Them & Cloverfield

FM2Section CAmerican Film – Comparative Study

Genre in Context

• Aims• This presentation will focus on genre and

context by looking at a case study of the science fiction genre and investigating how it has changed since the 1950s by considering the films Them! and Cloverfield

Them!

• Them!• Directed by Gordon Douglas• (1954)

Them!

• A 1954 black and white science fiction film about man's encounter with a nest of ‘radiation-giganticized’ (really big) ants

• One of the first of the "nuclear monster" movies, and the first "big bug" film, Them! was the biggest money maker for Warner's in the year of its release.

• It was nominated for an Oscar for Special Effects and won a Golden Reel Award for Best Sound Editing.

Them!

• When Them! began production in 1953, it was originally going to be in 3-D and Warner Colour.

• During pre-production, tests were to be shot in colour and 3-D. A few colour tests were shot of the large-scale ant models, but when it was time to shoot the 3-D test, WB's "All Media" 3-D camera rig malfunctioned and no footage could be filmed.

Historical Context: The Cold War

• The Cold War was the continuing state of conflict, tension and competition that existed between a number of world powers, including the United States, the Soviet Union, China, France, Britain from the mid-1940s to the early 1990s.

• The conflict included costly defence spending, a massive conventional and nuclear arms race, and numerous wars.

The conflict was expressed through;

• Military coalitions• Espionage• Weapons development• Invasions• Propaganda• Competitive technological development, including

the space race. • Costly defence spending, a massive conventional

and nuclear arms race, and numerous wars.

Key Dates

• Atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki (August 6 & August 9, 1945)

• World War II ends (September 2, 1945) • Berlin Blockade (1948–1949)• Korean War (1950–1953)• Vietnam War (1959–1975)• Cuban Missile Crisis (1962)• Soviet war in Afghanistan (1979–1989)• The Soviet Union collapsed in 1991

Film making in the 50s

• The spectacle approach to film-making, Cold War paranoia, public fascination with Outer Space, and a renewed interest in science sparked by the atom bomb lent itself well to science fiction films.

• Martians and other alien menaces were metaphors for Communism, foreign ideologies, and the misfits threatening democracy and the American way of life

The Communist Subtext

• The film is offers a clear metaphor for the ‘Communist menace’

• Dr Medford explains how: • ‘The ants are the only creatures on earth,

besides man, who make war’. They are ‘ruthless and courageous fighters … chronic aggressors, they make slaves of those they can’t kill…They have a talent for industry, social organisation, and savagery’.

The Communist Subtext

• The ants (Communists) ‘infiltrate’ the Los Angeles drainage system, there multiplying unseen and preparing to attack

Key Films of the Decade• The Day the Earth Stood Still• Invaders from Mars • Godzilla• Them!• The War of the Worlds • The Time Machine• Tarantula• It Came from Outer Space• Creature from the Black Lagoon• The Thing from Another World• The Beast from 20,000 fathoms• Forbidden Planet

What were people worrying about in the 50s?

• Consider the key features of the Cold War.• How would these things have effected day to

day life in this period?• What would the general public have been

worried about? • Try to think of some scenarios that may have

occurred at the time. E.g. A new single man moves into your street – who might he be?

Key Characters

• Dr Medford• Pat Medford• Police Chief Ben Peterson• FBI Agent Robert Graham

The Opening• A young girl is found wandering in shock in the

New Mexico desert by state police.• They find that the trailer that she was staying

in with her parents and sibling had been destroyed.

• A lone print found in front of the little girl's trailer is sent to the FBI in

Washington for identification.

Key Genre Convention

• It is a typical genre convention that the film is shown from the perspective of the authority figures.

• They are usually seen to be investigating and attempting to solve the problem before the general public either find out or come to too much harm.

• Describe how authority figures are shown differently in each of the three clips.

Authority Figures

• The story is told from the perspective of the State Police/FBI/Government Doctors.

• Each area of authority is portrayed slightly differently.

Key Genre Convention

• A key convention of the genre is that initially the “monster” stays hidden.

• We see this clearly with the first attack.• The policeman goes out behind the door and

we only hear the monster.

Key Questions

• What is the “monster”?• Where has it come from?• What is it doing? Feeding? Attacking?• How do the characters react / feel about the

monster?

