The meaning of Kowalski's Presence to Dr. Stone in Cuaron's Gravity through mise-en-scène film study analysis.

i

ABSTRACT

Candra, Adhitya Ariyatno Wishnu. (2016). The Meaning of Kowalski’s Presence to Dr. Stone in Cuaron’s Gravity through Mise-en-scène Film Study Analysis. Yogyakarta: English Language Education Study Program, Department of Language and Arts Education, Faculty of Teachers Training and Education. Sanata Dharma University.

Human being is like a machine that cannot be separated from one another. Every single part plays the role so the machine works as good as it is meant to be. That is the meaning which can be taken in Cuaron’s Gravity. Cuaron wants to reveal

how important someone’s life can be to another in this film.

This study aims to reveal the literal and deeper meaning of Kowalski’s presence in Gravity film. There are two formulated problems in this study, namely

“What is the literal meaning of Kowalski’s presence for Dr. Stone?” and “What is the deeper meaning of Kowalski’s presence for Dr. Stone through mise-en-scène

film study analysis?”

This study applied library research. The primary data was obtained from the film entitled Gravity. The film is directed by Alfonso Cuaron and cinematographed by Emmanuel Lubezki Morgenstern. Meanwhile, the secondary data were taken from other relevant sources, such as related books, journals, and the internet. The approach used in this study is Formalism Approach. The theories used are the theory of filmmaking which are the angle, character placement, and color values.

There are two findings in this study. The first finding is the literal meaning of Kowalski’s presence for Dr. Stone which serves as a tool for Dr. Stone to move forward and let go her sorrow that has eclipsed her life for far too long. The second finding is the deeper meaning of Kowalski’s presence to Dr. Stone. It reminds the writer of the presence of a sincere and faithful companion which is later related to an image of the stars based on the frames that are taken in the film.

Having analyzed the film, it can be concluded that human being is like a machine that cannot be separated from one another. This reminds us as human beings to reflect the reason why God created us in this world and how important

someone’s life can be to another.

Keywords: presence, literal meaning, deeper meaning, mise-en-scène, film, Gravity

ii ABSTRAK

Candra, Adhitya Ariyatno Wishnu. (2016). The Meaning of Kowalski’s Presence to Dr. Stone in Cuaron’s Gravity through Mise-en-scène Film Study Analysis. Yogyakarta: Program Studi Pendidikan Bahasa Inggris, Jurusan Pendidikan Bahasa dan Seni, Fakultas Keguruan dan Ilmu Pendidikan. Universitas Sanata Dharma.

Manusia itu seperti halnya sebuah mesin, tidak bisa terpisah dari satu dengan yang lain. Setiap bagian itu memiliki tujuannya masing-masing agar mesin itu berfungsi dengan baik. Itulah sebuah makna yang dapat diambil di film Gravity yang disutradarai oleh Alfonso Cuaron. Dalam cerita film ini, Cuaron ingin mengungkapkan betapa pentingnya peran kehidupan seseorang itu kepada yang lain.

Tujuan dari studi ini adalah untuk mengungkap makna literal dan makna mendalam kehadiran Kowalski untuk Dr. Stone dalam film Gravity. Ada dua hal yang menjadi permasalahan utama dalam studi ini, yaitu “Apa makna literal kehadiran Kowalski untuk Dr. Stone?” dan “Apa makna mendalam kehadiran Kowalski untuk Dr. Stone dengan analisis mise-en-scène?”

Studi ini menggunakan penelitian kepustakaan. Data utama didapat dari film berjudul Gravity yang disutradarai oleh Alfonso Cuaron dan disinematografikan oleh Emmanuel Lubezki Morgenstern. Data yang kedua diambil dari sumber-sumber relevan seperti buku, jurnal, dan internet yang berkaitan. Pendekatan yang digunakan dalam studi ini adalah Pendekatan Formalisme. Teori yang digunakan adalah teori perfilman mengenai sudut pengambilan gambar, peletakan karakter pada bingkai dan pemaknaan warna.

Terdapat dua temuan dalam studi ini. Temuan pertama adalah makna literal kehadiran Kowalski untuk Dr. Stone yang merupakan sebuah alat untuk membantu Dr. Stone bergerak maju meninggalkan kesedihan di masa lalunya yang telah menghalangi kehidupannya. Temuan kedua yakni makna mendalam kehadiran Kowalski untuk Dr. Stone yang mengingatkan penulis tentang keberadaan sosok teman setia yang kemudian dapat dikaitkan dengan sosok sebuah bintang berdasarkan dari gambar-gambar yang diambil di dalam film tersebut.

Setelah menganalisa film ini, dapat disimpulkan bahwa manusia itu seperti halnya sebuah mesin, tidak bisa terpisah dari bagian-bagian yang saling memerlukan satu dengan yang lain. Hal ini mengingatkan kita manusia untuk melihat kembali alasan mengapa Tuhan menciptakan manusia di dunia dan bagaimana pentingnya kehadiran seseorang terhadap yang lainnya.

