Distinctively visual images can communicate important ideas to responders, allowing them to understand the perspective of the composer and the purpose of the text. In the “Shoe Horn Sonata” John Misto creates a play that surrounds two Prisoners of Wars (POW’s) characters who are forced to relive the memories of the past through an interview for a TV documentary. Through a variety of dramatic techniques, Misto suffering of the POW’s, the strength of music and hope, and the healing nature of truth. Similarly, written by Bruce Dawe the poem “Weapons Training” employs a variety of techniques to create the distinctively visual image of the issues of the harsh realities of war through the brutal nature and the idea that death can come at any moment.
In the Shoe Horn Sonata, the composer creates a distinctively visual image of the suffering POW’s. Through the projection of photographic slides, images of extremely starved and emaciated women are depicted. The distinctively visual image of hope is created as the women form a choir, as they are able to life the prisoner’s spirits up. The power of music is evident, through the repetition of “rose and rose” and the women are able to “forgets the japs, forget our hunger, forget everything” communicated through Sheila. This also creates the image of the strength all the POW’s held to endure the harsh treatment of the Japanese soldiers and also to overcome the atrocities of war, enabling audiences to recognize and commemorate the sacrifices made by the POW.
The healing nature of truth suggested as a distinctively visual image is created, allowing audiences to feel enlightened. There is an acknowledge of Bridie and Sheila’s reunification and a realisation that the war is over for them both as they reveal the truths they have been suppressing. Through Bridie’s rhetorical question of, “Do you want me to tell the