Textual
analysis of ‘I am Legend’
Our media company likes the introduction of the interview as they discuss the virus, so we think that we will use something like this e.g. radio announcements of deaths or to announce disasters. In my opinion the black out works well as an editing technique because it connotes the tense atmosphere and allows the audience to think about what they have just heard before seeing the establishing shot.
Genre:
‘I am Legend’ is a hybrid Sci-fi, Thriller and Drama
genre connoting that it uses a mix of conventions to suit each genre. This is
proved through the use of: futuristic settings, guns, suspense, involvement of
the government, tilted fast shots and a realistic narrative. The futuristic
settings allows the use of technology that does not exist to help to connote
the dystopian theme. Suspense is a typical convention for thrillers as it
connotes that something big is going to happen, for example the audience
anticipate whether he is going to catch a dear as well as linking to the theme
of violence. Also, the involvement of the government represents the lawless
society and the sinister plot as the government seems to be responsible for the
emptiness.
Narrative:
In this scene, Propp’s theory is connoted through ‘The
hero’ of Robert as he is represented as an important character who leads the narrative
and appears to be on a quest. This is shown when he is driving through the city
as the audience wonders why and the confusing chase, because the audience would
be confused why he is hunting animals. This connects to the binary opposite of
Animals vs Humans which connotes that one of them is becoming extinct. An anti-stereotypical
winner in this scene appears to be the Animals as there is very few human life,
connoting a disease or it represents the power of the Animals emphasising that
they killed all of the humans. Another of Propp’s character is ‘The helper.’
This is shown through Roberts’s dog as he is represented as a side kick, again
connoting the strength of the Animals.
Todorov’s ‘5 States’ theory seems to apply. This is
portrayed firstly from the Equilibrium. The narrative, characters and setting
is introduced as Robert is driving his car in an empty street in America
accompanied by his pet Dog. This connotes the binary opposite and the theme of
relationships expectedly within this Drama genre. A disruption occurs simultaneously
as the Dear’s charge out into a stampede through the streets, connoting a chase
and representing the authority of the Animals as they are freely roaming the
city. This highlights the destruction and lack of control within the society at
this moment. The audience recognise this disruption when Robert decides to
chase the herd connoting that there is a problem, which is complicated further
due to the difficulty of actually catching one. Furthermore, Robert attempts to
repair the problem. This is connoted as he pulls his gun out and aims it
towards the Dear’s, representing his anger, another binary opposite of life vs
death and violence. Lastly, a resolution is formed when a Dear is killed by a Lion,
in the way that although Robert did not solve the problem himself, the Lion
caught the food for survival connoting the ‘survival of the fittest’ lifestyle
and the inequality of society. As a result a new equilibrium appears to arrive
as we are introduced to other lives, connoting a gradual introduction and the
fight to survive.
This extract follows a non-linear plot as a flash
forward is used after the opening titles and the interview scenes, connoting
the conventional Thriller genre and effecting the younger demographic as they
will find it harder to understand why an ellipses has occurred and the relationship
between the two narrative strands of 3 years before the chase and the set time.
In spite of this, this movie probably follows a linear plot overall as a clear
beginning, middle and end will be told. From this opening, the narrative is
open because the plot can be continued connoted a complex and large plot. Also,
during this extract the third person narrator positions allows true representations
if the characters instead of stereotypes or an individual’s view of a person,
allowing the audience to understand and maybe sympathise with the characters. The
parallel plots unfold at the same time connoting that the characters related
but there is no clear mix yet.
Sound:
Another example is the loud diegetic sound of
Grasshoppers which is a coincidence since normally you would struggle to hear
insects or small animals connoting the emptiness and representing the
overpowering nature. All of the diegetic sounds of animals connote that the
city is turning into a tropical rainforest and emphasises the disaster.
