For my media work!

1. TO DIE FOR
Manon Raja

2. HOW DOES YOUR MEDIA PRODUCT
REPRESENT CERTAIN SOCIAL GROUPS?
Gender
My narrator is male, which would conform to the standards of classical film noir of the
1940s and 50s, as the protagonists and antagonists are usually male. Similarly, how he
describes “the woman”, reflects the ideals of the time where women both in and out of film,
are either objects of desire, obstacles that need to be eliminated, or the representation of
the mother. This can been seen in the film Double Indemnity (1944), where Barbara
Stanwycks character, Phyllis Diertrichson, starts of being a sexual object to the
protagonist, Walter Neff (Fred MacMurray). Though, by the end of the film he kills her to
cover his part in her husband murder.

3. Location
The location adheres to gender roles of the 40s and 50s. As the male
character is at work in the office (breadwinner), while women are
elsewhere (Caregiver and homemaker). The figure of the woman
entering the office highlights that she is not a stereotypical
housewife, but is able stand up to and compete with men, which is
something men, supposedly, are threatened by. As seen when the
man pull his gun out at the door.
Age
In classical Hollywood films, you find that the male protagonists, of
any film genre, were usually older than their female counterparts.
In the opening, the older man is domineering, and the young woman
is seen as seductive.

4. Class/ Status
As a detective, the man does not necessarily have a high class status, as
stereotypically they were not paid much or invited on society functions. However, he
would have a lot of legal power which would allow him more access and authority. The
women does not conform to the idea of “housewife”, which lands her with the identity
of femme fatale, making her, most likely, of lower social and class status.
Ethnicity
I did not represent any other ethnic group, apart from Caucasians, because I wanted
to conform to the tropes of classical film noirs, which have limited racial
representation.

5. HOW DID IT REPRESENT “PEOPLE” IN THE
WORLD OF YOUR FILM?
Male Character
He is first seen as hard working. However, the long shot of him through the window, paired
with the use of lighting and mise-en-scene, creates a sense of mystery or suspicion. He
then becomes a violent figure when he pulls the gun out, when the woman walks in. This
creates the idea that men are the money makes, but should not always be trusted.
Female Character
Through narration the idea of the woman being dangerous and potentially violent is
established. Once she walks in, she becomes a figure of seduction and manipulation. This
suggests that women are sexual objects to men, which should either be concurred or
destroyed.

6. WERE THERE ANY STEREOTYPES OR ANTI-
STEREOTYPES IN YOUR MOVIE OPENING? IF
SO, WHERE?
I wanted to create an opening that would reflected that of a classical Hollywood film noir, which
meant that I had to play on the stereotypes of the film genre.
Props
I used iconographic elements of noir gangster films, such as an old fashions typewriter
and gun, as they could and would have been used in films of the 40’s and 50’s.
Editing
I used a stereotypical editing style to mimic that of noir films, meaning that I included
a lot of fading in and our of shots. Similarly, I placed a digital overlay to create the
look of spotting, which is seen on many films of the noir era.

7. Casting
I cast an older man and younger woman, as it played on the casting choices of the
studio system of the time. The man was stereotypically cast as the worker who solves
the mystery/ crime. Whereas, the woman became one of the type stereotypes of female
Hollywood characters, the mother figure or the seductress. I chose the latter.
Lighting
I used low key lighting to create the stereotypical noir look. I achieved this through
studio lighting and the desk light, which created a spot light on the typewriter, in turn
linking the narration to the man typing. I also used backlighting to create silhouettes,
which was often used to create suspense, as the characters identity is concealed.

8. Camera shots
The long shot of the opening titles conforms to those of studio films of the time. The screen
is split in two. On one side is a man at a type writing, which establishes the protagonist.
And the other holds the names of cast and crew.
The shot of the blinds and window a stereotypical to noirs, as they were used to create
shows on actors, which created symbolism of law enforcement or the feeling of entrapment.
Similarly, the shot of the woman smoking behind the door is stereotypical to femme
fatales, as smoke, silhouettes, and shadows are elements used to create a sense of mystery
and danger of the unknown.
Introduction
The long introduction with the jazz music is stereotypical of that of classical Hollywood.
However, by overlaying the diegetic sound of the typewriter, I created an anti-stereotype,
as films of the 40s and 50s very rarely did this in their opening titles.