EASTER HOMEWORK

How far do the opening sequences of the films you have studied for this topic introduce their key messages and values?

Get Carters opening scene instantly demonstrates its main biggest value, the role of women in society, in its opening scene. The first female character we are introduced tells us a lot about the position of women in the social hierarchy. This female character, Anna, is introduced via a slow vertical pan, from feet to face. This supports Laura Mulvey’s Male Gaze theory, in which women are seen as sexual objects, and play no major role in a films narrative – in this scene we are positioned to fetishise Anna. This also demonstrates the role of women, as Anna is getting stroked by the man next to her. Despite looking uncomfortable, she fails to act, and allows herself to be a sexual object.  In the scene, there are 4 men and 1 woman and they are watching porn. The men are all having fun, showing to through or respect to Anna who remains silent and uncomfortable. Men are definitely seen as more dominant in this scene and have a more significant role than Anna, who is basically just a pleasure object.

This film is set in the 60s also known as the ‘Swinging Sixties’, which introduced the pregnancy pill. This supposedly give women more freedom over their bodies and ‘liberated’ them, this myth is denied in this film as we can see that the introduction of the pill has made the roles of women less significant. The pill was seen as a threat to masculinity so men responded by ultimately controlling women, this can be seen in the first scene and throughout the film.

As well as representation of men and women, the opening scene also shows the existing North and South divide in England. At the start of Carter’s journey, while he remains out of the criminal environment (in London), the scenes are colourful and natural. However, as he moves up North to Newcastle we can see the skyline becoming industrial. When he reaches Newcastle, there is an absence of light and in the scene we see a small insignificant sign which reads ‘Newcastle’. This shows us that the North is perceived as a ‘working class’ environment and its areas are more polluted and derelict.

In the film Bullet Boy, the major ideologies within the film are also demonstrated within the opening sequence. Like Get Carter, we follow the lead character going into the criminal environment. Just before Ricky’s release, we see an interesting shot showing both his younger brother (Curtis) separated from Ricky’s best mate (Wisdom). This shot is a visual signifier of the moral choices that are made in the film: Curtis connotes innocence and juxtaposes Wisdom, who connotes crime.

As he leaves the rural area and heads to his estate, the audience are shown clips of the environment. Which as he heads deeper into the criminal environment, get shot closer. This connotes feeling of being trapped and pressure. As these shots are Point of View shots of Ricky, it shows us what he thinks of his situation. Also in the same sequence, we see shots showing Curtis in the background asleep while Ricky remains awake and looking out into the estate. The positioning of the camera and these two characters tells us that Ricky is trying to protect Curtis, his younger brother, from the criminal environment.

‘Films always reflect the times and places in which they are made.’ How far is this true of the American films you have studied for this topic?

In the film War of the Worlds, the world is in a post 9/11 setting. There are many similarities between the alien invasions and the 9/11 terrorist attack. To begin, we follow the life of Ray. As well as living in New York City when the aliens attack, he also mentions in the film that he witnessed 9/11. Another similarity is that when people die at the start of the alien attack, they turn into grey dust clouds. These grey dust clouds are symbolic of the 9/11 attack, when dust spread through hundreds of street when the towers fell, Spielberg has done this intentionally to create this connection. A key shot which can be related to 9/11 is the shot when we look through another camera at the Alien and its destruction spree. This could be relative to the media’s coverage of the terrorist attack and the iconic images that spread around the world instantly, all captured by cameras. Used to demonstrate the destruction and spread fear and paranoia like an illness around the world. Furthermore related to this, the shot type is a low angle, the audience is positioned looking up at the huge Alien. Similar pictures were taken during the 9/11 attacks, looking up at the wreckage. In the film War of the World, the aliens are considered others and outsiders. Because of all of these reasons, I believe that in War of the Worlds, aliens are allegorical for terrorists.

In the film Invasion of the Body Snatchers, we follow the main protagonist Miles, as he discovers the Earth is being overrun by Aliens. Which strip all emotion and freedom from humans. These aliens in the Narrative could be seen as allegorical for McCarthy and his followers. During the time of production, ‘the red scare’ was happening and Russia was seen as a threat to America. McCarthy sought to destroy this threat via the use of harsh interrogation techniques (Live questioning). McCarthy was liked by many for his cause, and many followed him. So these aliens could be thought as allegorical for McCarthy’s followers, who didn’t think for themselves and lacked emotion and morals.