Television shows have the power to transport us to different worlds, engage us with intricate storytelling, and offer insightful commentary on societal issues. One such show that masterfully accomplishes all of these is "BoJack Horseman." In its third season, the episode titled "Fish out of Water" (Season 3, Episode 4) stands out as a remarkable example of how mise-en-scène, a concept rooted in filmmaking, can be used to create a powerful narrative and commentary on cultural contexts.
Mise-en-scène, a French term that translates to "placing on stage," refers to the arrangement of visual elements within a scene. It encompasses everything from set design and lighting to costumes and props, all of which work together to convey emotions, themes, and messages. In "Fish out of Water," the creators of BoJack Horseman employ mise-en-scène to immerse viewers in an underwater world, creating an environment that both amplifies the plot and provides cultural commentary.
The episode "Fish out of Water" presents an intriguing blend of cultural contexts and themes that resonate with contemporary audiences. BoJack finds himself submerged underwater in a city populated by underwater creatures, where speech is impossible due to the aquatic environment. This concept of communication barriers serves as a metaphor for the challenges we face in our interconnected yet often misunderstood world. The episode explores themes of isolation, miscommunication, and the yearning for connection, which are deeply relevant to the digital age we live in.
Analyzing Mise-en-Scène in "Fish out of Water":
Visual Aesthetics: The underwater mise-en-scène is visually captivating, featuring a mesmerizing palette of aquatic colors and unique underwater architecture. The use of soft lighting and bioluminescent effects create a dreamlike atmosphere, enhancing the sense of otherworldliness.
Sound and Music: In the absence of traditional dialogue, sound and music play a crucial role in conveying emotions and storytelling. The carefully curated sound design, including ambient underwater noises and emotive musical cues, guides the audience through BoJack's journey.
Character Expressions: Without the ability to speak, characters rely on expressive body language and gestures to communicate. This nonverbal communication becomes a focal point, highlighting the importance of empathy and understanding beyond words.
Discussion Questions:
- How does the underwater setting and the absence of verbal communication impact the way characters interact and express themselves? What emotions or thoughts do these nonverbal cues convey?
- How does the underwater city in "Fish out of Water" mirror aspects of our own society, where communication barriers and cultural differences can hinder effective understanding? Can you draw any parallels between the challenges faced by the characters in the episode and real-world scenarios?
- The underwater setting plays a significant role in shaping the narrative and the emotions conveyed. Analyze how the mise-en-scène of the underwater city contributes to the overall atmosphere and themes of the episode. Consider elements such as lighting, color palette, set design, and character expressions in your response.
- Lastly, have you seen other episodes of this show? did you like this episode? Why/why not?
1.
ReplyDeleteThe underwater setting forces the characters to use body language, almost as if the episode is an older cartoon, with more slapstick elements. Ignoring the end, where we find out there was a push to talk feature in the helmets all along, Bojack has to rely on the environment around him and his body language to communicate, which usually doesn’t work out well for him. The body language and reactions we see from the characters help us relate to them, notably being viewed through close up shots, etc. The most common ideas expressed are either melancholic, like when Bojack is looking back on the baby seahorse, or comedic, like with all the aforementioned slapstick sequences.
2.
The cityscape of the Fish out of Water city is very similar to the L.A. above, almost disregarding the potential cultural differences of the different animal species and how they would’ve evolved in the world of Bojack. My personal theory is that the ocean was heavily influenced by the economic and political might of the land creatures, which caused their society to follow, similar to how we see most modern cities mimic each other in the real world. Moving on, the communication barriers presented are the obvious main idea of the episode. Bojack can’t express himself in any way that he is used to, whether it be giving in to his vices in his apartment, or being unable to speak to anybody around him, he ironically *is* the fish out of water. The language barrier is used to isolate Bojack further with the thumbs up references. Before Bojack goes under, he is told to throw a thumbs up when he doesn’t know what to do, in a “smile and wave” sort of fashion. This backfires when he is stopped for an on the spot interview, and unknowingly gives a thumbs up to a presumably horrendous topic. The news spreads like wildfire, and comes back to bite him when he can’t catch a ride while stranded on the inter-ocean road. The language barrier in question parallels individuals visiting a country that speaks a different language than their native tongue in the real world, and to a degree, how either the immigrant or the people who live there feel entitled that the other should know how to communicate. Just like in the real world, we see annoyances and confusions expressed from both Bojack and the fish people with their inability to communicate directly.