Kata kunci: presence, literal meaning, deeper meaning, mise-en-scène, film, Gravity

THE MEANING OF

KOWALSKI’S PRESENCE

TO DR. STONE

IN CUARON’S

GRAVITY THROUGH MISE-EN-SCÈNE

FILM STUDY ANALYSIS

A SARJANA PENDIDIKAN FINAL PAPER Presented as Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements

to Obtain the Sarjana Pendidikan Degree in English Language Education

By

Adhitya Ariyatno Wishnu Candra Student Number: 101214170

ENGLISH LANGUAGE EDUCATION STUDY PROGRAM DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND ARTS EDUCATION

FACULTY OF TEACHERS TRAINING AND EDUCATION SANATA DHARMA UNIVERSITY

YOGYAKARTA 2016

i

THE MEANING OF

KOWALSKI’S PRESENCE TO DR. STONE

IN CUARON’S

GRAVITY THROUGH MISE-EN-SCÈNE

FILM STUDY ANALYSIS

A SARJANA PENDIDIKAN FINAL PAPER Presented as Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements

to Obtain the Sarjana Pendidikan Degree in English Language Education

By

Adhitya Ariyatno Wishnu Candra Student Number: 101214170

ENGLISH LANGUAGE EDUCATION STUDY PROGRAM DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND ARTS EDUCATION

FACULTY OF TEACHERS TRAINING AND EDUCATION SANATA DHARMA UNIVERSITY

YOGYAKARTA 2016

iv

The boast of heraldry, the pomp of power,

And all that beauty, all that wealth e'er gave,

Awaits alike the inevitable hour.

The paths of glory lead but to the grave.

-Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard -

- Thomas Gray -

THIS FINAL PAPER IS DEDICATED TO :

MY PARENTS

MY FAMILY

MY FRIENDS

And MYSELF

vii

ABSTRACT

Candra, Adhitya Ariyatno Wishnu. (2016). The Meaning of Kowalski’s Presence to Dr. Stone in Cuaron’s Gravity through Mise-en-scène Film Study Analysis. Yogyakarta: English Language Education Study Program, Department of Language and Arts Education, Faculty of Teachers Training and Education. Sanata Dharma University.

Human being is like a machine that cannot be separated from one another. Every single part plays the role so the machine works as good as it is meant to be. That is the meaning which can be taken in Cuaron’s Gravity. Cuaron wants to reveal how important someone’s life can be to another in this film.

This study aims to reveal the literal and deeper meaning of Kowalski’s presence in Gravity film. There are two formulated problems in this study, namely “What is the literal meaning of Kowalski’s presence for Dr. Stone?” and “What is the deeper meaning of Kowalski’s presence for Dr. Stone through mise-en-scène film study analysis?”

This study applied library research. The primary data was obtained from the film entitled Gravity. The film is directed by Alfonso Cuaron and cinematographed by Emmanuel Lubezki Morgenstern. Meanwhile, the secondary data were taken from other relevant sources, such as related books, journals, and the internet. The approach used in this study is Formalism Approach. The theories used are the theory of filmmaking which are the angle, character placement, and color values.

There are two findings in this study. The first finding is the literal meaning of Kowalski’s presence for Dr. Stone which serves as a tool for Dr. Stone to move forward and let go her sorrow that has eclipsed her life for far too long. The second finding is the deeper meaning of Kowalski’s presence to Dr. Stone. It reminds the writer of the presence of a sincere and faithful companion which is later related to an image of the stars based on the frames that are taken in the film.

Having analyzed the film, it can be concluded that human being is like a machine that cannot be separated from one another. This reminds us as human beings to reflect the reason why God created us in this world and how important someone’s life can be to another.

Keywords: presence, literal meaning, deeper meaning, mise-en-scène, film, Gravity

viii ABSTRAK

Candra, Adhitya Ariyatno Wishnu. (2016). The Meaning of Kowalski’s Presence to Dr. Stone in Cuaron’s Gravity through Mise-en-scène Film Study Analysis. Yogyakarta: Program Studi Pendidikan Bahasa Inggris, Jurusan Pendidikan Bahasa dan Seni, Fakultas Keguruan dan Ilmu Pendidikan. Universitas Sanata Dharma.

Manusia itu seperti halnya sebuah mesin, tidak bisa terpisah dari satu dengan yang lain. Setiap bagian itu memiliki tujuannya masing-masing agar mesin itu berfungsi dengan baik. Itulah sebuah makna yang dapat diambil di film Gravity yang disutradarai oleh Alfonso Cuaron. Dalam cerita film ini, Cuaron ingin mengungkapkan betapa pentingnya peran kehidupan seseorang itu kepada yang lain.

Tujuan dari studi ini adalah untuk mengungkap makna literal dan makna mendalam kehadiran Kowalski untuk Dr. Stone dalam film Gravity. Ada dua hal yang menjadi permasalahan utama dalam studi ini, yaitu “Apa makna literal kehadiran Kowalski untuk Dr. Stone?” dan “Apa makna mendalam kehadiran Kowalski untuk Dr. Stone dengan analisis mise-en-scène?”

Studi ini menggunakan penelitian kepustakaan. Data utama didapat dari film berjudul Gravity yang disutradarai oleh Alfonso Cuaron dan disinematografikan oleh Emmanuel Lubezki Morgenstern. Data yang kedua diambil dari sumber-sumber relevan seperti buku, jurnal, dan internet yang berkaitan. Pendekatan yang digunakan dalam studi ini adalah Pendekatan Formalisme. Teori yang digunakan adalah teori perfilman mengenai sudut pengambilan gambar, peletakan karakter pada bingkai dan pemaknaan warna.

Terdapat dua temuan dalam studi ini. Temuan pertama adalah makna literal kehadiran Kowalski untuk Dr. Stone yang merupakan sebuah alat untuk membantu Dr. Stone bergerak maju meninggalkan kesedihan di masa lalunya yang telah menghalangi kehidupannya. Temuan kedua yakni makna mendalam kehadiran Kowalski untuk Dr. Stone yang mengingatkan penulis tentang keberadaan sosok teman setia yang kemudian dapat dikaitkan dengan sosok sebuah bintang berdasarkan dari gambar-gambar yang diambil di dalam film tersebut.

