A Character in the Space of Leisure. An Essay on Dramatic Composition of Film

Abstract

Relationship dynamics of a character and his action space is
essential to the plot. Consider the case when a character becomes part of high
society that is a space of everlasting holiday, of subtle delight, witty talks and
fancy entertainments. Most likely this character will face death. Film makers
developing that kind of plot seem to anticipate the final collision by charging
the film space with various omens. Why? What conflicts is the dazzling world
of wealth and leisure fraught with? The study answers that, introducing the
concept of “the space of leisure” meaning by leisure an ostentatious waste of
time. This definition largely corresponds to Thorstein Veblen’s theory of the
leisure class. The ostentation of time wasting gives their existence in the space
of leisure the tone of a never ending show blurring the line between the true-life
and the semblant. This contradiction is resolved by strict necessity to follow the
rules of the game.
The study proves that the space of leisure is a confined playing area with
inviolate rules of the game. Introducing in it a spielbrecher (Huizinga), that is a
character willing to violate the fixed rules, contributes to unleashing the forces
of social disorder loosely-bonded by these rules. Death in the space of leisure
results from the spielbrecher’s collision with the elite’s collective interest which
makes this death a side effect of the threat of breaking up relations between
those in power and the underlings.
So the present day cinema not only draws forth the culture’s ludic aspect
but also brings into sharp focus the playing areas’ boundaries and reveals the
conflicts of the modern society.