Textual analysis exam questions

Textual analysis exam questions

Analyse how genre conventions have been used to create meaning in a media product you have studied (12 marks)

1. Only need 3 paragraphs
2. The first paragraph should include a brief introduction (a sentence or two), introducing the question and the set of text you have chosen - Get out (2017) Jordan Peele

Each paragraph should then follow this structure:

• Point - what is the point that you’re making?
• Example/Evidence - where does this specifically link to the set text?
• Explain - how does it lie back to the question and why? Here is where you can expand on your media language
• Theory - what theory does this link support

In the 2017 film ‘Get Out’, Jordan Peele uses several horror conventions and stereotypes in order to enhance the audiences reactions to the events taking place. Critical theories such as Vladimir Propp’s character archetype theory can also be applied to Get Out, as the film has interesting plot twists which could make us question how the characters fit in with the theory.

In the opening sequence of ‘Get Out’ the horror genre is situated with the use of conventions in Editing, and more specifically editing speed. For the entirety of the 3 minute opening sequence, there are no editing cuts in place. By doing this, it makes the scene feel longer and more drawn out  which can put viewers on edge as there’s no clues given as to what happens next. This technique paired with the constant tracking of the character in focus creates fear and tension within the viewer as we are not omniscient, and only see things as the character on screen sees them which allows us to really allows us to get into the shoes of, and relate to the character infant of us. This horror genre convention is very effective in heightening the fear and suspension in the audience. This scene gives the audience a constant worry of what’s going to come next, which is seen as an enigma code which was proposed by Barthes.

Furthermore, throughout the opening sequence, horror conventions are continuously used in mise-en-scene. As the character is walking through the suburb, we can see that the area is dimly lit and quiet with nothing but the sounds of crickets to fill the silence. The dark and quiet area further incites dread and unease in the viewers as we can barley see the character in focus never mind what’s around him. This means we can’t see anything coming up behind or around him. As the scene progresses, a white car (matches the surroundings of a suburb which is mostly inhabited by middle class, white families) dives past him. Now this wouldn’t bee too concerning for audiences until wee see the red brake lights after the car passes. The colour red has connotations of warnings and danger. Following the car coming to a halt, it turns around and starts following the man. This once again enhances the feelings of feat and anxiety in the audience as they don’t know who’s in the car, and what their intentions are. One the man turns around and walks the other way to avoid the car, the camera pans and we can see that the drivers door is in fact open. But once again, the lighting is lowkey, so it's hard to see where the driver has gone. Very shortly after, we see a figure emerge from the shadows and before the audience has time to think, the figure has already knocked the man out and it now dragging him to the car. The feelings felt by the viewers when watching are known as visceral pleasures as proposed by Altman, which conform to the horror genre as feeling scared and tense are common when watching said films.

Lastly, according to Propps character archetypes, there should be some sort of Princess and Hero. This is because typically in generic stories and films, a man is seen to have power and authority over female characters. However in ‘Get Out’ this theory is disregarded as we initially see Chris as a hero who is dating the initial Princess which would be Rose. Nonetheless as the story unfolds, we see Rose as the anti-hero instead of the Princess. This comes as a surprise to viewers as thought the majority of the film, we don’t have any notions as to Rose being anything other than the Princess yet this quickly changes as we near the end of the film. This backs up the horror genre as it tends to oppose stereotypical character archetypes in order to create suspense and enigmas for the audience

In conclusion, there are various ways in which critical theories and genre conventions really create a genre through they way they make audiences react and feel. If the film were to not conform to the conventions, it could end up creating a completely different meaning than intended.

