Shaun of the Dead Context Flashcards
Essence of postmodern text
What is intertextuality
referencing other cultural products, such as film
Essence of postmodern text
What is self-referential
referencing the filmmaking process through such techniques as breaking the 4th wall
Essence of postmodern text
What is randomness
abrupt juxtaposition or non-sequiturs
Essence of postmodern text
What is artifice or style over substance
depth of meaning is lost beneath technique
Essence of postmodern text
What is playfulness or surfaces over depth
a reluctance to treat the project seriously
Essence of postmodern text
What is fragmentation of time and space and personal identity
people and places become transferrable or unhinged from temporary notions of concrete identity. Making the film ahistorical, almost existing beyond any specific cultural context
social realist films are the opposite
Essence of postmodern text
What are copying, pastiche or homage
explicit recreation of cultural products such as scenes or lines from a film
a parody forms when this is at its extreme form
Essence of postmodern text
What is pastiche
copying style to a different effect
Essence of postmodern text
What is a homage
paying respect to a film
Essence of postmodern text
What is irony
tongue-in-cheek approach to the narrative and character and theme
tongue-in-cheek= something intended to be understood as a joke but can appear serious
Institutional
Who distributed SotD
Universal
Institutional
Who produced SotD
Big Talk Productions
Institutional
What else did BigTalk Productions produce
3 points
Spaced; Black Books; the Cornetto Trilogy
Institutional
What was the budget
$6 million
Institutional
What was the worldwide Box Office
$30 million
Institutional
Why was there controversey around the 15 certificate rating by the BBFC
4 points
gore; violence; fuck said 70 times; cunt said at 01:59
Historical
What is SotD a homage to
George Romero’s zombie films
i.e. Dawn of the Dead
Historical
What did Italian zombie films inspire
sound design
Historical
What movies are referenced
2 points
The Deer Hunter (1979, Michael Cimino); Every Which Way But Loose (1978, James Fargo)
Political
What is reflected through the films anarchic tone
aftermath of 9/11
Political
What is the significance of the phrase “Wait for the whole thing to blow over”
Shaun said this
Many in the Western World wanted to return to the status quo
Political
How is 9/11 shown
4 points
London is apocalyptic; anarchy; individual cooperation required first; late arrival of government
Social
What can the film be seen as
a satire of modern UK life
Social
What is the significance of Yvonne
Played by Spaced co-writer Jessica Stevenson
what could Shaun of the Dead be studied for instead of an ideological critical approach
- genre
- narrative (character arc)
- screenplay
how is setting used in SotD’s narrative to reinforce the ideology
- live in a typical student accommodation (no financial means for independence)
- always in the Winchester (unable to grow up)
how is décor used in SotD to suggest that Shaun’s masculinity is in crisis
surrounded by sweet wrappers, cans, soft drug paraphernalia
how is Shaun’s crisis in masculinity reinforced through costume
work clothes draw attention to his low paid job (sales assistant)(metaphor for lack of ambition and career aspiration)
what props are used in SotD to bring humour to the narrative
mug tree, records, and linen basket to deal with zombies in the garden
what is significant about Wright’s editing style
dramatic sense of pace is employed using
1. flashbacks/forwards
2. montage
3. cross-cutting
4. elliptical editing
How is Shaun’s masculinity initially represented as weak
he is unaware of the crisis and doesn’t act like other zombie movie action heroes
how is Shaun’s masculinity in a crisis
- he is unambitious
- Liz leaves him
- no special qualities or abilities
what does Philip say that metaphorically passes the role of traditional masculinity onto Shaun
- “just take care of your mum”
- “I always loved you”
what does Shaun say to Ed which demonstrates a representation of traditional masculinity in the Arrival to the Winchester scene
“You stupid moron” after slapping his phone out of his hand
what style of narrative is employed in SotD
linear narrative focusing on Shaun’s maturity
how does the narrative begin in a state of equilibrium in SotD (expositon)
Shaun is complacent with his mundane life in the Winchester
how is the narrative disrupted in SotD (conflict)
Liz dumps him and the zombie apocalypse begins
when does recognition take place in SotD
during the Girl in the Garden scene
how is there an attempt to restore equilibrium in SotD (rising action)
through his quest to save Mum and Liz and get to the Winchester
how does the narrative return to a new state of equilibrium (falling action and resolution)
Shaun and Liz live together and have a complacent life
where is the climax in SotD
When the zombies break into the Winchester and the military intervene
who are the villains (evil character that creates struggle) in SotD
- zombies
- Shaun (internally)
- Ed (through immaturity)
- David
who are the dispatchers (illustrates the need for the hero’s quest and send the hero off) in SotD
- Mary
- TV/news
- Philip when he dies
- Shaun and Ed (motivation)
who are the helpers (magical entity that comes to help the hero in their quest) in SotD
Ed and Liz
who are the donors (prepares the hero or gives the hero a magical object, may test them) in SotD
Ed and Philip
who are the heroes (reacts to the dispatcher and donor, defeating the villain, wedding the princess) in SotD
Shaun and the military
who are the false heroes (takes credit for the heroes’ actions or tries to marry the princess) in SotD
David, the military and Shaun’s false conciousness
how is Shaun’s masculinity in crisis shown
- stuck in a dead end job
- living in a shared home
- failing relationship with Liz
