Using BBC iplayer we watched Mark Kermode Secrets of Cinema Documentaries, which gives a great real insight into the genres, successful films, mainstream films, rare films and more.
1- What episode of Mark Kermode Secrets of Cinema did you watch?
The Rom-Com
2- Apply Daniel Chandler's theory of conventions of content to this genre.
Some Rom-Com's can share this convention such as fairy tale story like Snow white which includes and princess, prince and a magical castle. However some Rom-Com's shift away from these conventions such as Letter to Brezhnev which is set in Liverpool in the 1980's which is fare away from your conventional Disneyland, fairy tale world. However it still portrays clear traces of fairy tale elements and conventions which are so popular in Rom-Coms.
3- What ideas does Kermode discuss in this documentary?
4- What films had you already seen?
- Love Actually
- The holiday
5- Which films hadn't you?
- Shape of Water
- Letter to Brezhnev
- Splash
6- Which films made you think 'i'd like to watch that' and why?
The Shape of Water as i think it be interesting to see how the women and creature, two totally opposites, fall in love and the journey they go on. I'd also like to watch Sleepless in Seattle which involves Tom hanks which I've heard a lot about and how its a classic Rom-Com.
7- What film did you watch?
- The Shape of Water
8- Apply narrative theories of Todorov, Propp and Strauss to this film.
Todorov's theory of Equilibrium can be applied to The shape of water as the original/normal equilibrium is a lonely janitor named Elisa who cant talk and communicates through Sign language. The disruption to the story/Equilibrium is that she stumbles upon an amphibious creature that is held captive in a secret research facility, where she works. She then develops a unique relationship with the creature which they form a bond and fall in love. The story then follows them both as Elisa tries to break the creature of the Government Facility with the ending being them in the sea, alone and in love. Its unsure what follows for them both. 9- Apply Daniel Chandler's conventions of content to this film.
Daniel Chandler's conventions of content apply and imply that the genre is based upon on the idea that they share particular conventions of context, such as Themes, Settings. In the case of The shape of water, a dark romantic fantasy drama the Setting and themes incorporate dark, mysterious colours in the sets and scenes. As seen from these photos and the dark, dingy colours of the water and creature. This creates a mysterious feel and theme to the film. 10- Apply Stuart Hall representation theory to this film.
Using Stuart Hall representation theory and specifically the reflective approach which suggests that what we see and hear through the media is a reflection of the real world. This isn't really true for the shape of water as this a fantasy Rom-Com which doesn't exist or happen in the real world, however we can still understand the message that creators and directors are trying to portray and recreate in the mind of the audience is that the understand of the bond and relationship between the characters and the love and bond that is between them and which this can still exist even between human and creature.
11- Apply Stuart Hall audience theory and Blumer and Katz audience theory to this film.
In terms of shape of water i don't think Stuart hall audience theory and be applied to the film as i don't think the audience rejects the directors message of that “The movie is about listening and looking and about love because that's what is really urgent that we say: Do not fear the other, do not believe the ideologies they're feeding you,” said del Toro. “Do not reduce a person to one word, see the other person, listen. Because the antidote to hatred is understanding.” So us an audience member understand the love, bond and relationship between the two characters.
Blumer and Katz audience theory can be applied to shape of water in many contexts, Personal Relationship is present in the film as the audience can form and build a close bond with the characters as they feel for them and might be also to relate to the character or their situation which is called personal identification and is apart of Blumer and Katz audience theory.
Todorov's theory of Equilibrium can be applied to The shape of water as the original/normal equilibrium is a lonely janitor named Elisa who cant talk and communicates through Sign language. The disruption to the story/Equilibrium is that she stumbles upon an amphibious creature that is held captive in a secret research facility, where she works. She then develops a unique relationship with the creature which they form a bond and fall in love. The story then follows them both as Elisa tries to break the creature of the Government Facility with the ending being them in the sea, alone and in love. Its unsure what follows for them both. 9- Apply Daniel Chandler's conventions of content to this film.
Daniel Chandler's conventions of content apply and imply that the genre is based upon on the idea that they share particular conventions of context, such as Themes, Settings. In the case of The shape of water, a dark romantic fantasy drama the Setting and themes incorporate dark, mysterious colours in the sets and scenes. As seen from these photos and the dark, dingy colours of the water and creature. This creates a mysterious feel and theme to the film. 10- Apply Stuart Hall representation theory to this film.
Using Stuart Hall representation theory and specifically the reflective approach which suggests that what we see and hear through the media is a reflection of the real world. This isn't really true for the shape of water as this a fantasy Rom-Com which doesn't exist or happen in the real world, however we can still understand the message that creators and directors are trying to portray and recreate in the mind of the audience is that the understand of the bond and relationship between the characters and the love and bond that is between them and which this can still exist even between human and creature.
11- Apply Stuart Hall audience theory and Blumer and Katz audience theory to this film.
In terms of shape of water i don't think Stuart hall audience theory and be applied to the film as i don't think the audience rejects the directors message of that “The movie is about listening and looking and about love because that's what is really urgent that we say: Do not fear the other, do not believe the ideologies they're feeding you,” said del Toro. “Do not reduce a person to one word, see the other person, listen. Because the antidote to hatred is understanding.” So us an audience member understand the love, bond and relationship between the two characters.
Blumer and Katz audience theory can be applied to shape of water in many contexts, Personal Relationship is present in the film as the audience can form and build a close bond with the characters as they feel for them and might be also to relate to the character or their situation which is called personal identification and is apart of Blumer and Katz audience theory.
This was very helpful. Thanks Marcus!!
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