Narrative and Genre in I Robot

Narrative and Genre in I Robot

The film ‘I Robot’ is a classic conventional sci-fi film. From the

outset the audience establishes that this is of the science fiction

genre due to the synthetic bubbles, vibrant colours, short snippets of

wires and menacing orchestral music. The film shapes the particular

expectations of the sci-fi genre by summoning up curiosity and

suspense.

The first character the audience sees is Will Smith. From this the

audience can establish that he is the lead and central character. In

addition, from his previous work, Will Smith is associated with sci-fi

and action genres, such as Independence Day, Men in Black I and II and

Bad Boys.

Levi-Srauss’ concepts and ideas of binary opposites are noticeable

throughout. The initial shots see Will Smith’s character, Del Spooner,

at home, surrounded by old furniture and old appliances, for example

the alarm clock, the ceiling fan and his music player. The fact that

he surrounds himself with this type of stuff would suggest that he is

clinging to the past. It then changes to the outside world, the non

diegetic music suddenly stops and the audience is confronted with a

robot, which is shocking.

The high shot from the ceiling fan reflects the chaos and shows the

mess of his room, when the future is generically seen as perfect and

simplistic.

The song by Stevie Wonder, a black iconic figure, is heard singing the

song Superstition, which reflects Spooner’s attitude towards the

robots perfectly.

The Converse shoes, vintage 2004, demonstrate that Del Spooner is

clinging onto the past and the robots demonstrate the advanced

futuristic side. In addition, ...

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...hus the women’s

voice is soothing and calming and synthetic. Although, Dr Calvin

breaks these conventions of mainly male Drs. However this is not

exactly true as Calvin acts very much like a man and a robot showing

very few female emotions, as if she is acting more like a man or robot

as to fit in.

Calvin is seen as the Princess, as in Propp’s theory, and Lanning is

seen as her Father figure. This is presented when she protects Lanning

when Spooner says he was just an old man. It is Spooner’s job as the

hero to help the Princess from her misleading views and it is Lanning

who inadvertently helps her by asking Spooner to help him. The

relationship between Calvin and Spooner is seen as a romantic comedy

style relationship, as Calvin says the line, “Are you trying to be

funny” and Spooner replies with “I guess not.”