Page 190 - A Handbook Genre Studies in Mass Media

PRODUCTION ELEMENTS

Anjali Sharma, who are members of different castes and, therefore, are
forbidden to marry. The use of color is a way to portray the different castes.
For instance, in the film, the musical number “Shava Shava” is performed
to simultaneously celebrate the birthday of Rahul (at the plush Raichand
estate) and the birthday of Anjali’s father (at a public square). In her analysis
of the film, Webster University student Andrea Fisher explains:

Color is a way that “Shava Shava” dramatizes the differences between Raul
and Anjali’s worlds. The Raichand estate’s ballroom is white with columns
and sparkling silver accents. . . . The women at the Raichand’s party are
all wearing pastel colors such as mint green, sky blue, and pink. Their
outfits are more fashionable and trendy versions of Indian party clothes
and most of them have sequins and rhinestones that are very noticeable
during the song. The three Raichand men are wearing black suits, which
display their positions of power and status. The other men at the party are
wearing black or white, and many of them are wearing Western suits as
well. . . . Anjali and her guests are wearing brightly colored, traditional
Indian outfits in colors like turquoise and bright purple.
The most effective use of color is during a part of the song where
Rahul is imagining that Anjali is dancing at his party. He is wearing his
Western suit, while she dances against the white background in a bright
red traditional outfit. Incidentally, red is the color that brides wear on their
wedding day in India. 13

Lighting

Lighting can affect the mood of a presentation:

• A brightly lit photograph evokes feelings of security and happiness.
• A dark picture filled with shadows creates a mysterious atmosphere
that arouses fear and apprehension.
• Dim lighting can also trigger a sense of powerlessness and loss of
control.

Those aspects of a page or screen that are “in the light” are considered
to be of prime importance. The quality of light—hard or soft—comments
on the objects depicted in the picture; lighting can either flatter characters
or produce a glare that accentuates their flaws.
In film noir, or “black film,” lighting is the defining production ele-
ment. The genre of film noir explores the darker side of human nature.
Despite its name, film noir actually has its roots in literary naturalism,

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