Artistic Design
Here, the character has been struggling very much with her "invisible illness," for about one year. However, rather than simply reading lines of text on the screen that tell the player how the character feels and attempting to simply visualize the effects of depression on the character, the player can actually see firsthand the emotional strain and the physical toll that depression is taking on young Rae's body.
The dimly-lit scene and dark vibe give the environment a dark and sinister feeling, representative of the character's state of wellbeing. The character has noticeably dark, heavy eye bags with her eyes downcast, as her mother watches her with concern. The attention to detail is palpable, and the character almost seems to be folding in on herself. The counters and cabinets are evidently bare, possibly symbolizing the negative monetary impact that searching for treatment has had on the character and her single mother. Even the shadows in the background seem to have a more menacing look, almost creeping up on the character in a way. For example, as Nair, et al. states, "Furthermore, audio-visual media can express emotional subtleties that are difficult to express in words and create higher recognition and relevance for people accustomed to postmodern media forms" (paragraph 9). They are conveying that graphic and visual effects lend even more to the table when it comes to capturing a reader or player's attention and helping the reader/player better empathize with the character, which is precisely what But You Seem Fine is accomplishing with the artistic, yet subtle details that nevertheless speak volumes.
