Shaun of the Dead Flashcards
SOTD Historical Context
The film pays homage to the work of George Ramero, being the Zombie trilogy; Night of the Living Dead (1968), Dawn of the Dead (1878) and Day of the Dead (1985), with Shaun of the Dead’s title being a reference to Dawn of the Dead.
SOTD Social Context
The film is a satirical look at modern Britain. Shaun of the Dead features a more modern representation of Zombies. They represent the mindless consumerist culture of the lower classes.
SOTD Narrative
Linear Narrative, that shows Shaun’s physical journey to do two things; to get to the Winchester following a Zombie outbreak and become a better/more mature person.
o Shaun’s perspective
o Theory of Equilibrium – Shaun changes (mostly) but society doesn’t
o Binary Oppositions
o Horror and Romance Genre’s both utilise a similar structure even though they have polarising themes
o Linear narrative highlights growth and maturity
o A suburban action horror movie featuring grisly violence, speeding cars and fast-paced action, with some more emotional scenes with the deaths of Shaun’s family and Ed.
SOTD Binary Opposites
They’re used throught the narrative to creat conflict and drama. Human vs Zombie is the most obvious opposite. Ed and Liz are also two representatives of the two sides of Shaun.
SOTD Ideology
The use of intertextuality and hybridity of the genre establises the film as a post-modern text. The film has intertextual refrences for example Yvonne’s group is full of British comedy show actors that would be made apparent to a British audience.
The use of crash zooms and whip pans when Shaun is getting ready, highlights the mundane parts to his life by overselling them.
Zombies are historically used as a metaphor for society and it’s flaws, how it is without ambition and is mundane. It represents this in a very literal way, but it’s done playfully.
SOTD Genre
The film has a unique take on the zombie genre, which takes, Horror, Action, Comedy and Romance and puts it in a British setting/
Although the film has a lot of violence and gore, it’s message is about the lengths you would go to, to protect your friends and family.
SOTD Aesthetics
the film features many zombie tropes that would be familiar to horror fans. One trope that features in many zombie Films/shows is the zombie horde where a mass crowds of zombies get together to smash through a door or windos to get to the humans.
The ultimate gore trope where a human gets dismembered by a zombie is also depicted with the death of David where his insides are ripped out.
SOTD representation of Age and Gender
Shaun and ed represent two thirty something year olds who don’t have their lives together. They are the video-game generation with low aspirations and an addiction to technology. Slacker stereotypes are further represented with the youths mindlessly shuffling along in the title sequence.
Shaun is depicted as a man child who is torn between playing video games with his best friend and being a grown up relationship with his girlfriend.
SOTD Repeating
Several themes, phrases and scenes repeat throughout the film
Scenes - The walk to the shop is repeated, Bathroom scene is repeated Pete is in the mirror both times, attempting to climb into Liz’s apartment
Phrases/Lines - Shaun’s talk with Yvonne, “You’ve got red on you”,
Themes - Maturity,
SOTD Literal
There are times where things are said as a joke or in passing, and then that thing actually occurs. Some examples are:
- Ed saying, next time i see Pete he’s dead (he is a zombie the next time he is seen)
- Ed lays out the entire plot of the film in the scene where Shaun is sad about liz, although it’s phrased through drinks.
- “Not going to get anywhere by moaning” - they then moan and shuffle to blend in with the zombies
