Gangster genre overview

1. Entrance Activity
3 minutes
Robert Warshow (1958)
Gangsters are denoted as ‘the man of the city’
YOU MUST guess the theory we covered last lesson.
Extension – YOU COULD note down the date and state HOW
it applies to a scene from the text we covered last lesson.
Friedrich Engels (1884)

2. Title:
Overview of the Gangster Genre – Codes & Conventions
and elements of ‘repetition’ (Steve Neale – 1980)
Tuesday 24th
March 2015
FM2 –
British and American Film (60%) of AS Level)
Section C –
US Cinema Comparative Study –
‘Goodfellas’ and ‘American Gangster’ -
(40 marks)

3. Why?
Aims & Objectives
• YOU WILL re-cap prior
learning.
• YOU WILL be able to gain
and demonstrate a better
understanding of the codes
& conventions of the genre
through close-textual
analysis of 2 scenes from
case studies YOU MUST
learn for the exam.
• Review the learning.
AO1
Demonstrate knowledge and
understanding of film as an
audio-visual form of creative
expression together and
AO2
Apply knowledge and
understanding, including
some of the common critical
approaches that characterise
the subject, when exploring
and analysing films.

4. FM2 –
EXAM BOARD EXPECTATIONS
Mark Scheme
‘Goodfellas’ (1990 – Martin Scorsese) ‘American Gangster’ (2007 – Ridley Scott)

5. The “rise and fall” (Robert Warshow –
1946) of a ‘tragic hero’

6. The “rise and fall” (Robert Warshow – 1946) of a ‘tragic hero’
‘Goodfellas’ (1990 – Martin Scorsese) ‘American Gangster’ (2007 – Ridley Scott)
YOU MUST some of the elements YOU expect to be ‘repeated’ (Steve Neale - 1980) in the
Gangster genre through the micro features of:
•Mise-en-scene
•Sound
•Editing
•Cinematography
YOU SHOULD research some of these examples online to develop your understanding.

7. ‘Signs act as Signifiers’

8. Main Task – 15 minutes
YOU MUST compare 2 scenes from the Case Studies and establish the connotations
behind the use of the Gun in each scene.
YOU SHOULD make a note of the micro features that help establish the authority of the
character whilst they possess the gun.

9. FEEDBACK
Guns (Iconography) –
Clear phallic symbols and are often used to restore their masculine status or
emasculate the man without one.
Ironically, Karen stuffs the gun into her knickers when the FBI invade their home and
connotes how the gun offers a source of protection and security without her husband
around.

10. What have you learnt?
• What have I learnt?
• What do I want to know now?

11. Homework
Complete a 1-page analysis of the ‘Copacabana Scene’ and
address the following:
Warren Farrell (1993) -
“Both sexes had roles: women's role was [to] raise children;
men's role was [to] raise money."
How has Henry obtained such notoriety and wealth?
How does this scene impact the spectator?
Due: L3 – NEXT LESSON – Wednesday 25th
March