Textual Analysis

To what extent is the idea hyperreality presented with the use of visual style?

The question I am basing my coursework essay on is the idea of how hyper reality in visual style has been explored and portrayed in different ways throughout the two films Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004) directed by Michel Gondry and was filmed in the USA and Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (2010) directed by Edgar Wright and was filmed in Canada. The directors both developed their style of film creation from music videos and the influence of which can be used to explain why there are close links between their two styles as well as how certain actors were casted and why certain costumes were used. Scott Pilgrim is set in an arcade game style but, in what the audience would consider a regular setting and, uses hyper reality and style to create a spectacle. In Scott Pilgrim, Scott is considered as a socially awkward computer nerd in a band, this links with the actor who plays him. Since Michael Cera usually plays the cliche socially awkward teen role. but is placed is extraordinary situations to portray this idea of hyper reality through visual style. Hyper reality refers to a simulation or toyed or exaggerated representation of reality through film or media references. It stretches what we know reality as, or sometimes depicts a false existence, video games are an example of this. Hypereality turns Scott into a powerful hero as he earns self-respect for himself. The film Eternal Sunshine has a setting based around a society who hides troubling events from their selves. Joel from Eternal Sunshine who is played by Jim Carey who is usually associated with weird or exaggerated characters does not able to have a clear distinction between what he considers reality and what is really just a memory. Since the two have been seamlessly blended together so that there is no clear distinction between where one ends and the other begins which also portrays the idea of hyper reality through visual style. Eternal Sunshine of the spotless mind also has the narrative of the story is driven forward through hyper reality, creating a dream state through visual style. 

The Katanyagi Twins (2.36-2.38) Scott's band fights Ramona's ex'es band. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cvvWpv6uB8s

Meet me in Montauk (0.10 - 0.12) Joel's memories of Clementine are dissipating. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NTmlNigifSI

The image of an underdog or teenage comic book/video game nerd are portrayed through the two films and become the main lead in the narrative through the idea of hyper reality. However, both scenes portray hyper reality differently. The scene in Scott Pilgrim visual style is used to reinforce the hyper realistic setting, but it is not necessarily needed to drive the narrative forward. However, In Eternal Sunshine it has used visual style to make the house that Joel and Joel's memory of Clementine collapsing around them is done to perhaps represent the house as Joel's memories of Clementine being torn from his mind and so that the audience knows that Joel may be preparing to say his final goodbyes to his memory of Clementine to continue the films story-line. This is used to make Joel's situation seem more intense, but in reality, Joel is an 'Average Joe' trying to forget about an old girlfriend. MICRO aspects are used to reinforce the MACRO's of narrative and style in the two films. Mis-en-scene is used predominately to create the animated fight scene between two monsters, which have spawned from Scott guitar, and one another from two of Ramona’s ex’s instruments. The setting is quite ordinary and, is what the audience would consider a realistic setting but, is turned in to a monster brawl to create this extraordinary event through animation to reinforce this hyper realistic setting to give the idea that this scene is like a boss battle in a video game to turn Scott from being an underdog to a hero. However, Eternal Sunshine in comparison does not use Mis-en-scene heavily to reinforce the films setting, rather to portray how Joel's feelings about Clementine and continue the narrative. It makes Joel's 'Average Joe' lifestyle seem more interesting to the audience. Moreover, it does however use the  mis-en-scene, specifically costume. Clementines hair colour changes quite a lot to portray Joel's different memories of Clementine. Another example of this is through editing with the transition locations being cut in and out to make it seem like Joel is jumping between memories.

Remember me (Whole Scene) Joel is searching for a way to keep his memories of Clementine as they begin to fade. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3lvNGhBXTU0