Stereotypes in ‘Get Out’

Analyse how mise-en-scene elements contribute to the construction of stereotypes in a media product you have studied [15 marks]

Key words to explore with stereotypes

• White power
• Male power
• Feminism
• Representation of race
• Class representation

Introduction

• Inform the reader/Examiner of the media product you will use
• Outline the elements of mise-en-scene 
• Very briefly explain what stereotype are and indicate how you analyse them in this product/film: CLASS AND RACE - LINK THESE TO THE HORROR FILM GENRE

The 2017 film Get Out uses various elements of mise-en-scene such as setting and props. Theres is also huge themes of racial stereotypes surrounding the African American community. So by analysing the opening sequence, I will clarify how the scenes use of mise-en-scene contributes to the construction of stereotypes in the film.

First Paragraph

• Mise-en-scene conforms to stereotypes - opening sequence, the setting, characters, props, clothing
• Night Setting
• Typical setting and atmosphere for horror genre
• Andre attacked at night - stereotypically crime/violence take place at night
• ADD THEORY - Roland Barthes - Use of typical codes as conventions for setting/character/props, clothing, action & enigma codes
• Night setting - expectation or suspense/wrong, tension
• Quiet suburban setting - mystery/night

In the 2017 film Get Out, Peele uses various elements of mise-en-scene such as setting, characters and props in order to contribute, yet also challenge various stereotypes of the horror genre. There are also huge themes of racial stereotypes surrounding the African American community which are formed not only through the use of mise-en-scene, but also through the use of Levi Strauss’s binary oppositions. So by analysing the opening sequence as-well as the film as a whole, I will clarify how the films use of mise-en-scene contributes to, yet also challenges the construction of stereotypes in the film.

During the opening sequence, stereotypes around the horror genre as-well as race, are conformed to through the use of setting, more specifically to the time of day. The scene is set on a seemingly middle-class, white, suburban street during the evening, where the character in focus (an African American man) claims that he is “sticking out like a sore thumb”. This contributes to the stereotyping of the black community as being lower class, as it suggests that a person of colour can’t belong in a ‘middle-class’ suburb. In addition, this scene is set during the evening when stereotypically most attack and crimes are committed, and to conform to this stereotype, this is when our main character gets attacked. However, some stereotypes are challenged in this scene through the use of Levi Strauss’s theory of binary oppositions. Due to the construction of stereotypes, you would expect a character (most likely a white character) to get attacked by a black man. However it is in fact the opposite, as we watch the movie, we can work out that is was most likely a white man who was attacking the black man instead of the other way around.

Props in the opening sequence continue to challenge the construction of stereotypes partly through the use of binary oppositions as well. As our character in focus is walking through the suburb, we can see a white car drive past him. Usually the colour white connotes towards purity and innocence, in spite of that, this car ends up being the car that takes the character attacked previously away. Though the white car belonging to the attacker contributes to the challenging of stereotypes, during the scene it some what contributes to them too. As the white car drives by, we can see in the background that its brake lights go off. Brake lights are red, and the colour red has connotations of bad, and danger. This ended up being the case and somewhat conformed to horror conventions with red being the colour that incites danger and harm. The white car belonging to the attacker could also link to Altman's intellectual pleasures as it could make the spectators wonder what else isn’t as it seems.

Lastly, stereotypes are challenged once again with characters, and  the way in which they end up not conforming to Propp’s character trope theory in the end. Stereotypically Chris being the man would be the hero, and Rose, his girlfriend, would the the Princess/Prize for Chris at the end of the film, however this gender stereotype is broken as its later revealed that Rose is in fact the anti-hero when we find out that her family is kidnapping African Americans for profit. Upon that, we also find out that she has played the false ‘princess’ role multiple times in other relationships when Chris uncovers a box of pictures with Rose with past, all African American partners. Nonetheless, breaking Propp’s character trope theory, is a common theme amongst the horror genre, so you could say that whilst is challenges gender stereotypes, it actually contributes to the construction of stereotypes surrounding the horror genre and its conventions.

Overall, the film Get Out contributes to the constructing of stereotypes surrounding the codes and conventions of he horror genre itself, but in fact challenges other stereotypes such as gender roles, and those revolving around race.