Shawshank Redemption - Close Reading

Setting: At the start of this shot the viewers can see that the convicts are on the roof of a dull brick building, while the shot is panning over to the building to show the convicts, the audience can see the contrast from the dirty rooftop and the bright green grass, and open space. This setting is used to show the difference between the dull life in which the convicts have to endure, and the freedom of the fields of green grass.

Props: The four main props in this scene are the mops which the convicts are using, the guns and bats the guards threaten Andy with and the beer at the end of the scene. The mops are important because it shows automatically that the convicts have it tough, and have to do unpleasant chores. The gun and bat shows that the guards are the dominant people in this scene, they turn to violence and threatening behaviour when they feel Andy is challenging them/being inappropriate. The beer is important because this is when Andy feels like he is finally beginning to make the most of his life, even if he has to spend it in the prison. This is when he makes better acquaintances with the convicts and he gets on the guards good sides by making a deal with them/helping them with their accounts.

Colour: The colour in this scene is important because it shows the contrast between the dull coloured brick building where the convicts are working and the blue sky and green grass. This contributes to the image in this scene that the convicts are trapped in a colourless life, and the green grass and blue sky represents the freedom they can’t have while in prison.

Lighting: At the start of the scene, the lighting on the convicts faces is a dull lighting, this adds to the effect that the convicts have a dull life, and are the less dominant people, compared to the guards. The lighting is important when the convicts is drinking the beer at the end of the scene and one of them offers one to Andy and he says he doesn’t drink, the lighting shines down on him, giving him a pure/godly image.

Costume: The guards are wearing suits in this scene, even though it looks like it is a hot day. Their suits are a dark blue colour, which makes them stand out, they are clean and look new; this contributes to making the guards looking like the more dominant people in this scene. The convicts are dressed in dirty, old overalls. The overalls they are wearing are a dull grey colour, so this stops them standing out; this adds to showing that the guards are more dominant.

Dead Poets Society - Act 3

Everyone finds out about Neil’s death. ‘Act 3’ shows the audiences how the different characters’ deal with Neil’s death. His friends stick together and help each other through it, but Todd finds it harder than the others and wants to be alone. Keating looks through the poems and feels guilty. It shows him crying.

After Neil’s death the Dead Poets’ Society is revealed. This is bad because this means Keating is fired. The boys stand up for Keating by standing on the desks, as this is what he had taught them. This shows the respect they have for Keating and showed how much he meant to them.

Dead Poets Society - Act 2

They reform ‘the dead poets society’; this means they have to sneak out of the school to have the meetings. They have to do this at night, against the rules, this is a complication.

In class Keating’s teaching methods go against the tradition of the school, this is a complication because he could get in a lot of trouble, as the school is quite strict. The principal watches Keating while he is teaching the boys, but Keating just acts as if he does nothing wrong, as he truly believes that he isn’t doing anything wrong. Another obstacle in Keating’s classes is that Keating pushes the boys in his class to get out of their comfort zone.

Neil decides for sure that he wants to try out for the play. Keating has given him the ability to believe in himself, but teaching him freedom. An obstacle that comes with Neil deciding to perform in the play is the fact that his father doesn’t approve. Neil needed his father’s permission to be in the play, and as he didn’t want his father to find out Neil forges a letter from his father so that he can perform. “I’m trapped” – Neil to Keating.
When Neil decides to go into the play his friend, Todd, snaps him back to reality and reminds him of his father’s disapproval, Neil gets angry because he knows that his friend is right. Todd slowly gets more confidence, but when Neil talks to him the audience notices that Neil treats his friends as his father teaches him.

Todd’s parents give him the same birthday present two years in a row. This shows the audience that his parents, like Neil’s, don’t care about what he wants. Neil supports Todd on his birthday, but his friends aren’t able to support Neil with his problems.

Charlie publishes an article in the school paper and signed in ‘The Dead Poets Society’, this is an obstacle because this article could mean that the principal could find out about them sneaking out, drinking, smoking, seeing girls, etc.

Neil’s dad finds out about the play and shows up there. Neil is ecstatic that he is in the play, especially as he got the lead role. This is the dark moment in ‘Act 2’, because Mr Perry, Neil’s father, he ruins Neil’s happiness and crushes his dreams. Mr Perry confronts Keating, and tells him to stay away from Neil. Mr Perry automatically blames Keating for Neil’s actions, so Mr Perry decides to enrol Neil into a different school. He tells Neil that he is going to be a doctor; Neil has no choice. “Don’t be so dramatic, you make it sound like a prison term” – Mr Perry to Neil.

The climax in this film is after the play, when Neil shoots himself because he feels things with his dad are too much to handle anymore. His dad has told Neil that he disapproves and is disappointed in Neil because of Neil going into the play and because he has gone behind his back and disobeyed him purposely. When Mr Perry finds his son dead, he acts as if he doesn’t understand why his son has done this, as he had no idea that his son was feeling like this. He genuinely felt that he has been the best father he could be, he just tried to do the best for this boy. “My son, oh my son” – Mr Perry when he finds Neil dead.