The A Lister (0.00 - 0.10) Scott's first fight against Ramona's 1st ex. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MEAAAloaVNU                                       Surrealism is a concept used both intrinsically and extrinsically in the two films. In Eternal Sunshine the scene above portrays the idea of hyper reality as Joel’s memories slip away he desperately searches in his mind for some sort of remnants of Clementine, which, portrays a sense of surrealism. Visual style is used to show Joel losing memories of Clementine as the book covers disappear and turn white. This causes Joel to not lose his sense of what is real and what is just a memory, the narrative helps portray this as the editing of the film is discontinuous which could cause the audience to believe that this film may not be set in chronological order. Joel jumps from different memories so it is the audience’s job to differentiate this as well to fully immerse their self in the film. Is unlike Scott Pilgrim since the narrative of the film progresses through each ex that Scott defeats. This links to the idea of a video game as each ex represents a end of level boss which has been reinforced through visual effects to make each fight look some which conforms to the genre of games such as Tekken and Street Fighter. In Scott Pilgrim, the scene presents Scott about to battle one of Ramona's evil exes and his stunt doubles, this also portrays a sense of surrealism because Scott finds it difficult fighting this ex since he cannot figure out which one is the real ex. This links to the concept of hyperreality as the idea as there being multiple simulations of reality. Visual style is also used to recreate the idea that this is meant to be a comic book/arcade game setting. Mis-en-scene reinforces this idea as it is predominately in this scene, the specific aspect of this MICRO area being casting to give the idea that this 'boss' has clones of himself and reinforce the films MACRO of visual style to further reinforce the arcade game setting in the film rather than being used to drive the narrative along. However, Eternal Sunshine uses Cinematography to reinforce the narrative as well as the use of animation to move around the scene as the books in the bookstore lose their colour moving the plot line of the story forward since Joel's memories of Clementine are dissipating.

Get a Life (0.00 - 0.06) Scott gets granted a second chance to save Ramona for her last ex Gideon. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_7vyrudcgOQ

Creating a new memory Joel and his memory of Clementine search to find a way to create a new memory of Clementine that Joel can remember. (0.00 - 2.00) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w6587Hx2gR0

The idea of second chances is brought up in both Scott Pilgrim and Eternal Sunshine, Scott literally gets a second life after he is defeated by Gideon which is created through visual style to complete Scott's development as a character as well as bringing upon the end of the narrative creating a resolution by earning self respect for himself with his second chance as he learns that self respect for yourself is more powerful than love. This also links to hyperreality since Scott actually dies but then plays the whole of the film again, just like having a spare life in a video game, as well as the idea that different choices in a video game can affect the outcome. For example the choice of swords affected the ending of the film. In comparison to Eternal Sunshine Joel believes that if he can create a memory of Clementine he can preserve it until morning and still remember her for a second chance. Visual style helps create this new memory making Joel the size of a child but still looking like his adult self, which reinforces the films hyper realistic setting. It also shows to the audience that love can be a powerful ally in Eternal Sunshine instead of self-respect, which contrasts with Scott Pilgrims message. Mis-en-scene, specifically animation reinforces the MACRO as it is used to create a second life for Scott to reinforce the hyper realistic video game setting. However, in Eternal Sunshine props have been used to make Joel appear smaller than he is, and costume is used to dress Joel as a child to reinforce the idea to the audience that Joel is in a dream state, which reinforces the films narrative. The two MICRO aspects both represent how the MACRO visual style can be used in multiple ways.

Breaking up (0.00 - 0.45) Joel comes to terms with why himself and Clementine broke up https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_q0ZZKbzITI

Power of Self respect (0.00 - 1.48) Scott finds out that self-respect is more powerful that love.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_7vyrudcgOQ

Both films near their resolutions portray the idea that self-respect is more powerful than love. When Joel and Clementine break up, Joel seems happier and more content with himself. Jim Carrey's role here is important as he has to stylistically portray himself as happy after finally moving on from Clementine and this is seen visually through his emotions and performance. This suggests how Eternal Sunshine is not reliant on visual style to progress the narrative forward as the film finishes without the use of this MACRO aspect since he is no longer in a dream state. The final scene of Scott Pilgrim shows Scott gaining self-respect for him self which is visually shown through a flaming sword. This is not entirely necessary, to finish the narrative but is used anyway to create a spectacle instead of implicitly showing his new found respect for himself how Eternal Sunshine has presented it. Eternal Sunshine uses the MICRO of sound by only having the Joel and Clementine converse in this scene. This is used to implicitly portray Joel's new found respect for himself by letting Clementine leave, rather than repeating their relationship again only to have the same outcome. In comparison to Scott Pilgrim the portrayal of Scott's new found respect for himself is shown through him quickly defeating the opposition and striking Gideon, who would be considered as Scott, the reluctant hero's black night down to the ground. The MACRO of style is reinforced here by the MICRO Mis-en-scene and cinematography. Specifically animation and different camera shots to reinforce the arcade game setting and to present a sense of intensity. The second sword has different visual effects to the first one and Gideon does not kill him the second time and instead perishes himself. This may have been to present a message that self-respect is more powerful than love as love can make you act rash and illogically. This is also presented when the sword comes out of him and the 'stats' on the sword are higher than the sword of loves 'stats' which continues to conform to the conventions of a video game.

