ABSTRACT
One can view metaphors in film not only as cases of visuality and multimodality (between sound and visual information) but also as cases of multisensoriality beyond the classic five senses. Whereas multisensory studies support the perceptual bases of this claim, Gus Van Sant's film Gerry offers interesting material that contextualizes this theoretical question within the cinematic experience of walking as metaphorical representation of identity, or what is called as IDENTITY AS A WALKING EXPERIENCE. Gerry employs a type of film metaphor that is constructed through aspects of orientation and balance governed by the vestibular sense and the dynamic creation of the identity of two characters, both of whom are called Gerry. IDENTITY AS A WALKING EXPERIENCE is a metaphor that expresses a multiplicity of symbolic meanings. The metaphor of identity as a walking experience is a cinematic exercise in building specific meaningful relationships between the domain concepts through experientiality.
