Conventions In To Kill A Mockingbird, By Suzanne Collins

Conventions are used to represent different types of issues and topics. Certain text types use different conventions to explain how the author represents certain topics. In the Hinger Games we see Suzanne Collins give certain representations to show ambition, corruption and power. Collins does this through the use of third person, prose language and symbolism. Likewise Robert Mulligan uses conventions such as music, setting and characterisation to convey the same representation in To Kill A Mockingbird. These conventions are also used in an article about the arrest of senior police officer in a corruption and abuse of his power in accordance to the Lloyd Rayney case. These authors and directors all use conventions to represent different topics …show more content…
It shows that corruption was rife during the mid 1930’s, particularly racism and its legacy. Issues with power surface toward the end of the movie as the day of verdict draws near, since the people want blood and a black man is the supposedly obvious choice. These issues are shown using setting, language and music. The strong ambition that Atticus Finch shows throughout the film is displayed using the settings surrounding him. He spends significant portions of the movie in the courthouse and at his home. This shows that his priorities lie with his family and his clients as a lawyer. This further shows his strong resolve as he doesn’t go to bars or clubs acting in an untoward way like others did. This allows him to focus on what is really important and shows his ambition. Racism is shown throughout the movie, but the movie also shows the legacy of racism in the way that Calpurnia speaks: “That boy is your company. And if he wants to eat up that tablecloth, you let him, you hear?”. She talks in a very old-fashioned English manner which is typical of people from other races who were anglicised. This shows the legacy of racism as racist attitudes of dominance held by Anglo-Saxon slave owners imparted their own culture onto the slaves, causing the slaves and their descendants to carry on these attitudes and mannerisms in speech. Power and the negative connotations towards it are shown through the music composed for the movie. The musical tone is very bleak, simplistic and at points in the story becomes brighter and darker. The track “Lynch Mob” has a very dark tone with fast pace which incites panic. This shows the feelings held by the victims of racist power in response to the villainous townsfolk who carry out violence and abuse toward any