PRODUCTION SHOTS- POMEGRANATE SYMBOLISM

These are some production shots of our symbolism pieces involving the pomegranate. In total we went through eight pomegranates: repeatedly re cutting until the eventual shot was delivered. This was also a second attempt since we had tried this fruit symbolism with a grapefruit and a blood orange, however found that both of these (especially) the grapefruit held profound similarities to body matter which made it appear too much like a horror film etc causing it to lose all sentimentality/ emotion.
What we found better about the pomegranate was that as it looked like blood, it had a more stylistic relationship to body matter and the concept of her losing herself, without appearing gory. Furthermore, there is a larger amount of symbolism surrounding the pomegranate especially within historical paintings. The pomegranate is said to have been the fruit used to tempt Eve within the Garden of Eden instead of an apple, paying homage to the Original Sin you can link this concept to the idea of sexual assault by associating in how both contexts the women are blamed. This concept of temptation and punishment associated with pomegranates is also recognised in the Greek myth of Persephone trapped in the Underworld due to her consuming pomegranate seeds. The fragility of the branches of the pomegranate tree can also link greatly to our characterisation as it highlights her vulnerability and fragile nature as she is on the verge of breaking point due to the ordeal she has been through. What is most poignant however is how the pomegranate is deemed a symbol of fertility often being used within ceremonies such as in Turkish weddings the pomegranate is thrown onto the ground, the number of seeds that fall out are an indication of the future number of children. In Chinese culture pomegranates are an offering to to the Goddess of Mercy in they're prayers for children. Within Christian art also, acting as a symbol of Resurrection and rebirth, due to how in early paintings of Jesus as a child he is seen as offering a pomegranate to the Virgin Mary: this idea of rebirth is central to our plot as the protagonist inevitably finds herself again once she realises that she is not to blame for her ordeal.
The symbolism pieces were filmed on a Canon 700D and a tripod. Filmed in the kitchen window during daylight was to ensure that you could see the detail within the pomegranate and its hexagonal structure of the seeds within it (as these are the symbol especially of fertility).
(source on symbolism: http://www.metmuseum.org/pubs/bulletins/1/pdf/3257268.pdf.bannered.pdf)