Nega Scott (Whole Scene) Scott has a final inner battle with himself with an odd ending. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IHHZvNx3zrw

Am I Ugly Scene  (0.00 - 1.10) Joel's memories of Clementine are dissipating and he cries for them to stop the procedure. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tKN0VFCZB9w

In both films it is suggested that both protagonists battle conflicts deep inside their subconscious. Joel fights against his past decisions to try and keep memories of Clementine, which drives the narrative to the scene where Joel attempts to create a new memory with Clementine and does not rely on visual style to drive the narrative forward in this scene. This scene in Eternal Sunshine uses Cinematography. Specifically low-key lighting to create a sense that Clementine is a fading memory due to Joel's past decisions. In comparison Scott Pilgrim visual style is used to create Nega Scott, who is supposed to represent Scott's dislikes and insecurities about himself. In order to defeat this 'final boss' Scott has come to terms with his insecurities through gaining self respect for himself. Scott Pilgrim uses animation in this scene instead to create Nega Scott which does not necessarily have to be created through animation but is used to create a spectacle. This is in contrast to Eternal Sunshine, which focuses on a serious emotional struggle within Joel's subconscious. The purpose of Nega Scott was to present a battle of inner demons within Scott which exaggerates hyperreality because this is not something which would happen in every day society. It also distorts hyperreality since the fight concludes with both Scott's coming outside having befriended each other. This concludes in a way the audience would not expect since Nega Scott would have been considered as the final boss by the audience.

  

  

Bass Battle (0.00 - 0.35) Scott fights another one of Ramona's exes through a music battle. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1gkETBPx49I

Jumping between memories (0.00. 1.35) Reminiscing of Joel and Clementine's relationship.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HeMo3Alqyhs

Both directors were both once music video directors, this is shown explicitly and implicitly through their work. In Eternal Sunshine, sharp jump cuts in the editing are used to show the transgression of Joel's memories from one to another. This is used so that the audience understands Joel's relationship with Clementine, as well as understanding the narrative of the story. This technique is used in music videos to sometimes create tension or provoke emotion based on the genre of song. However, in Scott Pilgrim this scene would not be needed to push the narrative along since Scott could have fought this fight without any stylistic effects. Techniques such as this are used in music videos to create a spectacle, mainly found in mainstream music, which relates to the fact that Scott Pilgrim is a mainstream film. Both these scenes show the director’s influence from their previous work which are created through different MICRO aspects, for Eternal Sunshine editing is used heavily. However in Scott Pilgrim, Mis-en-scene is used predominately, specifically animation. This may be due to the fact that Eternal Sunshine was an independent film and would of had a lower budget than Scott Pilgrim had since it was a mainstream film and mainstream films predominately like to create spectacles in their films with effects and animation rather than provoking more emotion like independent films. Scott however ends up with with Ramona, ending the video game as he beat all of Ramona's exes which were each considered as an individual level, like a video game. This conforms to classic Hollywood narrative as the hero, Scott gets the girl and lives 'happily ever after' which sends a message that the hero, after defeating all of the obstacles or levels, always gets the girl. This also presents the idea of a ending cut-scene after completing a video game. Since Scott Pilgrim is a mainstream, Hollywood film which, contrasts with Eternal Sunshine as it is an independent film ends without Joel and Clementine staying together.

The idea of hyper reality in visual style has been explored and portrayed in different ways throughout the two films Eternal Sunshine and Scott Pilgrim vs. the world. The directors both developed their style of film creation from music videos and the influence of subcultures of the early 90's so the directors main demographic/revenue would be from people in their 20's or 30's and this audience would appreciate these films references to the 90's more than teenagers born in the late 90's which, could explain why Scott Pilgrim did not sell very well in mainstream cinema since the main demographic in cinemas are teenagers. Also, the references in Scott Pilgrim consisted of mainly video game references which would mean that only a niche set of audience members may get the references would go and see the film, or even enjoy it. This could be used to explain why there are close links between their two styles. Joel is not able to have a clear distinction between what he considers reality and what is really just a memory since the two have been seamlessly blended together so that there is no clear distinction between where one ends and the other begins which also portrays the idea of hyper reality through visual style. Eternal Sunshine of the spotless mind also has the narrative of the story is driven forward through hyper reality, creating a dream state through visual style.