Metaphor and meaning of the horse scene(s) in Fishtank

1:47:36
Death and disillusion (The Horse)

. The horse as a symbol of Male domestication of woman: Horses are commonly used symbols for freedom and beauty, the horse is shackled and dirty and guarded by men - woman are corrupted and imprisoned by men, their freedom is taken. The horse shows how the innocent Mia is corrupted by her surroundings and men (the dirt all over the horse) - White being a symbol of purity.
. Ultimately the dirty white house shows how beautiful creatures (horse/woman) have been domesticated by man and in the process become shackled and corrupted.
. Therefore if the horse is a metaphor for Mia and her domestication by men, we can imply that in her failed attempts to free the horse and its eventual death that she is also unable to escape domestication and imprisonment by men
. The close up shot on the shackles after Mia learns of the horses death, emphasises her continuing imprisonment as it takes up most of the frame on a block of concrete symbolic of the council estate, showing how she will never escape her surroundings or domestication by men.
. It could also show how Woman will only be free in death as only now the horse has escaped its shackles; unfortunately in death and at the hands of men who have deemed the horse 'sick' so had to be 'put down' again showing woman at the mercy of men - could also follow Mias arc as she maybe considered 'sick' as she defies society - the death of the horse as a warning to Mia - conform or die
1:48:07



Imagery of the shattered glass and running make up

. The shattered glass can be interpreted to be symbolic of Mia's shattered world view in wake of the death of the horse; she believed their was a way to escape the persecution of men and a way to escape her surroundings but seeing the horse is dead she realises this is impossible - her previous views are realised to be false causing her to conform to society avoid the same fate as the horse - which is strongly linked as the shattered glass is a result of the death of the horse - a metaphorical bullet has been put in her dreams and previous world view
. The glass window as a symbol - windows as symbol of escapism - this idea literally shattered as the window is - she tried to escape but couldn't break the glass - glass ceiling? - feminist ideology link?
1:48:21
. This glass window is presented in a long shot relative to the focus on the glass window, further showing Mia's disillusionment as it has become distant to her, as well as an object cutting across the window placing a barrier - but to what effect?

. Mia's disillusionment is further shown through this close up, where she takes up the majority of the frame and her makeup is shown to be running. Very feminine symbols fill the frame w/ her gold earrings and gold necklace and most importantly her running makeup. Her running makeup shows how her previous ideas and beliefs about femininity are being washed away as makeup strongly connotes very feminine values.
. The large ear rings and necklace can be said to echo the imagery of the shackles and lock; symbolising how these feminine symbols imprison woman - objectification of woman by men, Mia wears them to the strip club



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