GCSE Film Studies CODES AND CONVENTIONS OF SUPERHERO

GCSE – Film Studies CODES AND CONVENTIONS OF SUPERHERO FILMS

In this session, we will… � Consider CODES AND CONVENTIONS of superhero films � Look at the trailer for The Avengers � Analyse a scene from The Avengers � If we get time, look at the closing scenes from The Avengers

Exam – Paper 1 � Exploring � 1. 5 Film – Superhero Movies hours � 4 questions � Clip from Film (analysis) – 2 questions � Print Resources (creative task) – 2 questions � Total 50 marks (10, 10, 20)

What are CODES &CONVENTIONS? � The detailed rules of the genre (type of film). Things we come to expect � Codes and Conventions make it easier to understand the film and easier to make it

Question 2 – Conventions � Asks you to identify one convention from the sequence � You have to relate this to another Superhero film � Explain why the convention is used in other films

Avengers Trailer superhero montage Avengers Final Scene

CODES AND CONVENTIONS � Setting � Themes � Characters � Props � Narrative � Style & Plot

Convention s What is the typical setting of a superhero film? How do we separate themes in superhero movies? Often a major American city. Lots of crime. Hero will have secret hideout/HQ Public / Private Hero � Villain � Princess Which character types typically feature in the superhero genre? � Question Answer

Setting � Often American city � Place where crime happens � Big locations where things can go wrong! � Secret base or HQ

Themes � Public – things that affect everyone � Private – things that affect the main characters only

Characters Must be heroic Or a villain Or a damsel Or a victim/general public Hero’s are often recognisable as normal people Hero’s are also something people aspire to be – are cool Hero’s always want to do good, fight for truth and justice (and the American way? )

CONVENTIONS What term do we use to describe a significant object that the plot revolves around? What props would we typically expect to see in a Superhero film? What is the typical narrative of a superhero film? Mac. Guffin Gadgets (Iron Man’s suit, Batman’s utility belt), Iconic Superhero weapon (Thor’s Hammer, Captain America’s shield) Good vs Evil, Todorov (equilibrium, disequilibrium, equilibrium)

Props Significant items that we expect Macguffin = a significant object around which the plot revolves

Narrative & Plot At its simplest; Good V Evil � Often a franchise (series of films) � Often starts with heroes origin story � Often High Concept (simple plot, big SFX and budget) �

Style Includes micro elements to build up a specific ‘look’ or ‘feel’ � This may link to original comics, or stay throughout franchise �

Marvel’s Avengers

Question 2 – Example � http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=z. P 7 q o. Ec. HEd 4 (The Avengers) � Identify one typical convention of the Superhero film used in this clip � Describe how this convention is used in another Superhero film � Explain why this convention is used in superhero films that you have studied