• Stephen Amell plays the role of Oliver Queen in the series, Arrow. His character plays a vigilante to fulfil his goal of trying to save Starling City. As you could question; 'Why doesn't he leave it to the police officers of the city?' It is their job but in the show the policemen help the vigilante on his quest to fight evil throughout the city. Police officers authority has been belittled in supporting and helping fight crime outside the law. The law is something police officers are meant to stand for but in the show the people who are a symbol of the law don't even practise it or twist it to suit the situation that the vigilante is involved in. The police officers are false representations of the roles police officers have in reality, as law abiding citizens.
• Men are represented as the dominant characters played in this show (Oliver Queen, Roy Harper, John Diggle) women in the show are played as the 'brain power' and the strong headed characters (Felicity Smoak, Laurel Lance). Men in soceity have a stereotype that they are physically stronger then the other gender. Directors have formed superheroes that display physical strength and rare abilities of the character usually a male, for example Thor or Spider-Man and in this case, Arrow. Women are displayed as 'helpers' in both of these blockbuster films and in the TV series. Laurel Lance has become a helper of Oliver Queen to achieve his long term goal - to save Starling City.
• Within the shows, often there are numerous shots of Starling City, a form of Mis en Scen. In doing this it reminds the audience of Oliver Queens goal and the importance of what he does to save that image of the city.
• In the TV series there is both use of diegetic and non-diegetic sound. The majority of sound is non-digetic, when Oliver Queen goes on missions there is dramatic use of drums, this not only builds a determined atmosphere but also gives an intense feeling for the audience. Digetic sounds involved in the show includes use of police sirens to indicate the level of crime in the city and reiterates Oliver's goal which is to solve or stop crime.
Well thought out entry with details concerning mise-en-scene and camera shots, but not of sound. I also felt that it could have gone into further detail or included more content than it did.
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ReplyDeleteI feel as if I could add to my previous comment.
DeleteSolid outline on some of the major themes, especially gender roles and the police force. Mentioning examples also helped visualise characters.
Some explanation on why characters are portrayed as they have been would be helpful, such as why police officers are belittled, or why females play a supporting role. Why do the shots of starling city show why Queen must save the city? In what ways?
This is a good answer but what would improve it is if there was more detail about sound. For example how it builds the an atmosphere, what type of atmosphere does it create and also how it makes the audience feel at that time. Furthermore if the points that have already been said were further explained this would deepen the answer and make well rounded :)
ReplyDeleteAnnamarie-
ReplyDeleteFirst bullet contains compelling observation of law’s representational and symbolic meanings.
Good discussion of gender representations. This could be expanded much further in consideration of the dual nature of men and women in their “daytime” personality and their nighttime adventures conducted behind a mask. In which case does either gender contain social or domestic power?
The multiple shots of Starling City would be more of a form of editing. Mise en scene contains every aspect of an individual shot rather than its placement or frequency within a given shot sequence. As such, you have not yet explored Mise en scene for this show.
For gender representation as well as mise en scene, Arthur’s comments brings up some relevant questions you might consider.
Good point about the effects of sound on the audience – I think you could build on this quite a bit more. What meanings does the audience interpret as a result of the drums? Sirens certainly may have the effect you describe, yet are not specific to only this show. How else does sound assist representation?
Overall, this is a good overview response that could achieve greater depth. Still, you make some relevant comments on gender roles, law, and a few effects from technical elements.
Satisfactory explanation 10
Some use of examples 8
Satisfactory use of terminology 4
TOTAL MARK: 22/50
- T. Marcus