Assignment
- 1. Unit 10-Assignment Genre 1-Action I am going to analysis some stylistic codes and conventions of the action genre, focusing in on two films Marvel’s Spiderman Homecoming and Dc’s Justice League. Theorist Steve Neale suggests that genres are instances of repetition and he believes the audience gets pleasure in recognizing familiar props, sets and current or returning characters. Neal’s ideas of repetition can clearly be seen in both Marvel’s Spider-Man Homecoming and Dc’s Justice League as both have recognizable props, sets and returning characters. The most iconic scene from Spiderman Homecoming is the fight scene that occurs on a ferry (see ref.1) which reveals a number of codes and conventions linked to the action genre. The web slinging superhero frantically rushes across the ferry with the help of rapid editing to create suspense and excite the audience by making them wonder what will happen next, also the rhythm of the film increases meaning the pace has increased which will also excite the audience and make them feel more involved. This is typical of an action film because it is done to keep the audience entertained, also within the rapid editing between Spider-man jumping from wall to wall the villain is using a gun which is a recognizable prop for action movies because most action movies contain weapons that are mostly shown during the day compared to horror movies where the weapons are mainly seen in the dark or on a night. This is done to keep the audience engaged and interested about what is happening. Ref.1. The next shot is a bad guy running away from the hero which is also iconic for action movies because it is used to keep the audience engaged and wonder what will happen next which can also create an atmosphere of suspense amongst the audience, it is also used to show how the pace of the movie is still increasing because action movies are often fast paced and full of suspense. This links with Neal’s idea about genres because most action movies are fast paced and that is often shown by fast editing. Another stylistic code used to make the meaning in action movies is the use of sound. In this scene (see ref.2) a non-diegetic soundtrack is used to accompany Spiderman -man in his final battle. This is pleonastic sound as it intensifies the action on screen. Marvel often use soundtracks whilst action is happening on screen to make the audience feel more intense about the situation happening and to make them more engaged/interested.
- 2. Ref.2. Dc’s Justice League is another movie that clearly uses stylistic codes and conventions of action movies in its own way. Whereas Spider-man Homecoming uses more high key lighting to show the characters and action, Justice League clearly uses more low key lighting (see ref.3) to keep mystery throughout the movie and is also used to show how this movie is more serious and relatable to the audience compared to other action movies because they typically use more high key lighting to make the movie more family friendly and create a happy atmosphere such as Spider-Man Homecoming. The use of hero’s dressed up in costumes is typical of action movies, with special effects (CGI and practical) and makeup used to disguise the hero they instantly become recognizable. This is used to distinctively show who the heroes are and who the villains are, sometimes by their colour scheme and this can make the reader feel excited/happy because they know what is happening and might recognize a familiar character because of their colour scheme. Ref.3. Again we can see how the use of props creates the genre, in Justice League Batman uses his armored weaponized vehicle to shoot flying aliens which can be compared to Spider- Man Homecoming because Spiderman chases a vehicle with a guy shooting a weaponized alien gun at him also the villain in the movie can fly. Guns are recognizable in the action genre because they have no limitations and help create most of the action. This is done to make the audience more interested in what’s happening on the screen and to give them a thrill. Both Spider-man Homecoming and Justice League clearly show a selection of the stylistic codes and conventions linked with the action genre. This allows the audience to fully recognize the movie, according to Steve Neale it gives the audience pleasure by recognizing familiar forms. In both movies miser-en-scene creates a sense of excitement (Spiderman Homecoming is based in queens which has a high popularity and Justice League is based in Gotham which also has a high popularity therefore it will make the audience wonder what will happen to everyone if something really bad happens). Also the use of cinematography techniques helps align the movies to the genre as both movies use high key lighting (although Justice League uses more low key lighting) to show action and highlight how the characters should be presented as saviors/hero’s which is why they often stand out amongst the darkness. Sound is also key as it intensifies the action sequence with non-diegetic soundtracks to make the audience more engaged and to hype them up for what is happening/about to happen.
- 3. Theorist Tsetzvan Todorv suggests that narratives will have a beginning, a middle and an end through five transformations: Equilibrium—Disruption of Equilibrium—Recognition of Equilibrium—Attempts to repair Equilibrium—New Equilibrium It could be argued that most action movies follow a similar pattern, and there is evidence to suggest both Spiderman Homecoming and Justice League adapt to this. Both have disruptions to an equilibrium caused by a villain causing havoc, in Spiderman Homecoming the explosion of an alien weapon being fired and in Justice League aliens flying around the city attacking/killing people. Recognition and an attempt to repair is evident in Spiderman Homecoming as Spiderman goes to the explosion to catch the bad guys. This pattern is also repeated in Justice League as Batman goes to capture the aliens. Furthermore, both movies do return to Todorov’s “equilibrium”- in Spider-Man Homecoming the villain is caught and all loose ends are tied up which is called a “closed ending” where storylines are presented clearly. A “closed ending” is used to give the audience closure and to reassure them there is no threat anymore. Similarly, in Justice League the same pattern has occurred because the hero’s stop the villain which shows they have “repaired the equilibrium” and now they are in a new “equilibrium”. Justice League also has a closed ending which gives the audience closure and reassurance. Genre 2-Horror I am going to analysis stylistic codes and conventions of the horror genre, focusing in on two films Halloween (1978) and Saw. Theorist Steve Neale suggests that genres are instances of repetition and he believes the audience gets pleasure in recognizing familiar props, sets and current or returning characters. Neal’s ideas of repetition can clearly be seen in both Halloween (1978) and Saw as both have recognizable props, sets and returning characters. The most iconic scene from Saw is when the two detectives discover a man’s body entangled in razor wire (see ref.4) which reveals a number of codes and conventions linked to the horror genre. The flash back that occurs with the help of rapid editing is used to show the murderers previous work and to show how brutal the murder is as it shows the victim trying to escape a cage full of razor wire and with the help of rapid editing it shows how the victim panicked for his life and tried everything to escape because the murder is menacing to him and endangers his life, which is typical of a horror movie because the murderer/serial killer is meant to scare the audience and the characters within the film. This is used to make the audience worried for the characters that encounters the murderer/serial killer and to give them a thrill as the audience will know what is going to happen before the characters do which is dramatic irony.
