The art of montage is born in the field of artistic expression. This method uses the quick display of images to create the desired effect. Usually linked together, the visuals express particular ideas or feelings.
Books often use montages to create a sense of mood or atmosphere or express a specific idea. For example, a series of pictures might describe the course of time or show differences among different scenes.
In terms of literature, montages comprise concise scenes that fit together but retain their individuality. By this approach, we can compress timeframes, locations, and actions and concentrate on a narrative given a more significant impact. In literature, montages are often used to introduce characters or record the passage of time.
One such tale lies inside F. Scott Fitzgerald’s masterpiece, The Great Gatsby. Within are marvelous descriptions of Gatsby’s large parties—montages overflowing with music and dancing radiating extreme luxuriance. These examples compare lifestyles and show how Gatsby’s parties increase in wildness.
Montages can also skillfully usher new characters onto the literary stage. In J.D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye, readers are introduced to Holden Caulfield in a collection of vignettes, each offering a glimpse into his life to slowly draw him into their lives. The result is a collage of scenes that give us an understanding of his character and make him the novel’s lead.
The montage means that different things matter and that other parts coexist harmoniously, creating shared meaning or at least reinforcing underlying themes within stories’ fabrications. When correctly done, it adds layer upon layer to enrich stories with depth and to give them a sense of staying power.