Maestro Essay

It has become apparent through the study of ‘Maestro’ by Peter Goldsworthy and Don McLean’s song ‘Starry Night’ that composers use a variety of distinctively visual images to comment on the cultural, historical and emotional values of society. Through the use of various written techniques that convey visual representations, both composers have shaped meaning for their audiences. Goldsworthy and McLean utilise a myriad of language techniques for instance metaphors, repetition, oxymoron’s and juxtaposition which create visual images towards their audience. Goldsworthy’s ‘Maestro’ is a fictional novel about growing up in Australia and seeking to be a performer in music whereas Don McLean’s ‘Starry Night’, is a five verse song dedicated to the life of Vincent Van Gogh, particularly his painting ‘A Starry Night’.
Goldsworthy successfully uses a variety of metaphors to create realistic and original images that bring to life heightened fictional experiences that Peter Goldsworthy has a familiarity with. The metaphor ‘far-off magical place’ used by the character Paul highlights the love and excitement he feels to be travelling back to his hometown. This metaphor depicts the experiences and perceptions that Paul has towards Adelaide which therefore proves a positive connotation of Adelaide being a beautiful place.
Likewise McLean has utilised particular metaphors to broaden reader’s minds upon the personal experiences of Vincent Van Gogh. The metaphor ‘Portraits hung in empty halls’ proves that Van Gogh’s paintings were unappreciated whilst he was alive. This metaphorical language therefore depicts an image of emptiness towards Van Gogh proving the defining statement that McLean comments on historical and emotional values through the use of imagery.
Goldsworthy has used colour and descriptive language to describe Keller’s tattoo, ‘six faded blue digits’ which gives the reader’s background knowledge as to why Keller is ‘set in his own ways’. The colour blue along with the adjective ‘faded’ are used to represent a feeling of sorrow and loss which subsequently reveals historical information that allows the audience a greater depth of understanding of Keller’s past and his relationship with the war. Likewise McLean’s extensive use of colour is used to depict Van Gogh’s painting as well as his eyes, for example ‘blue and grey’, ‘violet haze’ and ‘china blue’ which evokes an emotional response from the audience as they perceive the image of the painting ‘Starry Night’ along with Van Gogh’s tragic life. McLean therefore uses colour to comment on the emotional values Van Gogh once experienced.
Goldsworthy successfully uses a variety of contrasting images through the use of juxtaposition to establish character. Goldsworthy portrays Keller as derelict by juxtaposing adjectives such as ‘cheap’ and ruined’ with ‘glow’ and ‘incandescent’ which highlights the effects sun and alcohol has had on his physical appearance. This initial image is contrasted with Keller’s attire ‘white line freshly pressed’ and the ‘manicured, soft, clean’ state of his hands. These juxtaposed words prove the ‘first impression’ that Paul once had towards Keller. The formality of Keller’s dialogue throughout the text is contrasted with Paul’s informal way of speaking to represent the change over time due to historical context. (Should I put a quote here to back up the formal and informal language?) Goldsworthy has used juxtaposition to therefore portray distinct images that depict cultural and historical values that allow the audience a greater depth of the understanding of Keller’s cynicism about humanity and the dark side of humankind.
McLean similarly uses a variety of juxtaposed vocabulary to create contrasting images which shapes meaning towards audiences. The two seasons ‘summer’ and winter’ are used in contrast to provide readers with an outlook on how much time Van Gogh spent in his asylum described by the changing seasons. McLean has therefore provided readers with historical information on Van Gogh’s life through the use of contrasted imagery.
Similarly Goldsworthy uses repetitive lyrical language and musical motifs to heighten Keller’s musical character. The repeated musicians ‘Chopin’ and ‘Liszt’ are portrayed by using the historical knowledge of musical language which subsequently creates distinctively visual imagery. The repetition of this lyrical language therefore depicts the significance of music within Keller’s life.The music is a recurring motif that Goldsworthy uses to continue to explore the theme of beauty being used as a facade for wickedness and as a way of displaying Keller’s self loathing as well as Pauls developing self awareness – remember Paul comes to the realisation at the end that he will never be a great maestro but simple a compotent player.
Repetition within the visually appealing texts through the use of descriptive language is used to reinforce specific, defining images. McLean uses the repeated vocabulary ‘Starry Starry Night’, to prove that the dominant features of Van Gogh’s painting are the stars. The repetition of the coloured adjectives such as ‘blue’ ‘grey’ and ‘violet’ demonstrate a variety of colours that depict what Van Gogh paintings looks like. ‘Flaming flowers’ and ‘Swirling clouds’ prove the repetitive use of intertextuality within McLean’s song as they are references to Van Gogh’s paintings. Repetition is therefore used within the song to prove that intertextuality is used to make the audience aware of the impressionist influences within the text which therefore proves that McLean values Vincent Van Gogh’s history.
A variety of language techniques within Vincent and Maestro are therefore used to create a myriad of distinctively visual images which subsequently depict cultural, historical and emotional values towards society which therefore reveal human experiences. By revealing specific images the composers have forced audiences to expose their perspectives upon particular values. Language techniques that create visual imagery therefore shape meaning towards audiences by depicting values within our societyYou still need to make reference to 2 or 3 other scenes from Maestro to show thorough textual knowledge - also use some of the following for Starry Starry Night BUT IN YOUR OWN WORDS –McLean has incorporated simple language, potent visual images and highly emotive mood music to convey his views of the artist, Vincent Van Gogh, his life and work. Due to the musical form ,McLean’s text seamlessly combines language and musical techniques.
“Shadows on the hil, sketch the trees and the daffodils” the rhythm is regular and pleasant, the assonance or end rhyme within “hill” and Daffodils” creates music and flow while the simple words paint a very clear vision for the audience. Another highly effective technique is repetition, both in the chorus and throughout the song, such as ; “ragged men in ragged clothes.
“Starry starry night” These echoing phrases are again distinctly visual and aural in impact and the gentle’ haunting solo voice of the persona combines with these techniques to engage the listener’s emotions and convey the composer’s views of Van Gogh. Indeed the opening line is the title of one of the paintings and the responder omagines these artworks as they hear the song.
Because the medium of production is a song you must talk about musical techniques. .