Significant Props

For my focus on props i looked at the film "27 Dresses":

The contextualised props in this case are the bridesmaid dresses. These objects are significant as they are the focus of the shot many a time by having them centre frame. Even when the dresses weren’t specifically talked about they were in the unfocused background which made sure that the audience understood that the dresses, at all times, are significant. They seemed to symbolise that even in the happy moments Jane (Katherine Heigl) experienced we believe that there were deeper thoughts as to why she kept the dresses, such as longing to be a bride someday. This helps to move the narrative along and develop a relationship with the character she is confiding in at the time.

These props were especially significant as they are constantly referred to throughout the scene. The entire segment Kevin (James Marsden) was writing for his newspaper was practically on the amount of bridesmaid dresses she had in her possession. Not only that but it is also the title of the film.

As Jane parades the dresses we begin to empathise with her character. The props give us a montage of comical moments on which we dwell on what she must have gone through wearing some of those bridesmaid outfits. The props seem to have put up a front for Jane. We think of her as super human figure as she always tries to put others before herself; in her words “jesus”-like. (At the end of the scene shown above) we are given this emotional side to our lead as all of the props have been used and tossed aside exposing a more “human” and relatable side to her personality.