Analysis Of Trailers

Analysis Of: Cabin In The Woods

The movie trailer for scream 4 fits the horror genre conventions in several ways. For example, the film is set in an isolated area, in the woods. The population of the setting is small and it appears to be a derelict area. The setting also has a history.

A Sub-Genre is a sub category within a specific genre. A hybrid Sub-Genre is taking two sub-genres and putting them together.

Analysis of : Bridesmaids

The movie Bridesmaids employs the stereotypical conventions of romantic comedy on several occasions. For example the characters seen in romantic comedies are present, in particularly the best friend aspect. However, this movie is quite unorthodox as the main story, as opposed to following a Cinderella story, follows the “Competition between the maid of honour and a bridesmaid, over who is the bride's best friend, threatens to upend the life of an out-of-work pastry chef.” The setting of this film is stereotypical as it is set in a big city. As well as this, this film has a traditional happy ending where everything works out.

 

Analysis of : Crime Comedy

This genre is a comedy where crime features in the plot. For example, White Chicks or Rush Hour.

Narrative Theories (Todorov & Propp)

TODOROV’S THEORY – Todorov proposed a basic structure for all narratives. He stated that films and programmes begin with an equilibrium, a calm period. Then agents of disruption cause disequilibrium, a period of unsettlement and disquiet. This is then followed by a renewed state of peace and harmony for the protagonists and a new equilibrium brings the chaos to an end. The simplest form of narrative (sometimes referred to as ‘Classic’ or ‘Hollywood’ narrative).

  

TODOROV’S THEORY 

                                    

Propp theory

District 13 is a French action film.

            ·        District 13 has two  heroes, Leito and Damien.

   ·        In District 13 the villains are the corrupt government officials led by Gassman, who is determined to illegally demolish the five tower blocks in the heart of District 13 by tactical precision bombing, so he could build aluxury neighbourhood. He aims to achieve this by instigating violence between local gangs and police by framing the local gangs.

   ·        The donors in this film are the gang bosses who come together to assist the heroes despite their differences.

   ·  The princess is the neighbourhood that is going to be destroyed.

   ·   The dispatcher in this case is also the villain. He gives Leito the code for the bomb which has been placed in the neighbourhood.

   ·   The false hero is the codebecause it was meant to stop the bomb however if he wrote it in it would have blown up.

PROPP’S THEORY –Vladimir
Propp’s theory was formed in the early twentieth Century. He studies Russian fairytales and discovered that in stories there were always 8 types of characters evident. These are: the hero, the villain, the donor, the dispatcher, the false hero, the helper, the princess and her father. He did not state these characters were all separate people e.g. the provider could also be the helper. There are only 8 different character types and only 31 things they ever do (character functions). Once you have identified the character type (e.g., the hero) it’s easy to guess what they will do (save the maiden, defeat the villain, marry the maiden or whatever) because each character has a SPHERE OF ACTION. This is easily relatable to films and programmes today.

 

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