Setelah menganalisa film ini, dapat disimpulkan bahwa manusia itu seperti halnya sebuah mesin, tidak bisa terpisah dari bagian-bagian yang saling memerlukan satu dengan yang lain. Hal ini mengingatkan kita manusia untuk melihat kembali alasan mengapa Tuhan menciptakan manusia di dunia dan bagaimana pentingnya kehadiran seseorang terhadap yang lainnya.

Kata kunci: presence, literal meaning, deeper meaning, mise-en-scène, film, Gravity

ix

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I really thank Jesus Christ for His love, blessings, guidance, and mercy. It is Him, the Lord who guided this final paper to be finished.

I express my gratitude to Christina Kristiyani, S.Pd., M.Pd. for her time and guidance through the long process of finishing this final paper from the very first beginning until the end. The suggestions, advice, knowledge, and support are so meaningful and precious.

My greatest thanks go to my father Drs. Triyatno and my mother Puji Lestari, S.Pd., who have prayed, supported, and motivated me to finish this study. Their provisions are much more precious than diamond, so I can finish this study.

I would also like to thank all ELESP students batch 2010, especially Class C and many others for supporting me to finish this final paper. I also thank Onegai Shelter community for the stories and laughter that make this final paper become so colorful.

x

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page

TITLE PAGE ... i

APPROVAL PAGE ... ii

DEDICATION PAGE ... iv

STATEMENT OF WORK’S ORIGINALITY ... v

LEMBAR PERNYATAAN PERSETUJUAN PUBLIKASI ... vi

ABSTRACT ... vii

ABSTRAK ... viii

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ... ix

TABLE OF CONTENTS ... x

LIST OF FIGURES ... xi

CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTION A. Background of the Study ... 1

B. Approach of the Study ... 5

CHAPTER II. DISCUSSION A. The Literal Meaning of Kowalski’s Presence for Dr. Stone ... 9

B. The Deeper Meaning of Kowalski’s Presence for Dr. Stone ... 11

CHAPTER III. CONCLUSIONS, RECOMMENDATIONS, AND IMPLICATIONS A. Conclusions ... 20

B. Recommendations ... 21

C. Implications ... 22

xi

LIST OF FIGURES

Figure Page

Figure 2.1 Kowalski warns Dr. Stone about the incoming debris ... 12

Figure 2.2 Kowalski saves Dr. Stone from floating ... 14

Figure 2.3 Kowalski tells Dr. Stone to let him go ... 16

1

CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION

This chapter consists of the background of the study and the approach of the

study. The background of the study includes the writer’s reasons for choosing the movie entitled Gravity by Alfonso Cuaron, the brief summary of the film, the aim of this study and the research problem. The approach of this study explains the sources used by the writer to conduct the research and the procedures of this study.

A. Background of the Study

This study uses a film entitled Gravity as the subject of the study. The movie is based on the screenplay written by Alfonso Cuaron, who is also the director of this movie. Gravity is a movie about a medical engineer and an astronaut survival attempt after a catastrophe destroys their shuttle and leaves them adrift in orbit. The cinematographer of this movie is Emmanuel Lubezki Morgenstern, a Mexican cinematographer who has won the Academy Award for Best Cinematography on 2014 and on 2015, including Gravity, consecutively. This movie was released on October 2013 and it had won many Oscars including Best Cinematography, Best Director, Best Film Editing, Best Sound Editing, Best Sound Mixing, Best Music Written for Motion Pictures and Original Score, and Best Visual Effects. This movie also won four BAFTAs and one Golden Globe. Therefore, it becomes an interesting movie to analyze.

As Brown (2012) says, a film is a language and within it there are specific vocabularies and sublanguages of the lens, composition, visual design, lighting, image control, continuity, movement, and point-of-view. Furthermore, learning how vocabularies and languages are made is a fascinating lifelong study. Analyzing a film is like analyzing a language as the art from all precise elements that are being used in a film.

The story of the movie begins in 2014, with a Bio-Medical engineer Dr. Ryan Stone as a Mission Specialist on her first space shuttle mission, STS-157. She is on a spacewalk repairing a panel on the Hubble Space Telescope, accompanied by a veteran astronaut Matt Kowalski, who is commanding his final expedition. The Mission Control, Houston, suddenly instructs them to abort their spacewalk and back to the STS. Houston tells them that debris from a Russian missile strikes on a defunct satellite has caused a chain reaction, destroying other satellites, and a huge debris field is heading right at them. Within a couple of minutes, they lose contact with Houston, though Dr. Stone and Kowalski keep trying to contact Houston, hoping that the ground can hear them.

Afterwards, high-speed debris strikes the STS and spins it wildly, with Dr. Stone at the end of the boom arm. A piece of debris breaks the robot arm off from the STS, and Dr. Stone is forced to release the tether holding her to the robot arm. Once free, she is thrown far from the STS. Kowalski, who is wearing a thruster pack, suddenly appears and attaches her tether to him. He flies them back to the STS. On the journey, they find the engineer, Shariff. His helmet smashed and his skull mostly

3

open and empty. They find that the STS Explorer has been catastrophically damaged. The shuttle's interior has been ripped by debris and the other crews are dead. Kowalski decides to use the thruster pack to get to the International Space Station (ISS), which is in orbit about 100 km away. Kowalski estimates they have 90 minutes before the debris field completes an orbit and threatens them again. The complications start when Dr. Stone and Kowalski try to find a way to survive that horrific tragedy. With their oxygen reserve running low, they struggle to float through space to the ISS (Gravity, 2015).

