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Generic Conventions

The document discusses conventions of dystopian comedy films. It defines dystopia as an oppressive society that is the opposite of a utopia. Dystopian films often combine elements of genres like comedy, action, thriller, and sci-fi to depict a broken world. Common comedic genres used are slapstick, dark humor, and witty wordplay. Cinematography in these films features dark, gloomy lighting and harsh facial lighting to convey isolation and oppression. Character archetypes include low-class survivors rebelling against oppressive forces. Examples of successful dystopian films provided are The Matrix, I Am Legend, Mad Max, and Children of Men.

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1K views

Generic Conventions

The document discusses conventions of dystopian comedy films. It defines dystopia as an oppressive society that is the opposite of a utopia. Dystopian films often combine elements of genres like comedy, action, thriller, and sci-fi to depict a broken world. Common comedic genres used are slapstick, dark humor, and witty wordplay. Cinematography in these films features dark, gloomy lighting and harsh facial lighting to convey isolation and oppression. Character archetypes include low-class survivors rebelling against oppressive forces. Examples of successful dystopian films provided are The Matrix, I Am Legend, Mad Max, and Children of Men.

Uploaded by

Georgeyboy027
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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George Carey

Generic Conventions Comedy Dystopian


What is Dystopia? A dystopia is a fictional society that is the complete opposite of a utopia, an ideal world. Dystopia (from the Greek - and , alternatively, cacotopia, kakotopia, cackotopia, or anti-utopia) is a term that describes a society who lives in mass poverty, filth, suffering, or oppression. The society has usually brought this upon itself. It is also often used as an analogy for similar issues in our own contemporary world e.g. political issues, lack of justice, freedom and happiness. Usually there is a hierarchal society, where the slaves/lower classes are conditioned to obey. An example of a Young Adult Dystopian Film is The Hunger Games written by Suzanne Collins. Video games often include dystopian view. Interesting visions of the Future, the End of the World, Outer Space and Wastelands. Its always fascinating to examine the dark side of human nature, and studying the effects of powers corrupting influence on mankind. Dystopian Conventions are usually a hybrid of two or three other genres like; Comedy Action Thriller Sci-Fi Drama Adventure

For the purpose of our film we are going to combine a comedic genre within a dystopian setting taking the elements of humour and experimenting with it and seeing how it would pan out in the setting of a broken world. What is comedy? The comedy film genre belongs to the groups of films that evoke laughter/humor from the audience. The three most commonly used types of comedy are; Slapstick - This form of comedy uses physical movement and gestures. Physical comedy is often influenced by clowning. Dark Humour - Deals with disturbing subjects such as death, drugs, terrorism, and war.

George Carey Wit/Wordplay - More intellectual forms of comedy based on clever, often subtle manipulation of language involving puns that can be crude and farcical.

The lighting for a stereotypical dystopian piece is naturalistic in the sense that is needs to keep it realistic in order for the audience to feel that this could really be happening , or happen; a sense of foreboding/premonition. Lighting is often dark and gloomy to help emphasise the environment and the characters feelings of anarchy and perhaps isolation. Using lights of different colour can be used to great effect especially in the same shot. This was used to great effect by James Cameron in Terminator 2, in which he used blue and orange light.

Lighting on faces is usually a harsh light causing one side of the face to be illuminated and the other left on shadow. This helps draw attention to facial expressions and makes them appear quite isolated and oppressed.

Music helps convey the atmosphere to the viewer. It helps to enhance the oppression felt in each scene; the idea that everything is lost. In long wide angle shots that pan over a desolate landscape the heartfelt music adds to the effect of loss and what went before. For the oppressor there is often heavier, authoritative and aggressive tone. The music can at times be counter-typical because the expectation is that a dysfunctional is world is bad and therefore the music would be emotional and unhappy but sometimes it can be quite spontaneous with outbursts of positive, stirring, thrilling music that correlate to the action and build up the tension.

George Carey

This was used to great effect by Marc Forster in World War Z. Characters are usually a low class, close nit group of survivors with realistic human issues and personalities typical and easily identifiable. They are rebelling against the government/aliens/disease (Antagonist). Or they can be lone figures (the protagonist) , fighting for a cause. E.g. I am legend the character wants to find a cure for the disease. The main characters are believable but can be to some extent stereotypical in that they can save the day ,find a cure or sacrifice themselves thus being a heroic figure.

George Carey

I am legend directed by Francis Lawrence. The characters make the audience think how they would act in the same situation. What would they do? How would they act? How would they feel? They are relatable characters that they can root for as they struggle through their personal journey. The acting is always naturalistic with sometimes recognisable characteristic features. The location is usually a desolate wasteland or an abandoned city or landscape with slum-like living conditions, safe houses and ruined facilities.

The Matrix - directed by Andy Wachowski and Lana Wachowski Throughout human history, we have been dependent on machines to survive. Fate, it seems, is not without a sense of irony. The Props used are often makeshift weapons and vehicles with the connotation that we are facing the end of the world as we know it. People have built fort like safe houses to protect themselves and their families. Characters are seen wearing unwashed, threadbare clothes. This helps enforce the idea that these people are surviving and getting by with what they havethe bare essentials that they can source.

George Carey

Mad Max directed by George Miller The Camera work for this genre uses lots of super wide-angle shots that denote the barren landscape with large areas of space filled with post-apocalyptic imagery to help isolate the characters and show the damage done by the oppressors (antagonists) .There is a lot of steady cam use to produce smooth tracking shots that follow the characters and make the audience feel that they are part of the action and participating in the journey.

Children of Men directed by Alfonso Cuarn

George Carey

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