The Shining: Steadicam and Symmetry

Steadicam and symmetry is seen in Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining where he uses his signature cinematography techniques of steadicam and symmetry throughout the movie. Steadicam can be seen most clearly during the chase scenes where it is done to keep the characters the same distance from the camera while following as a way to create the theme of horror as the effect on the audience is there is no escape. However when Johnny is following the steadicam its closer to him to show him closing in on Danny, this time the effect on the audience is closing in on Danny. While symmetry is used on each character in the film from Johnny sitting in the center of the lounge to Danny on his tricycle riding down the hall. In the first scenario this alludes to the theme of what drives Johnny mad by the sense of isolation on both the character and audience compared to the second scenario where its Danny’s intrigue in the hotel, however both show the theme of being alone by being central in an almost empty scene creating unease for the audience.

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One of the many scenes where both are included is during the first time Johnny goes into the Golden room and drinks at the bar. Steadicam is used similarly in both Gold room scenes but different in both. The first time is the more important as it can be as a comparison of how mad Johnny has become. During this scene when he enters the room the camera follows him to the bar where it shows the theme of isolation by showing the empty room, and clean tables with light shining clearly on the tables. This is also done to surprise the viewer when Lloyd  enters the scene, this is done by Kubrick cleverly, as by showing the empty room by steadicam it allows the audience to speculate is this a figment of Johnny’s madness or is this ghost. The smooth transition of going into the room could be significant for what is to occur in the scene such as Johnny passing into another world/time or that Lloyd is a ghost and the camera is Lloyd as the camera never cuts away from Johnny until Lloyd is apart of the focus. The audience could interpret the camera following Johnny and when looking at him at the bar being Lloyd possibly showing he is a ghost.

Symmetry is seen completely through the scene from Johnny walking through the corridor to sitting at the bar to Lloyd serving him. This gives the effect of isolation again in the corridor by Johnny walking centrally through the empty corridor what suggests a soulless room is ahead to further surprise the audience later in the scene. Symmetry is again used at the bar to show Johnny and Lloyd who are both in the central part of the bar, unlike last time  the symmetry signifies a mirror image of both characters what can either indicate that they have a connection or whatever happened to Lloyd will happen to Johnny. This will unlikely effect the audience until a second viewing as until the scene in the bathroom it starts to become clear the purpose of Lloyd.

Image result for The shining johnny at the barImage result for The shining johnny at the bar

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