Unit 10 learning aim A

1. Unit 10 – Fictional Film codes and conventions – Luke Taylor
The genres I have chosen to do for this assignment are the sport and action
genres. I have chosen these genres as; I feel they are really interesting when it
comes to the stylistic codes and conventions.
As one of my favourite film genres, the sport genre gives me a chance to analyse
the stylistic codes and convention with excellent conviction, and allow me to be
fully confident in my analysis. I will be looking at two iconic films of the sport
genre, Rocky IV (1985) and The Karate Kid (1984). By doing this I will be able to
show the particular stylistic codes and conventions of the sport genre, and also
help the audience know what they should be looking for when it comes to the
sport genre.
Steve Neale was a theorist, who stated that cinema genre is made up of repetition
and difference, he also says that the cinema audience get some pleasure of
recognising familiar stylistic codes and conventions and that they want to feel
reassured by the use of familiar characteristics, the same characteristics that
made them enjoy that genre in the first place.
You see Neale’s ideas of repetition and difference in both Rocky IV and Karate Kid;
both these examples use a lot of recognisable stylistic codes and conventions.
The scene most people typically remember from Rocky IV is the training montage
in the snowy mountains of Russia, Which shows ‘Rocky Balboa’ training for his
upcoming fight with ‘Ivan Drago’, but also shows how the Russian is training for
the fight. This montage reveals codes that are linked to the sports genre.
Stallone uses a lot of close-up camera shots to show the expression and emotion
of both of the main characters. Close-up shots are popular within the sports
genre, as it shows the emotion the characters are going through, in Rocky IV in
particular this creates a sense of tension in the audience, as they build up to the
big fight. This reveals a convention of the genre (constant state of emotion) They
use of the constant state of emotion keeps the makes the viewer feel personally
tied to a character and allows them to invest into the film, this makes the fight at
the end of Rocky IV important to the viewer, and also keeps them engaged before
the action in the fight. In ref. 1 they use an extreme long shot, it shows ‘Rocky’

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after his training at the top of a mountain peak, this connotes that ‘Rocky’ has
conquered his training and despite distractions is at his peak, this is another
convention of the sports genre (success and failure) after contemplating whether
to take the fight and having to travel to Russia ‘Rocky’ feels (as connoted in ref. 1)
that he can do it and feels he can win.
Another stylistic code used in the making of the sports genre is the use of
effective sound. In the training montage the non-diegetic background music
used is “Hearts on fire” by John Cafferty. This is pleonastic sound as it adds
resonance to the action for the audience. This type of pleonastic sound is a
hallmark for the sports genre, as many movies like this one use the sound to
intensify certain scenes for the viewer and also aims to make the viewer feel
more involved.
The setting in which ‘Ivan Drago’ trains is significant as, it shows that the
Russian has superior conditions and equipment (see ref. 2) this showed the
viewers that ‘Drago’ had the better chance of winning, and outlined even
more to the viewer that ‘Rocky’ was the underdog. This is a convention of
the sports genre that the protagonist is a huge underdog, but manages to
win the main event of the film. This is added to when the viewer finds out
Ref. 1

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that the antagonist ‘Ivan Drago’ is using steroids.
Ref. 2
At the start of Rocky IV, Stallone uses two huge boxing gloves; one features
the American flag and the other the flag of the Soviet Union, from this scene
it lets the viewer know from the start, that film will be in the sports genre
(use of the boxing gloves) and also that it would be a cold war allegory (see
Ref. 3)
Rocky IV follows the typical conventions of a sports genre narrative. Films of
the sports genre, it contains a utopian view of the world, which means that
anyone that works hard and works by the rules will succeed. It also has the
relationship between two characters, which is in most sports movies the
sports person usually has a supportive character that helps them be that a
mentor, or as in this case girlfriend or wife. It also contains an antagonist
that is cheating to try and win, we see this a lot in the sports genre. We see
this in The Ringer (2005) & School Ties (1992).
Rocky IV clearly uses emotional highs and lows which we typically see in a
lot of sports films, rocky throughout the film questions whether he will fight
the antagonist and isn’t fully confident, but before the fight happens Rocky,

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is seen as fully confident after a successful training camp, which at the end
of he runs to the top of a mountain and proceeds to shout “Drago” (see Ref.
3)
Ref. 3
John G. Avildsen’s sports drama The Karate Kid (1984) is another film that
clearly uses stylistic codes and conventions of the sports genre in its own
way. While Rocky IV portrays that hard work and determination will get you
success, The Karate Kid on the other hand portrays that balance of life and
discipline will breed success. They do this because The Karate Kid focus on
relationships and isn’t totally based on fight scenes and montages, although
they also have a lot of similarities.
In the infamous “Wax on, wax off” scene you see an example of a stylistic
code of the sports genre, which is relationship between characters, Mr
Mayagi is a mentor to Daniel, we see this in a lot of sports films, two
examples being Coach Carter (2005) and Rocky (1976). Like Rocky IV, The
Karate Kid uses a lot of close-up camera shots to show the emotion of the
characters throughout the film, this is integral to the representation of the
characters, and also the genre itself, with constant state of emotion being
an important factor of the sports genre.
Rocky IV and Karate Kid both use sporting iconography; this proves Steve
Neale’s theory of repetition and difference within a genre. An example of

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this in The Karate Kid is when we see a shot of the referee, the crowd and
the fighters in their karate kit (see Ref. 4). This is technique you will see in
almost all sport films, as it lets the viewer know that the main sporting
event, will be happening, this is the climax if a sports film and likely the
reason the viewer came to watch.
Ref. 4
Arguably the best scene from The Karate Kid is the ‘Crane kick’ scene, in
which Daniel fights in the final of a karate tournament against Johnny who is
a member of a karate dojo called “Cobra Kai” and bullied Daniel throughout
the film. After being injured Daniel manages to win the winning kick.
The scene is iconic through the use of emotion, sound and fast cuts. This
creates a tense atmosphere and for a surprising ending.
The use of non-diegetic sound is very effective as it builds-up a lot of
anticipation and tension towards the ‘Crane Kick’ they do this as Daniel
beats all odds and defeats the antagonist and expected winner. They use
fast cuts during the fight to keep tensions high and viewers on the edge of
their seats, this is another clear genre trope of the sports genre.

