Mediums of Manipulation

                Both the Supernatural episode, "The Monster at the End of this Book" and Ambrose Bierce's "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge" manipulate the reader or viewer through their mediums. Both rely on the audience’s imagination and emotion, their ability to connect with the story.  This emotion is often evoked through the use of detail.  In the Supernatural episode, the reader connects with the setting, which is often dark and dreary. This follows well with the plot, which dooms Dean and Sam to a fate determined by Chuck’s visions. The deep voices and stressful conversations, aided by the acting of the actors, contribute to the mood in the episode, and presumably the rest of the show. The cinematography also adds to the suspense. As with the fading letters on the motel sign (which end up spelling “Red”) leave the viewer in a helpless position – in possession of more knowledge than any of the characters and with nothing to do about it. Occasionally, the viewer is reminded of this position with comments on the plot. The story is seen as a story when it is presented in book form within the show. Comments on the written stories point out how cliché it can be. Perhaps this only sucks the viewer in further though, as it may be seen as a story within a story.

                Bierce’s story also manipulates the viewer with the tools available. The story is largely seen from the perspective of Farquhar, as the reader is largely only able to follow his story specifically. The vivid details, especially in Farquhar’s escape feed the reader’s imagination, attaching him or her more to the story. Without visuals, the reader relies purely on the details provided. Here, the writer has more power than a director or producer, because of his ability to play with perspective with ease. While the story is told in the third person, the reader easily connects with the character as he sees and feels the things seen and felt by Farquhar. Both the episode and story reveal the creator’s (writer/director) ability to manipulate.