Strictly Ballroom Revision 2006

Extended Response One: Lizs dialogue suggests that the process of dancing and all its enjoyment is overshadowed by the desire to win. The fact that Liz says I dont think. I dont give a shit about them (dance steps), we lost suggests to the audience that Lizs involvement with ballroom dancing centres around the possibility of winning, not the opportunity to enjoy the activity. These ideas are juxtaposed against the similar idea of Shirley who wants to win at all costs. The difference being Shirley is living vicariously through her son in the hope of gaining the thrill that she lost all those years ago. Extended Response Two: You can dance any steps you want; but it doesnt mean you will win. This dialogue suggests that any type of dancing will be accepted at the competition. He can conclude the dialogue by suggesting that if you decide to do this, then you will lose. He is saying one thing but suggesting something entirely different. Some other examples of Barry Fifes hypocritical attitude are: There are no new steps. Good Introduction: Dialogue is defined as a conversation between two or more people. It can be verbal, written or non-verbal. In todays society, communication through dialogue is one of the most crucial elements. Two of the main purposes of dialogue are to bring the characters to life and to take the reader for a reflective inner journey. The effects of dialogue are dependent upon: the speaker, the language techniques, the audience, the genre of text, and the medium in which the text is presented. In this essay, we will observe Baz Luhrmanns drama Strictly Ballroom and Mel Gibsons Braveheart, and the ways in which dialogue has conveyed emotions, relationships, direction of the plot, context and theme in the texts. In both the two texts, the main theme expressed is Authority and Conformity versus Individuality and Rebellion. Good Conclusion: In conclusion, dialogue is indeed much more than the words being spoken, since in both Strictly Ballroom and Braveheart the dialogue has created a visual image, providing information about gender, relationships, emotions, cultural identity and status of every individual character. Dialogue is therefore able to develop an understanding of the differences between characters and thereby determines the characters role within a specific context. Indeed, dialogue can be used to shape the perceptions of others and the world around us. Strictly Ballroom involves three worlds: dance federation (Barry Fife, Shirley Hastings & Liz Holt); Spanish Immigrants (Rico & Yaya); Outsiders (Scott & Doug Hastings, Fran). Listening Task: the 4 Ps Pace, Pronunciation, Purpose and Pitch. Main Themes: Conformity & Authority vs. Individuality & freedom; a life lived in fear is a life half-lived; the untapped riches of other cultures. CLAP Responses: context, language features, audience and purpose. Dialogue: who controls conversation, how meaning is shaped and certain voices silenced.

Scotts Personality: informal language, emotional & angry tone, exclamations, rhetorical questions, pauses and short sentences. Frans Personality: informal language, hesitant/determined/annoyed tone, exclamations, extended dialogue in sentences and questions. Shirleys Personality: informal language, emotional/obstructive/selfish and angry tone, statements, extended dialogue with hesitations. Dougs Personality: informal language, hesitant/reserved and restrained tone, very short statements with extended dialogue only in the final scenes. Barry Fifes Personality: informal language, boastful/loud and patronizing tone, statements, exclamations, extended dialogue. Liz Holts Personality: colloquial language, very emotional/self-satisfied/conceited and boastful, exclamations, outbursts, short statements. Scott Hastings: Come on, Come on! Shut Up! Fran: Youre just like the rest of them! A life lived in fear is life half-lived. Doug Hastings: We walked away. WE LIVED OUR LIVES IN FEAR! Yes, now Scott! Barry Fife: There are no new steps! Shirley Hastings: You silly man. You stupid man. Liz Holt: I dont thinkWe lost! Rico: Vete! Vete! Go! Go! Ya Ya: Feel the rhythm.