How Does Nic Pizzolatto Use Filmic Codes And Conventions?

Television dramas will often interweave stereotypes into the series as audiences will already have an idea of what to expect. This is done so audiences will be able to quickly recognise characters or ideas without the writer’s explanations. Nic Pizzolatto’s 2014 southern gothic crime drama, True Detective, is about two detectives, Rustin ‘Rust’ Cohle and Martin ‘Marty’ Hart, who are being questioned in 2012 about a bizarre murder case in 1995. These characters are constructed to challenge the pre-existing stereotypes of conventional heroes in society and film. Pizzolatto uses filmic codes and conventions, as well as narrative conventions to construct and challenge these stereotypes.

Heroes in both society and film have been typically characterised

Marty does not adhere to this viewpoint. In the first episode of the series, the character of Marty appears to be well put and morally just. In the third episode, his character is developed and it is revealed that he has been having an affair with a court reporter named Lisa Tragnetti. In 2012, Marty tells the police officers that Rust needs a family and says “It’s boundaries. Boundaries are good.” Marty is aware that his marital boundaries are supposed to restrain him for committing infidelity, but does so regardless. This is constructed through plot and characterisation. Fukunaga helps construct this by having Marty shot straight on with a medium camera angle and medium/close up shot. This allows the audience to clearly see Marty’s facial expressions and some of his body language. At first, Marty’s facial expression is serious but slowly turns into a grin after speaking, emphasising his hypocritical attitude towards the subject. Marty’s hypocritical attitude towards boundaries is reminiscent of Lorne more amoral and sociopathic behaviour. While Marty doesn’t exactly manipulate people, he does try to get the women in his life to stay where they are for him and satisfy his internal desires, whether or not the desires are morally correct. Lorne is more of a conventional sociopath. This is shown through his characterisation where he is willing to cause mischief solely for the purpose of entertainment, he shows no remorse after committing murder and will look for excuses to kill people. Pizzolatto has characterised Marty to subvert from the conventional morally integrated hero who satisfies his internal desires. Through a personal point of view, Marty is an interesting character in other aspects of his life, but the fact that he is unable to control his desires and actively communicate his problems but will openly point out the flaws in others, shows that he can be