Aristotle's Main Elements in "My Name Is Lisa"

In a mere seven minutes, the short film "My Name Is Lisa" demonstrates Aristotle's six main elements: plot, character, idea, spectacle, diction and music.

The plot of the “My Name is Lisa” is quite simple. Instead of employing an intensive narrative, the film plays more like a “slice of life” piece, with hardly a driving goal, but rather offering a glimpse of the life of its main character and how she will grow. The film is told possibly non-chronologically, using Lisa’s video blog as a sort of first-person narration. The narration intercut with events in her life surrounding her relationship with her mother serve to comment on her life and add insight into Lisa’s character.

Lisa changes throughout the three-act structure in her dealing with her mother. At first, when facing the difficulties and frustrations her mother provides, she seems to ignore her. Later, Lisa reacts angrily, shouting her frustrations at her mother. Finally, she finds a patient way to cope with the difficulties while still loving and engaging her.

The character of the mother is important to the idea/theme/premise of “My Name Is Lisa,” especially in the way she is revealed. The themes of the film involve look closer at your surroundings, observing their complexities, and finding a comic resolution. The mother seems at first to be a sort of comic relief character. Later, the audience gets more insight into her mental/psychological condition. Finally, we’re provided with the resolution that this is not an obstacle to joy, but a merely a finer detail in life.

I suppose the most lasting spectacle or impression the film achieves is an emotional one. The event involving the relationship between a mother and daughter is a very human one, filled with sadness, but surprised by joy.

Two aspects of the diction in the film stand out most for me. First is the repeated line “My Name Is Lisa.” The first time it is spoken, the character is proudly announcing it to the viewer of her video blog (and the film). The second time, it takes on completely different meaning; she is pleading to her mother and trying to make her remember who she is. The second interesting use is the presence of literature to comment on the action and themes of the film: the reading of “Huck Finn.”

And finally, the music in “My Name Is Lisa” guides the flow of the film. The film as a rhythm that keeps the pacing rather quick, but never frantic. The music is a very simple piano theme that repeats, as a sort of cue or motif, suggesting emotions portrayed in the pictures, but never forcing them. It really complements the film.