Get out Theories Applied

Question 1

How can Uses and Gratifications be applied to the opening sequence of Get out?

Answer 1

Surveillance- makes audience think about social issues, in this case the dangers of a black man in a white neighbourhood at night

Question 2

How is Active and Passive spectatorship promoted in the opening scene of Get Out?

Answer 2

A: Black man walking through dark suburban neighbourhood which is typically a safe place, subverts audience expectations and pushes them to actively reflect
P: Familiar genre conventions such as dark isolated mise en scene, stalking car and violence, allows viewers to instantly grasp the tone without deeper analysis

Question 3

How is Active and Passive spectatorship promoted in the Sunken place scene?

Answer 3

A: Chris’ visible struggle encourages audiences to root for him and question the process of the hypnosis at hand
P: The cinematography of Chris falling offers elements of escapism that audiences can drift away too

Question 4

Get Out Key takeaways: Opening sequence

Answer 4

-dark mise en scene and black character being killed at start both horror conventions
-pics of african american culture inspired decor with Redbone in background

Question 5

Get Out Key takeaway: Dinner

Answer 5

-low key lighting
-the armitages’ trying to convey their ‘progressiveness”, instead being micro aggressive
-dialogue centred
-Jeremy is confrontational, over direct while chris hunched over - protective body language

Question 6

How is Active and passive spectatorship applicable in: The garden scene

Answer 6

A: audience decodes the interactions between the armitage’s guests, black audiences in particular may pick up on the micro aggressions at hand.

P: the setting being quite plain and generic small talk may lead to audiences to passively engage

Question 7

How is Active and passive spectatorship applicable in: The Auction

Answer 7

A: Driven by the shock of whats happening, Gratifies the audiences need for intellectual engagement as they uncover the silent truth.

P: not really applicable

Question 8

How is Active and passive spectatorship applicable in: Closing sequence (get out)

Answer 8

A: Realisation that Chris is alone and stranded makes the audience actively root for his escape in the final act. Roses betrayal forces viewers to decode her manipulative behaviour and its representation of covert racism, in the final moments audiences interpret chris’ actions as a reclamation of power against systemic racism.

P: use of many horror tropes, heightens the audiences passive immersion in the suspenseful climax, creating a thrilling experience.