Genre and Narrative in Two Films: Rosemary's Baby and Frankenstein Must be Destroyed In the opening 5 mins of a film there are many clues to the genre of the film. We watched the openings to 2 films in the genre of horror and identified how we could tell they were horror. There are certain things that are in most horror films such as darkness and blood and other stereotypically ''scary'' things. The two films we watched were ''Rosemary's Baby'' and ''Frankenstein must be destroyed''. ''Frankenstein must be destroyed'' is shot in a very traditional way whereas ''Rosemary's Baby'' is very modern. In horror films there are certain clues that it is a horror film these are known as the presentational devices. These are the lighting and colour, editing, mise en scene, use of camera and sound; these all help to give effect in different ways. At the start of the clips there are the credits for the two films. In the credits for ''Frankenstein must be destroyed'' the righting is in blood red in a gothic style font. The music is low and menacing and what you would expect from a horror film. The scene is of a dark cobbled alley also a very typical horror setting. The opening to Rosemary's baby is very different, the text for the credits is all in a very girlie pink and the setting is New York city on a hot day, this seems very strange for a horror film. But the clue that it is a horror film is the music, it is contrapuntal to what you would expect as it sounds like , its of a young girl singing but it is slightly off key and sounds a bit disturbing.
"Genre: A group of films having recognizably similar plots, character types, settings, filmic techniques, and themes." (Konigsberg:165) The Genre of this film is difficult to define because it is not composed of a single agenda. The director makes a point of talking about Tosh’s life, but because of the cinematic themes and the film’s style it is not solely a documentary. This film is also a multimedia film because elements of music and concert footage are added to the essential plot. This film is avant-garde in it’s nature. "Avant-garde [refers to films that] deny the traditional narrative structure and techniques of commercial films by seeking to explore new modes of visual and emotional experience." (Konigsberg:25) It could be considered an anthology film, because of the various concert footage that is woven throughout the movie. "An Anthology film is a full length film made up of excerpts from other films which are related by some theme [or] the appearance of the same performer." (Konigsberg:16)
In her novel Frankenstein, Mary Shelley and the film Edward Scissorhands by Tim Burton their creations have a desire to be loved. Which leads them on a journey of acceptance for themselves and others. Everyone has felt the need to find why they are here on earth; we all search for answers we are no different from them.
Mediation teacher and author Sharon Salzberg once said, “if you go deeper and deeper into your own heart, you’ll be living in a world with less fear, isolation and loneliness.” Fear, isolation and loneliness are common feelings faced by many people everyday, and feelings frequently present in the following compared novels. Brave New World by Aldous Huxley, and Frankenstein, by Mary Shelley, share many unique and interesting similarities. Both literary works share similar themes such as isolation from society, lose or unknown identity, and the misuse of technology and science.
Barry, , Keith, and Grant, ed. Film Genre Reader III. Austin, TX: University of Texas Press,
effect due to the basis of the film. This is used as an opening sequence
The notion of humanity is a picture intricately painted using the ideals and morals that define us as human beings in contextual society. The audience is influenced by the morals and values present through techniques in texts to paint their own image of humanity. Our ideals and morals that differ in texts through context, scrupulously shape our image of humanity
Humans have an intrinsic fascination with contravening the innate tenets of existence, as the proclivity of the human condition to surpass our natural world leads to destruction. This inherent desire of man to augment our knowledge through conquering science and the secrets of life has transcended time, denoting literature premising the corruption of humanity. These pieces are reflected in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein and Ridley Scott’s film Blade runner, perpetuating this assertion that man’s unnatural desires of deducing reality are precarious. Thus both composers postulate a grim future arising from man’s predilection of aberrant behaviour, as commonalities reinforce this desires opportunity to cause destruction. Paranormal creation and humanities emotive detachment are explored in both pieces, as their respective context has shaped conceptualisations of man’s desires which lead to destruction.
Most Americans have some idea of who Frankenstein is, as a result of the many Frankenstein movies. Contrary to popular belief Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is a scientist, not a monster. The "monster" is not the inarticulate, rage-driven criminal depicted in the 1994 film version of the novel. Shelley’s original Frankenstein was misrepresented by this Kenneth branagh film, most likely to send a different message to the movie audience than Shelley’s novel shows to its readers. The conflicting messages of technologies deserve being dependent on its creator (address by Shelley) and poetic justice, or triumph over evil (showed by the movie) is best represented by the scene immediately preceding Frankenstein’s monster’s death.
As time goes on, many things tend to change, and then they begin to inherit completely different images. Over the years, the character, created by Dr. Victor Frankenstein in Mary Shelley’s famous novel, has changed dramatically. The monster, regularly called “Frankenstein,” has been featured in numerous films, such as Frankenweenie and Edward Scissorhands. Although, the characters in today’s pop culture and the monster in the well-known 1800’s novel have similarities, they are actually very different. The many similarities and differences range from the character’s physical traits and psychological traits, the character’s persona, and the character’s place in the Gothic style.
Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley, author of the famous novel Frankenstein, was born in Somers Town, London to William Godwin, a philosopher and writer, and Mary Wollstonecraft, a feminist philosopher, who died eleven days after her daughter’s birth. Even at a young age, Mary was highly encouraged to write by her father and she immensely enjoyed it. At age twenty-one, she released her most famous novel, Frankenstein (Mary Shelley - Biography). In this novel, Victor Frankenstein uses his extensive medical knowledge to create a new human species. At first, Victor is pleased with his creation until it mysteriously comes to life! Afterwards, the creator is horrified with his creation. There are many parallels between the novel and the creation account of mankind in Genesis, where God is equivalent to Victor and Adam is parallel to the monster. Mary Shelley, with her novel Frankenstein, exposes the fragile relationship between a creator and the creation, which parallels the creation account in Genesis.
Frankenstein is a fictional story written by Mary Shelly. It was later adapted into a movie version directed by James Whales. There are more differences than similarities between the book and the movie. This is because, the movie is mainly based on the 1920’s play, other than the original Mary Shelly’s book Frankenstein. A text has to be altered in one way or the other while making a movie due to a number of obvious factors. A lot of details from the book were missing in the movie, but the changes made by Whales were effective as they made the movie interesting, and successful.
In Frankenstein and The Bride of Frankenstein, sound is used as an effect to scare people and create a “spooky” feeling. They used the sounds of a storm with rain and thunder, the sound of footsteps coming up from behind people, and other noises like creaky stairs, floors, and doors. This created that “haunted” or “spooky” feeling that would be used over and over again in horror films for decades. When they used sound effects, it was to emphasize that something was either happening or about to happen.
A human blossoms to succeed in life, they blossom to come to one point where we may look upon life and remember all the times we owned, one blossoms to be someone, great, and one strives to accomplish this with their ability. In further Frankenstein want to succeed. To look upon one’s life without any regrets is a hard assignment to accomplish. The characters mentioned are all different but yet the same in purpose: trying to succeed. The main character of Frankenstein and Death of a Salesman seize similar qualities; wanting to succeed in life, have the same relationship with another key figure in the plot line, and possessing the qualities of a tragic hero.
Tension in Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein" and Susan Hill's "The Woman in Black" Tension is created in both Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein" and Susan hills "the woman in black" but in a different way. In Mary Shelley's novel "Frankenstein" tension is created by the settings, most horror story's are. Both novels create tension in there settings by using the power of imagination and the unknown. Central to both the plots is the idea of dreams and nightmares. Both Frankenstein and the women in black were set at night and both in isolated areas.
what meets the eye. So in an odd way then, Shelley leaves us to decide