of Hemingway’s short story, uses dramatic conventions in its camera shots in order to show the girl’s true feelings and emotions of her upcoming decision. The notion that camera shots have quite a history in the art world is an absolute truth. Throughout our…show more content…
First, is the establishing shot. The establishing shot “refers to the opening sequence of a scene, the images that spatially orient the audience and anchor subsequent events”(Hudson). This sets the audience mood for the rest of the film depending on the location and setting. Another archetype of camera shots used is the medium shot. The medium shot is “the lower frame line passes through the body from the waist down to include the whole body. In such shots, the actor, and its setting occupy roughly equal areas in the frame, while leaving space for hand gestures to be seen”(Canini). The director typically uses this certain type of shot for “the tight presentation of two actors, or with dexterity”(Canini). The last type, but certainly not the worst, is the close up camera shot. The close up shot is “a shot that keeps only the face full in the frame. Perhaps the most important building block in cinematic storytelling”(Doane). This camera shot is ultimately utilized in one special

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