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S1 Cc Uk films - Coggle Diagram
S1 Cc Uk films
Fish Tank
Context:
- British social realism films. = Since the late 1950s during the British new wave of cinema, their was the social realism movement in film. This included films that depicted lower class protagonist with regional accents and anti-astablishment themes. These were coined as 'kitchen sink dramas' characterised by the 'angry younge man' protagonist and set in the working class industrial north. E.g Kes (Ken Loach). This further continued in British Cinema in the 90s with film like 'Trainspotting' and depicted 'Brocken Britain'.
- Fishtank is a modern interpretation of British social realism; Mias family is working class and live in urban areas of deprivation.
- It also uses features of British new wave such as use of non-proffesional actors, on location filming and has an anti-establishment theme (Mia is failed by the education system and the patriarcy ?)
Representation
Femeninity:
- Mia subverts ideas of emphasised femeninity - Her tomboyish deminer (dress code) and her agressive behaviour (headbuts girl). while her mum and sister both adhere to emphasised femeninity = Joanne is promiscuous and passive (possibly acting as a warning for Mia) and Tyler is sassy and sunbathes in the beginning.
- Fishtank is unusual in the fact its a female, working class coming of age story, she battles complex emotions while approaching womanhood. Seen in the extended metaphore and poetic realism like the entrapment of the horse and the balloon.
Masculinity:
- Connor adheres to ideas of hegemonic masculinty as he is intelligent and the breadwinner which Mia finds as positive traits. However he is manipulative and promiscuos - possible critisizing gender imbalance.
Key sequences
Opening:
- Cinematography - Lack of establishing shots is typical of British social realist films.
Hand held camera movement
Restricted aspect ratio - Mia is trapped in the urban poverty due to her socioeconomic backround.
- Mise-en-scene - Mia wears tomboying sweats reflecting her agressive nature. The on location shooting and natrual lighting adds to the gritty realism.
Closing:
- cinematography - Framing of car boot creates even more restricted view suggesting Mias supposed escape isnt the end to the cycle of poverty, alternatively her sister Tyler has been left behind and is now the trapped one.
Long shot of the balloon at the end acts as poetic realism symbolisng Mias freedom and a glimpse of hope in a seemingly depressing backround.
Sound - The lack of non-diegetic sounds adds to the sennse of verisimilitude.
Shaun of the Dead
Context:
- Horror genre = clear cultural refrence to Romeros ' Dawn of the dead' but twists it to British culture - American consumerism is translated to a pub.
- While its not a social realist film it can be seen as critisism of modern british life - normalized alcaholism, themes of restriction and claustraphobia.
Representation
Masculinity :
- Shaun at first adheres to hegemonic masculinity (emotionally detached) yet desire to be seen as more masculine (fantasy scenes). As the apocolypse unfolds he is able to be more emotionally vunerable (Gesture code of crying)
Femininity:
- Liz subverts emphasised femninity with her strong willed and comanding nature (prop of pool stick fighting zombies). Both Liz and Yvonne subvert the damsle in distress character type.
Key sequences
Opening:
- Cinematography - The montage of panning shot suggest society s already made up of zombies (monotomous workers and lazy teens).
- Prop of the table creates a barrier between Shaun and Liz , with Ed positioned in the barrie illustarting their how he is strainign their relationship.
Closing :
- cinematography - close up of montage of tv channles.
- Non- diegetic upbeat music suggets they have found their 'happy ending'
Ideology
Shaun of the dead
Feminist ideology:
- Subversion of traditional masculinity - Shaun isnt a traditional heroic male figure subverting ideads hegemonic male strength and leadership .
- Breaking gender norms in crisis - Liz and Yvonne take the role of leaders in their group challanging traditional depictions of women in horror and action.
- Liz becomes a maternal figure to shaun (asking to play) suggestig she is now contempt by having a dometicized partner, They stay in the cycle of going to the pub after which is what Liz tried to escape.
Marxist ideology: Critique of capitalism
- Lower class routine under capitalisn = Shauns monotomous routine (going to the cornor shop and pub) still persists during the apocolypse reflecting routines of workers trapped in cycles of little fufilment. The fact life goes back to normal after (cyclical structure)
- mindless consummerism and commodification of people - The zombies used for labour in the end reflect the humans in the opening sequence critisizing mindles subjects under capoitalism, Challanging whats considered the ultimate goal under capitalist ideology.
Fish tank
Feminist ideology :
- Rejection of traditional family roles - Mias absent father and neglectful mother go against the dominance ideology of the nuclear family.
- Subversion if gender expectations - Mia subverts femeninity with her tomboyish nature and dress code.
- Critisism of patriachy - The men in Mias life are either absent or manipulative and decieving. The subversion of the male gaze illustrates the film is anchored in a female coming of age experience.
Marxist ideology:
- Critique of socioeconomic inequalities = The film illustrates the harsh reality of working class life in modern England. Mia has a desire to elevate socialy (dance audition, set design of beach) but is trapped within a systemic cycle of poverty (strip club, her mother acts as a warning) - restricted aspect ratio , restricts further at end. (poetic realism of horse and ballon).