Klika (Klikova), Deborah ORCID: 0000-0001-9883-2646 (2024) Comedy and language. In: Screen writing Research Network Conference 2024 “Conversation Beyond Script”, 10th - 14th Sep, 2024, Palacký University, Olomouc Czechia Republic. (Unpublished)

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Abstract

This presentation takes a scene from a feature film in development to explore the nature of the bind and reflect on how it operates in the fifth sequence. It asks does the existence of two or more languages assist with imbedding the bind and/or comicality? Czech in the Rear View Mirror is a black comedy based on actual events. It is about two Czech migrants who set off to drive across the top end of Australia in pursuit of fulfilling their dreams only to find that some dreams come at a price and that running away from one oppressive regime does not ensure freedom. This paper explores the nature of the bind, born of a fatal flaw that is denied, and how comic tension is underscored when two or more languages are in play. Utilising Marks, “The actions of the protagonist serve the function of expressing the theme,” I analyse the thematic premise of the film to ask if the theme is evident in this scene and to ponder if the bind, a notion I proposed at the 2023 conference, when the main character’s want or goal is undermined by their flaw, is informed by the thematic premise
Dara Marks notes that “The Fatal Flaw is a struggle within a character to maintain a survival system long after it has outlived its usefulness.” (Inside Story, 2007, 114). The fatal flaw of the main character in this black comedy is that the female protagonist cannot lie – and in this scene she is confronted with the fact that to survive sometimes we need to learn to lie. In showing a scene from the film I explore how language can enable the comic tension, and further discuss if the scene fulfils the theme of the film – displacement teaches lying – and whether this has been succeeded – if so how and if not why not.

Item Type:	Conference or Conference Paper (Paper)
Uncontrolled Keywords:	film comedy; the bind; comic tension; comedy and language; thematic
Subjects:	P Language and Literature > P Philology. Linguistics P Language and Literature > PN Literature (General) P Language and Literature > PN Literature (General) > PN1993 Motion Pictures
Faculty / School / Research Centre / Research Group:	Faculty of Liberal Arts & Sciences Faculty of Liberal Arts & Sciences > School of Stage and Screen
Related URLs:	Organisation
Last Modified:	23 Sep 2024 13:41
URI:	http://gala.gre.ac.uk/id/eprint/48108

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