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The ending to The Karate Kid is very similar ending to Rocky IV with the
underdog defeating the favourite; this is a convention of the sport genre, as
in most sports films the underdog tends to win (people love an underdog).
The Karate Kid uses similar narrative codes and conventions as Rocky IV. It
also has an antagonist that cheats (illegal contact to the knee), along with
the same emotional highs and lows (Daniel thinks he out of the tournament
due to injury yet comes back to win) these conventions happen in almost
every sport genre film.
As a major genre type and one of they most recognisable genres in film, the
action genre give me a big opportunity to analyse stylistic codes and
conventions that make up the action genre. By looking at two very popular
films The Dark Knight (2008) and Jack Reacher (2012), we can see how
conventions and characteristics of the action film are present, and help the
audience recognise what they see on screen.
The Dark Knight uses costume and make-up to show connotations about the
Joker and his characteristics, but breaks the general codes and conventions
of an action antagonist, he does this as normally in action films the
antagonist is normally dressed with dark colours, but the jokers make-up is
bright and vibrant colours, although he has black around his eyes, which
connotes that he is dead inside this would follow an actions conventions.
(See ref. 5) this is juxtaposition as the joker’s personality is the opposite of
his costume, he is a dark and demented man, and this confuses the viewers.
The Jokers personality follows the codes and conventions of an antagonist in
‘hero’ action films, which is mentally unstable and murderous.
Ref. 5

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In a police interrogation scene Christopher Nolan uses lighting to connect
viewers with the action. The lighting is all electrical, using lamps and ceiling
lights. The interrogation begins in darkness, with one ceiling light and a lamp
lighting the room. The audience see Commissioner Gordon’s face half in
shadow, signifying that he is hiding something from both the audience and
the Joker, whereas the Joker’s face is fully seen, yet altered in the dim lamp
light, creating a rather harrowing image; this contrast shows that the Joker is
not lying. When Batman enters the interrogation, the full ceiling of lights is
lit, allowing the audience to see his presence. It also allows them to see the
action and small details within the scene, such as the Joker’s facial
expressions and Batman’s sudden change in mood. The full lighting is
contrasted by the lighting of the office, which remains in lamplight
throughout; this could signify that the people within this office are left in the
dark as to what is really going on within the interrogation room, signifying
their importance within the scene (see ref. 6). A lot of action movies use
lighting to signify what a character knows or what their intentions are.
Ref. 6
The infamous scene in which the Joker blows up the hospital shows us
action iconography, especially within superhero movies, when viewers see
explosions they think of action movies, explosions are a clear genre trope.
The use of the bomb is important in creating an audience response, as death

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from a bomb is violent and a bomb is used to shock an audience, this is
intensified by the fact that the bomb goes off in a hospital, where there is a
lot of vulnerable people, this aims to evoke an emotional response from the
audience (see Ref. 7).
Ref. 7
Theorist Vladimir Propp stated, that stories all contained combination of
eight typical characters and limited ‘spheres of action’. His theory works
very well for The Dark Knight’.
Hero – Batman – The protagonist saving Gotham city.
Villain – The Joker – The antagonist he serves the cause to disrupt Gotham.
He is evil and psychologically crazy.
Princess – Rachel Dawes
Donor – Lucius Fox – Helps Batman by proving him with gadgets
Helper – Alfred – He is a father to Batman, and helps him with quests.
Helper – Jim Gordon – He aids Batman, with information
The dispatcher – Jim Gordon – Sends batman on his quests
False Hero – Harvey Dent – Initially thought of as a hero, but develops to
become villain ‘two-face’
Christopher McQuarrie’s action thriller Jack Reacher (2012) is another film
that uses the codes and conventions of the action genre. While The Dark

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Knight uses make-up and costume to identify as an action movie. Jack
Reacher uses actors and characters to show how it is an action.
This film uses the stereotypical hero, a very strong and confident man on a
mission to save the “damsel in distress” this follow the conventions for the
genre. Although, in this film the “damsel in distress” is a man who can't
remember what's happened to him, and without Jack Reacher's help he
would be sent to prison. The use of a male “damsel in distress” also breaks
typical action film conventions, which stereotypically feature a 'sexy'
female.
They use Tom Cruise as the lead actor this is an actor that has made a name
for himself in action films. This makes the audience know what type of film
to expect before it’s even started.
Just like The Dark Knight, Jack Reacher has action iconography of guns and
fight scenes, which links in to Neale’s repition and difference. (See Ref. 8)
Ref. 8
In this film they use a lot of rain during the fight scenes, this intensifies it for
the viewer, as when it’s raining, mistakes are more prone to happening,
which could lead to something unexpected happening.
Jack Reacher has an ordinary narrative and follows Tsetzvan Todorov’s
theory of Todorov similarly discovered that stories had a common structure.

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A story will have a beginning, middle and an end through five
transformations:
Equilibrium
Disruption by an event
Recognition disruption has taken place
An attempt to repair the disruption
A return to equilibrium
This makes this film predictable, whereas The Dark Knight strays from this
theory and adds more of and unexpected element to it for the viewers, but
ultimately both follow the codes and conventions of the action genre, but
do it in different ways.