Responses To Media Products - Assignment 4

Responses To Media Products


When creating a new media product it is vitally important to understand your audience and the way your chosen genre works. You must understand the various codes and conventions, filming techniques characteristics of that genre. While each film in your chosen genre will be different they will all likely follow similar codes and conventions and characteristics reminiscent of that genre. The film I have chosen to use as an example of this is 'The Shining' which I will use to analyse the characteristics common in the horror genre.

The shining is a horror film from 1980, directed by Stanley Kubrick and adapted from the Stephen King novel of the same name. The film has been vastly popular and considered an iconic horror film. The Shining is a very good example of a horror film as it uses a lot of common horror themes very prominently to great effect.

Genre Characteristics

There are certain Genre characteristics specific to the horror genre, which can be seen in many different films. Horror films have seen much change over the years into what they are today and will no doubt continue to change as years go by and newer and more experimental horror films are produced with new takes on the genre. There have however throughout its time been defining characteristics that have remained prevalent as it has evolved. Horror films tend to tackle dark, unsettling concepts, ranging from home invasions to supernatural presences. Often times horrors will try to make the viewer feel uncomfortable or uneasy by handling these concepts and with dramatic build ups, these techniques have become a staple of the various horror films throughout the years and are not unique to any one kind of horror. The genre is equally diverse in terms of plot. While it does become over-saturated with the same supernatural films or home invasion films there is also a lot of room for new innovations to take place. The genre can be characterised through its use of dark plot lines, suspense, jumpscares, and muted colours. Suspense plays a very big part in modern horror. Horror films rely on suspense to keep the audience guessing and keep them on the 'edge of their seat.' Often times in horror films, 'false jump scares' will be used, this is when the camerawork, music and acting all gibe the audience cues that something potentially scary is about to happen and builds up the suspense, the film can then however misdirect the audience by revealing that there is nothing there. This works to build up suspense for the audience and make viewers more tense but also to give them a moment to relax. Some horror films have used this technique to take advantage of an audiences temporary relaxed state after having realised they were being tricked into thinking there was going to be a jumpscare by placing a jumpscare right after this so that when the audience thinks it is over they get a scare.

Codes And Conventions

The horror genre is littered with various codes and conventions that help define the genre. Some of these codes and conventions have been used throughout the entire history of the horror genre. Some of these codes and conventions are visual, some auditory and some are subcategories that a horror might be. As for The Shining, it, like any other horror shares some common codes and conventions. These conventions will be analysed and compared to the genre as a whole and how it fits in as a horror film.
Some common visual codes and conventions involved in horror films at large include, blood, weapons (specifically knives, etc. Weapons that would cause a prolonged slow death, to play on an audiences fears), dark tones, red, black, ghosts, murderers, masked killers, supernatural themes. Some of the visual codes and convention of horrors featured in The Shining are; Long winding corridors that seemingly go on forever, creepy twins, supernatural elements (e.g. Ghosts). The Shining is an example of the 'supernatural' subgenre of horror, the plot consisting of ghosts manipulating a man into attacking his family.The film lays on many codes and conventions of the horror genre. The film is set in a large empty hotel, much of which is unexplored by the family. This plays on a common horror code of the characters being trapped in an unfamiliar place. This conventionally would take place in a forest or old abandoned building such as a sanatorium to add to the atmosphere. The Shining however uses the hotel long bending corridors and unexplored rooms to its advantage, causing a feeling of dread within the audience. To an audience they never know what may be lurking around the next corner of the hallway. One scene in The Shining features a large amount of blood flooding out of an elevator. Blood is a common convention in horror films. Blood is featured profusely in many horror films of varying subgenres, from slashers to supernatural horrors. Blood has been an important code in horror for much time because it can symbolize danger or a threat and can more obviously for injuries to show that the character has been wounded.



Mise-En-Scene

To explain the Mise En scene in The Shining I will analyse the mise-en-scene of individual scenes in The Shining.

The first Scene I will analyse is the following image;

There is quite a lot going on in this image in terms of Mise-en-scene. First of all the scene takes place in a long corridor in itself it is not very scary but in the context of the movie it takers on an entirely new meaning. It helps to create the atmosphere and makes the viewer feel somewhat uneasy. The corridor seems to distort as it goes on, it is obviously a very long hallway but seems distorted and appears closer than it is. Everything in the shot has been arranged very methodically. the plants and tables of the left to the chandeliers. The tables and plants are less lit than the right side of the frame. This is to draw the viewers eye to the right side of the frame to show them what is important. The colour of the frame, from the carpet to the walls, has been chosen specifically, either being placed themselves or finding the right location. The somewhat dull colours of the frame also help to draw the viewers attention to the much brighter gold walls which reflect the light better than the other wallpaper.


