I will be exploring how drugs are portrayed in Human Traffic through three main areas- if the characters are shown taking drugs and why this is, how drugs affect the characters and if drug usage and culture is glorified or if is an example of social realism and that it is reality.
Firstly, the characters are shown taking drugs, but not in many scenes- for instance, the characters are shown smoking cigarettes and marijuana on some occasions, taking cocaine and pills. However, on the most part, the drug taking part is omitted. This reflects the submission of drug culture and how drugs aren't an acceptable part of society, but it still happens. Instead, the film focuses on the effects that taking the drugs has on the characters, both physically and socially.
At one stage, Jip and Koop are talking and one says to the other, "look at you're eyes... you're f*****", showing how the drugs have an effect on their appearance.
Moff's appearance also corresponds to this, in that he is wearing dreary clothes and seems on edge at all times. Similarly, the people that come into the record store, the hip hop listeners and particularly the jungle listeners, are very stereotypical in their appearance and their actions, and are clearly affected by the drugs they have taken as it is not the same as a 'normal' individual.
Socially, however, the effect the drugs has on them is positive during the high, in that they are more relaxed, open, and can escape from their weekday lives. This side of the scene glorifies drug usage and makes it seem as if this is the way people should lead their lives. The comedown period does portray bot sides and hence supports the idea of realism and that this is merely a representation of modern society, but I still believe that the film glorifies drug usage.
A good analysis Joe. Also think about the fact that only the young characters are shown taking drugs, what effect does this have on how youth are represented in the film?
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