JOUR 3745 1st Edition Lecture 12 Outline of Last Lecture The movie Industry I Production a II III Marketing Movies a Blockbusters b Storytelling Ideology a IV Distribution Auteur Theory Encoding and Decoding a Techniques of interpretation b Texts Outline of Current Lecture I II III Social Problem genre a Characteristics b 2 opposing doctrines Disaster game a Features b Types c Natural disaster Dystopian Game a Priming theory Current Lecture Social Problem Genre Characteristics of social problem films These notes represent a detailed interpretation of the professor s lecture GradeBuddy is best used as a supplement to your own notes not as a substitute Originally referred to a cycle of films made a right after WWII that focuses on antiSemitism racism war trauma and other social ills Distinguished by subject matter spotlight a contemporary issue larger than the personal problems of the protagonists Attempt to prompt reflection discussion and action about a pressing concern of American social life Primarily dramas but could include satires and comedies similar to Dr Strangelove 1964 2 Narrative Modes Realism function Melodrama function Issues Historical Facts Realism vs Melodrama Simplified condensed prettified Protagonists vs Antagonists Protagonist s function Antagonist s function Ideology and plot Notable feature of social problem films Romance 2 Opposing Doctrines Entertainment Doctrine vs Social Responsibility Doctrine Social commentary We must play our part in the solution of the problems that torture the world We must begin to deal realistically in film with the causes of wars and panics with social upheavals and depressions with starvation and want injustice and barbarianism under whatever guise if you have something worthwhile to say dress it in the glittering robes of entertainment Critics of Social Commentary as Entertaining Marxist individual responsibility heroes villains vs societal issues inequalities poverty Cathartic effect Current Uses Hybridization subplots and latent messages Disaster Genre Key features of a Disaster film Disrupt Normalcy Before the disaster Provides hope for post disaster Institutions government education hospitals banks etc Fulfill deep human needs How will normalcy return Threatens the masses Individual characteristics symbolically represent larger groups Connect characteristics The disaster is not the conflict Start with normalcy Learn about conflict usually human relationships Story becomes more than disaster There can be conflict between two characters twister Conflicts between a character and an institution Conflict between 2 institutions Types of Disasters Failed technology computers science errors Apocalyptic end of the world Alien Invasions Terrorist attacks Natural disasters Diseases Accidents Dystopian Genre Def a futuristic imagined universe in which oppressive societal control and the illusion of a perfect society are maintained through corporate bureaucratic technological moral or totalitarian control Dystopian films through an exaggerated worst case scenario melodrama make a current criticism about a trend societal norm or political system Some characteristics of the dystopian genre Futuristic in response to a disaster Totalitarian government or dictator Police force Passive oppressed masses Concentration of money and power Good the people vs Evil government technology etc Protagonist hero Antagonist dictator government climate change etc Social commentary Media Effects Theory Priming Theory Associative network of memory Activation excitation Considerations interpretations