“ BRAVEHEART”COLOUR= GREEN

Assignment 2: Genre Analysis

BRAVEHEART (1995)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vBXBtORI7pE&safe=active

This genre is War.Other films in the same genre are: Saving private Ryan (1998) Platoon (1986) The Expendables

The purpose of War/Historical Films regarding war have and will continue to exist forever. Initially, these films were meant to inform the people of facts, let people know what our country was going through. They teach perspective and connect us to the human experience behind war through the emotions of the individual. These films make us question war and the government.

Genre and Purpose.

The main type of audience for the genre of War/Historical in my opinion would mostly be dominated by males. This is because not only the film in itself is dominated by males ,but War in general appeals more to males than films because of its intense action scenes.

Audience.

Conventions.WAR CONVENTIONS EXAMPLES FROM FILMS

Leader is normally muscular, tall and macho.

Violence

Romance

CONVENTIONS EVIDENCE EXPLANATION

Romance

Love is normally speculated between the main character and a beautiful woman back home.

The exterior portrays the character as a hard, emotionless

man ,but his interior explores him as a weakness for love. She is then captured and the heroine

comes to save her.

Violence and Brotherhood

As a leader the main character must defend his country along with leading an army to victory.

Leader is normally

muscular, tall and macho.

The leader of the army is clearly distinguish from the rest of the

troop by his distinctive appearance. In the fight scenes he leads the army into battle as

being the first to charge.

Conventions, Evidence, Explanation.

Subgenres.The subgenre of Braveheart is War/Historical and Romance.

Other films in the same subgenre are:

• In Love and War• A Very Long Engagement• Cold Mountain

Although it is not clear to see the stallion that William Wallace is riding, you get the sense of his authority and represents as a born leader.

The camera shot (mid body) focuses on Wallace that portrays superiority when he is speaking. The camera angle portrays him on a pedestal from the rest of the troops and that the audience feels as though they have been directly spoken to.

Character riding a horse with blue paint on his facePatriotic- The blue painted on

his face outlines his heritage of Scotland.

Danger/Violence

The close up camera angle is towards the end of the trailer. It contrasts a level of seriousness. This screenshot is also a low camera angle and intensifies the determination of victory.

Soldiers aiming fire arrows

How are people, places and or objects being represented in the trailer?

The only scene throughout the trailer that he is with a beautiful young lady. It shows he is prepared to share his life with her by then proposing to her.

During the fight scenes Wallace is solitaire and solid. Shows him to be a strong leader.

Positioning of characters

How are people, places and or objects being represented in the trailer?

A lot of history is portrayed in the trailer. The wall showed in the screenshot on the left signifies as a defence. Preparing for battle Wallace’s army does not show signs of any armour for protection. This shows bravery and courage. The camera shot states who the enemies are and as audiences we are obligated to take sides.

Rural area that only shows the battle between both armies.

Explain the stereotypes in the trailer.

Stereotypically the leader/hero is a strong, macho individual.Camera shot shows Wallace looking down- religiously as God looking down (background of clouds supports this) as though his surroundings as heaven like.

The stereotype in the shot above shows that the romance between Wallace and the woman has its consequences. She is shown to be a vulnerable woman and her expression of being scared is shown above. As she is about to captured Wallace the hero comes along and rescues the damsel in distress.

STEREOTYPE RE-INFORCED CHALLENGED

Hero

XLow camera angles often

used to portray superiority.

Religious connotation

Damsel in Distress

XVulnerable

Captured and the hero is expected to save the day.

Are stereotypes re-inforced or Challenged? Explain why.