This study aims to reveal the meaning of Kowalski’s presence for Dr. Stone. There are two problems of the studies, the first is to reveal the literal meaning of

Kowalski’s presence to Dr. Stone, and the second is to reveal the deeper meaning of

Kowalski’s presence to Dr. Stone through the term of mise-en-scène film study

analysis. According to Gianetti (2014), the term was originally taken from French theatrical production within a playing area on the stage.

This study emphasizes three elements in mise-en-scène analysis. Those are angle, character placements, and color values. Those three elements are considerably easy to be noticed on the selected frames. According to Gianetti (2014), mise-en-scène resembles the art of painting in an image of formal patterns and shapes which is presented on a flat surface and enclosed within a frame. It is like analyzing an art of photography in a film through technical analysis of how the frame is made.

According to Brown (2012), angles are the tools for adding subtext to a shot. In other words, angles are named as lens height. According to Gianetti (2014), angle

is determined by the placing of the camera, not the subject which is being photographed. A picture which is taken from a different angle has a different interpretation. It can serve as an authorial commentary on the subject matter also as represent the major meaning of an image. Gianetti (2014) mentions that there are five basic angles:

1. Bird’s Eye View

A shot in which the camera photographs a scene from directly overhead 2. High Angle

A shot in which the subject is photographed from above. 3. Eye-level Shot

A shot in which the placement of the camera approximately five to six feet from the ground, corresponding to the height of an observer on the scene.

4. Low Angle

A shot in which the subject is photographed from below. 5. Oblique angle.

A shot photographed by a tilted camera. When the image is projected on the screen, the subject itself seems to be tilted on a diagonal.

Character placement is about part of the frame space that the characters occupy. According to Gianetti (2014), certain areas within the frame can suggest symbolic ideas. By placing an object or actor within a particular section of the frame, the filmmaker can radically alter his or her comment on that object or character. Placement within the frame is another instance of how form is actually content. Each

5

of the major sections of the frame—center, top, bottom, and sides—can be exploited for such symbolic purposes.

Gianetti (2014) states that color in film started since 1940s. Since then, it is used for symbolic purpose. Brown (2012) also states that color is important tool because it affects in creating visual subtext. If color is used for symbolic purpose and to create visual subtext, then color meant to support the meaning of certain object in the frame. According to Giannetti (2014), color symbolism is somehow culturally acquired, which its implications are different in each society. It is true that color in a film represents a symbolic meaning of why the director chooses certain colors in their films. Each color conveys its symbolic meaning in its origin where the background of the film is intentionally taken.

Analyzing this film with some elements of mise-en-scène for this study generally has the benefit for the readers to unload their common way of enjoying a film by sensing the reasons of the film being made in that certain ways or techniques. The way or technique that is executed and constructed in a film creates stories or meanings.

B. Approach of the Study

This study uses a critical approach which is formalism. This approach reveals the form of the way something is done from its ethical ways. Jacobs (2014) says that formalist approach is used to look at the film structure and form as its internal evidence. According to Ryan (2012), the major idea of formalism is about the form of

how a work of art is done or made, it includes the techniques that an artist, director or cinematographer uses to construct a story or deliver the meaning of an idea. Thus, formalism approach and mise-en-scène are suitable to work collaboratively to convey the message in this film. The formalism approach can be used to look at the film itself. Its structure and its form can also be its internal evidence. Therefore, formalism approach can be used to analyze how the technical form from the film presents the story or its meaning.

Library study was used to conduct this study. Two sources were chosen to conduct this library study. The primary source was the film entitled Gravity as the research object. The film was directed by Alfonso Cuaron, a well-known Mexican film director, screenwriter, producer, and editor. This film is also cinematographed by Emmanuel Lubezki Morgenstern, a Mexican cinematographer who won the Academy Awards for Best Cinematography in 2014. This film was released on October 4th, 2013 in the US. This film won seven Oscars for Best Cinematography, Best Director, Best Film Editing, Best Sound Editing, Best Sound Mixing, Best Music Written for Motion Pictures and Original Score, and Best Visual Effects. The data were taken from frames that were selected in the film. The frames are the picture of Dr. Stone and veteran astronaut Kowalski with their surroundings. The secondary sources were the formalism and film study books from various authors, journals, and websites.

The first step in conducting the research was by watching Gravity film. After watching the film, the writer formulated the problems to be analyzed. The first chosen problem is on the literal meaning of Kowalski’s presence for Dr. Stone. The second is

7

to reveal the deeper meaning of Kowalski’s presence for Dr. Stone through the term of mise-en-scène film study analysis. The next step was giving the limitation to the problems to be analyzed. There are numbers of elements in mise-en-scène analysis. Those are dominant, lighting key, shot and camera proxemics, angle, color values, lens/filter/stock, subsidiary contrast, density, composition, form, framing depth, character placement, staging positions, and character proxemics. The writer chose three out of fifteen elements above based on the data frames that the writer chose to be analyzed. Those three elements are majorly seen on the chosen frames and supported the meaning that lay within the frame.

After analyzing, discussing the findings from the data frames, and consulting the findings with an expert on movie making, the writer made conclusions as the result of the analysis.

The following are the definition of terms used in this study: 1. Presence

Merriam-Webster Dictionary online (2015) defines presence is technically the state or fact of being present.

2. Literal Meaning

Literal meaning is the meaning that can be seen from its original form. This meaning can be seen noticeably by watching the film. In this study, the literal meaning is defined as the meaning of the presence that the veteran astronaut Kowalski made for Dr. Stone which can be seen from the Gravity film. Thus, after

watching the film, the writer concludes its meaning from its surface. As Case and Marshall (2009) note that a literal approach in learning is the tacit acceptance of information and memorization and does not promote understanding for long term retention of knowledge.

