Environmental Symbolism: Difference between revisions

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{{trope}}
{{trope}}
[[File:CABINET_DES_DR_CALIGARI_01.jpg|link=The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (Film)|frame| ''The'' mise en scène.]]
[[File:CABINET_DES_DR_CALIGARI_01.jpg|link=The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari|frame| ''The'' mise en scène.]]


One way for authors to subtly (or overtly) convey and reinforce the mood of a scene, episode, or even the genre of the work is to make the environment symbolize it. Much like a character with an [[Astonishingly Appropriate Appearance]], a setting can be made rife with [[Environmental Symbolism]] to play up the emotional theme at work.
One way for authors to subtly (or overtly) convey and reinforce the mood of a scene, episode, or even the genre of the work is to make the environment symbolize it. Much like a character with an [[Astonishingly Appropriate Appearance]], a setting can be made rife with [[Environmental Symbolism]] to play up the emotional theme at work.
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== Anime & Manga ==
== Anime & Manga ==
* Pretty common for the theatrics in ''[[Death Note (Manga)|Death Note]];'' a death always carries a grittier or grainier air, and some stuff glows more than it should (like open doors, police flood lights and windows).
* Pretty common for the theatrics in ''[[Death Note]];'' a death always carries a grittier or grainier air, and some stuff glows more than it should (like open doors, police flood lights and windows).
* Planet Gunsmoke in ''[[Trigun]]'' is a drought-stricken, Old West-ish place. Vash The Stampede is a depressive, Old West-ish guy. When he {{spoiler|and Knives land on the planet and he cries over Rem's death, his tears are echoed by the falling debris of the SEEDS ship}}, and when he {{spoiler|defeats his brother in the last episode}}, the nearby townsfolk who've been drilling a well finally strike water.
* Planet Gunsmoke in ''[[Trigun]]'' is a drought-stricken, Old West-ish place. Vash The Stampede is a depressive, Old West-ish guy. When he {{spoiler|and Knives land on the planet and he cries over Rem's death, his tears are echoed by the falling debris of the SEEDS ship}}, and when he {{spoiler|defeats his brother in the last episode}}, the nearby townsfolk who've been drilling a well finally strike water.
* The Soul Rooms in both the ''[[Yu-Gi-Oh]]!'' manga and anime reflect the psychological state of their owners.
* The Soul Rooms in both the ''[[Yu-Gi-Oh!]]!'' manga and anime reflect the psychological state of their owners.
* The first of ''[[Kara no Kyoukai (Literature)|Kara no Kyoukai]]'' films has quite a few beautifully detailed buildings as the scenery... but most of them are in some form of decay and/or abandoned, reflecting the despair in the story and the crumbling of the human condition. It also represents Japan's economic crisis in the late 1990s, when the film takes place.
* The first of ''[[Karano Kyoukai|Kara no Kyoukai]]'' films has quite a few beautifully detailed buildings as the scenery... but most of them are in some form of decay and/or abandoned, reflecting the despair in the story and the crumbling of the human condition. It also represents Japan's economic crisis in the late 1990s, when the film takes place.
* ''[[Mahou Sensei Negima]]'' likes to use this to emphasize some of the character's tragic [[Backstory|Back Stories]]; series lead Negi's [[Doomed Hometown|home village]] [[Snow Means Death|in the snow]], [[Who Wants to Live Forever?|immortal]] [[Our Vampires Are Different|vampire]] Evangeline's war-torn battlefields in the 1400's, Asuna's colossal, [[Tron Lines|rune covered]] tower at dusk in which she was the tower's [[Barrier Maiden]]. Akamatsu loves his characterization (expect [[Cherry Blossoms]] during [[Love Hina|happy scenes]]).
* ''[[Mahou Sensei Negima]]'' likes to use this to emphasize some of the character's tragic [[Backstory|Back Stories]]; series lead Negi's [[Doomed Hometown|home village]] [[Snow Means Death|in the snow]], [[Who Wants to Live Forever?|immortal]] [[Our Vampires Are Different|vampire]] Evangeline's war-torn battlefields in the 1400's, Asuna's colossal, [[Tron Lines|rune covered]] tower at dusk in which she was the tower's [[Barrier Maiden]]. Akamatsu loves his characterization (expect [[Cherry Blossoms]] during [[Love Hina|happy scenes]]).
* [[Exaggerated]] in the Other World segments in ''[[Black Rock Shooter]]''. Let's just say that the symbolism ''is'' the environment {{spoiler|especially if you subscribe to the [[Battle in The Center of The Mind]] theory}}. Some of the symbolism also spill into the real world.
* [[Exaggerated]] in the Other World segments in ''[[Black Rock Shooter]]''. Let's just say that the symbolism ''is'' the environment {{spoiler|especially if you subscribe to the [[Battle in the Center of the Mind]] theory}}. Some of the symbolism also spill into the real world.




