How useful has an ideological approach been in understanding binary oppositions in the narratives of your chosen films?

How useful has an ideological approach been in understanding binary oppositions in the narratives of your chosen films?

Plan:
-intro
- timing placement
- good vs bad (tommy)
- life vs drugs (unemployment)

Critical to the narrative, the ideology through binary oppositions creates confliction which drives the character development. As a result, these reveal the personal morals of characters and the impacts upon society that affect the protagonists, creating the drive and drama, causing the affliction for resolution or the tensity of modification.

The sequence which diverts from the main genre of the film is one which conveys the pleasure of the characters, the nightclub scene. It is the climatic moment which to the audience seems to be a normal night out, however for the narrative has serious consequences which links to later events. In Leith, the culture of the 80s is critical to the development within the plot, it showcases each other the significant characters dealing in their own ways, but ultimately with the same intentions. Through the use of lighting; strobe, multi-coloured lights, and the audio of 'Temptation' by New Order. Each character is designed to wear typical costumes, which would be the normality due to the film showcasing the shift between eras, such as Begbie who represents the older generation in a denim jacket, polo neck, jeans. The only character which could be considered to look like a cross between the 80s and 90s due to his half-shirt and buzz cut, common in the 90s too. In this scene, we see all of the major characters, including the introduction of Diane which leads into their relationship (and a concern due to the age difference) which creates the connection of friendship and companionship which is key to the film plot, especially when it comes to the betrayal.

This is heavily contrasted with the nightclub in London that Renton and Begbie visit to escape the confined space of Renton’s room. This scene should only consist of Renton, however the uninvited appearance of Begbie causes Renton's past to still linger within this unnatural atmosphere. The reflection of the change is the set design of the London Nightclub. Unlike Leith, this nightclub consists of more modern elaborations such as different types of lighting, such as _____. The representation of the people reflect the change also, causing Begbie to stand out. They are portrayed to be a younger audience, hinting at the youth in London culture. Between Leith and London, the ideologies are portrayed to be very different. This is reflected with the context which Renton says 'we're all heterosexual by default', showing the open-mindness to this place. Later in the scene, this is physically represented by a transexual character, who is shown to have relations with Begbie. Renton's change in place is due to Diane's influence where she claims the the is 'dead', she represents the shift in time which is a significant ideology within the narrative; the change to matureness. Focused on its humour, Diane’s reveal of being a 14 year old schoolgirl shows that she reflects the new age. 

The nightclub sequence also reveals the tense underlay between Tommy and his girlfriend that eventually results after that night in Tommy’s downfall. This is severely due to the actions of Renton, however director Danny Boyle  creates active spectatorship by this lack of guilt from Renton. The fate of Tommy  is one which highlights immensely the binary opposition of the main theme consisted throughout the narration; life and drugs. To make a clear finale to the opposition of drugs, the result is Tommy’s death. This is significantly shown through the mise-en-scene and colouring of the setting, conflicting the beginning to the end. An outsider to the rest of the main protagonists, Tommy is defined as the ‘good’ character, first shown lifting weights in his brightly, yet natural, apartment. This shows that he is not only healthy but happy too, a very different environment to ‘Mother Superior’s’, the opium den. The downfall is heavily linked to the outcome of dependent drug use, showing how significant the understand of the effects are. By being told by a previously unseen character, the ending to Tommy is told with a distance. As the character narrates the shot, a shot of Tommy’s grey wall with a ripped Iggy Pop poster and kitten is panned out, revealing a deserted football and then his legs on the floor as his body is off camera. This is a physical representation of the characterisation of Tommy, the room being silent creating a heavy impact.

Tommy’s downfall is due to that first trial of heroin, using a shared needle which results in AIDS. This is also a clear indication of the societal views on drugs during the era of Margret Thatcher.  Within the 80s and 90s, drug use was glamorised by icons such as Iggy Pop, ironically used within the film, however effects like HIV and AIDS was shunned due to the political associations with drugs addicts and the LGBT+ community. The significance of the use of drugs in this film, fuelling the characters' motives. This is shown from the very beginning of the film through Renton’s narration, highlighting him as the protagonist. He uses the repetition of ‘choose...’ in short phrases to emphasise the harshness and directness of reality with normal aspects of life such as ‘washing machines’. This progressly advances to more overly-dramatic examples, showing his characteristics of Renton and his societal opinions. In the result of this monologue, Renton says ‘I chose not to choose life’ making a clear contrast to his use of heroin. By this point this is also reflected visually, showing Renton in ecstasy whilst taking heroin, yet the editing showing him in the same position in both a football field and the opium den. He lands in the opium den, showing where his true needs lie. 

The use of drugs being compared to life is the most significant aspect of the film, since it influences the narrative immensely. There are moments in the film in which we see the protagonists try to survive in a ‘normal’ lifestyle, one of these being when Spud aims to get a job. We see Renton and Spud beforehand in a milkshake bar, Renton trying to prepare Spud. This results in Renton offering drugs to him, showing the serious dependency which the characters have onto drugs. As a result, this ends  in Spud’s dialogue being ecstatic, providing humour yet when put into context is shown to be show his evident dependency on it that he can not even focus on a substantial life. This is also clear within the climatic moment of the narrative, the specific turning point in the film; when Renton overdoes on heroin. The humour provide do by ‘mother superior’ and Renton through a mockery of a restaurant contrasts to the seriousness of the later circumstances, the vividness of the red colouring a visual foreshadow by aligning the colours to the emotions. The lack of audio within this scene, save from the intimate sounds from the heroin and gasps of Renton create a personal inclusion for the audience, the scene being immersed in this one moment. The climatic moment then changes in a serene way, the floor going down to form a coffin-like situation, the red velvet carpet emphasising this. Through point-of-view shots from Renton's perspective, Boyle uses the carpet on the sides of the shots to create the illusion of the coffin and reflect how drugs could overpower Renton's life.