3. Deeper Meaning

Barnet (1994) says that deeper meaning is the meaning that told for us because it is implicit. It is supported by Case and Marshall (2009) that deeper meaning involve the critical analysis of the new idea and promotes the application for life. Therefore, it can be concluded that deeper meaning is the meaning which is hidden and promotes the application for life. In this study, the deeper meaning is the meaning of the presence that the veteran astronaut Kowalski made for Dr. Stone which is not seen in the film.

4. Mise-en-scène

Mise-en-scène means to tell a story in visual artful ways through cinematography and stage design. It is also known as staging. According to Gianetti

(2014), it is a term in filmmaking and originally from France “placing on stage” that

refers to the arrangement of all visual elements in a theatrical production within a playing area on the stage.

9

CHAPTER 2 DISCUSSION

This chapter discusses two problems, namely the literal meaning of

Kowalski’s presence for Dr. Stone in the Gravity film and the deeper meaning of

Kowalski’s presence for Dr. Stone in the Gravity film through mise-en-scène film study analysis.

A. The Literal Meaning of Kowalski’s Presence for Dr. Stone

Matt Kowalski is a veteran astronaut planning to retire after the Explorer expedition. Meanwhile, Dr. Stone is a mission specialist that will flight on her first mission. This film tells about the struggle of those two astronauts to survive the catastrophe. The writer found a literal meaning of Kowalski’s presence for Dr. Stone while watching the film. Case and Marshal (2009) noted that a literal approach in learning is the tacit acceptance of information and memorization and does not promote understanding for long term retention of knowledge. Dr. Stone was there to get things done and leave. She did not take a moment to gasp at the beauty surrounding her. In fact, she seems kind of uptight. She wants to finish what she was there for and get on with it. Meanwhile, Kowalski floats around exchanging life stories with the space station in Houston. He is a free-spirited and a type of person who lives every day to the fullest. Besides, he is also a guy with a million stories to tell. When they heard that meteors potentially shooting their way, he reassuringly tell

Dr. Stone to let the crew back in Houston worry about it. Dr. Stone lives to work, while Kowalski, on the other hand, works to live. After the impact, Dr. Stone ultimately floated uncontrollably into blackness. She floated uncontrollably because she was not in control of her life. Kowalski, on the other hand, was in complete control. He came to her rescue and dragged her back to the scene.

The journey continued as they voyaged to another space station. Kowalski asked about Dr. Stone’s past and if there was anyone back home looking up at the sky, wondering when she would return, and finally he knew why she seemed to have given up on life. No one was waiting for her. Dr. Stone used to have a daughter but lost her in a playground accident. She had been grieving ever since. Coping with grief is the most painful of all human emotions. For how long one gets stuck in sorrow depends on gravity of the situation. Grief comes in many forms, and Dr. Stone was going through the worst kind of grief, the death of a loved one.

The first time Kowalski saved Dr. Stone’s life was earlier, when he told her to

detach. The second time was in another post impact scene that mirrored the first, only this time the roles were reversed. He was the one about to drift into infinite blackness. He was dragging her with him and the only chance for any of them to survive was if Kowalski cut off the rope. In other words, Kowalski saved her life again through detachment. It was not by preventing her to float with him into space, but by teaching her that sometimes it was okay to let go, both literally and metaphorically.

After several scenes, just as Dr. Stone was about to accept the fact that she would be stuck in that state forever, Kowalski returned in the form of Dr. Stone’s

vision. Kowalski here was merely Dr. Stone’s mind pushing her to do what he tried to teach her when sacrificing his life for hers. Eventually she decided to fight for it. She guided herself through Kowalski. Her subconscious mind dug deep into her memory of what she learnt in boot camp. She got the thing working as she shot towards Earth. In the literal meaning, Kowalski’s presence was generally an instrument for Dr. Stone to chose to move forward and let go of her sorrow that had eclipsed her life for far too long.

B. The Deeper Meaning of Kowalski’s Presence for Dr. Stone

After analyzing the literal meaning of Kowalski’s presence for Dr. Stone in Gravity, the writer concludes that the presence of Kowalski is an instrument for Dr. Stone to help her moving on and letting go her sorrow that had eclipsed her life for far too long.

Since this study applied the formalism approach, the writer conducted the analysis on its deeper meaning of Kowalski’s presence for Dr. Stone by applying the staging analysis of type of angle, object placement in the frame, and color values on the each frame selected below.

1. “Not one second, now!”

Figure 2.1 Kowalski warns Dr. Stone about the incoming debris

The Figure 2.1 above appears on 00:10:35 and lasts for 10 seconds. The frame

portrays Kowalski’s help for Dr. Stone for the first time. The camera reduces the angle slowly to the slightly lower than before. Giannetti (2014) says that low angles heighten the importance of a subject. It means that the person or subject shot with low angle is given the sense of power and respect. At this point, the low angle of both Kowalski and Dr. Stone reveals its meaning as two main characters that will have the greatest impact on the plot. Kowalski’s presence is also considered important here in this frame because it has great impact to Dr. Stone’s life.

Based on the staging analysis, both of Kowalski and Dr. Stone are placed in the center of the frame. According to Giannetti (2014) the central portion of the screen is generally reserved for the most important visual element. The central area is instinctively regarded by most people as the intrinsic center of interest. The audience

is deliberately invited to focus on Kowalski and Dr. Stone. This will support that Kowalski’s presence has an important role to Dr. Stone.

The white dominant color of the frame also signifies the meaning of

Kowalski’s presence. According to Ferber (1999), white color means “sincere” or

“faithful”. This supports the meaning of Kowalski’s presence to Dr. Stone that he is

sincere to teach her to move forward and let go her sorrow that has eclipsed her life for far too long. This also portrays that Kowalski faithfully accompany Dr. Stone through their hard times in the space.

