Key Vocabulary

Question 1

What does Verisimilitude mean?

Answer 1

The ‘appearance’ of reality- the audience accepts that it could happen

Question 2

What does Iconography mean?

Answer 2

Objects,images, characters etc. that are strongly associated with superhero movies eg- capes

Question 3

What does Suspension of disbelief mean?

Answer 3

Things we accept in films that seem ridiculous/ impossible

Question 4

What is meant by Realism?

Answer 4

The attitude or practice of accepting a situation as it is and being prepared to deal with it accordingly

Question 5

What does Self- sacrifice mean?

Answer 5

The giving up of one’s own interests or wishes in order to help others or advance a cause

Question 6

What is meant when someone has an Aspiration?

Answer 6

A hope or ambition of achieving something

Question 7

What is a Macguffin?

Answer 7

Any object, the securing of which drives he narrative forward. The audience don’t care what the object is but the hero must beat the villain to secure this world threatening object

Question 8

What are Stock characters?

Answer 8

Simple characters that are only very superficial and depend on our knowledge of clichés to recognise them

Question 9

What are Micro and macro elements?

Answer 9

When you macro analyse, you analyse the larger themes within the work. Micro analysis are the smaller aspects within the film

Question 10

What are Moral codes?

Answer 10

A written, formal and consistent set of rules prescribing righteous behaviour, accepted by a person or by a group of people

Question 11

What does Redemption mean?

Answer 11

The action of regaining or gaining possession of something in exchange for payment, or clearing a debt

Question 12

What are Binary opposites?

Answer 12

Something that opposes one another within a text. E.g. Good vs evil, Black vs White

Question 13

What is a Billing block?

Answer 13

Term used in referring to the order and other aspects of how credits are presented for plays, films, television, or other creative works. Information given in billing usually consists of the companies, actors, directors, producers, and other crew members

Question 14

What does Ideology mean?

Answer 14

A system of ideas and ideals, especially one which forms the basis of economic or political theory and policy

Question 15

What is meant by Male gaze?

Answer 15

Women are objectified on screen to be looked at

Question 16

What does Star mean?

Answer 16

An actor who has their audience beyond the parts they play. Their presence in a film may guarantee a good sized audience

Question 17

What is meant by the term Star vehicle?

Answer 17

A film marketed to show off the qualities of a particular film star