To what extent does Apocalypto follow the generic conventions of its predecessors in the Action genre?
Apocalypto, directed by Mel Gibson and is renowned for being one of the best action movies. Its this movie that will be the centre of my debate and I will be debating whether Mel Gibson has chosen to follow the generic conventions of its predecessors in the Action genre. Apocalypto's consistent use of fast cuts, high tempoed music and use of characters has somewhat made me think Mel Gibson has chosen a typical action narrative. On the other hand, he has also made many rejections and it is these rejections that will sway my decision helping me to make one final judgement.
Saturday 3 January 2009
Thursday 1 January 2009
Essay Plan
To what extent does Apocalypto follow the generic conventions of its predecessors in the Action genre?
That is the title of my essay therefore, my essay requires the utmost detail to ensure that I am making the right conclusion on this hypothesis. The essay will include, MIGRAIN analysis, concept flow paragraphs, SHEP analysis, theorists etc. I have done alot of research so that I can get the best possible information to help me make the right conclusion.
Introduction:
In the introduction I will state my title and introduce the actual film and give the background information to the film, this means I will include the director, producer, actors, plot, what year it was made etc. So that it will be easier to make comparisons. I will also give a brief paragraph on historical texts but that will be properly in the next paragraph.
Para 1:
In this paragraph I will be speaking about historical texts which are similar to Apocalypto. This means I will be speaking about Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome, The 13th warrior, The Scorpion and Braveheart. This paragraph will include SHEP analysis and will also be a concept flow paragraph. This paragraph will state the generic conventions used by Apocalypto from its predecessors which will help me come to a conclusion in the latter stages of the essay
Para 2:
In this paragraph I will be speaking about theorists that link to Apocalypto to help identify the changes in Action movies and what conventions Mel Gibson has implemented into Apocalypto. I will be including the Propp Theory to help identify the roles in the movie to see whether Mel Gibson has followed the same conventions as its predeccesors, other theorists will also be included.
Para 3:
Carrying on from paragraph 2 this paragraph will solely be based on representation in Apocalypto. I will be writing about how Mel Gibson has set up certain characters so that they are recognized for certain roles, this will once again allow me to easily spot and list the convention used by the director from its predeccesors. This paragraph will be done using MIGRAIN and will be a concept flow paragraph.
Para 4:
This paragraph will be about what generic conventions Mel Gibson has chosen to reject for example, the use of soundbridge over the trailer etc. This will help me make a final decision and the paragraph will once again be done using concept to help identify the rejections.
Conclusion:
This paragraph is the conclusion so therefore, I will be making a final decision as to whether Mel Gibson has chosen to use generic conventions from its predeccesors. In this paragraph I will be looking back over the essay, pulling out key points to help justify my decision.
That is the title of my essay therefore, my essay requires the utmost detail to ensure that I am making the right conclusion on this hypothesis. The essay will include, MIGRAIN analysis, concept flow paragraphs, SHEP analysis, theorists etc. I have done alot of research so that I can get the best possible information to help me make the right conclusion.
Introduction:
In the introduction I will state my title and introduce the actual film and give the background information to the film, this means I will include the director, producer, actors, plot, what year it was made etc. So that it will be easier to make comparisons. I will also give a brief paragraph on historical texts but that will be properly in the next paragraph.
Para 1:
In this paragraph I will be speaking about historical texts which are similar to Apocalypto. This means I will be speaking about Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome, The 13th warrior, The Scorpion and Braveheart. This paragraph will include SHEP analysis and will also be a concept flow paragraph. This paragraph will state the generic conventions used by Apocalypto from its predecessors which will help me come to a conclusion in the latter stages of the essay
Para 2:
In this paragraph I will be speaking about theorists that link to Apocalypto to help identify the changes in Action movies and what conventions Mel Gibson has implemented into Apocalypto. I will be including the Propp Theory to help identify the roles in the movie to see whether Mel Gibson has followed the same conventions as its predeccesors, other theorists will also be included.
Para 3:
Carrying on from paragraph 2 this paragraph will solely be based on representation in Apocalypto. I will be writing about how Mel Gibson has set up certain characters so that they are recognized for certain roles, this will once again allow me to easily spot and list the convention used by the director from its predeccesors. This paragraph will be done using MIGRAIN and will be a concept flow paragraph.
