Media assignment 5
- 2. OUR TARGET LEVEL : GREEN B-A To reach our target we must complete the following : Title page Mittel’s theory Level checklist Fuerer’s theory Exploration of films Semantics Film of choice and reasoning Syntax Genre Iconography Conventions list (At least 8) Sub genre Conventions analysis Hybrid Dominant ideology Stam’s theory Audience Audience theory
- 3. MIND MAP OF FILMS
- 4. FILM OF CHOICE AND WHY The film we have chosen to do is My Sisters Keeper, as it has lots of dramatic elements being a film about terminal illness and the struggle for life. It creates a lot of suspense in the audience as they want to know what will happen to the girl who is sick. Also, the movie shows a great amount of tension between the family and breakdown between the family members such as the youngest daughter Anna and her mother. It shows how this illness not only affects the daughter but the family as well.
- 5. GENRE The main genre that the film falls under is drama, as it is based on a terminal illness, family relationships. It has elements of melodrama as it provokes sympathy and empathy from the audience. It is also a tragedy as the sick daughter dies in the end creating even more emotion from the audience. Our genre- drama- has many different sub-genres such as docu- drama, historical drama, tragedy, melodrama and action drama. Here are some other drama films! Tragedy Melodrama
- 6. SUB GENRE Subgenre Evidence Based on a book. Tragedy The patient is dying of leukaemia throughout the film. Melodrama It deals with illness and family issues making the audience emotional.
- 7. HYBRID The film is a hybrid as it has a mixture of drama, tragedy , romance and it is based on a book. This scene shows the closeness of the characters and shows romance as it is an intimate scene.
- 8. STAM’S THEORY Other ways to classify our film: Evidence Big budget film $30,000,000 Based on a book My sister’s Keeper by Jodi Picoult. Mainstream / Blockbuster $12,442,212 for opening weekend
- 9. MITTEL’S THEORY Mittel’s theory relates to our film as it is based on a book so people are more likely to watch it as they know what the film is about. The actors in our film are iconic and help to sell the film as people know them to be in good film and they might like the actors and their acting style. Cameron Diaz Abigail Breslin
- 10. FUERER’S THEORY Fuerer’s theory is that genre is abstract, it is not easily defined because everyone has different Ideals, Ideas and life experiences and therefore interpret codes and conventions differently. How does this relate to our film: Evidence Some people believe it is wrong to The mother has another child to have donor babies. save her first child who has leukaemia Some people might think it is Anna takes her parents to court wrong that Anna sues her parents. to sue them for medical emancipation. That the girl has sex in the hospital In different cultures sex before –and she’s not married marriage is unacceptable especially in a hospital. That the dying girl asks her sister People wouldn’t understand why Anna to stop helping her. she asks her to stop if she wants to live.
- 11. SEMANTICS Semantics How are these evident in the film: Characters There are iconic characters within the film for example the mother who is really protective. Locations The location for most drama films are based around hospitals as the patients are dying. Story traits The are normally family arguments within these types of movies as there is a strain on the family relationships.
- 12. Semantics How are these evident in your film? Costumes The character is wearing a white robe with his name sewn onto it. This costume is evidence that he is a doctor.
- 13. Semantics How are these evident in your film? props The machines around the girl and the tubes around her show that she is in hospital and is a patient.
- 14. Semantics How are these evident in your film? Rituals The family is excited to see the daughter in her dress – this is like the stereotypical family moment. The ritual here is that the girl is going to prom and the family is excited and taking pictures of her and her date.
- 15. SYNTAX What is the purpose of your movie? The purpose of the movie is to show that life is sacred and that we shouldn’t waste our live- we should live each moment to the fullest and enjoy each moment of our lives. It might help people who are going through the same situation get through it with hope.
- 16. ICONOGRAPHY semantics characters The mother is over protective and this relates to the film because in real life mothers are generally caring and worried about the children locations This film is located in the hospital most of the time because the girl is suffering from terminal illness. Story traits There is a strain on the family relationships as the girl is ill and the sibling wants to sue for the rights to her body. costumes The doctors robe represents hospital which is where the film is based around. Props The props shows that she is in the hospital and shows the serious side of her illness. rituals The ritual of the girl going to prom and her family taking pictures shows that the family are happy and want a little bit or normalcy in their lives.
- 17. TONE The lighting also represents innocence and purity. It makes it seem as if this girl is the The lighting around the girl is bright showing the intensity of centre of attention. this scene. The lighting from the blinds is dim to show privacy between them. The light around the mother and her daughter is dark showing that it is a serious conversation, this contrasts with the dying daughter.
- 18. CONVENTIONS LIST Conventions of Examples from range of real Use, develop or challenge? genre/subgenre/hybrid films Drama movies and generally Titanic uses serious The purpose of the story line is The vow uses to move the audience emotionally. The audience can relate to the Freedom writers uses situations. Portrays real life situations The pursuit of happyness uses Conflict between characters e.g taken uses family conflict Specific subject matter e.g racial crash Uses – terminal illness conflict. Makes the audience feel The hunger games uses empathy and sympathy. Makes us think about our Charlie St Cloud uses situations – what might happen if we had cancer? CRIME DRAMAS- someone Taken 2 challenges gets kidnapped ROMANCE DRAMA - happy Ps I love you Develops – the family are happy endings in the end however the daughter does die.
- 19. CONVENTIONS ANALYSIS 1# Conventions of genre/ sub- Examples from your film: genre / hybrid Drama movies and generally serious The film itself is based on a serious topic – terminal illness. The purpose of the story line is to move the The girl dies in the end. audience emotionally. The audience can relate to the situations. People who watch it could also have cancer Portrays real life situations Cancer. Conflict between characters e.g family the daughter is suing her mother. conflict
- 20. CONVENTIONS ANALYSIS 2# Conventions of genre/ sub-genre Examples from your film: / hybrid Specific subject matter e.g racial conflict. The movie is based on terminal illness. Makes the audience feel empathy and With the girl who is dying and the sympathy. family left behind., Makes us think about our situations – what How we might deal with having a might happen if we had cancer? donor baby . CRIME DRAMAS- someone gets kidnapped challenged ROMANCE DRAMA - happy endings Developed
- 21. DOMINANT IDEOLOGY Dominant ideology Evidence / example That while you are in hospital or sick you have your whole family there to support you. It is wrong to use others They use their youngest for a donor. The dad is usually the one who stays He is the one who stops the strong. arguments. When your dying you want your last She goes to the beach with her family. days to be happy.
- 22. AUDIENCE Details of Target audience Secondary audience Why would they be audience attracted to the film? age 18+ 15+ Because this is the age that would understand and might have experienced the same thing. gender women Men Because it is showing the girls life but also her families struggle to be whole again. ethnicity Mixed – mainly white any Anybody would be attracted to the movie s it isn't mainly about one ethnicity – every ethnicity could go through the same thing. Social class Any Any Every social class would be attracted as anyone from any social class could go through the same thing. Social group Any any it doesn’t relate specifically to one social group Sexual Any Any This is because it can orientation affect anyone. Profession/role Anybody any It isn't aimed at certain
- 23. AUDIENCE THEORY MCQUAIL Reasons why people watch the Explanation film Entertainment People watch the movie for Information People might watch this to learn more about cancer and how it can affect relationships, and if they know someone with cancer, it could help to understand how they are feeling. Personal identity They might be in the same situation and want to be able to have a better relationship with their family. Integration & social interaction They can talk about the film,