Shaun Of The Dead Flashcards
When was Shaun Of the Dead released?
Who directed it?
2004
Edgar Wright
What are the themes of Shaun of the Dead?
Apocalypse Homage Horror Hybridity Masculinity Post modern Zeitgeist
Analyse the historical context of Shaun of the Dead?
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
Why does is the title Shaun of the Dead a parody of George Ramero Zombie Trilogy?
Dawn of the Dead 1978
How much did Shaun of the Dead gross worldwide?
$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
How did the regulation of the film cause controversy?
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”.
How does Shaun of the Dead comment on the social context of modern Britain?
Satirical 👀
Modern representation of zombie
Representing mindless consumerist of the lower classes
Why did Shaun of the Dead become a classed as a cult film?
Dedicated fan base = quotable script - intertextual references. Cultural self. Stylistic format = vast amount of merchandise - generated
Analyse the narrative?
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
What part of the ending makes the audience question Shaun’s maturity?
Lost mother, step dad + best friend?
Ed in shed playing games - Shaun goes to the shed + plays games
List some Binary Opposites in the film?
Peter - Ed
Ed - Liz
All different representations of Shaun
Analyse the ideology in Shaun of the Dead?
List intertextual references
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
How did the films unique Zombie genre make it so successful?
Horror, action, comedy, romance - set in a British town.
Message = 💜, friends + family = relatable than more traditional horror.
Analyse the aesthetics meaning and the response garnered from it?
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
Analyse the British representation in the film.
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=🔫
Analyse the representation of age and Gender?
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
Analyse Shaun’s representation of age?
“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
Analyse the mise en scene in the opening sequence?
Traditional London back street
Low 🔑 🔦
Smoky
Lacks glamour + class = enhances comedy when Shaun + group 👀 finishing line - zombie invasion
Colours = dull + bleak ~ lifeless existence
Analyse the use of costumes that portray their identity?
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
Analyse the cinematography of the opening sequence?
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
Analyse the sound in the opening sequence?
Non - diegetic ‘Ghost Town’ = tongue + cheek foreshadowing events - come.
Shot appears jukebox = diegetic
Diegetic playing pool, fruit machine authentic mundance pub atmosphere
Analyse the editing of the opening sequence?
Title sequence - series - wipes 👀 different 🏔🌐🏕🏖 car park,supermarkets,bus stop, other urban locations
Monotony = everyday life shots blend
Analyse the mise en scene Oblivious to Zombies?
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
Analyse Shaun’s gestures?
Yawns
Stretches
Slouches
Lazily walks
Describe the urban setting?
Shaun pays no attention to jt
Littered Abandoned Trolley Road signs = down Smashed 🚘
Analyse the cinematography of the Oblivious to Zombies scenes?
Close ups = start - reminiscent - of exposition.
Trance alignment audience emphasising his clear distress.
🚶hand held tracking = realism
Wide angled shot = privileged 👀🏔 of dangers
=😂
Analyse the Oblivious to Zombies scene?
Diegetic 🗣
