Assignment 5 final draft2

Assignment 5: Film Study & Conventions In A Film

By: Chelsea and Abigail

Target Level: Green

Target Level: Green• By choosing the green target we can achieve a grade C-B to accomplish this we will

have to complete all categories in the yellow section and possibly the extension. The green target includes discussing: Genre Sub genre Hybrid Stam’s theory Mittel’s theory Fuerer’s theory Semantics Syntax Iconography & Tone At least 8 conventions and the analysis and each convention Dominant Ideology Audience Audience Theory

Genre exploration

Film of choice and reasoning

• We chose The Dark Knight because it is a good representation of the thriller genre. We are both familiar with the film and we also felt we could talk a lot about this movie as it contains many conventions of the main genre and sub genres.

Genre

The Dark Knight falls under the genre of action.As a thriller movie, it is aimed to thrill and excite the audience by putting them on the edge of their seats with fast paced action and hard core blasts of energy.

Subgenre

The Dark Knight contains a range of sub genres, including:•Superhero •Crime •Thriller•Mystery•Spy

Hybrids

The Dark Knight contains a range of hybrid genres, including:• Superhero Drama• Action-Superhero• Superhero Thriller• Crime superhero drama• Fantasy• Action Thriller

Stam Theory Stam’s theory is that genre cannot be easily defined under the ‘main

genre’s but under other ways. The Dark Knight can be classified other ways than under its main genre. For example its a high budget film, its a Christian Bale film and the plot of the film is borrowed from the comic series of Batman.

Source: Wikipedia

Christian Bale

Added notes

“Stam’s theory says that genre is not so easily defined under the ‘main genres’ but can be

classified in other ways such as budget, Ethnicity focus or Performer based. ”Another way to classify The Dark Knight without relation to it’s main genre is to classify it under the comic book genre, as the Batman franchise started in 1940 with the ‘Batman’ comics, although the character first appeared in the ‘Detective Comics’ in 1939. ‘Batman’ was later made into a television program in the 1960’s which was followed by various movies throughout the decades, including the most recent ‘The Dark Knight Rises’.The film can also be classified under ‘performer based’ as it contains many big named actors who have starred in lots of big films. For example: Christian Bale, who has starred as Batman throughout the trilogy (Batman Begins, The Dark Knight and The Dark Knight Rises), Heath Ledger (who died six months before the movie was released) as The Joker and Michael Caine as Alfred the butler, as well as Morgan Freeman, Gary Oldman as James Gordon and Aaron Eckhart.

Mittel Theory

‘Mittel’s theory is that genre is used to sell products.’It is easy to relate this theory to the film because we live in a society where superheroes are seen nearly everyday – maybe not in everyday life, but the products are all around us.‘The Dark Knight’ sells products as the main character ‘batman’ is from the superhero fanatic.Recently there has been a superhero craze with movies such as ‘The Dark Knight Rises’, ‘The Amazing Spiderman’ and ‘The Avengers’ gaining millions in the box office, thus accenting the return of superheroes.The Dark Knight especially led to the creation of many products including children’s toys, action figures, clothing and of course DVDs/Blu-rays etc. of the film.

Fuerer TheoryFuerer’s theory that “genre is abstract and isn’t easily defined as everyone has different

ideas, life experience etc therefore they interpret codes and conventions differently”

• Fuerer’s theory can relate to The Dark Knight as some people may recognize the thriller elements within the film and agree that The Dark Knight is a thriller whereas other people within the audience such as children may see these elements as part of the horror genre as they have little knowledge of the different types of genres and they may find some of the characters within the film intimidating and gruesome so this is why they might class The Dark Knight under the horror category.

Younger viewers may find characters like ‘Two face’ horrific and gruesome

Added notes

“Fuerer’s theory is that genre is abstract, meaning that it is not easily defined because everyone has different ideas, ideals, life experience, culture etc and therefore interpret codes and conventions differently. (what is recognisable and familiar to one, may not

be recognisable or familiar to someone else in the same way). ”This theory can be related to The Dark Knight because where some people might see it as another superhero film, others might interpret it as being a crime drama, action-thriller, a comic book adaptation or even a thriller fantasy film. Some people might even define it as a light psychological-action-drama-romantic-thriller.

SemanticsSemantics Evidence in film?

Characters Hero (Batman), Villain (Joker)

Locations Set in Gotham City – a city riddled with crime and a constant battle between good and evil.• Streets of Gotham• A hospital (which is later blown up)

Story Traits Death of a loved one, Revenge, Good vs Evil,Escalation of violence

Costumes Capes, Masks

Props Guns, Knives,

Ritual Death of the villain

Syntax

What is the syntax (overall message/purpose) of the film? When a society has no leaders they become unethical and uncivilised There's corruption within the government The government lies to the society to make things seem okay when

they’re not Good vs. Evil

IconographyIconography

Costume MasksCapespolice uniformsSuitsfacial disguises

Setting Big cities, i.e.. New York, San Francisco, London etc.The Dark Knight is set in the fictional city of ‘Gotham’

Staging Prison cellsTall buildingsChaotic streetsRooftops

Star/Celebrity Christian Bale, Heath Ledger, Morgan Freeman, Gary Oldman, Michael Caine (the Dark Knight)Others known for their roles in thrillers are: George Clooney, Liam Neeson and Robert DeNiro

Tone

The lack of lighting in this scene creates suspense and anticipation as the audience is unable see the full setting of the scene. Only the face of the characters is visible in this scene so that the audience can focus on the facial expressions of the characters.