This is the next scene I will be analysing for mise-en-scene;

In this shot the red colour of the bathroom is the most obvious feature, standing out dramatically. The covers all the walls and doorway. The colour in a sense invades the scene. The colour is used narratively to imply blood and death and through the vibrancy and quantity that it has invaded the scene. This links back with what is going on in the scene. The main character Jack is talking to Grady, the original owner of the hotel (and presumably the source of all the supernatural events). The mirrors in the scene are also important. throughout the film every time there is a ghost in the scene there is always also a mirror, this signals attentive audience members that he is a ghost and the scene takes on a new danger. The clothing Jack wears in this scene, as well as the rest of the scenes, is very "burly" and somewhat like that of a lumberjack, big boots, a plaid shirt and wooly coat. This costume serves to enhance Jacks personality in a sense. It shows the type of person he is. Throughout the film he is shown to be aggressive and brutish, this is emphasised through his clothing which is the stereotypical of a burly man who gets in to fights. It is stereotypically somewhat like a "hillbilly's" clothing. The scene itself is lit fairly dimly despite the large bright white artificial lights in the bathroom. While they look bright their light does not reach very far. The scene begins with Jack acting uncharacteristically polite, in a way that is greatly exaggerated as if to show that he is drunk or is simply at ease speaking with Grady. Grady himself speaks to Jack very politely although less exaggerated. The scene changes dramatically however when Jack learns of Grady's identity. The two become more serious in tone. This marks the turning point at which Grady starts to manipulate Jack.The props in the scene are the napkin that Grady uses and the sinks are urinals, however they may not be counted as props since they are real.


Narrative Structure

 The shining follows a linear narrative structure with a beginning, middle and end all happening in chronological order.

A Synopsis of the plot


Character Introductions

Set in the Overlook Hotel, we are introduced to Jack, the first character in a scene in which he is interviewed by Stuart Ullman. Jack a husband, father and recovering alcoholic is applying for a job as temporary caretaker for the hotel after losing his job as a teacher. During this conversation Stuart Ullman explains that both Jack and his family will be snowed in during their stay at the hotel and warns him of a previous caretaker who murdered his family and committed suicide as a result of cabin fever. Jack acknowledges the information however still intent on taking the job due to his desperation to rebuild his life and assures Stuart that it won't happen with him.

We are then introduced to the next two characters; Jacks wife, Wendy (played by Shelley Duvall) and his son Danny (Danny Lloyd). Danny is in the bathroom playing with what is assumed to be his imaginary friend and asking him questions about "why he doesn't want to go to the hotel" and Wendy is doing dishes before being phoned by Jack. Afterwards Jacks son Danny has a seizure and a vision, this establishes his "ability" to the viewer.

Conflict

The conflict really starts from the moment they enter the Overlook Hotel but nothing noticeable happens for a while until it reaches a certain point.

In this scene a ball rolls towards Danny and he enters room 237, the room he was warned not to go into. The moment he enters this room Wendy comes running from the basement to a screaming Jack who explains that he had just had a nightmare in which he chopped her and Danny to pieces with an axe. Obviously affected by this Wendy tries to comfort Jack, however Danny appears at the other side of the room, his sweater ripped and with bruises on his neck. Wendy then accuses Jack of harming him and runs out of the room with Danny. Jack sits looking confused. This is the pivotal scene in which the hotel really starts to create conflict in the family and tries to tear Jack away and plant distrust between them.

Climax

The climactic scene in the Shining is when Wendy, armed with a bat goes in search of Jack, intending to leave the hotel with Danny. She finds Jacks typewriter and manuscript. Upon reading it she discovers that he has repeated the same phrase over and over thousands of times. "all work and no play makes jack a dull boy."It is at this climactic moment that Wendy realises that Jack has gone completely mad. Jack then approaches from behind and asks her if she likes it sarcastically. She tries to retreat as Jack asks what she plans to to, screaming not to hurt her. It is at this point Jack tells her he does not want to hurt her but instead intends on killing her. She hits Jack with the bat and he falls down the stairs, unconscious. After which she drags Jacks unconscious body to the pantry and locks him inside. However he has sabotaged the radio and snowmobile, trapping them there.

Outcome

Danny flees into the hedge maze, being chased by Jack, while in the maze Danny covers his tracks and hides behind a hedge. Jack upon reaching the end of Danny's tracks heads deeper into the maze. Danny then emerges from the hedge and follows his own footprints back to the entrance of the maze. Wendy exits the hotel just as Danny exits the maze, the two being reunited, she embraces him, throwing her knife to the ground. Danny and Wendy then escape the hotel on the snowmobile that Dick used to reach the hotel after recieving Danny's message. Jack lost in the maze, freezes to death. Before the credits begin the camera slowly zooms in on a photograph of a historical photograph of that staff at the hotel, in the centre of the photograph is jack, along with the caption "Overlook Hotel July 4th Ball, 1921."




Representation

It could be argued that the film has a negative representation of men or more specifically middle aged men. This is because at least two of the characters around that age are portrayed as crazed and murderous however this is due to paranormal influences so this could be disputed. It's representation of women could also be viewed as both negative and positive as for much of the film Jack's wife, Wendy seems be a "damsel" and have great difficulty in dealing with Jack and can be seen screaming and shaking a lot. This could be however down to good character development as she is a scared wife whose husband has turned into a crazed killer who eventually chases her down with an axe, so I think this is an accurate representation of what would really happen in such a situation. Given that despite being deeply afraid of Jack, a man much larger and more aggressive than herself is chasing her down, she handles the situation fairly well eventually developing enough that she takes Jack on, knocks him out and locks him in a pantry. I believe that the argument on the representation for Shelley Duvall's character could be seen either way. It is possible that the film also portrays working class people in a negative light. Jack being a working class man whom has previously lost his job teaching due to aggressive conduct and has since become and alcoholic. This could be seen as negative as it might paint the image that all working class people are alcoholics and lose their jobs very easily/ are uncommitted. I however personally don't think that there are any significant negative representations in the film.