media studies

1. Guardians of the galaxy

2. Narrative
• I consider this plot to be really intriguing, its very unique in its characters. The
actual story line isn’t that different if you think about it as it falls under the branch
of ‘ a group of heroes saving the day’ but the effects and the thrilling characters
really build the story.
• The films is definitely science fiction due to its plot of the world becoming at the
brink of destruction. The story line isn’t realistic at all but that’s what makes it
more exciting, it ‘lets your imagination loose’.
• The character names themselves present the genre e.g. ‘Groot’ isn’t a typical name
at all, its very original and sounds like a inhuman character.
• The story is about Peter Quill (Chris Pratt), a young man who was abducted from earth when he was a boy by a spacecraft after losing
his mother and raised by a hoard of space thieves. After stealing a mysterious orb in the far reaches of outer space he is now the main
target of a manhunt led by the villain known as Ronan the Accuser (Lee Pace). Peter Quill arrives on the Nova Empire and is chased by
Ronan's warrior Gamora (Zoe Saldana) and by the bounty hunters Rocket (Bradley Cooper) and The Groot (Vin Diesel). They are
arrested by the police officer Corpsman Dey (John C. Reilly) and his men and sent to a prison called The Kyln, where they befriend the
strong Drax (Dave Bautista). Soon they learn that Gamora wants to betray Ronan and sell the orb to a dealer for a huge amount while
Drax wants to kill Ronan, who killed his wife and daughter. They plot a plan together to escape from the prison and try to sell the orb
and split the money. But soon they also learn that the orb keeps the infinity stone that gives immensurable destructive power to the
owner. They decide to deliver the orb to the leader Nova Prime (Glenn Close) to keep it safe from Ronan. But they are hunted down by
Ronan and his right-arm Nebula (Karen Gilan) that want to destroy the Universe. To help fight Ronan and his team and save the galaxy
from his power, hey decide to come together and call the "Guardians of the Galaxy”.

3. Linear and non linear plot
• The plot isn’t linear because it does jump time periods, particularly at
the beginning.
• However it is linear as the story is actually very straight forward to
follow.
• For example: ‘hero gets dragged into something, universe needs
saving, finds a team, defeats villain, hope is lost, finial battle, universe
saved and good guys recognised. ‘.

4. Todorovian theory
• Equilibrium: Quill being abducted after his mothers death
• Disruption: Quill finding the orb
• Realisation: They learn that Gamora wants to sell the orb to a dealer
for a huge amount of money while Drax wants to kill Ronan as Ronan
killed Drax’s wife and daughter. They also learn the orb has a infinity
stone which allows its amazing destructive power.
• Attempt to repair: They deliver the orb to Nova Prime who keeps it
safe from Ronan.
• Resolution: They become guardians of the galaxy.

5. Conventions of science fiction
• All the characters are unrealistic/supernatural e.g. groot who is a walking tree
• Space
• Invasion/Abduction- Quill was abducted from earth in a spacecraft
• The magical orb
• Futuristic tones e.g. blue lighting
• All the characters have powers- supernatural
• Advanced technology
• Space travel between planets and civilisations
• Genetically modified racoon

6. Hybrid
• Comedy: Many sarcastic comments throughout the film between
characters e.g. They only person who can understand groot is the
racoon, groot says over and over ‘I am groot’ in a very frustrated
tone, but it really is just funny.
• Also the relationship between groot and rocket is a joke itself as
their size comparison is just laughable.
• Action: There are many fighting scenes and the group cause a
questionable amount of carnage.
SO, the main genre is sci fi, comedy and action making guardians of
he galaxy a hybrid film. It is a mix of all these genres and there as so
any conventions of all that one simply cant be chosen. All films tend to
ave a genre mix as it makes the target audience larger and the film less
ategorised.

7. Enigma codes
• Why was this boy abducted?
• What is this orb and why is it
worth so much money?
• How did the group ‘guardians of
the galaxy’ come about?
• Why did Ronan kill Darx wife and
daughter?

8. Binary Opposites
• Good vs Evil
• The guardians of the galaxy are trying
to defeat Ronan and to prevent him
from getting the orb.
• Humans vs supernatural
• Peter Quill is a normal child before
being abducted by the spacecraft. He
then becomes star lord and becomes a
target of a man hunt as he has an orb.

9. Setting of guardians of the galaxy
• Guardians of the galaxy is set on a space craft or in space so is
completely run on ‘technology’. The film is known for its special
effects. Due to the setting being mostly on a space craft the genre is
truly shown- no-one really lives on a space craft, especially with the
technology they have. The setting is really what adds to the interest
and buzz around the film. If the setting was just a park it would be no
where near as interesting but because its an exciting background
there are more enigma codes.

10. mise en scene analysis: meet the guardians
The background is all very
futuristic. The white lines
going across the back make
it look like they are in a
machine or a portal when
really they are lining up
like they are ‘wanted’.
However usually the typical
‘wanted’ picture is a grey or
white background which adds
to the futuristic vibe.
Also the lighting is very blue
toned which is typically
conveys future.
This scene is one of the
most effective because it
shows how supernatural
the characters are
compared to Peter. You
have a walking tree, a
extremely muscly red
human, a human like
racoon and a green
women- its actually quite
funny because the characters
are just so different yet
fall under the same group-
this highlights the comedy
aspect.
The camera shot is long and wide in order to have a
full sense of the characters and their environment. The
camera level is low/eye level showing the characters
have power.
The characters are standing in
very strong positions to
demonstrate that they aren't
afraid and imply that they have
full control of the situation-
even though they
don’t as they seem to be in
prison.
The racoon is placed in
the middle which is funny
because usually the
leader or the strongest is
in the middle but in this
the smallest is in the
middle however this
could suggest that the
racoon has more
intelligence than we
assume.

11. Duration: 8 seconds
Camera shot: Medium shot
Camera angle: Low
Sound: Non diegetic song
Duration: 5 seconds
Camera shot: Medium shot wide
Camera angle: Low
Sound: Non diegetic song
Duration: 4 seconds
Camera shot: Close up
Camera angle: Eye level
Sound: Non diegetic song
Duration: 7 seconds
Camera shot: Close up
Camera angle: High eye level
Sound: Non diegetic song
Duration: 2 seconds
Camera shot: Long shot and wide
Camera angle: High pointing down
Sound: Diegetic talking
Duration: 2 seconds
Camera shot: Long shot
Camera angle: Low pointing up
Sound: Diegetic engine

12. Sound track
• The ending song is effective as it is celebratory,
although its non diegetic the song fits in like its
supposed to. It ends the narrative in a happy
manner, however throughout the whole film
several up beat songs are used for comedy.
• This song is particularly special as after star lord
reads the letter from his mother it plays ‘aint no
mountain high enough’ which is actually quite
sad as it links to the emotions you would feel
when having a bond as strong as a mother and
child.
• Especially when they are all going home to
reunite with family.