Only source of lighting

This escalating sound effect adds tension to the scene because as the tone gets more intense the audience learns more information about where the victims are.

Convention list Conventions of Thriller Examples from range of

real filmsUsed, developed or challenged?

1. Villain driven plot X-Men First Class, Kill Bill

Used- the Joker initiates the chaos that occurs throughout the film as a result of his actions.

2. Revenge Salt, Memento, Taken 2 Developed- the character out for revenge starts as an innocent character who is dragged into the fight between justice and evil. He is out avenge the death of his fiancé but dies at the end.

3. Kidnapping Taken Used- The joker kidnaps and keeps innocent people hostage.

4. Deaths of innocent people Used

5. Involves a quest or mission that only the main character can solve/reveal the truth

Memento, Abduction, The Girl With A Dragon Tattoo, Kill Bill, Salt

Used

6. The main character works with a particular institution e.g. Police, army, government

Abduction, Salt, The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, I Robot, Casino Royale

Used

7.Includes the lost/death of a loved one

Memento, Abduction, Taken

Used

8. The hero is often an outsider or secretive

Dark Knight, Black Swan, I Robot

Used-

Conventions analysis

Conventions of Thriller

Examples from film Comparison to other films

Is it used, developed or challenged?

1. Villain driven plot • The joker is the cause of the whole plot

• Killing innocent people and causing havoc within the city

• He is the main cause of the events that take place during the movie

Silence of the Lambs

Used

Conventions analysisConventions of Thriller



2. Revenge • Harvey Dent is out to get revenge on all those who helped cause the death of his fiancé

The Punisher Used


Conventions of Thriller

Examples from films

Comparison to other films


3. Kidnapping • Many people are kidnapped throughout the film

Taken Used

Conventions of genre/sub/hybrid

Examples from your film (bullet points and screen grab)

Comparison to other films in the same genre/sub/hybrid


4. Deaths of innocent people

• The villain, the Joker, blows up a hospital containing innocent defenceless victims.

• He is also the cause of Bruce Wayne’s childhood friends’ death.

The Kingdom Used

Convention of Thriller

Examples from film



Involves a quest or mission and only the main character is able to solve/reveal the truth

•Only the Batman is able to defeat the Joker as the Joker won’t give up until the Batman gives in

Sinbad Used



Examples from film



The main character works with a particular institution e.g. Police, army, government

•Batman works with the police to try and get rid of the mob gangsters and the Joker

Linewatch Used





The hero is often an outsider or secretive

•Bruce lives a secretive life as Batman and when he does show his true identity as Bruce, he is an outsider•He is easily misunderstood by the general public due to his dark and mysterious personality.

• Superman – keeps his identity a secret from the public.

Used




Examples from film



7.The main character suffers the lost/death of a loved one

•Batman’s childhood friend dies in an explosion

Spiderman Used

Dominant IdeologyDominant Ideology Evidence from film Why this dominant ideology is

present?

Masculinity/Dominance of male characters

The main character is a heroic male This dominant ideology is present to reinforce the idea that men are suppose to strong and heroic and to create a role model for the younger male viewers

Justice prevails all the bad guy always dies/is defeated at the end

It is present to reinforce the idea that in the battle between good and evil, good always triumphs

Audience• This film is for a mass audience as Dark Knight is a blockbuster and is based on the comic book characters

Batman and The Joker and many people may be familiar with these characters.

Details of audience

Target audience Secondary Audience

Why would they be attracted to the film?

Age 15-20 21+ Because the older generation may be familiar with the Batman and joker Characters from their childhood days

Gender Predominantly male

Females The stereotype is that action movies are for males and most people tend to follow this idea.

Ethnicity Western cultures Eastern Asians It is stereotypical of the western culture action movie, many people would be familiar with the conventions so would go to watch it almost knowing what to expect.

SocialClass

Middle Class Upper Class Upper class may be attracted to the film as they may be familiar with the director

Social Group

‘comic/superhero geeks’

Collectors and fans of the actors

Comic/superhero geeks would be attracted to the film because it relates to their hobbies and interests

Sexual Orientation

All - The film is targeted at a world wide audience therefore there is no specific sexual orientation

Profession/role

Students Carers, Teachers, Parents

They may hear this film being the main topic of conversation between their students and children

The Trailer

• The trailer attracts the target audience as it shows all the elements of an action and thriller film without giving away the full plot of the film.

• The trailer will attract the target audience of teenager males as the trailers includes many elements of the action genre. This will get the attention of the young male audience as they are fascinated by explosions, car chases and violence

• http://youtu.be/yQ5U8suTUw0 (link to trailer)Gun to denote violence

Explosion scenes are used to attract the young male audience

http://youtu.be/yQ5U8suTUw0

http://youtu.be/yQ5U8suTUw0

Audience Theory

Reasons why people watch the film?

Explanation

Entertainment •People will watch ‘The Dark Knight’ to be thrilled, as well as entertained•Some people take pleasure in watching movies full of suspense, bringing out their ‘inner detective’ and transporting them into new worlds•To escape everyday life

Information •People may watch ‘The Dark Knight’ through general curiosity as it may be the main topic everywhere and is being advertised everywhere

Personal Identity •People will watch ‘The Dark Knight’ to give themselves a heroic character to idolize and to find a model of behaviour.•Identifying ones self as part of popular western culture

Integration and social interaction

•People will watch ‘The Dark Knight’ to find a basis for conversation and to able to socialise with friends and family when discussing this film.•Buying into the mainstream culture of super heroism

By Abigail and Chelsea

Assignment 5 final draft2

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