To construct an image is to confer importance. Discuss

The construction of “one flew over the cuckoo’s nest” is done so in a manner that looks to confer importance to not only its general community, by society as a whole. This importance is constructed by the use of several techniques such as symbolism, colour and conflict. Instances such as nurse ratchets introduction, and the ward patient’s unofficial fishing trip are scenes where these techniques are at their most prominent.

Nurse ratchets entry onto the ward floor that Mcmurphy has been assigned too has great importance in developing her character. Her walk down the corridor, through the barred and locked door, with a red light positioned above it (which is often seen with many persons entrance) is a method of conferring importance to the imminent threat that the actor going through the door poses to the freedom of the patients. Symbolism of the colour red which is, in western society a classic ‘warning’ signal or ‘danger’ is used to show the imminent threat that Nurse ratchet poses too the protagonist, Mcmurphy. Likewise, the red light is shown in Mcmurphy’s entrance to symbolize his inherent nature to ‘disband’ and rattle the establishment. The viewer can tell that his presence in this institution has little chance of being beneficial to the proprietors. The camera shot used for nurse Ratchets entrance confers again the importance that she poses to the patients, or in particular Mchmurphy and his freedom. And again, on the opposite end of the spectrum Mcmurphy represents the threat that he poses to the authority and the stableness of the establishment.

Colour throughout the film is used extensively in order to contrast the outside world to life inside the ward of the mental hospital as a means to represent freedom versus imprisonment. This technique, although challenged when the viewer discovers that