Para 4:
This paragraph will be about what generic conventions Mel Gibson has chosen to reject for example, the use of soundbridge over the trailer etc. This will help me make a final decision and the paragraph will once again be done using concept to help identify the rejections.
Conclusion:
This paragraph is the conclusion so therefore, I will be making a final decision as to whether Mel Gibson has chosen to use generic conventions from its predeccesors. In this paragraph I will be looking back over the essay, pulling out key points to help justify my decision.
Historical Text
The historical text that I have chosen to look back on and to compare Apocalypto to is, Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome. This movie/film is based on a guy who has had everything of his stripped from and he has to survive. That plot is very similar to Apocalypto as in Apocalypto Jaguar Paw has to survive attacks from the evil Mayan Village in order to save his family so we can instantly the generic conventions taken from previous action movies that have been used in Apocalypto.
The extract that I have taken from Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome is a battle scene between Mad Max and his evil opponent. In this scene there are many stereotypical generic conventions used that you would expect in an Action movie. For example, the sound is a typical action sounding track where the tempo of the music increases and decreases according to whats happening on the scene. This generic convention is also implemented in Apocalypto where Jaguar Paw is running through the jungle surviving attacks from his opponents. Not only that the other similarity in these two movies are the fast cuts. This use of cinematography is also a generic convention as in most action films fast cuts are to increase the tension and entertainment factor of the movie. One specific part of the scene where there is a consistent use of fast cuts is where Mel Gibson who is playing Mad Max is swinging on the rope while his opponent batters him then throws him towards a weapon, It is here where there is a frequent use of fast cuts between Mel Gibson and the weapon to help increase the excitment. This is very similar to Apocalypto as when Jaguar Paw is running through the jungle there many fast cuts of him, his opponents and his obsticales. The overall use of the fast cut is to keep the target audience on the edge of their seat.
Alongside the similarities in the two movies, it is also seen that Mel Gibson the director of Apocalypto is the starring role in Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome therefore, we can make the judgement that he has used his experience in that movie to help create Apocalypto. As seen above there are definitely many similarities between the movies therefore, it is seen that he has used generic conventions used in that movie and implemented them in Apocalypto to help create the great action movie it is.
There is also differences between the two movies. One difference that I spotted between the two fighting scenes were that in Apocalypto some of the fighting scenes had the action music playing over it whereas, in Mad Max Beyong Thunderdome the actual fighting scene had no music playing over it to increase the entertainment although it did have some at the start of it. Therefore, it is seen that Mel Gibson chose to reject that generic convention and implemented his own idea of a fighting scene.
Moving on the next extract I took from Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome was the trailer of film. With the trailer we will be able to see the generic conventions used in that trailer and the ones used in Apocalypto to help find the similarities and the differences.
After viewing the Mad Max trailer it seen that there are many similarities between the Apocalypto trailer and the Max Max trailer. In both the trailers the music playing over the trailer is a typical action sounding track where the tempo and pitch increases and decreases throughout to help increase the tension. Not only that but the frequent use of fast cuts is also visible throughout this is also used to help create tension and the entertainment factor. Another similarity seen in the two trailers is the setting of the movies. In Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome it is seen there are shots of Mad Max standing in the desert and other deserted area to help extend the idea that he has to survive in that habitat alone. This is also similar to Apocalypto Jaguar Paw is seen in a jungle which is also normally a deserted area and that also helps the audience understand that he is alone and has to survive in that hard area where there is a lack of food etc. Therefore, we can make the judgement that Mel Gibson chose to actually use a similar surrounding in Apocalypto to the one Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome to help create that entertainment factor.
The one generic convention that Mel Gibson chose to reject when creating the trailer was the dominant sounding voice of god throughout the trailer. In Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome you can hear the dominant voice of god telling us the story of the movie and the problems to help the audience and also create that tension. Whereas, in Apocalypto there is no use of voice of god therefore, it is seen Mel Gibson chose to reject that generic convention.
