THE GREAT GATSBY

Janet Bargmann

INITIAL RESPONSE…

This is my initial response to The Great Gatsby (2013) directed by Baz Luhrmann based on the novel by F. Scott Fitzgerald written in 1925.

GENRE…

The Great Gatsby is mainly a drama, but also

focuses on the romance between the two characters,

Jay Gatsby and Daisy.

It could be argued that this is therefore a hybrid of

Romance and Drama- but I think it’s mainly drama.

Baz Luhrmann is known for making Romantic

Dramas such as Moulin Rouge, Romeo and Juliet,

and Australia.

CODES AND CONVENTIONS OF DRAMA

Real life situations and realistic characters who the audience can relate to.

Often has a journey, following the protagonist- in this case, Nick Carraway-

so we can see character development

Sometimes there is a plot twist to catch the audience off guard (make it

more dramatic!)

The dramatic storyline is often used to emotionally move the audience.

Includes conflict between characters.

The Great Gatsby is an example of a film that breaks the conventions of a

Drama, as Dramas tend to have a happy ending, whereas The Great Gatsby

doesn’t.

DECONSTRUCTION…PROXEMICS:Gatsby is in the middle, above his name and the title of the film, so we can immediately tell he is the main focus of the film. Daisy is underneath looking the other way, suggesting her characteristics. She is the only one looking away from the audience. It could imply that she feels helpless, or confused.

MISE-EN-SCENE:The clothing is very 1920’s, so we can see when it is set, especially for audiences who haven’t read the book. The silver font and the gold patterns suggests wealth and money.

OTHER:Dr T.J. Eckleburg (The blue man behind the characters) is an important part to the book as well as the film, so the way he is positioned implies that he is always there, even if people can’t see him.

The actors in this film are very well known- Leonardo di Caprio, and Tobey Maguire- so people know who they are and this can attract people to come and see the film.

SCREEN SHOTS

Here, Gatsby is raising his glass in front of fireworks, making him look welcoming and he smiles“understandingly-much more than understandingly. It was one of those rare smiles with a quality of eternal reassurance in it, that you may come across four or five times in life.” This initial shot gives us the impression that Gatsby is a really genuine person. (First impressions are important in this film!) The way Daisy and Gatsby look at each other suggests that they’ve never been happier, and it’s been too long. He is holding her hand on his chest, which could imply that they belong together.

SCREEN SHOTS

Here shows one of the parties held at Gatsby’s mansion. The masses of people seems to suggest that this is a very popular occasion, which it is, but they don’t know why the parties are held. Gatsby dreams of meeting Daisy again, and hopes that one day she will walk in to his mansion and they can be together.

BAZ LUHRMANN

The Great Gatsby is one of Luhrmann’s most

popular and successful films, although getting mixed

reviews from critics.

He has a clear style of directing, which is evident

from the use of bright colours, camera angles, and

even the type of music.

This makes it obvious that it is a “Baz Luhrmann”

film because he always sticks to these methods so

people can immediately tell that he has directed it.