The example of the common metaphor “life is a rollercoaster” portrays how even such a simple form of the versatile device communicates a profound message, and helps us, language users, to grasp an abstract concept. Metaphor however, is not just a linguistic device, it is indeed fundamental in everyday life (Lakoff and Johnson 3). Even in the medium of film people make use of the device in the form of filmic metaphor. In all these different instances the omnipresent device allows us to understand and grasp abstract concepts by mapping them to another domain.
Pixar’s Inside Out is a valuable example of how metaphor in film is used. The comedy-drama introduces five little figures who are embodiments of the five basic human emotions, and live in a young girls head. In the following paper I will analyse the movie Inside Out as an example of how metaphor in film is used to communicate and clarify human emotions. Prior to the investigation of the device in the computer-animated movie, a theoretical view on metaphor in general will be provided. On this occasion, I will present a rough overview of the conceptual metaphor theory. The concept of metaphor will then be elaborated in reference to film metaphor. Subsequently, I will apply the theoretical basis to the movie Inside Out. Pixar’s use of metaphor in the comedy-drama will be analysed in detail. With the focus on the following emotions: joy, sadness, and anger, I will demonstrate how the metaphor of emotion and brain function is displayed in the movie. Furthermore, the metaphorical visualisation of growing up will be addressed.
Table of Contents
- 1. Introduction
- 2. An Overview of Metaphor in General
- 3. How and Why the Linguistic Device is Used in Movies
- 3.1 The Concept of Metaphor Applied to Motion Pictures
- 3.2 Emotion Metaphors Visualized in Film
- 4. Emotions and Brain Function as a Metaphor in Pixar's Inside Out
- 4.1 The Visual Representation of Metaphors
- 4.2 How Coming of Age is Illustrated through Metaphor
- 5. Conclusion
Objectives and Key Themes
The objective of this paper is to analyze how filmic metaphor is used to communicate and clarify human emotions, using Pixar's Inside Out as a case study. The paper begins with a theoretical overview of metaphor in general and its application to film before focusing on the specific use of metaphor in Inside Out.
- The nature and function of metaphor in general.
- The application of conceptual metaphor theory to film.
- The visualization of emotions as metaphors in film.
- The use of filmic metaphor in Pixar's Inside Out to represent emotions and brain function.
- The portrayal of coming-of-age through metaphor in Inside Out.
Chapter Summaries
1. Introduction: This introductory chapter sets the stage for the analysis by illustrating the power of metaphor to convey abstract concepts, using the example of "life is a rollercoaster." It introduces Pixar's Inside Out as a prime example of filmic metaphor and outlines the paper's structure: a theoretical overview of metaphor, followed by an analysis of its use in the film, focusing on the emotions of joy, sadness, and anger, and the metaphorical representation of growing up. The chapter establishes the film's central premise of personified emotions residing within the protagonist's mind and highlights the importance of understanding how the film uses metaphor to convey these abstract concepts.
2. An Overview on Metaphor in General: This chapter provides a theoretical foundation by exploring the core concept of metaphor as "understanding and experiencing one kind of thing in terms of another" (Lakoff and Johnson 5). It introduces the Conceptual Metaphor Theory (CMT), which posits that humans understand abstract concepts by mapping them onto less abstract domains (source domain to target domain). This chapter establishes the groundwork for understanding how metaphors function and are used to make sense of abstract ideas, setting the stage for the subsequent analysis of filmic metaphor.
3. How and Why the Linguistic Device is Used in Movies: This chapter expands the discussion of metaphor to the realm of film. It introduces Forceville's argument that conceptual metaphors are not limited to language but can be multimodal, appearing in various forms (pictorial, spoken, written, etc.). The concept of "multimodal metaphor" is explained, where the target and source domains are represented in different modes, enriching the metaphorical experience. The chapter further defines "filmic metaphor" as a metaphor where the filmic level is essential for its understanding, establishing a framework for analyzing the visual metaphors in Inside Out.
4. Emotions and Brain Function as a Metaphor in Pixar's Inside Out: This chapter delves into the specific use of metaphor in Inside Out. It describes the film's visual representation of emotions as personified characters residing in Riley's head, functioning as a control panel for her actions. The chapter analyzes this as an ontological metaphor, giving physical form to abstract emotions, making them more readily graspable for the audience. The chapter lays the foundation for further analysis of specific emotions and their representation.
Keywords
Filmic metaphor, conceptual metaphor theory (CMT), multimodal metaphor, Pixar's Inside Out, emotion metaphors, visual representation of emotions, coming-of-age, animation, cognitive linguistics.
Frequently Asked Questions: A Comprehensive Language Preview
What is the main topic of this paper?
This paper analyzes how filmic metaphor is used to communicate and clarify human emotions, using Pixar's Inside Out as a case study. It explores the use of metaphor in film to represent abstract concepts like emotions and the process of growing up.
What are the key themes explored in the paper?
The paper explores the nature and function of metaphor in general, the application of conceptual metaphor theory to film, the visualization of emotions as metaphors in film, the use of filmic metaphor in Inside Out to represent emotions and brain function, and the portrayal of coming-of-age through metaphor in Inside Out.
What theoretical framework is used in this analysis?
The analysis utilizes Conceptual Metaphor Theory (CMT), which explains how humans understand abstract concepts by mapping them onto less abstract domains. The paper also discusses the concept of multimodal metaphor, where metaphors are expressed through various modes like visuals, speech, and text.
How does the paper analyze Pixar's Inside Out?
The paper analyzes Inside Out as a prime example of filmic metaphor. It examines how the film visually represents emotions as personified characters residing in the protagonist's head, functioning as a control panel for her actions. The analysis focuses on specific emotions (joy, sadness, anger) and how the film uses metaphor to illustrate the coming-of-age process.
What are the chapter summaries?
The paper is structured as follows: Chapter 1 introduces the concept and the film; Chapter 2 provides a theoretical overview of metaphor; Chapter 3 extends this to filmic metaphor; Chapter 4 analyzes the use of metaphor in Inside Out; Chapter 5 concludes the analysis. Each chapter builds upon the previous one, progressing from general theory to specific application.
What are the key words associated with this paper?
Key words include: Filmic metaphor, conceptual metaphor theory (CMT), multimodal metaphor, Pixar's Inside Out, emotion metaphors, visual representation of emotions, coming-of-age, animation, and cognitive linguistics.
What is the overall objective of this research?
The objective is to demonstrate how filmic metaphor effectively communicates and clarifies complex human emotions, using a detailed analysis of Inside Out as a case study to support the claims. It aims to contribute to the understanding of how metaphors function in film and how they can be used to convey abstract concepts.
What makes Inside Out a suitable case study?
Inside Out is an ideal case study because it explicitly uses personified emotions as a central narrative device. This makes the film's use of metaphor readily apparent and allows for a detailed analysis of how these visual metaphors contribute to the film's narrative and thematic development.
- Citar trabajo
- Lou Maier (Autor), 2018, How Film Metaphor is Used. Using the Example of Pixar's "Inside Out", Múnich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/438864