• Amongst the adults, several children are directly affected by the invading ants.

• Children represent the future – the next generation.

• Attacks on them in the film reflect increasing fears about how our present day actions (those in the 1940s/50s) will affect future generations.

• In “Them!” this fear is of Nuclear weapons.

Gender Representation

• Life for women was very different in the 1950s• They were supposed to fulfil certain roles, such

as a caring mother, a diligent homemaker, and an obedient wife.

• Stereotypically, when a women found themselves in distress she always needed her husband, the man, to save her.

• The Equal Pay Act of 1963 required equal wages for men and women doing equal work.

Gender Representation

Gender Representation

Fear & Loathing in the USA

• What other fears are present in the films?

• The unknown• Government secrecy• The use/effects of nuclear weapons• Attacks from an “enemy within”.

• Dr Medford “ A fantastic mutation probably caused by lingering radiation after the first atomic bomb.

The final moments

• How does it end? • The army is called in to rescue two small boys from the

ant’s nest. They defeat the ants using a combination of fire and bullets.

• Dr. Harold Medford reveals that the ants were probably evolved due to nuclear weapons testing in the desert.

• Is there a resolution?• Medford states: “When man entered the atomic age he

opened a door into a new world. What we’ll eventually find in that new world, nobody can predict.”

CLOVERFIELD

• Released 2008• Directed by Matt Reeves• Produced by J. J. Abrams • Written by Drew Goddard

Key Characters

• Rob (The “hero”)• Hud (The camera man) • Lilly (Leaves in helicopter) • Marlena (Bitten, explodes) • Jason (Rob’s brother – the first to die)• Beth (The “princess” saved from the collapsed

tower)

The disclaimer

• The film is presented as if it were a video file recovered from a digital camcorder by the United States Department of Defence.

• The film begins with a disclaimer stating that the following footage is of a case designated "Cloverfield"

• It is said the tape was found in the area "formerly known as Central Park".

Inspiration

• J. J. Abrams said he thought of the film after being in a toy store in Japan.

• "We saw all these Godzilla toys, and I thought, we need our own [American] monster, and not like King Kong. I love King Kong. King Kong is adorable. And Godzilla is a charming monster. We love Godzilla. But I wanted something that was just insane, and intense."

The Name• The film was titled Cloverfield from the beginning, but the title

changed throughout production before it was finalized as the original title.

• The film's final title, Cloverfield, is the name of the exit Abrams takes to his Santa Monica office

• Greyshot, was proposed before the movie was officially titled Cloverfield. Greyshot is taken from the archway that the final two characters take shelter under at the end of the movie.

• Reeves said that it was decided not to change the title to Greyshot because the film was already so well known as Cloverfield.

Intertextuality

• The creative team (particularly J.J. Abrams) are all great lovers of science fiction and so the film is really an “homage” to classic films of the genre.

• There are a number of subtle references to “science fiction” throughout the film.

Intertextuality •Throughout the film references are made to a range of other Science Fiction films.

•This poster from Escape from New York inspired the severed head of the Statue of Liberty that features in Cloverfield

Intertextuality

• At 00:21:28 when the characters shelter in a supermarket Hud exclaims, “It’s alive!”

Context

• Cloverfield is a film that belongs to the ‘age of terror’

• It was produced at a time when the western world had become obsessed with the idea of “terror” “terrorism” vital “the terrorist”

• The film can be considered as “symptomatic” of the fear and paranoia created by the Bush/Blair administration

Context

• Most obviously the film has some striking visual similarities to the events of 9/11 which took place in 2001.

• The attack on two such prominent figures amongst the New York sky line is echoed in the film.

• Initial News Reports• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vfYQAPhj

wzA&feature=related

• Amateur Footage used by CNN• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CV0BVZG

1j7E&feature=related

• Amateur Footage• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bavn4T26

jcw&NR=1

• These key images from “Cloverfield” directly reflect the real life footage from 9/11

• Q. What is the significance of attacking key landmarks in New York?

• A. These landmarks are symbols of America and its cultural identity.

The Opening

• The opening 25 minutes of the film following the “everyday” lives of a group of wealthy 20 somethings living in New York.

• We’re encouraged to see them as over indulged and self absorbed.