- 4. Ref.4. In another scene the victims are trying to escape the murderer/serial killer as they try to reach a tool box for weapons (which are recognizable props for horror movies and when they are recognized it will make the audience relieved and happy because they have recognized a prop) and try to grab the phone which is so close but yet they are unable to reach it and escape. This is normal for the horror genre because they like to give the audience fake belief that the victims will escape which creates suspense as the victims try to escape the killer and survive. This is done to build suspense throughout the movie and keep the audience interested, engaged as the movie progresses and becomes more serious which creates anticipation until the killer is caught. Another stylistic code used to make the meaning in horror movies is the effective use of sound. In this scene (see ref.5) a non-diegetic soundtrack is used whilst a man saws off his leg. This is pleonastic sound as it intensifies the scene on screen. Horror movies often use soundtracks to make the scenes more intense and create suspense amongst the audience which can make the audience worried because they don’t know what will happen next, this can also make them more interested in the movie. Ref.5. Halloween is another movie that clearly uses stylistic codes and conventions of horror movies in its own way. Halloween has a masked murderer on the loose which makes the movie more suspenseful as the movie progresses because no one knows who the murder is and will make the audience wonder who is killing all these people and throughout the movie the audience will try guessing who the murder is which makes them engaged in the movie and allows they to enjoy the movie more. Unlike Saw as the murderer on the loose doesn’t wear any sort of a mask although it can still create mystery throughout the movie if the murderers face doesn’t appear on screen until the end of the movie which can give the audience satisfaction if they guessed the murderer’s real identity which can mean they will enjoy the movie more as they feel as though they took part in it guessing the identity of the killer just like the
- 5. police/detectives The use of a murderers dressed up in costumes is typical of horror movies, with special effects (CGI and practical) and makeup used to disguise the murders they instantly become recognizable. This can make the audience feel excited when they see classic killers on screen because they have recognized them of their disguises. Again we can see how the use of props creates the genre, in Halloween the murderer uses a kitchen knife to kill his victims which can be compared to saw because the killer in saw uses weapons such as saws and blades to influence his victim’s deaths. Knifes and sharp objects are normally associated with the horror genre because that’s what most murders use to kill their victims. This can make the audience feel worried/self-aware because knifes and other sharp objects are easy to gather/supply in real life. Both Halloween and Saw clearly show a selection of the stylistic codes and conventions linked with the horror genre. This allows the audience to fully recognize the genre of the movie, according to Steve Neale it gives the audience pleasure by recognizing familiar forms. In both movies mise-en-scene creates a sense of realism (Halloween is based during the night which creates mystery because it’s harder to see which means the town/city could be based anywhere and Saw is based at an unknown location which means the killer could also be based anywhere which will make the audience wonder if the killings happened in a town/city like the one they live in). Also the use of cinematography techniques help align the movies to the genre as both movies use low key lighting to create mystery and highlight how the characters should be presented as dark and full of mystery because we don’t know a lot about them and they could have a lot of secrets we don’t know about that which can be unpleasing, which is why they are often hidden in the darkness or amongst it. Sound is also key as it intensifies the action in the scene with non-diegetic soundtracks to make the audience more engaged and if a killer’s theme tune is played then the audience will have recognized it and it will make them excited and happy to see their favorite character. Theorist Tsetzvan Todorv suggests that narratives will have a beginning, a middle and an end through five transformations: Equilibrium—Disruption of Equilibrium—Recognition of Equilibrium—Attempts to repair Equilibrium—New Equilibrium It could be argued that most horror movies follow a similar pattern, and there is evidence to suggest both Halloween and Saw adapt to this. Both have disruptions to an equilibrium caused by murder, in Halloween the murder of Judith Myers and in Saw the murders first victim. Recognition and an attempt to repair is evident in Halloween as Michael Myers is put into a mental asylum. This pattern is also repeated in Saw as the detectives and police look for the killer. Recognition and an attempt to repair is evident in Halloween as Michael is shot by doctor Loomis. This pattern is also repeated in Saw as saw traps people in a room and leaves until the next movie which means he stopped killing for a while. Furthermore, Halloween and Saw don’t have a closed ending, which is done to make the reader worry and wonder what will happen next which creates anticipation and suspense for the next movie. This technique is used to make the audience feel a sense of panic because from what they know the killer is still out there and could be anywhere.
- 6. The movies do both demonstrate a return to Todorov’s equilibrium because in Halloween it is revealed Michael is still alive which creates a new equilibrium as Michael survived falling from a height and being shot many times. However, in Saw the murderer gets up and traps the victims in a bathroom (via chains) which creates a new equilibrium because the killer has just walked out and the victims couldn’t do anything to stop him from escaping.