The Returned Flashcards
How can Todorov be applied to the Returned?
- Structure is linear from the initial disruption through a resolution
- In the returned the narrative is fragmented and there are flashbacks to the crash at the beginning and the end of the episode
- Narrative disruptions occur that change the course of the story, events that happen or revelations made by some characters.
For example in the set episode, the audience is sown Victor’s part in the bus crash, this allows the audience to anticipate how the narrative may develop in future positions.
equilibrium - the bereaved community who are attempting to adjust to the deaths of their loved ones
disruption - return of the dead, Camille accepted by her family but there is tragedy with Mr and Madame Costa and grief for Adele with the unbelievable return of Simon.
recognition - suicide of m costa and natural events, the receding of reservoir water
due to it being an episodic drama there is not a resolution at the end of the first episode, instead its a cliffhanger showing the initial crash and victor present, creating an enigma whilst also solving the first scenes unexplained cause.
How can Levi-Strauss be applied?
Binary oppositions function as part of the narrative structure in supernatural thrillers. In the returned, these include past vs present, living vs dead, illusion vs reality, the truth vs the perception of truth etc. The resolving of some of these binary oppositions within the story world may have an ideological significance, for examples the discourse around the nature of grief and acceptance and the sense of unease within the familiar.
What are some key points/things in the returned to remember?
Unexplained events, the arrival of the strange, cherubic child, apocalyptic weather, conversations about what cannot be explained, slow opening of doors, flickering of lights.
Media language/conventions in the returned?
Visual codes
- The normal everyday clothing of both the living and the dead challenges the. typical conventions of the genre and establishes the uncanny within the realistic.
- Claire’s shock and confusion when she sees Camille contrast with Camille’s normality.
- the backgrounds establish the supernatural thriller genre, the isolated subway, dark bus stop, etc. The fact Camille’s room as been kept he same allows her to assume everything is normal.
Technical codes
- Close ups establish tension and dynamic. eg conversations between Camille and her parents and her first meeting with Lena
- Framing, interaction between Camille and Claire creates unease as Claire seems happy to accept that Camille has returned
- Long shots of the undead on the lonely road and Lucy alone in the subway conventional of the genre, Victor standing alone outside Julie’s apartment.
How can Steve Neale be applied?
The Returned demonstrates difference in that it
focuses less on the gore and horror of more
typical zombie dramas and more on the
psychological impact on the community of the
loss and then the return of the children.Genres exist within specific economic,
institutional, and industrial contexts. The
recognisable codes and conventions of the
supernatural thriller make them easy to market to
audiences. However, subverting and challenging
these conventions by introducing more unique
elements as with The Returned’s characters,
narrative and aesthetic, can also ensure
commercial success.
What are some representations throughout of each female character?
Claire and Julie are represented as stereotypical motherly figures/carers. Julie takes Victor in, a child she does not know and cares for him by giving him shelter and food. This suggests that women have a maternal nature and that even a woman with no children of her own can and will feel this.
Claire welcomes home Camille with loving arms and dotes on her from the moment she returns, without even questioning the bizarre and terrifying nature of the event, implying that a mother’s love is the only important thing. There is a use of close ups of Claire to reinforce her passive representation, the gaze between her and Jerome or Pierre shows how she often looks to others for help or an explanation.
In the first episode, Adele is arguably represented as extremely over emotional and hysterical when she thinks Simon is appearing as a ghost in her mind. Furthermore, when Simon first sees Adele, she is in a wedding dress and this portrays her in that stereotypical, traditional feminine role of wife and mother.
How is gender represented?
- Women represented as passive and emotional.
Claire clearly keeps Camille’s room in pristine condition as a spine and is shown many years later still grieving and obsessing over her death, whilst her ex husband seems to be less concerned. - Lucy represented as quite stereotypical
She is clearly having an affair/sexual relationship with Jerome, conforms to stereotype that women are very sexually driven/for men Lucy’s constructed representation is one for the male gaze. Her clothes and brutal murder suggest the ways in which young women are often dominated by older, violent men.
How can Stuart Hall be applied?
How can Van Zoonen be applied?
It’s part of our everyday lives to see women as objects.
- Sex scene (Lena and Lucy)
- However Simon also mildly sexualised as lena seemingly only offers to help him find Adele since she finds him attractive and presumably wants to pursue something with him.
Industry context
How can Hesmondhalgh be applied?
How can Livingstone and Lunt be applied?
What is some info on the contexts?
How does the returned attract audiences?
- Audiences may be able to relate (B&K) to characters/narratives e.g older couple (m and madam costa), divorced couple, child loss, grief, trauma (Adele and Simon), lena’s experiences, etc.
- Cliffhangers at the end of each episode creates a narrative enigma to hook the watchers.
- Lot’s of unanswered questions throughout the first episode.
- DVD covers have reviews from opinion leaders - makes it seem more trustworthy/high quality - also counts as marketing.
Who is the returned’s target audience?
- Supernatural genre fans, zombie genre fans, thriller genre fans
- Some audiences disappointed that is wasn’t completely zombie associated/scary enough
15+, later scheduling slot - Interactive website as a marketing material, so those that use social media more likely to be influenced
- Foreign nature of show may put off audiences - or attract more educated audiences how is