3. The city proper parallels real life cities, with all their flashing lights and ridiculously tall buildings. The city is reminiscent of tourist cities in the real world, ones who everybody globally recognizes as tourist attractions in and of themselves. It also builds upon the hollywoo culture that is commentated on and criticized throughout the show. The text pretends to be a different language with the misshapen letters which I think was done to create the sense of a culture alien to Bojack (and by extent, the viewer) while keeping the gags understandable. Some of the more interesting mise en scene in the episode takes place in the middle of the story, while Bojack is trying to return the Baby seahorse. The directors explore the ocean environment with the seaweed and underground area that has (something idk) light up the area. The mystical nature of this sequence represents Bojack coming to terms with and understanding his current situation and the culture that surrounds him. The colors are varied, similar to coral reefs in the real world.
Delete4.
I have seen the entire show, and I plan on rewatching it again at some point. Bojack is one of my top 5 favorite shows ever made, and I think that it’s probably the best Netflix original animated series to ever be made thus far. While it isn’t the first episode I think of when I think of defining episodes in the series, Fish out of Water is definitely one of the higher ones on the list. After rewatching it for this response, I came to appreciate the soundtrack a lot more than I did before. There is the general water ambience sounds throughout the episode, but what I want to pay attention to is the score above it. There is the mysterious and ambient music that plays in some sections, that almost reminds me of Aquatic Ambience from DK Country ("Man Tasked With Making Score for a Monkey Riding a Swordfish Underwater Creates Transcendent Piece of Music"). Moving on, jazzier moments in the episode’s score are heard when Bojack is in the city proper, giving in to the vices of hollywoo culture. This helps contrast the more introspective experience of his story arc in the episode with Bojack not learning his lesson, as he tends to do. There is a nit-picky thing I want to point out in regards to the ending with Kelsey. I understand and appreciate the metaphor that Bojack’s message is getting smushed away, due to the time and place he attempts to apologize in combination with his narcissistic behavior; however, I must ask why everybody and their mom has a pen underwater if that’s how they end up working?? The signs etc. make sense because those don’t have to be made with ink, but what’s the point in having pens if they can’t be used?? 10/10 episode and 10/10 show, I could not recommend this show enough, much to the dismay of some of my friends.
1) The underwater setting and the absence of verbal communication impact the way characters interact and express themselves with almost all communication gone the episode relied on for the most part on visual cues and body language to show emotion. Characters used exaggerated facial expressions, and actions to talk. This was shown through the simple nods and hand gestures to more dramatic movements to convey urgency or frustration. "BoJack" for example often shows confusion or annoyance through the episode, reflecting his struggle to adapt to the environment. i would say the underwater setting creates a sense of isolation, as characters cannot engage in normal conversation. when BoJack's character typically uses sarcasm and humor to communicate most times. Without dialogue, the sound design and music has added significance. The underwater environment provides a short-of white noise with the sounds of bubbles and flowing water. The episode uses music to heighten emotional moments, a example of this is during BoJack's journey to find the baby seahorse. The audio cues helps the viewer emotional response and helps the mood of each scene. The nonverbal cues convey empathy and Connection it also led to misunderstandings and frustration. BoJack's inability to communicate with others in the city led to frustrating situations such as his struggle to understand signs or instructions.
ReplyDeleteHow does the underwater city in "Fish out of Water" mirror aspects of our own society, where communication barriers and cultural differences can hinder effective understanding?
2.) In the underwater city, BoJack's inability to speak or understand the language shows the communication challenges people face when going to different cultures or environments. This is like the real-world experience of anyone in a foreign place where language can lead to confusion and and sense of isolation. This episode underlines the discomfort that come with being unable to communicate properly. The underwater city has its own set of rules and cultural norms which are unfamiliar to BoJack. His struggle to understand these norms like the deciphering signs or following basic transportation rules goes to show how cultural differences can create obstacles. This aligns with real-life scenarios where cultural expectations may differ, leading to misinterpretations my own experience with this is when I went to Japan with my family it was very difficult to wrap my 12year old mind around being on the right side of the road and not knowing how to speak Japanese. ---------BoJack's journey through the underwater city is mainly alone, emphasizing the feeling of isolation that comes from being in a foreign place this sense of loneliness can be felt by anyone that has ever gone to a new environment/country, such as tourist, who can often find themselves feeling isolated due to language or cultural blocks. BoJack's isolation is further by the physical separation created by his diving helmet which is a literal barrier to connection.