== Comic Books ==
== Comic Books ==
* [[Batman (Comic Book)|Gotham City]] and [[Superman (Comic Book)|Metropolis]]. Gotham, to reflect the nature of Batman and his more noir-ish adventures, is usually depicted as a dark, grimy, cramped and gothic urban nightmare of a city, usually seen at night; Metropolis is more often depicted as an almost-futuristic steel-and-glass environment, usually a bit more open and clean and is more often seen during the day to reflect Superman's more optimistic nature. Frank Miller said that Metropolis is New York in the day, while Gotham is New York at night.
* [[Batman|Gotham City]] and [[Superman|Metropolis]]. Gotham, to reflect the nature of Batman and his more noir-ish adventures, is usually depicted as a dark, grimy, cramped and gothic urban nightmare of a city, usually seen at night; Metropolis is more often depicted as an almost-futuristic steel-and-glass environment, usually a bit more open and clean and is more often seen during the day to reflect Superman's more optimistic nature. Frank Miller said that Metropolis is New York in the day, while Gotham is New York at night.
** This is actually taken to real issues when the superheroes switch haunts every now and then- not only are they both dealing with unfamiliar territory, but Batman complains that the smooth buildings of Metropolis have no catches for his grappling hooks or hiding places, while Superman's X-ray vision is impaired by lead in Gotham's older buildings. The crooks in both cities sure are caught by surprise though.
** This is actually taken to real issues when the superheroes switch haunts every now and then- not only are they both dealing with unfamiliar territory, but Batman complains that the smooth buildings of Metropolis have no catches for his grappling hooks or hiding places, while Superman's X-ray vision is impaired by lead in Gotham's older buildings. The crooks in both cities sure are caught by surprise though.
* Every single realm of The Endless in ''[[The Sandman]],'' naturally. When Orpheus visits Death, this leads to some confusion, and when [[Fisher King|Morpheus]] is imprisoned outside his realm it falls into chaos.
* Every single realm of The Endless in ''[[The Sandman]],'' naturally. When Orpheus visits Death, this leads to some confusion, and when [[Fisher King|Morpheus]] is imprisoned outside his realm it falls into chaos.
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== Film ==
== Film ==
* ''[[The Wizard of Oz (Film)|The Wizard of Oz]]''. See Literature.
* ''[[The Wizard of Oz (film)|The Wizard of Oz]]''. See Literature.
* The Graveyard from the infamous showdown scene at the end of ''[[The Good the Bad And The Ugly]]'' emphasised the finality of the paths of the three principle characters. Sergio Leone had so brilliantly set up a situation where all three men couldn't possibly leave alive.
* The Graveyard from the infamous showdown scene at the end of ''[[The Good, the Bad and the Ugly]]'' emphasised the finality of the paths of the three principle characters. Sergio Leone had so brilliantly set up a situation where all three men couldn't possibly leave alive.
