Genre and Narrative

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Genre What genre is Skyfall?

A thriller?
A spy film?

An action film?
A Bond film?

A high concept / blockbuster film?

Consider with your peers what each of these five terms means to you. Create a brainstorm of the codes and conventions of each. How could Skyfall be defined as any or each of these?
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Its all of these things!

GENRE: SUBGENRE:

A thriller?
A spy film?
HYBRIDITY:
(To update Bond for the new, youth market)

CYCLE/FRANCHISE:

A Bond film?

An action Film?

PRODUCTION CONTEXT:

A high concept / blockbuster film?

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Genre
The SPY/ Secret Service film

A spy film?

Movies fascination with espionage can be traced back to the onset of World War One; American melodramas where Americans fought German spies reflected the national ideology of the time. Spy thrillers would continue to be popular during 1930s and 1940s with the threat of Nazi Germany. Whilst a few post-war films focused on the Nazis as bad guys, many spy films turned their heads to the current threat of communism, with Russia and Korea set up as the typical baddies.
By the early 1960s these films were obsessively anti-Communist. the landmark spy film of this ear was The Manchurian Candidate (1962) where satire, thrills and paranoia were combined in a tale of a Korean war hero brainwashed by the Communists to function as an assassin.

The SPY/ Secret Service film

Genre A Bond film?

The 1960/70s saw the success of one secret agent: Bond, James Bond. Successful author, Ian Flemings James Bond novels were adapted into a series of increasingly lucrative box office hits. Dr No (1962) was first, then From Russia with Love (1963), both directed by Terence Young, and Goldfinger (1964), probably the most famous, was directed by Guy Hamilton. The success of Bond saw a wide range of spy movies released at the cinema, a genre which has always been seen as safe since this time.

The Austin Powers trilogy serves as a spoof of Bond and the swinging sixties Britain which was the perfect environment for the cultivation of Bondmania.

A high concept/ The SPY/ Secret Service film blockbuster?

In more recent years, with conglomerate Hollywoods obsession with producing films based on existing property, exhibiting high production values and special effects and focusing on global themes (safe options) the spy film has begun to merge with the action film. Examples include the Bourne trilogy, Mission Impossible, Mr and Mrs Smith, XXX, Stormbreaker (James Bond for kids!), also Spy Kids and Cats and Dogs and the success of the 24 TV series and accompanying film 24: Redemption.

Genre

A high concept/ The SPY/ Secret Service film blockbuster?

Features of this genre:
High production values and distribution budget which only American studios /American backers could support. Simple narratives publicity will focus on instantly recognisable elements of the narrative and technological advances or special effects. Narrative will deal with universal and cross-cultural themes, e.g. love/conflict. Clear lines between good and evil Aimed at a large international audience MASS AUDIENCE. Humour, love, action. Often high profile music soundtrack. Great deal of these films are director or star-led. Tendency towards 'happy, resolved' endings. Emphasis on sequels, prequels, remakes, adaptations of existing property (safe films).

Genre

Can Bond be classed as a genre in its own right?

Thomas Schatz (in Hollywood Genres, 1981) describes genre as the product of audience and studio interaction...*impressing+ itself upon the culture until it becomes a familiar, meaningful system that can be named as such. Bond films are clearly an amalgamation of the detective, suspense/thriller, action, and spy genres. But as the series has progressed, it could be argued that the Bond franchise has developed into a genre of its own, with a recognizable set of codes and conventions, including structural components such as plot, character, setting, thematics, style, and so on, that Schatz defines as the key ingredients of any genre.

Genre
What codes and conventions do you historically associate with Bond? The Bond cycle car chase henchmen silent but deadly killer (assassin sent to kill Bond and fails)

opening chasing sequence (pre-credit)

Bond girl femme fatale character who succumbs to Bonds irresistible charm and often sacrifices herself (sacrificial lamb)

action set pieces

gentlemanly pursuit between Bond and the main villain one overarching villain who has a range of minions/henchmen Gun barrel sequence is used just before the credit sequence

stylistic animated credit sequences a complete song honour to write the Bond theme
typically the song will be a new popular song for key theme the female helper (Bond girl), whose stupidity gets Bond in trouble
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physically disability which signifiers the evil nature of one of the henchmen
Q and his wonderful gadgets

Genre
The Bond Cycle guns Aston Martin cars exotic international locations sophisticated clothing he typically dresses in a formal dinner suit regardless of situation a sense of Britishness about Bond, Bond girls are glamorous
often a false helper (who seems to be there to support Bond, but is actually playing him)

final showdown high action, literally moments of cliffhangers to build suspense debriefing with M what the mission is / since the 1990s also internal conflict with M encounters over games such as card games, chess, etc. which act as metaphors for the chase/secrecy and deceit that drives the story Bond girls are typically introduced through a POV shot from Bond point of no return Bond is indestructible headquarters clearly based in London

James Bond and all that he represents must be present! He has the ability to mix pleasure with business; he is suave, charming and irresistible to women. specific phrases Martini shaken, not stirred, the names Bond, James Bond, 13 catchy sarcastic sense of humour witty one-liners and cheeky chat-up lines

Can Bond be classed as a genre in its own right?

