Objects in Film
"Semiotics (the study of signs and symbols and their interpretation) and cinema are an interesting pair to explore side by side in an attempt to unhinge a film and dig for it’s meaning. Props and objects are peppered throughout history. They are sensorial and emotional instruments that filmmakers use to prod at their audiences. They are motifs that can express what is otherwise inexpressible. They can reveal the inner struggles of characters, or evoke fear and suspense in the audience’s mind.
They can represent characters, or quite literally be characters. They can be oranges, paintings, typewriters, wands, cocktails, stones or even a plastic bag. Whatever form they take, they’re there for a reason. We might not give them much thought, but we interact with them in every film we watch whether we know it or not. Some directors use them selectively (Steven Spielberg) and some use them obsessively (Wes Anderson). Guillermo del Toro loves objects so much that he bought a house to collect them in."