From the analysis above, the presence of Kowalski to Dr. Stone which is framed in the Figure 2.1 is considered important for her because Kowalski help her to carry on her life. The placements of the characters in the center also strengthen the statement that their role throughout the story is important. The dominant color of the

frame represents Kowalski’s sincerity and faithfulness which can be related to his presence to Dr. Stone.

2. “Where you go, I go.”

Figure 2.2 Kowalski saves Dr. Stone from floating

The frame in figure 2.2 above appears on 00:17:44-00:18:11. The director and the cinematographer intentionally create a meaningful frame. The objects position and the dominant color play their role to emphasize the meaning. The angle of eye-level shot adds its dramatic moment and makes the clear view to support the other elements to convey the meaning. According to Salmon (2014), eye-level shot puts the equal footing to the character and it is the most common angle which is used to allow the viewers to feel comfortable with the character. It means that this kind of shot allows the viewers to feel the same like the character in the frame by seeing it clearly what Dr. Stone really feels, the fear of loneliness and the fear of being left.

The objects, Kowalski and Dr. Stone are placed in the center of the frame facing each other. According to Giannetti (2014), this kind of frame is used to suggest symbolic ideas traditionally associated with the unknown, unseen, and the fearful. Placing the object facing each others also means they are being juxtaposed.

Juxtaposed objects means the objects are compared one to another, these juxtaposed objects signify the contrast between them. Based on the scene and related to the story, it appears to compare Dr. Stone’s weakness with Kowalski’s power. Dr. Stone feels afraid of loneliness and being left behind, while Kowalski, on the other hand, is able to remain calm and patiently comfort Dr. Stone.

The dominant color in this frame also plays the important role to emphasize its meaning. According to Ferber (1999), the dominant black color often portrayed as the color of death and mourning. Black also adopted by Christian as a sign of death to this world (mortification) and thus of purity or humility. Related to this frame, black

color portrays the death of Dr. Stone’s world, in other words, her life reaches to its

end. Kowalski, as a lifesaver, brings a bright light to the frame. Ferber (1999) says that light is traditionally linked with goodness, life, knowledge, truth, and hope.

Related to this frame, Kowalski brings hope to Dr. Stone’s life and strengthen the statement that Kowalski’s presence is important for Dr. Stone’s life.

The frame in Figure 2.2 conveys strongly that Kowalski’s presence is strongly

important for Dr. Stone’s life. It shows that Kowalski has the strength to bring hope to Dr. Stone’s life, and by his presence, Dr. Stone can carry on her life.

3. “You have to let me go.”

Figure 2.3 Kowalski tells Dr. Stone to let him go

The frame in Figure 2.3 above can be seen on 00:31:36 which lasts for 2 seconds. At this point, the low angle of both Kowalski and Dr. Stone reveals its meaning as the turning point of Dr. Stone’s life which is considered as important

event in the story. Kowalski’s presence here saves Dr. Stone’s life once again. First,

they float around aimlessly until Dr. Stone’s foot is stuck in the rope of a spacecraft. Dr. Stone actually could save Kowalski’s life by dragging the tether that once linking

their spacesuit, but Kowalski chose to command her to let him go. Kowalski knows that the only chance for any of them to survive is if he detaches the tether. By sacrificing his life, Kowalski teaches Dr. Stone that sometimes it is okay to let go, both literally and metaphorically. Literally, letting Kowalski go will prevent her to float with him into space, and metaphorically, Kowalski wants to teach her to let go of things in the past right away and move forward.

The placement of the characters in the frame above is centered with unbalance composition. Kowalski looks smaller because the frame is taken with low-angle shot, and this is considered as deliberate position. The intentional placement of the object is meant to convey its compositional design. Brown (2014) states that the eye tends to scan from left to the right. This means the viewers are ordered to scan the detail in the frame. This will let the viewers scan the symbolic composition on the frame from left to right. The purpose of placing Kowalski that way is to convey that, once again, Dr. Stone will lose her only company, her only hope slowly as Kowalski floats away from her. After a few scenes, the viewers will see that although Kowalski is looking small in the distance, he still gives Dr. Stone guidance to lead her way to survive. This reminds the writer about stars. According to Ferber (1999) stars often portrayed

as a traveler’s guidance because it tell direction and time of year. Related to the frame here, Kowalski plays role as the star and Dr. Stone plays role as the traveler.

The dominant color of black here signifies the fear and the dread of Dr. Stone losing her only hope. As seen in the story, Kowalski brings her new hope on her life. A hope to leads her way to survive.

The frame in figure 2.3 conveyed that Kowalski signifies and reminds the writer of the stars based on the analysis above and the story. It shows that Kowalski has the ability to guide Dr. Stone to lead her to survive the catastrophe, thus will bring Dr. Stone hope to stay alive through the catastrophe.

4. “I am glad to see you”

Figure 2.4 Manifestation of Dr. Stone appears as Kowalski

The frame in Figure 2.4 is shown on 01:04:00-01:06:10. Giannetti (2014) says that the longer duration of a frame creates a strong meaning of the object which is depicted in the frame. Surely the conversation between Kowalski and Dr. Stone in the frame has a strong meaning. The angle of the camera here is dynamically moving from low-angle shot to eye-level shot. This type of shot according to Giannetti (2014) will give the characters sense of power and respect and at the same time give the audience its dramatic moment of the conversation between Kowalski and Dr. Stone as seen in the expression and the dialog in the film.