** Not to mention it was designed to look like a Roman circus, as if the graves of the dead were watching the three men fight.
** Not to mention it was designed to look like a Roman circus, as if the graves of the dead were watching the three men fight.
** Most of the bits of architecture in the film resemble gallows, a running theme of the film.
** Most of the bits of architecture in the film resemble gallows, a running theme of the film.
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* The whole [[Terminator]] franchise. Rarely is there a setting that doesn't seem artificial and futuristic and coldly systematic or wastelandy or fascisty in some way in order to show how easily we could slip into the robo endtimes, or scenes that are similar to how humans will fight robots in the future. There are quite a few settings to choose from: Corporate megaliths, computer stores, cement and steel everywhere, hospitals, police stations, deserts, ghettos, construction equipment, factories, warehouses, video game arcades, robot shows, etcetera. Even {{spoiler|Sarah's death by cancer, most likely due to environmental reasons}} shows what living in a toxic, artificial world can do.
* The whole [[Terminator]] franchise. Rarely is there a setting that doesn't seem artificial and futuristic and coldly systematic or wastelandy or fascisty in some way in order to show how easily we could slip into the robo endtimes, or scenes that are similar to how humans will fight robots in the future. There are quite a few settings to choose from: Corporate megaliths, computer stores, cement and steel everywhere, hospitals, police stations, deserts, ghettos, construction equipment, factories, warehouses, video game arcades, robot shows, etcetera. Even {{spoiler|Sarah's death by cancer, most likely due to environmental reasons}} shows what living in a toxic, artificial world can do.
* The town in ''[[Edward Scissorhands]]'' is a bright and cheerful, if slightly [[Stepford Suburbia|off]] '50s suburbia, and thus has lots of bright pastels. The Professor's/Edward's castle, by contrast, is dark, empty and mechanical, in black and white. Since the whole thing is ([[Everyone Is Jesus in Purgatory|possibly]]) about mental illness, the emptiness of it may symbolize Edward's loneliness, as well.
* The town in ''[[Edward Scissorhands]]'' is a bright and cheerful, if slightly [[Stepford Suburbia|off]] '50s suburbia, and thus has lots of bright pastels. The Professor's/Edward's castle, by contrast, is dark, empty and mechanical, in black and white. Since the whole thing is ([[Everyone Is Jesus in Purgatory|possibly]]) about mental illness, the emptiness of it may symbolize Edward's loneliness, as well.
* As tempers rise over the course of ''[[Twelve Angry Men]]'', the room seems to get more and more claustrophobic; that's not an effect: the actual walls were gradually moved closer in as the film goes on, making the room smaller and smaller.
* As tempers rise over the course of ''[[12 Angry Men]]'', the room seems to get more and more claustrophobic; that's not an effect: the actual walls were gradually moved closer in as the film goes on, making the room smaller and smaller.
* ''[[Inception]]'' - Limbo is a barren wasteland, representing Cobb's lifelessness and apathy due to his obsession with his wife's death. Level one of the Fischer job is wet and rainy, literally because the dreamer went to sleep needing to piss.
* ''[[Inception]]'' - Limbo is a barren wasteland, representing Cobb's lifelessness and apathy due to his obsession with his wife's death. Level one of the Fischer job is wet and rainy, literally because the dreamer went to sleep needing to piss.