The extract that I have taken from Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome is a battle scene between Mad Max and his evil opponent. In this scene there are many stereotypical generic conventions used that you would expect in an Action movie. For example, the sound is a typical action sounding track where the tempo of the music increases and decreases according to whats happening on the scene. This generic convention is also implemented in Apocalypto where Jaguar Paw is running through the jungle surviving attacks from his opponents. Not only that the other similarity in these two movies are the fast cuts. This use of cinematography is also a generic convention as in most action films fast cuts are to increase the tension and entertainment factor of the movie. One specific part of the scene where there is a consistent use of fast cuts is where Mel Gibson who is playing Mad Max is swinging on the rope while his opponent batters him then throws him towards a weapon, It is here where there is a frequent use of fast cuts between Mel Gibson and the weapon to help increase the excitment. This is very similar to Apocalypto as when Jaguar Paw is running through the jungle there many fast cuts of him, his opponents and his obsticales. The overall use of the fast cut is to keep the target audience on the edge of their seat.
Alongside the similarities in the two movies, it is also seen that Mel Gibson the director of Apocalypto is the starring role in Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome therefore, we can make the judgement that he has used his experience in that movie to help create Apocalypto. As seen above there are definitely many similarities between the movies therefore, it is seen that he has used generic conventions used in that movie and implemented them in Apocalypto to help create the great action movie it is.
There is also differences between the two movies. One difference that I spotted between the two fighting scenes were that in Apocalypto some of the fighting scenes had the action music playing over it whereas, in Mad Max Beyong Thunderdome the actual fighting scene had no music playing over it to increase the entertainment although it did have some at the start of it. Therefore, it is seen that Mel Gibson chose to reject that generic convention and implemented his own idea of a fighting scene.
Moving on the next extract I took from Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome was the trailer of film. With the trailer we will be able to see the generic conventions used in that trailer and the ones used in Apocalypto to help find the similarities and the differences.
After viewing the Mad Max trailer it seen that there are many similarities between the Apocalypto trailer and the Max Max trailer. In both the trailers the music playing over the trailer is a typical action sounding track where the tempo and pitch increases and decreases throughout to help increase the tension. Not only that but the frequent use of fast cuts is also visible throughout this is also used to help create tension and the entertainment factor. Another similarity seen in the two trailers is the setting of the movies. In Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome it is seen there are shots of Mad Max standing in the desert and other deserted area to help extend the idea that he has to survive in that habitat alone. This is also similar to Apocalypto Jaguar Paw is seen in a jungle which is also normally a deserted area and that also helps the audience understand that he is alone and has to survive in that hard area where there is a lack of food etc. Therefore, we can make the judgement that Mel Gibson chose to actually use a similar surrounding in Apocalypto to the one Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome to help create that entertainment factor.
The one generic convention that Mel Gibson chose to reject when creating the trailer was the dominant sounding voice of god throughout the trailer. In Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome you can hear the dominant voice of god telling us the story of the movie and the problems to help the audience and also create that tension. Whereas, in Apocalypto there is no use of voice of god therefore, it is seen Mel Gibson chose to reject that generic convention.
Tuesday 16 December 2008
Fresh Up
In this advert men are once again represented as sex objects. The whole reason for the male being in the advert is that he is there to promote the product by constantly showing his body therefore, representing him not only as promiscious but also as a sex object. Furthermore, the male is also a target of the female gaze as his sole purpose for being in the advert is to show his body.
Monday 15 December 2008
Sexy Coke Advert
This advert is very similar to the diet coke advert as they both portray men as the sex objects. The male is seen with his top off which almost makes the female fall to her knees as she is aroused by his "perfect" body. She is seen slowly pulling her skirt up representing her as promiscious. This also brings up the ideology of a patriarchal society as the male has this sexual power of this woman due to his perfect looks. The male is also the subject of the female gaze as he is placed there for all woman to look at.
Sunday 14 December 2008
Diet Coke Break
This commercial represents the male as the sex object as he is the subject of the female gaze. In the commercial all the women gather around one window to see the male take of his top while they are aroused by his body, this makes him the subject of the female gaze and puts men is a different light. On the contrary it could also be said that the male has this power over women and they fall to his feet because of his looks and his body raising the issue of a patriarchy society. It also brings up the issue of the perfect body as the advert is implying that by driking diet coke you can have a perfect body and get all the women like he does.
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