Further case study research: The Last of Us no. 2

The Last of Us

Continuing from the previous post 'Further case study research: no.1', case study about 'The Last of Us'

 Characters

Protagonists and extra characters which had outstanding characteristics are crucial features in The Last of Us. In order to sustain an image with clear meaning, environment setting itself cannot sustain this unless with its support of aesthetically created characters. Protagonists such as Joel and Ellie are a human being who has particular sets of skills and traits, for example, Joel, a male character who has survivability and physical ability to adapt into difficult situations or Ellie, a young female protagonist with a cure for a mankind (Fig.1). 

Fig.1 Protagonists

Similarities can be applied to antagonists as well in order to give these characters upmost appeal, for instance, a character which is riddled with diseases and able to spread it just like Cordyceps fungi which has mentioned earlier (Fig.2). The design of the antagonist needs to have its human physiology but detail of the character cannot be overly done to stay within the boundary of believability. These realistic characters within a scene have been carefully measured in order to convey the visual narrative to audiences.

Fig.2 Antagonist

 Semiotic: Sign communication

 Audiences will encounter specific scenes which the expression the creator wants to express has been compacted and unable to inform the meaning fully. One of the memorable moments in The Last of Us is the first confrontation of a giraffe and a protagonist, Ellie (Fig,1). The physical pattern where these two characters show affection to each other by making an eye contact, or physical contact when the protagonist touches the giraffe is the implication of sign communication. The moment when the protagonist makes contact with the giraffe shows the insinuation that the protagonist still have the will to live. The surrounding environment these protagonists are situated in was mostly death and the first time when the protagonist makes contact with the giraffe, it indicates the ignition of lust for life. In this sense, the sign communication has affected both the visual narrative within the scene and connection between audiences and an image by these particular scenes.

Fig.1 Sign Communication by physical movement