== Literature ==
== Literature ==
* ''[[The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (Literature)|The Wonderful Wizard of Oz]]''. Kansas is described as "grey". This is reflected in [[The Wizard of Oz (Film)|the 1939 film]], too.
* ''[[The Wonderful Wizard of Oz]]''. Kansas is described as "grey". This is reflected in [[The Wizard of Oz (film)|the 1939 film]], too.
* In [[China Mieville]]'s ''[[The Scar (Literature)|The Scar]]'', the city of Armada is a congealed mass of ships, which is perfectly appropriate given that [[Pirate|its inhabitants]] steal almost everything they need. Additionally, the vampire who rules one section lives in a freakish-looking ship that sails on moonlight.
* In [[China Mieville]]'s ''[[The Scar]]'', the city of Armada is a congealed mass of ships, which is perfectly appropriate given that [[Pirate|its inhabitants]] steal almost everything they need. Additionally, the vampire who rules one section lives in a freakish-looking ship that sails on moonlight.
* ''[[House of Leaves]]''
* ''[[House of Leaves]]''




== Live Action TV ==
== Live Action TV ==
* The coral-based design of the current TARDIS interior in ''[[Doctor Who (TV)|Doctor Who]]'' is supposed to show that TARDISes are organically grown. It also reflects the age of the ship and the [[MacGyvering]] repairs.
* The coral-based design of the current TARDIS interior in ''[[Doctor Who]]'' is supposed to show that TARDISes are organically grown. It also reflects the age of the ship and the [[MacGyvering]] repairs.
* More properly, ''[[Firefly (TV)|Firefly]]'' used this in both the design of each character's room (in Kaylee's case the engine room as well, since we saw her there more often) and the kitchen/dining room, which had wooden chairs and crafty decorations to give it a homey feel.
* More properly, ''[[Firefly]]'' used this in both the design of each character's room (in Kaylee's case the engine room as well, since we saw her there more often) and the kitchen/dining room, which had wooden chairs and crafty decorations to give it a homey feel.
** Also, the Alliance ships and buildings are sterile grey and blue, to fully emphasise the difference between them and the warm and friendly ''Serenity'' and the dry, earthy planets on the Outer Rim.
** Also, the Alliance ships and buildings are sterile grey and blue, to fully emphasise the difference between them and the warm and friendly ''Serenity'' and the dry, earthy planets on the Outer Rim.
* The ''[[Star Trek (Franchise)|Star Trek]]'' ships.
* The ''[[Star Trek]]'' ships.
** ''[[Star Trek the Next Generation (TV)|Star Trek the Next Generation]]'' had a solid wood arch bending around the command seats. It was put there because [[Gene Roddenberry]] wanted the ship to have a homely, organic feel as an exploratory ship, not a war ship.
** ''[[Star Trek: The Next Generation|Star Trek the Next Generation]]'' had a solid wood arch bending around the command seats. It was put there because [[Gene Roddenberry]] wanted the ship to have a homely, organic feel as an exploratory ship, not a war ship.
** ''[[Star Trek Deep Space Nine (TV)|Star Trek Deep Space Nine]]'' put them on an uninviting alien space station to demonstrate the difficulty and frustrations with working with another culture. As a note, the Defiant was given a very utilitarian and minimalistic set-up to look like a Federation style war ship.
** ''[[Star Trek: Deep Space Nine|Star Trek Deep Space Nine]]'' put them on an uninviting alien space station to demonstrate the difficulty and frustrations with working with another culture. As a note, the Defiant was given a very utilitarian and minimalistic set-up to look like a Federation style war ship.
** ''[[Star Trek Voyager (TV)|Star Trek Voyager]]'' scaled down all of the sets to show a small crew that were really out on their own.
** ''[[Star Trek: Voyager|Star Trek Voyager]]'' scaled down all of the sets to show a small crew that were really out on their own.
** ''[[Star Trek Enterprise (TV)|Star Trek Enterprise]]'' openly exposed the bolts and screws used to hold the sets together, giving it a [[Zeerust]] appearance and submarine feel.
** ''[[Star Trek: Enterprise|Star Trek Enterprise]]'' openly exposed the bolts and screws used to hold the sets together, giving it a [[Zeerust]] appearance and submarine feel.
* ''[[Pushing Daisies]]'' is set in a [[Retro Universe|Retro World]] full of bright and cheery colors. The fish-eye perspective and high color saturation convey the [[Magical Realism]] of the setting.
* ''[[Pushing Daisies]]'' is set in a [[Retro Universe|Retro World]] full of bright and cheery colors. The fish-eye perspective and high color saturation convey the [[Magical Realism]] of the setting.


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== Web Comics ==
== Web Comics ==
* ''[[Gunnerkrigg Court (Webcomic)|Gunnerkrigg Court]]'': The eponymous Court is massive and maze-like, with a muted color scheme and many dark corners. It fits well with the story's focus on the mysterious and the (slightly) macabre.
* ''[[Gunnerkrigg Court]]'': The eponymous Court is massive and maze-like, with a muted color scheme and many dark corners. It fits well with the story's focus on the mysterious and the (slightly) macabre.




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