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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
Examples from film Comparison to other films
Is it used, developed or challenged?
2. Revenge • Harvey Dent is out to get revenge on all those who helped cause the death of his fiancé
The Punisher Used
Conventions analysis
Conventions of Thriller
Examples from films
Comparison to other films
Is it used, developed or challenged?
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
Is it used, developed or challenged?
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
Comparison to other films
Is it used, developed or challenged?
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
Conventions analysis
Convention of Thriller
Examples from film
Comparison to other films
Is it used, developed or challenged?
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
Conventions analysis
Convention of Thriller
Examples from film Comparison to other films
Is it used, developed or challenged?
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
Conventions analysis
Conventions analysis
Convention of Thriller
Examples from film
Comparison to other films
Is it used, developed or challenged?
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
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
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