The Shoe-Horn Sonata 'And The Lost Thing'

Distinctively visual techniques are crucial elements in conveying a sense of actuality of an event. They aid the reader’s insight and perspective sparking emotions of joy or empathy for the characters. In John Misto’s play, “The Shoe-Horn Sonata”, the use of distinctively visual assists in creating the atmosphere, in order to highlight the WWII catastrophe’s the protagonists encountered. In addition, this is thoroughly examined in the John Misto’s interview. Similarly, in the picture book “The Lost Thing” by Shaun Tan, the incorporated visuals assist in telling a young boy and a machine-like creature’s adventure in unraveling the true face of society. Both texts, make use of of the reader’s interpretations to depict the character’s physical

Society began to neglect the child as he set forth on this adventure, demonstrated when the 3 mafia members, effortlessly raised their hand at the child symbolising the “talk to the hand” gesture. The symbolic gesture represents a contemptuous way of dismissing someone, highlighting the new face of society towards the boy. His former connection with society is seem to deplenish, emphasised through the small series of pink fluff on the top of the picture. As the fluff progressively becomes smaller and inevitably tears apart, it is symbolic of the progressive loss of connection with society, hence the final image is just the scattered remains of what was once there. This boy’s heroic acts and drive to find the creature a home, were never recognised as it was not in par to the original quotas of society, to which the boy is seen to be fading away in a generic train, with simple human beings without any recognition or celebration. Throughout both texts, the notion of heroism is clearly illustrated through compelling images and sounds, allowing for the protagonists to be recognised for their noble