Lesson 8

Hybrids and Subgenres

Superhero Films
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ZigZag Education, 2013

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Aims
O To confidently recognise one more subgenre

of the action/adventure genre.

O To be familiar with a range of key terms and

their meanings.
O To be an independent enquirer and to listen

to others (SEAL/PLTS).
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Starter
O Name as many superhero films as

you can.

Recapping Theories
O Tzvetan Todorovs theory:

Equilibrium Disruption Restoration

O

Equilibrium A sense of normality, calm.

Disruption The point where the story

changes; a death, an event, a situation.

Restoration A new equilibrium is made.

The disruption is dealt with.
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Recapping Theories
O Vladimir Propp came up with a series of stock

characters that texts may contain. He came up

with this idea after studying fairy tales.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

The
The
The
The
The
The
The

villain
donor (or provider)
helper
princess and her father
dispatcher
hero
false hero
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Recapping Theories
O Claude Lvi-Strauss theory of binary

opposition.
O Conflict is at the heart of the story.

Good vs Bad

Black vs White

Man vs Woman

East vs West
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Activity
O Watch the following clips taken from different

superhero films.
O Fill in the worksheet, as best you can, trying

to apply Propp, Todorov and Levi-Strauss

theories.
O Extension: make some notes on how two of

the characters are represented in the extract.

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Useful Clips
O Spiderman chapter 26, Queensboro

Bridge Scene
O Superman Returns
O http://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=UaCu2C3234c

Useful Clips
O The Dark Knight

http://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=LSiz4ZdvDvo&feature=related
O Iron Man 2
O http://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=XistIBFDw-g
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Summarising
O From your findings today, summarise what

you would expect to see in a superhero

film.

O You should include:

ONarrative
OIconography
OCharacters
OSettings
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Reviewing the Aims

O To confidently recognise one more subgenre

of the action/adventure genre.

O To be familiar with a range of key terms and

their meanings.
O To be an independent enquirer and to listen

to others (SEAL/PLTS).
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