Exploring Subtext

[kungfuwaynewho.livejournal.com]

Most of the time when we analyze an episode of television, we keep ourselves confined to the text - what was actually said, actually done.  But there is a wealth of information just below the surface, or hiding between the lines.  Subtext.  It can be one of the more difficult things to write, especially when it comes to film; you don't have the luxury of just writing what the characters are thinking that might be contrary to what they're saying.  A lot of it comes down to the actors and director interpreting the text, making it richer.

I have chosen a particularly meaty scene to try and explore what the subtext might have been.  This is only one possible look, of course; that's one of the great things about subtext.  Because it's implicit and not explicit, it lends itself to different interpretations, no single one objectively correct (especially if you're like me and don't mind ignoring authorial intent).  One of the things I like in this scene is that besides the subtext hiding behind the main focus of the scene, there is also a character without any lines at all who conveys a remarkable amount of information in a single shot.

You've already heard what they said. Now listen to what they're really saying.