Blog Post #4, ABBEY VIVAS, Extra Credit Question #3 "Oleanna"

          In David Mamet's Olenna, the physical characteristics are an essential asset to human judgment and their development. When intentionally meeting someone, before you have the engage in a conversation, appearance is key. Automatically, we look at someone’s clothes, hair race, facial expression, and so on. Carol right away is presented in her appearance as sort of a slob-looking girl; physically she looks like an outcast but personally she seems closed off, insecure, and unsure. As for John, who is shown as a groomed, proper, suit-wearing professor surrounded by big books in his office and is shown talking about buying his big new house; a sign of his superior success. While discussing about the course with Professor John she is constantly questioning "what" and "why" to everything. She seems easily overwhelmed. Her facial expressions appear frantic as she goes through her textbook and notes.
          In their first meeting John is dressed professional and appears calm and rational even though chaos is erupting around him concerning his new house. John comes off as almost arrogant as he is consumed with his own self confidence when discussing the topics of his book, class, and ten year. I also think it is interesting how the camera often focuses on John's hands, mainly on his wedding ring, which makes me as the viewer sympathize with his character more simply because I know more about his background than I do Carol's, whose is rather mysterious and unknown. Carol remains distressed throughout the first two parts of this movie claiming “she does not understand” and is constantly acts as the “damsel in distress.” Another oddity is when the professor almost randomly states "I am not your father" and later says he talk to Carol as he would talk to his own son. But Carol continues to appear weak and intangible claiming John has sexual harassed her during their first meeting. Here we begin to see a shift of power as Carol begins to appear mentally strong and forceful when her and John spoke alone but once they are in the eye of the public she once again appears in control.
          By the end of the play, Carol never states that she doesn't understand one of John's comments or big words like in act 1, and is now the one who is literally backing John up against the wall and now "teaching" him a lesson. Another thing that happens was that the roles of power have switched; physically Carol appears strong in a suit and holds her head up high as she talks to John. Carol can often be seen physically cornering John as he attempts to make sense of the accusations at hand. John appears physically disastrous with messy hair, ripped and dirty clothes, and attempts to drink or smoke multiple times throughout their last conversation. Physical appearance is an instant way we judge one another, although not always accurate, we can easily tell if someone is tired, stressed, or calm. Physical appearance in this movie is strongly associated with power and confidence and can be proven through every scene in this film.