Elementals part 1

I've been musing on elements a bit today after glancing at some desks in Wal-mart of all places. It struck me that each desk was either wooden with aged brass details or post-modern with glass and stainless steel. This made me think of writing and how often the tone of the piece and sometimes the entire inspiration for a piece can be defined elementally.
For an example I think most people can relate to, I'll turn to Tolkien first. In the complete Lord of the Rings series, think about what stands out the most, what sticks with you? The locations and peoples and even the languages of middle-earth are dictated by elemental tones. With the elves, the elements would be pure, plants, light. The dwarves, by contrast, are defined stone, the dark, dank feeling of being underground, rough metals, and leather (oddly enough). The hobbits would be grass and gardens and so on. It's this use of elements that create the tone/feeling of the story.
Though this is the clearest (due to the elements and environments both being natural) and most relatable example, I would argue the most stories, movies, poems, music.... all contain some connection to specific elements. Works like iRobot and Minority report bring us back to the stainless steel and glass not only in the construction of the world, but in the overall feel/tone of the story/movie.
This can be controlled by the creator to maximize the effect of the story or it can just happen by crazy random happenstance. Word choice is one of the most essential, but sneakiest ways to create this elemental tone. The easiest way to demonstrate this is to look at the differences between strong, earthy Germanic words and cleaner (and even pretentious) French/Latinate language. When it happens by accident, it's absolutely beautiful but it's hard if not impossible for the creator to recreate that "something" that made the original stand out.
One last example for this part is a demonstration involves a term that we've all used but probably have never thought too much about. Have you ever referred to something (movie, book, poem, song) as gritty? That is a beautiful illustration of what I mean. Quentin Terrentino (sp?), for one, has grabbed this idea and made a career from it. He takes "clean" things (bright colors, shiny weapons, beautiful women, men in suits) and throws them into a world of grit and dirt and grime and sweat, but in the end, the contrasts of the different elements make all of it cling to us.


-Caston