Title: Dividing Line
Fandom: What Matters Most
Notes: My entry is inspired by "Fences," the play by August Wilson.
Summary: The backstory of the play's main characters reminded me of the relationship between Lucas Warner and his father in "What Matters Most." While the characters in "Fences" grew up poor and under much adversity, Lucas is the only son of the wealthiest man in his small Texas town. The family lives in luxury, but Lucas grows up under the thumb of his physically and emotionally abusive father. Whenever Lucas tries to assert himself and tell his father that he wants to live his own life, his father retaliates in a way that leaves Lucas drained and bereft of hope.



A rusty fence separates Lucas from the life he wants and the life his father is determined he should have.



A closeup of a moment between Lucas and his father. Lucas has just summoned the courage to tell his father that he wants to go to college instead of staying home and running the family feedlot business. His father, who has counted on having Lucas as his business partner, retaliates by grabbing his son and threatening him. Actor Marshall Teague is a lot bigger than Chad Allen, and Chad does exactly what I'd expect a smaller person (in size and authority) to do: Put up one hand as a defensive gesture and then tune out.



Materials:

I painted an old piece of board with Elmer's glue then waited for it to dry a little before painting it with a variety of acrylic colors. The board itself was too smooth, and the glue made the paint crackle a bit, giving it a rougher appearance. At first I wasn't too happy with the way it turned out, thinking it was too confusing and lacked focus, but then I decided it was okay because Lucas is confused and has no idea which way to turn. I used screencaps from the movie along with a few Photobucket editing tools to dress them up a bit. I wish I could have found a good screencap that didn't slice off the top of Chad Allen's head, but no such luck. The large picture is mounted on wooden spools to give it a 3-D effect. A few snips from a rusty barbed-wired fence completed the project. I keep thinking another element is needed, but I'm just not sure what that would be.


A SparkNotes summary of the play's themes