T H E DA R K K N I G H T A N D B AT M A N

THE SUPER HERO ACTION GENRE

LESSON OBJECTIVE•Over view of the Unit•Understand how it will be assessed•Key terminology• Introduction to the two films and their context

WHAT DO WJEC SAY?• “Two films must be chosen from a specific

genre or dealing with a specific theme.”• Historical• Remakes• Thematic

Comparison and Contrast

THE EXAM

•How far do the American films you have studied for this topic depend on well established narrative and/or genre conventions?•How far do the American films you have studies for this topic express similar messages and values to one another?

THE EXAM

•With particular reference to the endings of your chosen American films, compare their messages and values.•How useful have your wider contextual studies been in understanding similarities and differences in the American films you have studied for this topic?

THE EXAM

•How far do the American films you have studied for this topic depend on well established narrative and/or genre conventions?•How far do the American films you have studies for this topic express similar messages and values to one another?

THE EXAM

•How far do the American films you have studied for this topic depend on well established narrative and/or genre conventions?•How far do the American films you have studies for this topic express similar messages and values to one another?

BATMAN VS THE DARK KNIGHT

• Batman 1989 Dir Tim Burton• The Dark Knight 2008 Dir Christopher Nolan

What does GENRE mean?

Provides a relationship between

audiences and producers which

minimises the risk of financial failure

Films function like language –

offering a set of rules and ‘vocab’

Not static but constantly

renegotiated between industry and

audience (use of familiar and un

familiar

Meeting audiences expectations equals

pleasure

Genre films work through important cultural myths and fears by repetition,

innovation and resolution

A set of characteristics/

formula recognised by the audience over time e.g. narrative, iconography, MES,

themes and representation

At an ideological level genres offer

reassurance and a close down of the complexities of life

INSTITUTIONAL USE OF GENRE

• Film producers use genre as a means of minimizing the economic risk in making films

• Film distributors/ exhibitors see genre as a means of advertising and promoting films

• Both depend upon audiences’ foreknowledge and past experience

AUDIENCE USE OF GENRE

• Audiences use genre to give them predictable pleasures when consuming/watching a film• Audiences have certain

expectations of genre films• Audiences expect genre

films to involve innovation, inflection/subversion of the generic conventions

GENERIC CONVENTIONS• A film genre is defined by its codes and

conventions and these must be present to make a film a genre film but should involve some aspect of innovation, subversion and/or inflection (otherwise it becomes a formula film)• Mise-en-scene• Setting• Visual style• Iconography• Cinematography• Special effects• Sound/music• Performance

• Themes• Ideology• Stars• Character-types • Narratives• Representation

WHAT IS A SUPERHERO MOVIE?

• A film based a comic book?

• A film that features a Superhero or Superheroes?

• Not always – not all characters start in comics

• Well, what actually is a superhero?

THE (SUPER HERO) ACTION GENRE

• Genre Recipe• Make a list of ten key ‘ingredient’ that

would make up a Super Hero Action film (include measurements!).• Write baking style instructions as to how

you would combine the ingredients to make the perfect Super hero film• Illustrate with pictures….

WHAT IS A SUPERHERO?

• Is it somebody with super powers?

• It’s what a character chooses to do with the powers they have

• Not necessarily, as Batman does not actually have any super power

• To defend the weak, truth, justice, etc.

WHAT IS A SUPERHERO?

“A superhero....is a man or woman with powers that are either massive

extensions of human strengths and capabilities, or fundamentally different in

kind, which he or she uses to fight for truth, justice and the protection of the innocent. A substantial minority of people without powers as such share a

commitment to the superhero mission, so they are generally regarded as superheroes in spite of the absence of

such powers”(Roz Kaveney - Superheroes! Capes and Crusaders in Comics and Films)

WHAT IS A SUPERHERO?

“A Superhero movie centres on individuals who use their powers for public rather than

personal good, often against an enemy who uses their powers for personal rather than public good. Most are sourced from comic

books”(Studying Film)

“With great power comes great responsibility”(Ben Parker, Spider-Man)

GENRENarrative (characters/events)

ThemesRepresentation of Gender

Technical Feature

OPENING SCENES OF THE DARK KNIGHT AND BATMAN

• How well do these film fit the conventions of the Super Hero Action Genre?• Make sure you take notes on

• Mise en scene, • Cinematography, • Editing, including SFX• Performance• Sound

• Narrative• Characters• Events• Representation• Themes

GENRENarrative (characters/events)

ThemesRepresentation of Gender

Technical Feature

TWO OTHER SCENES

• You now need to watch two other scenes from both movies and take notes on how well they fit the conventions of the genre.• Try to choose important/ action based scenes (but

not the one with the Joker and the pencil – I will use that one later……)