'Strictly Ballroom' Essay

To belong to anyone else, one does not have to give up his or her values or independence by conforming. This is shown through the texts of the film, ‘Strictly Ballroom’ directed by Baz Luhrmann and the children’s picture book, ‘The Red Tree’ written and illustrated by Shaun Tan. In ‘Strictly Ballroom’ characters, scenes and techniques such as dialogue, costume, lighting, and marginalization are used to depict that to belong to anyone else, one does not have to give up his or her values or independence by conforming. In the children’s picture book ‘The Red Tree’ character, symbols, illustration and colour are used to successfully portray this.

Scott Hastings believed in himself and did not give up his independence to conform to the ballroom world. At first, when having to choose between dance partners of Fran or Tina Sparkle, he was torn between independence or conformity. He then accepted that he was different and that he did not conform to the ‘strictly’ ballroom world, and because of this, he did not lose himself in his battle of belonging. Through the technique of dialogue, “I just want to dance my own steps!” it is shown how Scott’s creativity creates difference in the community and is not accepted. He recognizes that he will not win but he wants to dance his own way, not anybody else’s, “You’re all so scared you wouldn’t know what you thought!” When Scott dances his own steps, colours, costume and lighting are used to show how he is not ‘strictly’ ballroom as he is placed into natural lighting and a ‘pure’ costume, rather than the bright ones other competitors wear. When Scott and Fran are sabotaged at the Pan Pacific and the music is shut off to stop their dancing, the crowd slowly begins to clap a beat for them to dance to. This shows the ‘strictly’ ballroom world gradually beginning to accept Scott and Fran and their “Crowd pleasing steps”. Through the examples given, it has been clearly shown that Scott Hastings did not give up his values or independence