This is a presentation of images which helped me with my interpretation of the tempest.

1. Visual Influences
The Tempest

2. Tim Walker
The key elements within this image are-
• The Caravan and the stair case.
• The Caravan and the Staircase,
symbolize travel and upward
movement into a higher space and this
has helped me with my interpretation,
which I have set in a school; therefore
I can’t physically put the children into
space and this would also be too literal
which I don’t want. It has shown me
that even with such simple elements I
can represent a lot of meaning.
• The caravan arouses a questioning
attitude in the audience and some
apprehension about why it’s there as
you wouldn’t usually see a caravan in
that setting, just like when the
children go to Mars they are being put
into an abnormal situation.

3. Magritte- The Son Of Man
’The Son of Man’ provides meaning to my
interpretation of how I want Prospero to be
conveyed. For me the apple symbolizes the
planet, Mars. The man’s face is obscured but
because of his stature he still dominates the
image. In my interpretation I do not want
Prospero to be seen and so I feel this image
has influenced my version of The Tempest as it
proves that I can give him the power and
control he needs even without the audience
seeing him.

4. Tim Walker
• The apple in this image represents for
me, the planet, Earth which is well
developed and ripened. This
contrasts with the child on the frame
who is young and in experienced
which links to my interpretation
because the audience would have left
an established way of life (the apple)
for an unknown area, which is
difficult to reach.
• The child on the wooden framework
which reminds me of a climbing
frame, influenced my decision to base
my interpretation on the intended
audience being children. This is
because the image reminds me of the
learning processes that children
undertake through play and
exploration.

5. David Hockney- Pearblossom Highway
David Hockney’s image has many connotations which are relevant to
my interpretation. For example: Before the stop sign you can see the
wild and unfriendly nature of the area. Beyond the stop sign you can’t
see what’s ahead, and this is what I want the audience to imagine on
the difficult and uncertain journey into space. Looking at this image
Hockney has almost created a world inside a world which in a similar
sense I would like to do. My audience will be coming onto Mars with
previous knowledge and awareness of danger and will use this
background to help them survive and create a new way of life.

6. Orion Nebula. Michelangelo
• The figure pointing in this image, signifies to me the power of Prospero. It is almost as if he is
touching the Planet along with him pointing represents direction and that he has a clear
vision of the future.
• The muted pink, purple and blue colours, suggest a misty and magical atmosphere, which
with my previous knowledge of the Tempest I can relate to Ariel.
• Overall, I feel this image presents the underlying notion that Prospero has the power over his
people. The colours which have been used to resemble the meaning in this painting I could
use in my set, to depict these mystical aspects.

7. Although this is a very simple child-like image from the children's programme (My parent are
aliens), I felt it was relevant to my interpretation because essentially it’s a story about aliens
who went onto Earth and had to create a new life for themselves there and adapt to normal
human life. This is straightforward to understand and has helped me to establish my chosen
audience on children, as if these themes can be easily portrayed in a TV series there is no
reason why children won’t be able to relate to it in my interpretation.

8. The single footstep and empty surroundings is suggesting the journey
into the unknown; this is what I want I my audience to experience
when they first step foot on Mars. It will start off as an individual
activity but they will grow into a team. This image signifies the
beginning when they are starting out on their adventure.

9. Planets in Space
• This is a powerful image which for me through it’s choice of colours and interlocking shapes
depicts the planets are separate entities but also interrelated systems. The image is
relevant to my interpretation as it shows how humans can appear similar and will share
similar emotions when they step onto my planet yet they are all unique as they have
different experiences and understandings.
• The differences in size between the components of the image, are indicative of power
relationships, which is key in The Tempest.

10. An image which I photographed myself I believe was an useful resource for my
interpretation. The different colours represent times of day and the passage of time
in comparison to life. The circles represent continuity of life and how the messages
from my interpretation of The Tempest will have an on-going and powerful effect on
the future. The shadows and reflections on the shapes imply direct and indirect
influences.

11. Anish Kapoor
Bubbles: I related it to my first
impressions of Ariel, an ethereal figure
who can see the world from a higher
point to everyone else.
The multiplicity of the balls and their
placement shows what Ariel is capable
of achieving through the manipulation
of Prospero. The mirror reflects
Prospero looking in and influencing
the world through Ariel.
The distorted images of the
surroundings reflected in the balls for
me represent the plot of the Tempest
where the outcomes are unclear and
are viewed at various angles. The
distorted reflections in the mirror are
shapes that are new to the viewers
because the elements are being seen
in a different way. I could link this to
the idea of going to a different planet
and island because everything there
will be strange to them.

12. My own image This image of a deserted
concentration camp in
Poland is very evocative.
The train tracks imply a
sense of direction and an
on-going journey which I
feel the Tempest
unleashes. The fencing
represents the constraints
and barriers that I want to
encounter within my
production. I also feel
there is a duality in the
symbolism of the fence in
that it is both forward
looking and retrospective.
The fence forms a division:
although you can look back
you cannot revisit the past.
This aligns with my idea
that the children will be
looking into their future.

13. The Metamorphosis of Narcissus Salvador Dali :This image is very
mystical and highly symbolic .
The two identical shapes in the
centre appear to represent the
omnipresence of Prospero. I
imagine this because although
the outlines are the same, they
are different. A hand with an
egg is discernible which may
represent growth in many forms
for example, the characters, my
audience, Prospero, the story
line. The egg can also imply
vulnerability and uncertainty
concerning future developments
because the shell is protective
and also very fragile.

14. Salvador Dali-Melting clocks
The image reminded me of a desolate island as described
by Ariel during her soliloquy in act 3 scene 3. The idea of
time is clearly depicted. The timepieces are melted, and
show different times, suggesting that time is not
important. The themes of the play are timeless. Future
possibilities are boundless. The mountains in background
and the emptiness of the island in the foreground are
resonant of the contrasting themes that are portrayed
within the Tempest.

15. Jerry Uelsmann
This photo is a surreal image with two
photos merged together. The top half of
the photo is a picture of a home and the
bottom half of the photo is the roots of a
tree. I can justify why this is such a key
image bringing a special message into my
interpretation. The home indicates a
family to me and the roots of the tree
stress the roots of the family. A tree is a
living organism which grows and grows
just like my audience I would like them to
grow and develop as people and realise
the importance of teamwork. There are
many roots growing, this emphasises that
there are many different things that go on
in a family however they are all one team.