Shaun Of The Dead

Question 1

When was Shaun Of the Dead released?

Who directed it?

Answer 1

2004

Edgar Wright

Question 2

What are the themes of Shaun of the Dead?

Answer 2

Apocalypse 
Homage
Horror 
Hybridity
Masculinity
Post modern
Zeitgeist

Question 3

Analyse the historical context of Shaun of the Dead?

Answer 3

Homage = George Ramero = 🎥 zombie trilogy - Night of the Living Dead 1968, Dawn of the Dead 1978, Day of the Dead 1985.
Vietnam war = NOTD production
MLK = assassinated - 👮hunting CR activists

Question 4

Why does is the title Shaun of the Dead a parody of George Ramero Zombie Trilogy?

Answer 4

Dawn of the Dead 1978

Question 5

How much did Shaun of the Dead gross worldwide?

Answer 5

$30,039,392 = most successful British comedy
Big Talk Productions = 1995 - behind sitcoms - Black Books + Spaced (starring Simon Pegg)
Shaun of the Dead = 1st film produced - BTP

Question 6

How did the regulation of the film cause controversy?

Answer 6

15 certificate
BBFC strong language ‘C’ word.
Raised ? Over 15 due to amount of gore + horror
BBFC stated “the violence, blood and gore all occur within a clearly fantastical context, often lightened by humour”.

Question 7

How does Shaun of the Dead comment on the social context of modern Britain?

Answer 7

Satirical 👀
Modern representation of zombie
Representing mindless consumerist of the lower classes

Question 8

Why did Shaun of the Dead become a classed as a cult film?

Answer 8

Dedicated fan base = quotable script - intertextual references. Cultural self. Stylistic format = vast amount of merchandise - generated

Question 9

Analyse the narrative?

Answer 9

Linear narrative
Metaphorical journey - Shaun switching from being like Ed ~ Peter
Equilibrium - Shaun is sales person ❎ - job + always at - Winchester Pub
Disruption of the equilibrium - liz splitting up - Shaun + zombie outbreak
New eq = Shaun + Liz 💜 s=matured Ed in shed

Question 10

What part of the ending makes the audience question Shaun’s maturity?

Lost mother, step dad + best friend?

Answer 10

Ed in shed playing games - Shaun goes to the shed + plays games

Question 11

List some Binary Opposites in the film?

Answer 11

Peter - Ed
Ed - Liz
All different representations of Shaun

Question 12

Analyse the ideology in Shaun of the Dead?

List intertextual references

Answer 12

Intertextuality + hybridity = genre ~ post modern
1. Shaun’s group run into Yvonne’s group.
2. Yvonne = SP’s co star - Spaced.
3. Martin Freeman stars in The Office + co star of Lucy Davis (Dianne - Shaun’s group)
Appeal to fans of British shows

Question 13

How did the films unique Zombie genre make it so successful?

Answer 13

Horror, action, comedy, romance - set in a British town.

Message = 💜, friends + family = relatable than more traditional horror.

Question 14

Analyse the aesthetics meaning and the response garnered from it?

Answer 14

Features - zombie tropes - familiar - horror fans.
‘Zombie horde’ = mass crowd of zombies - smash through doors + windows = get humans
‘Ultimate gory trop’= characters = dismembered - zombie. David insides = ripped out. “Poetic justice” for Shaun Y - David tries to get between S+L

Question 15

Analyse the British representation in the film.

Answer 15

Film - shot - Crouch End, Muswell Hill, Findsbury Park + East Finchley.
Essense ‘normality’ - back street boozer, corner shop, supermarket
Weapons - darts, LP’s, pool cue, cricket bat, washing up basket, toaster.
US=🔫

Question 16

Analyse the representation of age and Gender?

Answer 16

Shaun + Ed = late 20’s = lives ❎ together
Video game generation - low aspirations + addiction - technology
‘Slacker’ stereotypes featured - title sequence - gangs - youth mindless shuffle
Generation = zombie

Question 17

Analyse Shaun’s representation of age?

Answer 17

“Man child”- torn between 💻 with Ed + grown up relationship with Liz
Ed = only interested - games + drinking
Women = control. Yvonne - brings army - rescue
Liz = wants Shaun to get his life together

Question 18

Analyse the mise en scene in the opening sequence?

Answer 18

Traditional London back street
Low 🔑 🔦
Smoky
Lacks glamour + class = enhances comedy when Shaun + group 👀 finishing line - zombie invasion
Colours = dull + bleak ~ lifeless existence

Question 19

Analyse the use of costumes that portray their identity?

Answer 19

Ed = casual t-shirt + jeans, scruffy hair = laid back attitude
Liz = smart top, hair + makeup done = life together
Shaun = work shirt on + tie - top button undone = unhappy with his life.
Name badge only thing that sets him apart from his colleagues

Question 20

Analyse the cinematography of the opening sequence?

Answer 20

Close up - Shaun drinking + smoking - trance. Zombie expression foreshadows - horror to come.
Camera cuts - Liz 🗣 their relationship
Shot reverse shot = importance 🗣 Ed always in way.
Camera pans - Ed comedy he’s been their the whole ⌚
Couple in frame then wide shot to reinforce Liz’s 👉
Encapsulates Shaun’s dilemma

Question 21

Analyse the sound in the opening sequence?

Answer 21

Non - diegetic ‘Ghost Town’ = tongue + cheek foreshadowing events - come.
Shot appears jukebox = diegetic
Diegetic playing pool, fruit machine authentic mundance pub atmosphere

Question 22

Analyse the editing of the opening sequence?

Answer 22

Title sequence - series - wipes 👀 different 🏔🌐🏕🏖 car park,supermarkets,bus stop, other urban locations
Monotony = everyday life shots blend

Question 23

Analyse the mise en scene Oblivious to Zombies?

Answer 23

White board - Shaun’s kitchen -🖊 to do list ‘Go round Mum’s, Get Liz back, sort life out’. Narrative structure - for fills ✅✅✅
Body language - 🙁 , hopeful 🚶 head down, trips - curb + slips on floor

Question 24

Analyse Shaun’s gestures?

Answer 24

Yawns
Stretches
Slouches
Lazily walks

Question 25

Describe the urban setting?

Shaun pays no attention to jt

Answer 25

Littered 
Abandoned
Trolley
Road signs = down 
Smashed 🚘

Question 26

Analyse the cinematography of the Oblivious to Zombies scenes?

Answer 26

Close ups = start - reminiscent - of exposition.
Trance alignment audience emphasising his clear distress.
🚶hand held tracking = realism
Wide angled shot = privileged 👀🏔 of dangers
=😂

Question 27

Analyse the Oblivious to Zombies scene?

Answer 27

Diegetic 🗣