Chen Zhao

Year 10 – Social Commentary Essay Task – Chen Zhao

Short film is a-valuable platform through which creators with social concerns-can comment on
important social issues. Through epitomising the effects of sociocultural issues in the portrayal of
alternate human experiences, viewers are able to relate and develop a greater understanding of the
social commentary. This is seen in Christopher Kezelos’ 2011 short film The Maker, which explores
humanity’s desire for legacy when existence is transitory and the need for culture and recreation,
as well as in Adam Davidson’s 1989 short film The Lunch Date, where a condemnation of society’s
ongoing racial profiling of blacks/and the dangers of/miscommunication and assumption are
communicated.

The short film The Maker is an interesting social commentary-on the transient nature of existence,
criticising the practice-of prolonging one’s existence through passing down legacy. This is shown
through the symbolism of an hourglass for the Maker’s-lifetime, which-communicates to the
audience life’s impermanence, as hourglasses are typically associated with short duration of time.
The low angle shot as the Maker plays the violin shows that he is in power – that he is making his
legacy, which is symbolically embodied by the second Maker, on which he had imprinted a symbol,
metaphorically-leaving a legacy for the future generation. However, the repetition of the scene
where the hourglass tips near the beginning-and end reveals a grim reality: that the by-product of
each Maker’s efforts is another Maker destined to continue the cycle, toiling an entire life for a few
seconds of happiness at the end. Therefore, audiences are shown the futility of passing down legacy
merely-to fulfil the desire to outlast one’s ephemeral existence.

The Maker also highlights to viewers the necessity of culture and recreation in a complete and
fulfilling life. This is seen when the Maker is trying to bring its creation to life, and resorts to playing
the violin, symbolistic for culture, which ultimately gives the creation consciousness, showing
audiences-that without culture, life is incomplete. Similarly, the film implies that a life full of work
is incomplete without some recreation, as seen in how the Maker spends all his-time working, yet
only brings his creation to life, possibly symbolism for his-own life’s fulfilment, once he partakes in
the recreation of playing the-violin, thus advocating the need for a balance of work-and recreation
for a healthy life. The use of a string-based soundtrack in a Romantic idiom-throughout the progress
of the Maker’s creation further indicates that a complete life comprises of culture. Thus, the value
of culture and recreation in life is accentuated to viewers.
 Chen Zhao

The Lunch Date is an innovative social/commentary condemning society’s racial profiling against
blacks, and how, despite opportunities to improve, it is still an ongoing problem. The aesthetic of
the short film highlights the widespread/and timeless nature of the issue, as shown in the
monochrome colour palette and early 1900s soundtrack, as well as the setting of Grand Central
Station, which/suggest that-such a problem/existed long ago, despite still being prevalent and
widespread nowadays. A criticism of society’s reluctance to improve is seen when the black man is
placed in the moral high ground after a twist ending which-reveals to the white woman that she
stole. Nonetheless, her dialogue, a few indifferent laughs, paired with her body language later,
ignoring the-begging black man, demonstrate her lack of effort-to improve, being metaphor for
society as a whole. Consequently, audiences are encouraged to better themselves, and not to
contribute to society’s racial profiling of blacks.

The Lunch Date also communicates the social issue of the dangers of miscommunication and
assumption. The cinematography is used to manipulate the-audience’s view, as seen when the man
is seen sitting at the diner-with the camera positioned so that the tag on his beanie is obvious, as
well as point-of-view shots which intentionally-omit the untouched salad in the next booth. This
places the audience in a collective mindset of-seeing the black man as morally inferior. This
assumption is challenged when viewers realise they have been misled, with a twist ending revealing
that the black man had the moral high ground-all along. Hence, the audience-is able to realise the
harmful effects of assumptions from miscommunicated information.

Short films are a-versatile and inexpensive means through which composers’ concerns on certain
important social issues can be conveyed to viewers. Seen in The Maker, viewers-witness a damning
critique of passing down legacies to-outlive life, and the notion of culture and recreation as essential
in a complete life is also emphasised. The Lunch Date’s aesthetic helps the audience understand the
author’s condemnation of racial profiling against blacks, and the cinematography allows for a
demonstration of the danger associated with miscommunication and assumption. In this way, short
films are a valuable conduit through which social commentary on various social issues can be viewed
by a wide audience.