Week 6 Blog Entry

How does the film adaptation of A Room with a View position spectators equivalently with the tourists and travelers it represents?

In the film, we as the spectators followed the path of travelers such as George and Lucy. As a result, we were  not just seeing what is already well-known to society such as landmarks written in a tourist guide book but were able to see scenes and people that can not be seen unless you are in behind the stage. One of these secretive moments is when George kisses Lucy while Cecil is not looking. Instead of the facial image of Cecil and Lucy being a happy engaged couple, the film gives us a glimpse of the real emotions and situations the characters are facing under their masks. In other words, we as spectators were able to travel into the minds of the characters through that intimate moment. Another scene that the spectators were standing as travelers is when Mr. Beebe, George and Freddy go for a swim in the river naked. Again this is a scene that is normally "behind the scenes". The natural and adventurous act of the three guys in the river differ greatly from the images they present when in public and bounded by social norms. By letting us witness the theme, the film gives us the excitement of discovering the insides of the characters, equating our position to a traveler that is able to see the true life of people in an exotic country.