Key Concept Analysis: Representation

This short film focuses on the stereotypes of Asian culture, and the pressures they put on their children to be successful. In this short film, this is represented by a game called 'Perfection', which we see being played throughout the game, with the character constantly striving to finish it and become 'perfect'.  The representations within this short film are very powerful as it causes the audience to think about the stereotypes we put on people. For example, Asian families are known for having extremely intelligent children. Some may think this is due to genetics, but in reality, a lot of it is determined by the strict parenting style associated with that culture. The idea of the game within this short film gives a very simplistic explanation of what it is like in that culture. The mother teaches the child to play the game at a very young age, meaning this idea of perception has been forefront of this child's mind before it even understood what thoughts were. Some people might consider the mother's actions to be quite cruel, as, in one scene, the mother is seen to be placing the child in front of the game time and time again and forcing the young girl's hands towards the game, trying desperately to get her to do it properly.  The fact that we never get to see the mother's face gives the audience no human being to relate to, and so, we find the woman to be rather inhuman, and alien to us. we can also consider that this is how the girl would feel about her mother, she is never shown to be considerate, or compassionate, the audience, and the girl, have only ever seen her as nothing other than a woman pushing her towards perfection.  By using a game named 'Perfection' the audience gain an instant understanding of the purpose of the game, and the motives of the mother. In fact, the first thing seen on screen is the word "Perfection."  The film being in black and white could be seen to be representing the very black and white situation the girl is in. She is either perfect, or she is not. White is often a colour used to represent innocence and purity, which comes hand in hand with perfection.  The timer on the game could be seen to represent the seconds of the girls life passing by. Time that she should have spent playing, and having fun, have instead been spent practicing over and over again in order to become the child prodigy her parents are hoping for.