This week I had a tutorial about my literature review and my report structure. The tutor said my literature review is a good start. I have enough key theories for my topic, so I don’t need to change the whole direction.
The tutor also told me I should not just write the report as “Scene 1, Scene 2, Scene 3”. If I do that, it can become too descriptive. He suggested I should use more general chapter titles, like how lighting can support narrative, and how lighting can shape character development. Then I can use several scenes as a case study to prove what I say in the chapters.
After the tutorial, I fixed my literature review. I deleted some parts that is not needed, like using Oxford Dictionary for definitions. I tried to make the structure more clear and more connected to my chapters.
This week I also started writing the main body. I finished two parts:
Chapter 3: Lighting and narrative in Farewell My Concubine
I wrote about how lighting changes in different time periods. In the opera school part, the light is hard and cold, with strong shadows. In Republican Beijing, the light is warmer and more colourful. In the revolutionary period, the image looks flatter and less saturated. I think these changes helps the story mood and also show the rise and fall of the opera troupe.
Chapter 4: Lighting and Cheng Dieyi’s character development
I wrote about how Dieyi is lit in different stages. In childhood he is usually in hard top light like other boys, so he looks powerless. Later he becomes a star, the stage light makes him look perfect and unreal. But off stage, he is often in cooler and darker light, showing his pain and loneliness. In the final part, the light around him becomes weak, and he is not the brightest person anymore, which shows his collapse.
I also chose three key scenes for Chapter 5 (case study). Next week I will analyse these scenes more detailed. I will try to connect them to my chapter ideas, not just describe what happens.