2. What is Action and what is the typical
iconography in Action films?
Action Is a genre where the protagonist are involved in a series of challenges that if they fail them have serious
consequences for the characters personally e.g. they lose a family member, get money stolen off them.
These challenges typically include: Violence, fighting, physical feats, and frantic chases where the protagonist
chases the antagonist or vice versa. In life threatening situations the hero typically triumphs over the villain
conforming to various narrative theories like Propp because Action films have a classical storyline which allows
Propp’s theory to be adapted into many Action films e.g. Baby Driver (Dir. Edgar Wright, 2017) and Hollywood
blockbusters like Jaws (Dir. Steven Spielberg, 1975).
The iconography of an Action film is mostly related to the challenges the protagonist has to endure like: car
chases, violence, high emotion interests and in some cases depending on the sub-genre can be a love interest in
Taken (Dir. Pierre Morel, 1988) or hilarious personalities of characters like Hot Fuzz (Dir. Edgar Wright, 2007).
3. Action films that have a “classical
storyline”
Indiana Jones: Raiders of the Lost Ark (Dir. Steven Speilberg,1981) conforms to the “classical storyline” due the
protagonist: Indiana Jones having to overcome a series of obstacles to defeat the antagonists and save Marion
Ravenwood and try and get the ark. The morals of the film is family and friends first as the ark is left behind, with
moral messages applying to many Action films other than Raiders of the Lost Ark.
Raiders of the Lost Ark also embodies typical themes that Action films need like: violence, fight between the
protagonist and the antagonist and dependant on the sub-genre, a character may be saved from the hero e.g.
Marion is saved from Indiana Jones. These themes and moral messages are pivotal for Action films to appeal to
the target demographic and so that the audience can differentiate between genres.
4. Conclusion
Overall, typical Action films have this natural storyline because it is appealing due to it being a filming norm in the
film industry. This is why Raiders of the Lost Ark grossed $384,140,454 worldwide, highlighting how Propp’s theory
has become a blessing for increasing profits for multi-billion dollar conglomerates like Paramount.
