as the goal of his action. In contrast, Lennie is represented as engaged in non-
transitive actions: he looks out of the screen frame and has no visible goal, and we are
left to imagine what, if anything, he is looking at in nearly a quarter of screens (8/39).
The contrast between these visual representations of the characters signals George as
active and Lennie as passive.
Framing
The framing of an image indicates discontinuity or continuity between elements, and
what it is that separates or links the elements. Framing allows elements of a
composition either to be given separate identities, or represented as belonging
together. In other words, framing 'connects' or 'disconnects' elements. The framing of
the images in Chapter One of the ‘Novel as CD-ROM’ is a visual sign of the
closeness and status of the relationship between George and Lennie. Framing is used
to connect and/or disconnect the characters from one another, and, in this case to
suggest the ‘disconnected’ nature of Lennie. The two characters are represented
together in over two-thirds of the screens (28/39) and often they are represented
touching one another. Frame as a meaning-making resource is used to represent the
friendship between George and Lennie, their togetherness, the disintegration of their
friendship, and its recovery. George and Lennie are represented as close together (in
the first 11 screens). George is then represented alone (two screens). There is a short
moment of being together again (two screens), and the character Lennie is alone
again (two screens); this is followed by a moment of being together (two screens),
and then Lennie is again alone (one screen). This is followed by a series of screens in
which they are shown together but are framed as apart (six screens). Finally the
distance between them is removed and they are framed together in a sequence of
close-up images (7 screens). As a resource, frame is used here to display a visual
rhythm of the characters’ interaction. In this way frame realises both the intense
character of their friendship, and its volatile nature.
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