ReplyDelete3.) The soft, blue-green hues and gentle lighting create a nice yet isolating underwater environment, highlighting BoJack's feeling of loneliness the darker tone and shadows emphasize the confusion and uncertainty as BoJack goes around the city. The set design and environment of the underwater city have familiar elements of aquatic features like sea creatures and kelp forest. This mix of known and unknown shows BoJack's struggle to find his place in an environment where the rules are unclear. The atmosphere and emotional tone of the underwater city's blends the beauty and chaos of BoJacks's emotional journey through the city. The atmosphere shifts between moments of calmness and scenes of confusion, highlighting the challenges and making sense of a new culture.
4)Lastly, have you seen other episodes of this show? did you like this episode? Why/why not?
yes i have, I just so happened to be watching it at the start of march so this was perfect for me. Yes i did like this episode the nonverbal elements was what made it a unique and immersive experience. That approach distinguishes the episode from the rest of the series but also allows for a deeper meaning behind BoJack and it help me really take some appreciation for the music used in the show and it helps me understand BoJack more he's always been a misunderstood character to me which is probably why i like the show so much
1. As it was the only way for Bojack to possibly communicate other than with gestures, a lot of his expressions were exaggerated to others and ourselves. As he was unable to properly communicate most of the time, he was often confused, afraid, frustrated and lost. This emotions were conveyed in examples such as when he had to help the seahorse give birth and when he threw the crumpled dollar at the store clerk because he wasn’t able to feed the lost baby.
ReplyDelete“Fish Out of Water” strongly mirrors the issues of communication barriers and cultural differences that can be seen in our own world as Bojack is constantly progressing into worse and worse situations. When he initially arrives in the underwater world, he soon realizes that he can’t smoke, drink, or eat. He additionally has to wear a helmet to allow him to breathe underwater, though he believes that it hinders him from being able to speak and communicate with other people. While he was in this underwater world, he was trying to speak with someone in an attempt to fix their relationship, though he was constantly getting caught by some inconvenience that he didn’t know how to handle or predict. He was forced onto a bus, forced to help a seahorse give birth on that same bus, accidentally ended up in possession of one of the seahorse’s children and had to return it and as a result he had to also navigate this foreign place alone. This got him into a lot of trouble; he ended up robbing a convenience store out of necessity because he didn’t have their form of currency, trying to escape a taffy factory, the list goes on. Additionally, his lack of cultural differences resulted in him being misinterpreted as a rude person because he gave people a thumbs-up. Additionally, he was forced to help the seahorse give birth because the driver wasn’t obligated per the sign onboard. When he finally got to the person he was trying to get in contact with the whole time, he handed her a heartfelt letter that got disfigured by the water, rendering his attempt useless. He ended up unable to get a chance to talk with her, with the episode ending on him finally realizing that all he needed to do was press a button on his helmet to talk to others. This is much like our own world; many places don’t use the same currency, there are many languages that are widely spoken, many cultures incredibly unique from one another, and more. If a person finds themselves in a place foreign to them, they may very well end up in a similar situation to Bojack’s. Money can be difficult to transfer to another currency, misinterpretations between people are very likely, and cultural differences can catch you by surprise and put you in uncomfortable or unfamiliar situations.
3. Though their world was shaped quite similarly to the world above and our own world, the people were different visually and in terms of language. It was oftentimes very difficult to communicate with them for Bojack. The atmosphere looked somewhat similar, though there were quite significant differences; he had to wear a helmet here, people bubbled instead of spoke, the food were fish pellets and their culture was difficult to grasp for him. The world, as it is underwater, is often silent or dulled, which makes for a lonely and mysterious atmosphere, perfectly highlighting how this place feels so alien to him.
Delete4. I have not seen other episodes of this show, though I do watch Schafrillas Productions on YouTube (I assume you’ve heard of him or watch him Mr. Lin) and he has lots and lots to say about the show. I’ve had it on the bucket list for a while, though I never got to it and at the moment I don’t have Netflix, so I haven’t had much of an opportunity to dedicate time to the show, but I very much want to. I did like the show and I think that it was a good introduction to it. It covered lots of real-world issues just as the rest of the show does, though I would assume that this episode was the one chosen for the screening schedule because I’m quite sure the rest of the show is quite inappropriate, so this episode was a good balance between appropriate for school as well as insightful in regards to real-world issues. I would definitely like to watch the rest of the show.
Where "Fish Out of Water" is in the first response is the beginning of the second question's answer.
Delete