Editing:
Editing is used to create anticipation. This is connoted
through the fast paced editing between the shots during the chase. The fast
pace connotes the conventional Thriller genre and builds up the tension
representing the significance of this and effecting the target audience as they
will wish for success or failure, causing anxiousness. This could lead to the
uses and gratification theory in the way that audience segmentation will separate
similar audiences whom may talk about the chase scene or become emotionally
attached towards the protagonist (Robert.)
After the chase the editing slowed down to connote that
the conclusion of that scene was established and how the mood and atmosphere
has become calmer and relaxed easing of the nervousness from the target
audience.
Editing was used to connote the interview. This was portrayed
at the beginning through the common shot reverse shot connoting that there was
a discussion and allowing the audience to see the reactions from the characters
so that they understand them more and to represent the difference in
intelligence and age.
Audience:
I am Legend appears to be targeted towards teenagers
and young adults, this is connoted through the slight violence and the plot.
Often male audiences will watch this film because they are stereotyped to
prefer violence, however Will Smith would attract female audiences as well
meaning that Two Step Flow theory would be involved as they would want to watch
the movie. Audience segmentation could be responsible as well, as Robert could attract
an older demographic and race would not be an issue to connote equality in the
film and the attractive and brave protagonist. This could link to Mulvey’s male
gaze because targeted females could see him as a sexual character, representing
equality in genders nowadays compared to the past.
Mise-en-scene:
The setting and the colour us used to represent the
futuristic disaster. This is connoted through the abandoned or empty buildings,
connoting a destruction and futuristic problems. The brown, desert-like colours
connote the lack of humanity representing their inferiority and low intelligence.
Also, it could connect to the typical habitats of creatures connoting the
development and change to suit the dominant species. The darker colours could connote the disaster
through the dusty remains and this ambiguous choice could additionally connote
thirst emphasising the difficulty for Robert.
Robert is represented as an important character. This
is connoted through his framing within the shots, as he is often positioned in
the middle to connote that he is the protagonist and a significant part to the
plot.
Robert is represented as an explorer. This is connoted
from his leather jacket, jeans, grey t-shirt, bag and walking boots. The use of
the jacket connotes his determination to survive and the bag connotes that he
expects he will succeed and need it to keep valuable objects. It could also
connote an easy place to store his necessities. The prop of the gun represents
the lawless society and his authority because he can carry what is necessary. As
well it could be connoted as protection or differently for violence and to kill
innocent animals in order to survive.
Ideology:
A clear opinion is connoted through Robert and his Dog.
A dominant view point is that Dogs are a man’s best friend connoting the love
and stereotypical beliefs in this world. This reinforces the stereotypes because
it connotes how useful animals can be
Another value is not to always believe and trust the
government. This is shocking because audiences often believe that their choices
are for the best and the right ones, but this is argued against through the anti-stereotypical
greedy government that create a ‘cure’, which seems to kill most of mankind.
Shots:
Shots are used to represent the lonely setting. This
is connoted through the establishing extreme-long shot which allows all of the
abandoned cars in the water to be shown connoting that there is something wrong
and the quiet city. The bird-eye panning shot of this view also connotes the
emptiness, but it also allows Robert’s car to enter the shot connoting his
loneliness and bravery because he is the only human clearly out. Furthermore,
exaggeration of all of the cars is created from this chosen shot which connotes
the huge numbers of cars abandoned and the terrible effect on the city due to pollution
and the large use of space.
A tracking shot is used to represent the protagonists
determined personality. This is shown when Robert is chasing the dears
connoting that he is in control of the herds movement and how he won’t give up
until he captures one. Ultimately, this represents him as a predator ruthlessly
hunting down food or prey.
These conventions will appeal to a teen and a young adult demographic because the action will certainly appeal to this audience, especially stereotypical males. The use of the gun will appeal to mostly males due to the representations of violence and the similarities to gun games on a PC or a PlayStation. We have decided that we will stick to the use of a report of some kind at the start of our scene to connote what has happened and to help set the period it takes place at. Also this would link into the Dystopia genre because it will connote the reckless and havoc within the world in our moving image.
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