• We see the complacency of their spoilt lives, oblivious to the “terror” that awaits them.

The Opening

• They lack an adequate sense of crisis• Rob would rather pursue some managerial position

in Japan, home of Godzilla, than get it on with Beth, clearly signposted as ‘the one’.

• This is a portrait of decadence, he has it all and yet he is unsatisfied and craves more.

• Some critic’s have commented that “their self-absorption that invites the day of reckoning”. In other words, it evokes a time before 9/11 – when the western world had become “complacent”.

The Media

• Presenting the film as “found footage” stresses the self-absorbed existence the central group of characters.

• The continuous filming of the day, particularly in opening of the film highlights not only their vanity but also raises the issue of an increasing obsession with the media.

• The western world’s obsession with constantly documenting their lives through social media is clearly commented on here.

The Media

• ‘People are going to want to see this. They are going to want to see how it all went down.’

• This is the response of Hud, to the question of why he doesn’t stop recording and concentrate on running.

• This is clearly a reflection of the increasing amount of amateur footage used to record historic events.

• “History” is no longer the realm of the television studios.

Look at following images:

• Does the use of handheld camera in Cloverfield raise questions about the intrusive nature of the media?

Look at the following images• What is the significance of the handheld camera?

• The filming style is fitting with the current trend of affordable digital cameras and camera phones being used by the public to record events.

• What role does the media play in the film?

• We live in a world where the media invades all most every aspect of out lives. It therefore seems fitting that only through the media do the characters discover what is happening to them.

• New, portable technology – digital cameras & telephones allow then record the events as they happen.

Baudrillard & Postmodernism

• Is it acceptable to record a man suffering in the last moments of his life – simply because we all have access to recording equipment on out mobile phones?

• Does the film present a world obsessed with the media itself and show us an insight into a ‘Baudrillardian nightmare’ come true?

Key Elements

• A sudden attack on unsuspecting innocent New Yorkers.

• Confusion ensures and no one is clear about what has happened or what will happen next.

• Significant American landmarks are destroyed • The action is captured by the public on

amateur equipment.

Gender Representation

• Marlena is a particularly strong female character• She saves Hud from

the spiders

• Beth however is a stereo- typical “damsel in distress”.• She is even rescued from the top of a “tower”.

Gender Representation

• The males Rob and Hud are men of action • Rob is clearly the leader of the main characters• Rob seeking out his love, Beth• Hud is determinedly recording the terror on the video camera

The Monster: Female?

• Perhaps the monster itself may be considered female as it seems to spawn fleshy spiders.

• If so this suggests a monstrous female and therefore females are represented as destroyers and alien.

• It could be argued that the female monster is bringing destruction to an essentially peaceful, young society and it is the men in the film who lead the action against its rampage.

The Monster

• Cloverfield’s monster is effective precisely because we never really see it

• It remains in our peripheral vision and seems to be mutating, changing, multiple and yet perhaps still one.

• It embodies the notion of “terrorism” and the “terrorist”

• It is a “weapon of mass destruction”

The Monster

• The monster is irrational, without meaning, murderous and incomprehensible.

• It is the perfect personification of how Western culture regards the terrorist - it is a myth of evil

• Like the terrorist it neither can nor should be understood.

The Monster

• The monster not only spawns but infects, as demonstrated through the unpleasant death of Marlena.

• This fear of contagion can be seen as another image of the terrorist – the fear that the terrorist ideology will spread (even on American soil) and that there is no way to stop this ideology once it invades.

• It is something that like the creature, remains hidden inside until revealed with drastic consequences.

The Military

• As the monster rages through the streets it is attacked by US soldiers without any apparent effect.

• We see images of soldiers shooting at a target they do not understand, do not try to understand and cannot defeat.

• The only solution the army can respond with, is the so-called “hammer down” tactic of carpet-bombing all of New York City.

The Military

• As an image of terrorism the monster cannot be affected through conventional military strategy - something which can be seen as parallel to the problematic wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.

• It is something that is invisible for larger parts of the film and again this parallels the USAs view on the terrorist – a hidden enemy.

Question

• Think back to the reaction of the government and the public during and after the events of 9/11.

• Does this film effectively convey the thoughts and feelings of that time?

