COHFA | Global Languages Senior Colloquium
The Shape of Color: A Comparison of the Use of Colors in Guillermo Del Toro’s Pan’s Labyrinth and The Shape of Water
Academic Level at Time of Presentation
Senior
Major
Spanish and History
List all Project Mentors & Advisor(s)
Dr. Tanya Romero-Gonzalez, Professor Robert Fritz
Presentation Format
Oral Presentation
Abstract/Description
Mexican director Guillermo Del Toro is one of the most widely renowned directors in not only his use of color, but his chromatic contrasts, to emphasize themes and feelings in his movies. While there is much research into the chromatism of the films of Guillermo Del Toro and the director has commented himself a lot on his use of color, there are some aspects that are not as researches. First, the academic research into color with his films, such as the psychological and cross cultural impacts of color on viewers, is limited. Second, the research which draws parallels between his two Academy Award winning films, the 2006 film Pan’s Labyrinth and his 2017 film The Shape of Water and his 2006 film Pan’s Labyrinth is scarce. My project fills both these gaps in research by comparing the intended effects of the chromatism of both movies on the average viewer and drawing comparisons between both movies. Although there is intended feelings associated with color, through the use of contrast, saturation, light, and tonality, Guillermo Del Toro emphasizes themes of man versus nature and escapism. He also uses color as a vessel to emphasize a variety of emotions in both films, such as love, loneliness and passion. Through the use of this coloration, Del Toro creates patterns which allow the viewers to better understand the thematic elements of his films.
Spring Scholars Week 2018 Event
Global Languages Senior Colloquium
The Shape of Color: A Comparison of the Use of Colors in Guillermo Del Toro’s Pan’s Labyrinth and The Shape of Water
Mexican director Guillermo Del Toro is one of the most widely renowned directors in not only his use of color, but his chromatic contrasts, to emphasize themes and feelings in his movies. While there is much research into the chromatism of the films of Guillermo Del Toro and the director has commented himself a lot on his use of color, there are some aspects that are not as researches. First, the academic research into color with his films, such as the psychological and cross cultural impacts of color on viewers, is limited. Second, the research which draws parallels between his two Academy Award winning films, the 2006 film Pan’s Labyrinth and his 2017 film The Shape of Water and his 2006 film Pan’s Labyrinth is scarce. My project fills both these gaps in research by comparing the intended effects of the chromatism of both movies on the average viewer and drawing comparisons between both movies. Although there is intended feelings associated with color, through the use of contrast, saturation, light, and tonality, Guillermo Del Toro emphasizes themes of man versus nature and escapism. He also uses color as a vessel to emphasize a variety of emotions in both films, such as love, loneliness and passion. Through the use of this coloration, Del Toro creates patterns which allow the viewers to better understand the thematic elements of his films.