Dorschner 1
AJ Dorschner
Darin Halvorsen
English 201 MWF 10:00
Date
Stone Cold Freedom
The use of stones and rocks as tools or works of art was one of the most basic
advancements in human technology in the earliest civiliza’ons. Paul Olding claims in his ar’cle
in Geographical ‘tled “Rocks of Ages”, the use of di/erent types of rock by di/erent civiliza’ons
shaped the course of history for those par’cular civiliza‘ons. Archaeologists have found ancient
tools made of stone da’ng back 25,000 to 50,000 years ago. These tools mostly involved the
hun’ng and harves‘ng of animals (First Technologies…). Not only did ancient civiliza’ons use
stones as tools, they used them as pieces of art. The most ancient works of art date back to
Paleolithic Era of the Stone Age. The Paleolithic Era occurred between 2,500,000 and 10,000
BCE. These 7rst works of art included rock engravings and rock pain‘ngs (Earliest Art…). These
7rst uses of stone technology were major technological advances for the ‘me.
It is obvious that civiliza’on today has made tremendous leaps in technology since those
‘mes. However, the use of stones and rocks are s’ll prevalent in today’s society. Advancements
in geology provide more uses for stones and rocks than ever including materials used for the
making of buildings, landscaping, infrastructure, and much more. Nevertheless, stones and
rocks can represent something more than a material used in technology.
Dorschner 2
In the 7lm The Shawshank Redempon directed by Frank Darabont, the use of rocks and
stones involve something more than a means of technology. Throughout the movie, Darabont
uses di/erent charging techniques to show that stones and rocks symbolize freedom and hope
for the inmates of Shawshank Prison. Di/erent situa’ons arise during the movie where the
symbolism of hope and freedom is highly associated with stones and rocks. The Shawshank
Redempon uses stones and rocks throughout the movie to symbolize hope and freedom for
the inmates.
Frank Darabont uses a number of di/erent charging techniques to represent rocks and
stones as a symbol throughout the 7lm. The first and most simple technique he uses is the act
of repe”on throughout the 7lm. Viewers begin seeing rocks throughout the 7lm beginning