Definitions

Define and state clearly what each of the following words mean:

Expository - Introduces the characters and the situation.
Development – The plot slowly begins to develop.
Plot Point – When the plot begins to move forward. This is when the characters begin to have a goal.
Catalyst – A central point or idea/theme in the film.
Interrelated Obstacles – Obstacles that all tie in together to contribute to the end of the film.
Confrontation­ – Characters confront each other, often about the obstacles that have been raised.
Complications – Obstacles that have to be overcome.
Dark Moment - Where everything seems to be too difficult to overcome.
Climax – The scene in the film that everything builds up to.
Epilogue – At the end of the film which everything is tied up, and it all links back into the starting scene.
Closure – The characters accept what has happened in the film. There is often a happy ending.

Codes and Conventions

Why are the codes and conventions in this genre used over and over in different movies?
Because they have a main structure that has worked in the past, making them sure that the audience will like the structure.

Why have the codes and conventions been changed in some cases?
They change the codes and conventions sometimes to make it fit in with the story line and to create a difference, because people don’t want to see the same thing over and over again. Also because of evolution; times and society are both changing so the codes and conventions have to be changed in order to keep apealling to the audience.

Different Genres

- Comedy.
- Romance.
- Action.
- Drama.
- Horror.
- Thriller.
- Disaster.
- War.
- Historical.
- Western.
- Fantasy.
- Teen.
- Children/family.
- Documentary.
- Science-fiction.
- Educational.
- Reality.
- Crime.
- Myth.
- Adventure.
- Musicals.
- Martial Arts.

(Reworded) List Of Genres

Historical: A story about a real person or event. E.g, The Queen.
Biography: The story of somebodys life told by another person. E.g, Ray.
Autobiography: Somebodys life being retold themselves (about their own life). E.g.
Memoir: Somebody retelling a story from their own memory. E.g.
Historical Fiction: Set in real life with real people with only some fictionalised/made up factors. E.g Pride and Prejudice
Alternate history: Similar to Historical Fiction but more excessive and there is more fictional and fantasy things included. E.g.
Period Piece: Stories that are usually set in a historical time, but history isn’t the main focus and/or point of this story. E.g.
Costume drama: A drama where glamorous and different clothing is a big focus.E.g. Marie Antoinette.
Adventure: About a main character travelling far to gain and/ or achieve something. E.g. Spy Kids 2.
Action: Similar to Adventure but more intense. It often includes more danger and conflict and/or violence. E.g. The Fast and the Furious.
Superhero: A superhuman (usually male) who uses their abilities (usually super powers) to help people. E.g. Xmen.
Military: A story based on war, including what war was like and how the soldiers were treated and what they went through. Usually based on one soldier. E.g. Forest Gump.
Spy fiction: Stories about special agents getting sent on missions, using high-tech gadgets and technology and also includes fighting scenes. E.g. James Bond.
Swashbuckler: A story about someone who has conflict with villains. E.g. Zorro.
Martial arts Kung-Fu film: Stories about martial arts, including high forms of experience and well thought out fighting. E.g. Jackie Chan. Science fiction: Stories usually set in the future or space. Also includes fantasy scenes and fictional objects. E.g. Blade runner.
Military Science Fiction: Wars against aliens. E.g. Men in Black.
Space Opera: About time travel. E.g. Back to the Future.
Fantasy: Fictional story, based on magical/supernatural theme. E.g. Twilight.
Science Fantasy: A magical story that can be explained by science. E.g.
Sword & Sorcery: A fantasy story containing adventure and a hero who fights with someone or something else. E.g.
High Fantasy: A story that has nothing real in it, it is set in a different world. E.g.
Wuxia: Fantasy and/or Martial arts.
Romance: A story about relationships, includes love, a happy ending and engagement. E.g. The Notebook
Crime Fiction: A story with some form of crime. E.g. CSI.
Mystery: A dectective usually, figuring out some sort of crime.
Murder Mystery: A dectective finding a murderer. E.g. Cold Case.
Comedy: A story that tells a humourous story. Comical and lighthearted elements. E.g. Super Bad.
Comedy of manners: A story of social behavior and class. Charcters are usually highly stereotypical. E.g. Sydney White.
Parody: A mockery film which uses sarcasum and comedy to make fun of somethings flaws. E.g. Epic Movie.
Black comedy: A parody that plays on usually untapped subjects.
Romantic comedy: Love stories told comically. E.g. Hitch.
Comedic Science Fiction: Comedy’s with science fictional settings, alot of the time making fun of the science fiction genre. E.g.
Documentary: Retelling of events. E.g. Earth.
Mockumentary: Story that uses documentary form to tell fictional and comical events. E.g. The Office.
Horror: Stories made to cause fear mostly using violence, suspense and/or shock. E.g. Silent Hill.
Monster: A creature causing havoc. E.g. Water Horse.
Giant Monster: A giant creature causing havoc. E.g. Jurrassic Park.
Survival Horror: About someone who must endure something in order to survive. E.g. Castaway.
Thriller: A mix of fear and excitement.Usually has a serious story line. E.g. 28 Day Later.
Disaster-Thriller: Involves some form of disaster which must be overcome. E.g. The Day After Tomorrow.
Psychological-Thriller: About someones mental unstability. E.g. Hide and Seek.
Crime-Thriller: About criminal events that are exciting, also scary. E.g. S.W.A.T
Techno-Thriller: Involves technology and usually cyber terrorism. E.g. The Island.Western: Adventure and Action type movies set in the ‘wild’ West. E.g. Calamity Jane.