Trainspotting Context Flashcards
Political
How long was the conservative governments jurisdiction
Thatcher not Prime Minister by 1990
20 years
1979-1997
Political
When did the AIDs epidemic start
1981
Political
When did Poll Tax start and end
For Scotland
1989-1991
Political
How long was New Labours jurisdiction
13 years
1997-2010
Institutional
Why was Channel 4 Films (Film4) the financer
giving £1.5 million
their films subject matter was often deemed contreversial and left field
What did privitisation cause
the closure of traditional industries (coal mining, car manufacturing)
How many were unemployed by 1983
3.6 million
What’s special about Edinburgh
Produced most of the worlds opiate drugs
What is the ‘Scottish Effect’
15% mortality rate
What did Irvine Welsh say about the government
“The Governments creating the demand”
How was Generation X described
Disillusioned with life, malaise
What is neo-marxism
a belief that extended the marxist socialist ideologies that instead of rejecting capitalism, we have to recognise and work along side it
What is a modular aesthetic
mini episodes
generic formulas
What make up a drug film
dream like hallucinatory style, effects of drug taking on onself and, their family and friends
generic formulas
What make up a social underclass film
focus on lower class, gloomy/grunge aesthetic, focus on political movements and its affect on people, similar (real life) locations and costumes, character arcs, realist aesthetic, government is the villain
Narrative devices
in media res, V/O, binary opposition, flshbacks/forwards, editing, soundtrack
where is Trainspotting shot
highrise flats in Leith, Edinburgh
why was Leith, Edinburgh chosen as Trainspotting location
Leith highlights a forgotten Scottish underclass that lived in extreme poverty and social deprivation
what is a formalist narrative
where it is clear that the spectator is watching a made up story
how does Renton’s selfish act effect the course of narratives
Causes Tommy’s death by stealing his sex tape and giving his heroin
from whose perspective is Trainspotting filmed from
Renton, a white male Scottish perspective
how are the responsibilities of Gen X represented in Trainspotting
Gen X is unable to give life to a new generation
who juxtaposes the typical representations of Gen X
school girl Diane
how do representations of Diane offer a generational difference
- more in control of her sexuality and destiny
- represented as bright and intelligent
how are Renton’s parents represented in Trainspotting
Renton’s parents are caring and sympathetic, which contrasts normal social realist dramas where older people are out of touch and mean
what is the predominant role of women in Trainspotting’s narrative
largely love interests to the main protagonists
who are the women in Trainspotting
- Allison (baby Dawn’s mother)
- Gail (Spud’s girlfriend)
- Lizzy (Tommy’s girlfriend)
- Diane
does Trainspotting offer any sexually shocking representations
Renton has sex with a schoolgirl (Diane)
what is the main message regarding intimacy in Trainspotting
there is little human/human intimacy and is replaced by heroin
what is the exposition
the introduction of the main characters, genre, and setting
what is the narrative agent
the introduction of an incident or character which establishes the storyline
what is problem/dilemma/enigma
an event which affects the protagonists life
what is the problem/development stage
where tension is highest and the protagonist and antagonist meet
what is the resolution
the end of the film where stability is re-established
why does Trainspotting deviate from the classic 5-point narrative structure
represents the rejection of capitalism and mainstream views
what is a restrictive narrative
one where you only see and hear the prespective of one character (Renton in Trainspotting)
what does Begbie represent
Welsh wrote him as a repressed homosexual whose random acts of violence were motivated out of being outed
how is the narrative divided in Trainspotting
largely linear with a few flashbacks (creating alignment with Renton)
why did Danny Boyle choose a modular aesthetic, and mainly linear narrative
to represent the characters chaotic life and deviate from cinematic norms
how does Renton’s characteristics reflect him being Gen X
he is disillusioned and alienated with society, believing that heroin is just another commodity
what does film theorist Patrick Phillips suggest about audiences and narrative shape
audience gains pleasure from the narrative shape and often favour a positive resolution
how does Trainspotting try and provide narrative shape for the spectator
Renton moving to London seems like a resolution and start of a better life
what are the negatives to applying an ideological critical approach
- no contextual knowledge
- no use of film form
- no narrative devices/structure
- no personal response
what could Trainspotting be better to study instead of an ideological critical approach
- narrative
- context
- aesthetics of film form
