OBJECTIFIED by Gary Huswit - Form & Content

Part of what makes Gary Huswit's documentary Objectified so interesting and successful in communicating its message is the way film's form interacts with its content.  Objectified shines a light on the creative processes of several industrial designers and the relationship between humans and the manufactured objects these designers create.  Within the first few minutes, the film clearly shows the audience that this is what it will be about.

The film opens with a couple of people going through their morning routine.  However, viewers only see the people's hands.  The camera mainly focuses on the everyday objects being used that humans often take for granted such as toothbrushes, faucet heads, plates, pans, utensils, and much more.  In doing this, Huswit places emphasis on the objects' usefulness, our dependence on them, and the success of each object's design.  People's morning routines are so habitual that we almost become automatized robots when we perform them.  The objects created for these routines are so well designed that they are easily used.  It takes no thought for us to grab a toothbrush or a pan and properly use it.  This is part of the goal of these designers.  As one designer states, his goal is to re-invent and improve objects without the users even noticing by creating objects that flow into one's daily experience flawlessly.

Also stated in the film is that we place a lot of meaning into inanimate objects.  Objects take on sentimental meaning by being the plastic fork one used on their first date or the magnet that your family loves.  By taking on meaning, objects develop a personality.  This message is the film's content.  The form or the way the title of the film is first shown gives each object personality as the "f" is a faucet head, the "j" is a toothbrush, and the "e" is a tape dispenser.

As discussed in the two examples above, the film's form, or the way Objectified was designed, emphasized and illustrated the film's content well. By not overtly illustrating the interaction of form and content, Huswit intelligently and clearly communicates his messages and ideas. 

photo from: www.objectifiedfilm.com