2. The common stereotype of women in films is that they’re
there to be saved – they’re the “damsel in distress.”
Women are often portrayed as weak / weaker than men
in films. This convention began in folk tales and fairy
stories, and has been assimilated into the film industry in
its entirety (or mostly). This is also most prevalent
stereotype in an action or horror/thriller film – an
example of this in a film / film franchise is Indiana Jones
and Taken
A countertype to this stereotype/argument is the casting of a
female protagonist. It is a tactic more common in niche film that
cater to a very small, very specific audience, however some
blockbuster films in recent years have adapted, casting A-list
actresses to play the hero, such as the Hunger Games franchise
and the Tomb Raider franchise. Not only do these films have a
wide target audience (and a primary audience of 11-14 year olds
who would have read the books) but it also has a secondary
audience of 17 - 24 year olds (the largest cinema-going market)
who are drawn in by the sexual appeal of Katniss Everdeen /
This stereotyped is embodied
greatly (one can argue
entirely) in our film. It shows
women being man-handled,
screaming in terror, hiding
behind trees etc. However,
our film does shy away from
being 100% convention /
conventional as, unlike the
“damsel in distress,” nobody
is coming to save them.
3. Countertype of this stereotype can
be seen in a film like Attack The
Block. While the main characters
may be in a gang - a stereotype
that began during the 1980s - and
they do rob the female protagonist
(another stereotype - in addition,
the female protagonist is
portrayed conventionally, as
weak); however
One of the original stereotypes
in the media came from music
during the 1980s/1990s.
“Gansta rap” painted a very
negative image of black
people as a race. The
violence, misogyny, racism,
homophobia and so on.
As a result, a lot of black actors
were often given roles in action
movies, and roles where they
repeatedly swear. Such Samuel L.
Jackson, Snakes On A Plane.
However, I have a theory of
my own, that black people
in films, begin as
antagonists, as anti-heroes,
and then develop into a
protagonist (a hero).
Examples of this can be
seen in Attack The Block
However, since the 1990,
new generations of black
actors & directors have
been coming through that
have not only changed the
stereotypes, but challenged
some social stigmas. For
example, the film Moonlight,
an independent film with an
all-black cast, had a gay
black lead actor/storyline,
and this was a unique film. It
challenged the issue of
homophobia within the black
community and as a result,
was very successful winning
4. When it comes to
teenagers, there’s so
much to go on. The
hoodie stereotypes, the
gang-media propaganda,
the media has enforced
so muchOur film touches some
stereotypes - the
gang/group stigma that
seems to follow teenagers
is in our film. In the opening
we see our main characters
all walking together in a
pack. This connotes
normality and sets the
scene - this frame is so
unassuming that it almost
DARES something to
happen. This extreme use
of proairetic code is so
effective, that is also NOT a
surprise when something
DOES actually happen.
Attack The Block is the perfect
example of teenage stereotypes.
The run-ins with the police, the
taking of many narcotics and
alcohol, the gang association,
knives and guns. However as our
film is more of a thriller, we
thought we’d have a more
ordinary/down-to-Earth plot (in
terms of alcohol, guns ect.
5. Dumb blonde:
Every thriller/film has one.
Usually a cheerleader that
goes LOOKING for danger
(which usually has
everyone thing WHAT
THE HELL ARE YOU
DOING?) and usually
they’re the first to die.
While our film doesn’t
necessarily follow this
convention completely (we
don’t show who died first
etc.), the fact that we had
our actor being “dumb” -
walking away and thinking
she’s safe
Teenagers & their
relationship with
Police:
Similarly to real life, our
protagonist’s
interaction with the
police isn’t a positive
one. Despite the
audience knowing that
the protagonist is the
victim, the policeman
speaks to him in a
patronising /
condescending
manner. Although the
policeman doesn’t
know what happened,
from the way the
policeman address
him, it is inferred that
he is a suspect rather
than a witness /victim.
This is the sad, yet real truth of
life for teenagers. The fact that
we mimicked real life makes
the film relatable to the target
audience, making it more likely
for people to watch and relate
to.