Schatz noted that genres do not stand still, but evolve over time.

Like every other film genre, the Bond genre is both a static and a dynamic system.
On the one hand, it is a familiar formula of interrelated narrative and cinematic components (like those you have outlined above), but at the same time, as the series evolves, it examines new attitudes, technological advancements and other societal changes (e.g. the changing roles of femininity and masculinity). Can you think of any of these dynamic genre components in Skyfall?

Bond: the opening sequence

"I think the thing is, if you take a girl dancing and make her in silhouette, and have some flames or explosions or something cued into it, then that is effectively lingua franca for James Bond. *Laughs+ Whats amazing is that Maurice Binder invented that language, and that visual language is recognized the world over. Its almost become a clich; the trick is to kind of include it because its part of the heritage. Its part of what makes Bond Bond. Its exciting, it makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand up in the cinema and youre thinking, Great Im off on a Bond journey, and the Bond theme kicks in. Those little elements, like the girls, are important to keep, but they have to have some relevance. I think its testament to Maurice Binder and his work that the visual language is so iconographic and universally recognizable.

Consider the significance of these images from the title sequence: how can we link them to genre?
What might they symbolise in the narrative or themes of the film?

Typography thin, elegant font. How does this relate to the character of Bond? To the genre?
5 6 Setting - underwater (symbolises unconsciousness; subconscious)

Targets connotations? How might these link to the narrative, genre or themes of the film?
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A graveyard with falling knives and guns instead of gravestones. How could this link to genre? Theme? Narrative?
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Bond mirrored as four enemies, cast as shadows on the sea bed. He shoots them all how does this position him?
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How does this link to the genre, narrative or theme?

Blood floating in the water slowly forms a skull. What does this represent? The camera slowly pans into the 6 the viewer skull. How might respond? Negative filter is used, along with a mirroring effect. The Bond girl arrives. Connotations of this?
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Link to theme, narrative, genre?

We see Bond in a medium shot, wearing a smart suit. He is in a brick building which looks like a maze.
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Connotations? Link to genre, 6 theme, character? Lighting changes to a deep red. What does this represent? How does this link to the genre?

Setting a graveyard; bloody 9 rain; a house in the background. How might these link to narrative, genre or theme?

The final shot is a close up of Bonds eye. The lighting makes his skin pale, and the blue of his eye stands out.
5 6 final image? Significance of this

What is the purpose of this opening sequence? How does it appeal to audiences?
7 How does it

both conform 8 to, and differ from, previous Bond credit sequences (based on what you have seen in the documentary). What sorts of themes and messages in the film does it underline or hint at?

The opening sequence sees Bond in Istanbul, chasing a stolen computer disk that contains the secret identities of embedded Nato agents. After a hair-raising chase across marketplaces, rooftops and a thundering train, the disk is lost, and for a moment so is 007. Described as electrifying by Xan Brooks in The Guardian, uproarious by Peter Bradshaw in The Guardian and blistering by Neil Smith in Total Film magazine, the opening sequence is certainly attention-grabbing. Watch this pre-credit opening sequence (0-12) and make detailed notes on the following areas: 1. How effective is this opening in grabbing the audiences attention and interest? How is this achieved? 2. How does it conform to audience expectations of the Bond franchise? 3. What narrative themes are raised/hinted at?

Ensure you refer to specific visual, audio and technical codes as evidence.

The Shanghai skyscraper scene (Ch11; up to 48.45) This scene is one of the key set-pieces of the film. Consider how it generates audience appeal through the following devices: Its style (technical, visual and audio codes) Audience knowledge and positioning Fulfilment of audience expectations Bonds persona Narrative devices (enigma codes, etc)

The climactic action sequence (Ch 28 to 2.09.18) In what ways is this scene typical of action films and the Bond franchise? Consider : style (technical and visual codes) character representations narrative

Closing sequence (Ch 31) What kinds of narrative resolution does this scene offer the audience? How is Bond represented and which key narrative themes in the film are reinforced? How does the director want the audience to feel at the close of the film?