Themes and message
The main themes of the short film “Up and Down” by Jason Karman are teenage love and identity. The film shows the way teenagers are still discovering their identity through conflicts and romantic feelings, which make them feel confused and insecure most of the time.
Teenage love
The theme of teenage love is explored through a love triangle formed of Emily, Kristie, and Joel. In the beginning, we see Emily attracted to Joel and willing to do anything to get to know him. For this reason, she takes up learning yo-yo with him. Her love or attraction for Joel is defined by shyness, as it is only gradually that she gets the courage to invite him to a dinner.
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Identity
The theme of identity is explored in two ways in the short film: through teenage love and through conflicts. Emily is, at the beginning of the film, an insecure boyish girl who happens to be attracted by a schoolmate. Her attraction to Joel leads to her discovery of her passion for yo-yoing. Though she takes up learning how to yo-yo for the sake of getting closer to Joel, she soon becomes very skilled at the game. Also, this probably gives her the confidence to invite Joel to a more formal (romantic) dinner...
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