The character placement is centered, meaning that the conversation here is important as stated before that centered placement gives the object or the character important role in the story.

The dominant color also signifies the meaning of the framed characters. According to Ferber (1999) blue signifies heaven and heavenly things. It can be

related in the story that Kowalski is already in heaven. This conversation is actually Dr. Stone’s hallucination, and Kowalski here is her manifestation of herself that struggling to survive. This also means that even though Kowalski is not by Dr.

Stone’s side, he still gives her his attention and guides her to survive. By giving his

20

CHAPTER 3

CONCLUSIONS, RECOMMENDATIONS, AND IMPLICATIONS

This chapter consists of three sub-chapters, the conclusions, recommendations, and implications. The conclusions are the summary of the findings

of the study. The recommendations are the writer’s recommendations for the future

researchers. The implications are the reflection on the meaning and the implications of the study for educational purposes.

A. Conclusions

Having analyzed the meaning of Kowalski’s presence for Dr. Stone in

Cuaron’s Gravity film in chapter 2, this mise-en-scène or staging analysis has come to

an end. The writer has revealed the answers of the two formulated problems. Those

are ”What is the literal meaning of Kowalski’s presence for Dr. Stone?” and “What is

the deeper meaning of Kowalski’s presence for Dr. Stone through mise-en-scène film

study analysis?”

The literal meaning of Kowalski’s presence for Dr. Stone is that Kowalski serves as an instrument for Dr. Stone to move forward and let go her sorrow that has eclipsed her life for far too long. The deeper meaning of Kowalski’s presence for Dr. Stone through mise-en-scène is revealed that Kowalski’s presence reminds the writer of the presence of a sincere and faithful companion which is later related to an image of the stars. Since this study involves mise-en-scène or staging analysis on the

selected frames, the portrayal of the stars in Kowalski’s presence can be seen on the three elements of staging, namely camera angle, the placement of object or character,

and the dominant color of the frame. This hidden and deeper meaning of Kowalski’s

presence is quite difficult to be depicted by only watching the whole film, but careful look on certain image of the film by analyzing its staging elements can reveal its deeper meaning.

B. Recommendations

1. Recommendation for Future Researchers

The writer is aware that this study is lack of perfection. Cuaron’s Gravity is full of surprises. There are so many other hidden meaning needs to be found. The writer recommends to future researcher to analyze this film using other elements of mise-en-scene or staging analysis.

2. Recommendation for Teaching Learning Process

Film is the best combinations of art, technique, and literature. It is also one of many ways to learn English. Gravity is only one of the thousands examples of good film. It contains life values, and moral principles. It creates critical thinking of a student to the next level of combining most of the senses onto a film by watching the film and analyzing the values.

C. Implications

Gravity is a wonderful film. The film tells about two astronauts, Kowalski and Dr. Stone, struggling to survive a catastrophe. Their life depends on each other, but Kowalski chooses to sacrifice his life to save Dr. Stone. Kowalski here portrays himself as a star to guide Dr. Stone to survive the catastrophe. In the story, it can be seen that Kowalski plays a great significant role in the story. He gives Dr. Stone new hope to her life, and teaches her the purpose of life.

In addition, the importance of the purpose of life is about hope. Every person in this world has a hope in their life. Hope is something that gives human the reason and the destination to live on. According to Snyder (1994), hope has three components: having goal-oriented thoughts, developing strategies to achieve goals, and being motivated to expend effort to achieve goals. Having realized these components, an individual will certainly develop the sense of hope; believing their purpose and objective to be fought.

In education, the purpose of life can be related to the reasons of why there must be teachers. Teachers have their role as their purpose of life to complete one another through teaching, to be a star while their students are the traveler. Teachers are not meant to teach, get paid and survive; but they should also give meaning of what they teach. Therefore, teachers are supposed to be the role models, the life-changing ones that change the bad to be good, the lost to be found, and the good to be

23

REFERENCES

Barnet, S., Burto, W. E., & Berman, M. (1994). An introduction to literature. New York: Harper Collins.

Brown, B. (2012). Cinematography: Theory and practice (2nd ed.). Oxford: Focal Press.

Case, J. M., & Marshall, D. (2009). Deep and surface approaches to learning (M. Tight & C. Morphewed.). New York: Routledge Falmer.

Ferber, M. (1999). A dictionary of literary symbols. New York: Cambridge University Press.

Giannetti, L. (2014). Understanding movies (13th ed.). New York: Pearson Education, Inc.

IMDB Incorporated. (2015). Gravity. Retrieved November 25th, 2015, from http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1454468/?ref_=nv_sr_2

Jacobs, C. P. (2014). Film: Theory and approaches to criticism, or, what did that movie mean? Retrieved November 5th, 2015, from University of North Dakota: http://www.und.edu/instruct/cjacobs/FilmTheory&Analysis.htm Khairy, Wael. (2013). Film Analysis: “Gravity”. Retrieved November 25th, 2015,

from https://cinephilefix.wordpress.com/2013/11/02/film-analysis-gravity/ Presence. (2016). In Merriam-Webster.com. Retrieved February 29th, 2016, from

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/presence

Ryan, M. (2012). An introduction to criticism literature/film/culture. West Sussex: John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Salmon, C. R. (2014). Camera shots, angles and movement, lighting, cinematography, mise en scène. Retrieved November 25th, 2015, from Skwirk Online Education: http://www.skwirk.com/p-c_s-54_u-251_t-647_c- 2411/camera-shots-angles-and-movement-lighting-cinematography-and-mise- en-scene/nsw/camera-shots-angles-and-movement-lighting-cinematography-and-mise-en-scene/skills-by-text-type-film/film-overview

Snyder, C. (1994). The psychology of hope: You can get there from here. New York: Free Press.

related in the story that Kowalski is already in heaven. This conversation is actually Dr. Stone’s hallucination, and Kowalski here is her manifestation of herself that struggling to survive. This also means that even though Kowalski is not by Dr. Stone’s side, he still gives her his attention and guides her to survive. By giving his guidance, Kowalski successfully brings Dr. Stone to her new life.

