The document analyzes the themes and elements in the film 'Se7en' by David Fincher, focusing on the seven deadly sins and how they relate to issues of morality, authority, mental illness, and self-discovery. It explores Fincher's directorial style, including his use of cinematography, sound, and editing techniques, along with the film's connection to spectatorship theories. Lastly, it discusses how the film can provide various forms of gratification to viewers, from entertainment to personal identity.

1. SE7EN

2. Se7en deadly sins
• Gluttony
• Greed
• Sloth
• Lust
• Pride
• Envy
• Wrath
“One of the great tragedies of mankind is that morality has been hijacked by religion… But
the basis of morality is really very simple and doesn't require religion at all.”
― Arthur C. Clarke

3. David Fincher
Filmography:
• Alien 3 (1993)
• Se7en (1995)
• The Game (1997)
• Fight Club (1999)
• Panic Room (2002)
• Zodiac (2007)
• The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008)
• The Social Network (2010)
• The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2012)
• Gone Girl (2014)
• The Girl Who Played with Fire (TBA)

4. David Fincher
• Consistent themes:
• Death (Alien 3, Fight Club, Panic Room, Zodiac, Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Gone Girl)
• Distrust of authority (Alien 3, Fight Club, Panic Room, Zodiac, The Social Network)
• Mental Illness (Alien 3, Fight Club, Zodiac, Girl with the Dragon Tattoo)
• Moral Ambiguity (Alien 3, Fight Club, Panic Room, Zodiac, The Social Network, Girl with the
Dragon Tattoo,
• Self-Discovery/Multiple Personality (Alien 3, Fight Club, Panic Room, Zodiac, The Social
Network, Girl with the Dragon Tattoo)
Task: Where do these themes appear in Se7en?

5. Death
• Martyrdom (Religious Angle)
• Is murder unconditionally wrong? (Religious Angle; Ties into
Moral Ambiguity)
• Punishment (Death Penalty) or Reward (Suicide)?

6. Distrust of Authority
• The American City (90s and Crime; Mayor character; Dirt and
Rain)
• The Police (Ending; Captain character)
• The Church (History of Religion)

7. Mental Illness
• Typical Representation? (Other films; Doe’s cover as press guy)
• Is John Doe really Inhibited? (Ending)

8. Moral Ambiguity
• John Doe’s victims (Are they really innocent?)
• Ending – are we on Mills’ side? (Alignment)

9. Self Discovery/Multiple Personality
• Somerset’s Character Arch
• Mills’ Character Arch
• John Doe and disguise

10. David Fincher’s Style
• Has directed music videos for artists including:
• Nine Inch Nails
• Madonna
• George Michael
• The Rolling Stones
• Sting
• Aerosmith
• Justin Timberlake

11. David Fincher’s Style
Trailers/Openings:
• Panic Room
• Fight Club
Music Videos:
• Nine Inch Nails
• Madonna

12. David Fincher’s Style
• Cinematography and Lighting
• Mise-en-Scene
• Colour
• Sound/Music
• Editing
Task: How are these Micro elements used in Se7en?

13. Cinematography and lighting
• Camera Movement
• Use of different types of focus
• Tight framing
• Chiaroscuro Lighting
• Practical Lighting

14. Mise-en-Scene
• How is the city represented?
• Iconography?
• Performance

15. Colour
• Hot and cool colours
• Contributes to Chiaroscuro effect

16. Sound/Music
• All diegetic apart from score
• Music central to certain scenes
• ‘Underscoring’

17. Editing
• Speed? Technique?
• Average Shot Length? (Music videos)

18. Characters
• Mills

19. Characters
• Somerset

20. Characters
• John Doe

21. Characters
• Tracy

22. How does Se7en correspond with spectatorship
theory?
• Dyer and Utopian Pleasures
• Blumler et al and Uses and Gratifications Theory
• Hall and Reception Theory

23. Utopian Pleasures
• Can we use Se7en to escape reality?
• Marketing of the film

24. Uses and Gratifications theory
• Will we use Se7en for:
• Information?
• Personal Identity?
• Integration/Social Interaction?
• Entertainment?

25. Reception theory
• Dominant Reading?
• Negotiated Reading?
• Oppositional Reading?