Film and Media

1. Film and Media • NARRATIVE AND GENRE

2. What is narrative? • Narrative is a word used to describe the plot or storyline of a film. • Most mainsteam films follow a linear structure. • At the beginning of the film the audience is introduced to the central characters. • There is some kind of disruption which leads to a series of problems and complications that the characters must deal with. • The narrative pushes towards a resolution where the problem is solved. • Can you think of a different type of narrative in a film? What is the order of events? Is it linear or non-linear?

3. What is genre? • Genre is a french word that means ‘type’. • In Media Studies, we classify films into genres. • Describe 5 genres for films that you have seen. • Sometimes films cannot be classified into a single genre. Can you think of an example? • The conventions of genre are the elements that commonly occur in such films, they may include things like characters, situations, settings, props, themes and events. • For example, a convention of the science-fiction genre is that the narrative often incorporates advanced technology.

4. Action Films • Films that have tremendous impact, continuous high energy, physical stunts and activity, races, rescues, battles, destructive disasters, rhythm and pacing, adventurous heroes. • The purpose of an action film is to… • Often action films come in a genre-hybrid: action and crime, action and horror, action and drama. • Often two-dimensional: heroes and villains. • Often have a hero struggling against the odds, life-threatening villain or trapped in a mode of transport (this is the complication in the narrative) • Physical actions and violence (fist fights, gunplay) often brings about a victory (this is a resolution in the narrative). • Think of an example of an action film. What is the problem or conflict faced by the character? How is it resolved?

5. Comedy Film • Comedy films are made to make an audience ……… and amuse and entertain. • The comedy genre exaggerates the situation, the language, the action and characters. • There are also subgenres of comedies such as romantic comedy, teen comedy. • Types of comedy include: • Deadpan comedy: where the main character keeps an expression-less face. • Screwball comedy (1930s-1940s) – lunacy, craziness, eccentricity, ridiculous (The Simpsons movie) • Black or dark comedy: these films help us to examine ideas that are ignored or serious such as war, death and illness. MASH – anti-war black comedy. • Satire or parody: mockumentaries, take-offs that impersonates, ridicules, scoffs at the style and character of a serious film. Also referred to as a Spoof. Austin Powers is a parody of James Bond 007 films. • Is The Scream a spoof of a horror movie? Why? Why not? • Satire – political or social commentary.

6. Horror Films • Horror films are designed to frighten, panic, cause dread and alarm or make use fear. • Horror films focus on strange, alarming, the forbidden. • Horror films often combine with science fiction. Eg: • The earliest horror films were Gothic in style – set in old mansions, castles. The main characters were supernatural or grotesque creatures – demons zombies, evil spirits. • Horror films developed from folktales with devil characters, myths. • Hunchback of Notre Dame 1920s and 2000s. • What do you think it is that makes horror film effective?

7. Musicals • Musicals/ dance films are cinematic films that emphasise a musical or dance performance as a part of the film narrative or as an unrealistic surprise in the film. Eg: • They are films centered on combinations of music, dance, song. • This genre is considered the most escapist of all major film genres. • Broadway – Singin’ in the Rain (1952) • Bollywood • Animated films such as Beauty and the Beast (1991) Aladdin (1992) The Lion King (1994). • Involves experimentation with sound and action.

8. Epics- Historical Films • Epics- Historical films often take an historical or imagined event, myth, legend or heroic figure and add an extravagant scene and costumes and a sweeping musical score. For example: Titanic. • Epics are historical films that recreate past events. They transport an audience to another era: ancient time, the Middle Ages, the turn of the century America. • They can be combined with other genre types too: epic science fiction (Star Wars). Epic adventure (Gladiator). • Can you think of an epic film? What makes it epic? Refer to costume and the setting in your answer.

9. Western films • Western films is one of the oldest and flexible genres. The most popular era for western films was the 1930s to the 1960s. • Western film plots involve the simple goal of maintaining law and order in a fast paced action story. It normally has a conflict – good vs. bad, man vs. man, civilisation vs. the wilderness, villains vs. heroes, social order vs. anarchy. • Are western films ‘out of date’? Why? Why not?

10. Adventure films • Adventure films are exciting stories with new experiences or exotic locations. • They are similar to the action film genre because…… but they are different to action films because instead of an emphasis on fighting or violence the viewer of the adventure film can feel part of the travels, explorations struggles and situations that confront the main character or protagonist. • Courageous heroes who often fight for their beliefs, struggled for freedom or overcome injustice. • Robin Hood is an example of an early adventure film. • Is The Dark Night an action film or an adventure film? Why? Why not?

11. Bibliography • Information on these powerpoint slides was gathered from the website www.filmsite.org on Monday 25th of April 2011.

12. What’s next? • Read the Film Study assignment sheet. • Circle any words that you do not understand and write them on the board. • If you have questions about the assignment write them on the board. • Begin answering the questions on the assignment sheet. • We will watch the film. Take notes about the main characters, the setting, the storyline (narrative), the problem, the resolution to the problem. • You will need this information to help you answer the questions in your assignment. • After we have watched the film, you will complete the Film Study Assignment. You have 3 periods to complete the assignment.