Conclusion

• How has the U.S. changed in the period from Them! to Cloverfield?

• To what extent have Hollywood films reflected contemporary issues?

• Is the Sci-Fi film a suitable vehicle for expressing a nation’s fears?

Narrative Structure

• Todorov• Equilibrium• Disruption• Resolution• New Equilibrium

Narrative Structure: Todorov

• Todorov• Equilibrium• Disruption• Resolution• New Equilibrium

Todorov: Them!

• Equilibrium – In the desert in New Mexico two police officers are investigating an ordinary police matter.

• Disruption – Giant ants are discovered initially in the desert and

then are found to have spread to Los Angeles

• Resolution – The ants are defeated by Dr Medford and the gang

• New Equilibrium – The characters realised that the world is not the safe place they thought it was. They have entered “the atomic age”.

Todorov: Cloverfield

• Equilibrium – Characters are introduced at a normal flat party • Disruption – Ground and buildings start to shake disrupting

the party, an unknown monster invades New York

• Is there really a resolution or a new equilibrium?

• Resolution– Rob rescues Beth and then they attempt to make their way out of the city. The army bomb New York.

• New Equilibrium –It is not known whether Rob and Beth make it out the city alive or if the monster is defeated. It seems that New York no longer exists.

Narrative Structure: Todorov

• The narrative structure of the film “…..” subtly reflects the messages and values of the time the film was made. The structure of the film conforms/doesn’t conform to Todorov’s four act structure in the following way….. This reflects attitudes of the time because ……..…………….

Narrative Structure

• 2) Vladimir Propp• Analysed folk stories• Identified 8 Key Character Roles in these

stories:

Narrative Structure

• 1. The Hero• 2. The Villain• 3. The Donor (Provider)• 4. The Helper• 5. The Father• 6. The Dispatcher• 7. The Princess• 8. The False Hero

Archetypes

• Hero – Not necessarily admirable but is the person who carries the story along. Protagonist

• Villain – Antagonist. Hinders or is in competition with the hero

• Donor – provides object with properties that helps the hero • Helper – aids the hero in his quest • Father – rewards the hero • Dispatcher – sends hero on his way • Princess – acts as a reward for the hero and/or is object of

villains schemes • The False Hero – Think he is the hero but is not.

Archetypes

• Propp argued that characters could fulfil more than one of these roles and that there can be more than one of each character type

• For example• There can be more than one helper – in Star

Wars R2D2 and C3PO are the helpers• A character can have more than one role – Obi-

Wan Kenobi is both the Donor and the Father Figure

Archetypes

The Villain – Darth Vadar

The Helpers – R2D2 & C3P0

Archetypes

• EXAMPLE – STAR WARS• 1. The Hero – Luke Skywalker/Han Solo• 2. The Villain – Darth Vadar • 3. The Donor (Provider) – Obi-Wan Kenobi• 4. The Helper – R2D2, C3PO, Chewbacca• 5. The Father – Obi-Wan Kenobi• 6. The Dispatcher – Princess Leia• 7. The Princess – Princess Leia• 8. The False Hero – Han Solo

Propp - Cloverfield• Hero = Rob – he is portrayed as rational and is driven by emotional need • Villain = The monster • Donor = There isn’t really a definite donor. The police provide helicopters to

get everyone out of New York but other than that there isn’t a specific person who provides Rob an object to help him

• Helper = Lily – stays with Rob to help him save Beth, and is thought to be the only survivor. Rob and Marlena also help Rob up until their deaths

• Princess – Beth is portrayed as the damsel in distress trapped at the top of the tower. She is rescued by the hero

• Father – There isn’t a father figure that rewards the hero, Rob’s reward is Beth. • Dispatcher – Rob is essentially the dispatcher as he sends himself to save Beth • False Hero – As Hud presents his documentation of the events as heroic but

really it is a hindrance to the others.

Propp – Them!

• Hero = FBI Agent Robert Graham• Villain= The Ants/The Government/ Science! • Donor = The Police Department/The Government• Helper = Police Chief Ben Peterson• Princess – Pat Medford• Father – Dr Medford• Dispatcher – The Police Department/The

Government• False Hero –

• Dr Medford• Pat Medford• Police Chief Ben Peterson• FBI Agent Robert Graham