20

CHAPTER 3

CONCLUSIONS, RECOMMENDATIONS, AND IMPLICATIONS

This chapter consists of three sub-chapters, the conclusions, recommendations, and implications. The conclusions are the summary of the findings of the study. The recommendations are the writer’s recommendations for the future researchers. The implications are the reflection on the meaning and the implications of the study for educational purposes.

A. Conclusions

Having analyzed the meaning of Kowalski’s presence for Dr. Stone in Cuaron’s Gravity film in chapter 2, this mise-en-scène or staging analysis has come to an end. The writer has revealed the answers of the two formulated problems. Those are ”What is the literal meaning of Kowalski’s presence for Dr. Stone?” and “What is the deeper meaning of Kowalski’s presence for Dr. Stone through mise-en-scène film study analysis?”

The literal meaning of Kowalski’s presence for Dr. Stone is that Kowalski serves as an instrument for Dr. Stone to move forward and let go her sorrow that has eclipsed her life for far too long. The deeper meaning of Kowalski’s presence for Dr. Stone through mise-en-scène is revealed that Kowalski’s presence reminds the writer of the presence of a sincere and faithful companion which is later related to an image of the stars. Since this study involves mise-en-scène or staging analysis on the

selected frames, the portrayal of the stars in Kowalski’s presence can be seen on the three elements of staging, namely camera angle, the placement of object or character, and the dominant color of the frame. This hidden and deeper meaning of Kowalski’s presence is quite difficult to be depicted by only watching the whole film, but careful look on certain image of the film by analyzing its staging elements can reveal its deeper meaning.

B. Recommendations

1. Recommendation for Future Researchers

The writer is aware that this study is lack of perfection. Cuaron’s Gravity is full of surprises. There are so many other hidden meaning needs to be found. The writer recommends to future researcher to analyze this film using other elements of mise-en-scene or staging analysis.

2. Recommendation for Teaching Learning Process

Film is the best combinations of art, technique, and literature. It is also one of many ways to learn English. Gravity is only one of the thousands examples of good film. It contains life values, and moral principles. It creates critical thinking of a student to the next level of combining most of the senses onto a film by watching the film and analyzing the values.

C. Implications

Gravity is a wonderful film. The film tells about two astronauts, Kowalski and Dr. Stone, struggling to survive a catastrophe. Their life depends on each other, but Kowalski chooses to sacrifice his life to save Dr. Stone. Kowalski here portrays himself as a star to guide Dr. Stone to survive the catastrophe. In the story, it can be seen that Kowalski plays a great significant role in the story. He gives Dr. Stone new hope to her life, and teaches her the purpose of life.

In addition, the importance of the purpose of life is about hope. Every person in this world has a hope in their life. Hope is something that gives human the reason and the destination to live on. According to Snyder (1994), hope has three components: having goal-oriented thoughts, developing strategies to achieve goals, and being motivated to expend effort to achieve goals. Having realized these components, an individual will certainly develop the sense of hope; believing their purpose and objective to be fought.

In education, the purpose of life can be related to the reasons of why there must be teachers. Teachers have their role as their purpose of life to complete one another through teaching, to be a star while their students are the traveler. Teachers are not meant to teach, get paid and survive; but they should also give meaning of what they teach. Therefore, teachers are supposed to be the role models, the life-changing ones that change the bad to be good, the lost to be found, and the good to be

23

REFERENCES

Barnet, S., Burto, W. E., & Berman, M. (1994). An introduction to literature. New York: Harper Collins.

Brown, B. (2012). Cinematography: Theory and practice (2nd ed.). Oxford: Focal Press.

Case, J. M., & Marshall, D. (2009). Deep and surface approaches to learning (M. Tight & C. Morphewed.). New York: Routledge Falmer.

Ferber, M. (1999). A dictionary of literary symbols. New York: Cambridge University Press.

Giannetti, L. (2014). Understanding movies (13th ed.). New York: Pearson Education, Inc.

IMDB Incorporated. (2015). Gravity. Retrieved November 25th, 2015, from http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1454468/?ref_=nv_sr_2

Jacobs, C. P. (2014). Film: Theory and approaches to criticism, or, what did that movie mean? Retrieved November 5th, 2015, from University of North Dakota: http://www.und.edu/instruct/cjacobs/FilmTheory&Analysis.htm Khairy, Wael. (2013). Film Analysis: “Gravity”. Retrieved November 25th, 2015,

from https://cinephilefix.wordpress.com/2013/11/02/film-analysis-gravity/ Presence. (2016). In Merriam-Webster.com. Retrieved February 29th, 2016, from

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/presence

Ryan, M. (2012). An introduction to criticism literature/film/culture. West Sussex: John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Salmon, C. R. (2014). Camera shots, angles and movement, lighting, cinematography, mise en scène. Retrieved November 25th, 2015, from Skwirk Online Education: http://www.skwirk.com/p-c_s-54_u-251_t-647_c- 2411/camera-shots-angles-and-movement-lighting-cinematography-and-mise- en-scene/nsw/camera-shots-angles-and-movement-lighting-cinematography-and-mise-en-scene/skills-by-text-type-film/film-overview

Snyder, C. (1994). The psychology of hope: You can get there from here. New York: Free Press.