Post Apocalyptic Post Apocalyptic

FilmsFilms

Post-apocalyptic genre and narrative conventions• The incredibly popular sub-genre of science fiction

revolves around the end of civilisation due to a various disaster that threatens all existence on Earth.

• They are set in a world or civilisation after the various catastrophe that has a drastic effect on human life. The time frame is different between films, however. For example, it can be at the time of and immediately after the disaster, or it can be far later in the future, sometimes were existence is speculated and forgotten.

• Additionally, most post-apocalyptic disasters have man-made causes.

• Each variety of post-apocalyptic hybrid or each individual film often acts as a metaphor to represent or relate to the current society’s fears and current issues or affairs.

As ‘The Observer’, writes, “the trend towards apocalyptic thought does not only reflect anxiety over a difficult period of history but, just as important, changing times.”

Post-apocalyptic genre and narrative conventions

0 Besides focusing on the disaster itself, these films concentrate on the effects on individuals, families and communities, peoples’ fights for survival and some ‘what-if’ scenarios.

0 Roland Emmerich (‘2012’, ‘The Day After Tomorrow’, ‘Independence Day’) in particular, concentrates on the impacts of disasters on people, as he has explained in many interviews. Even ‘IMDb’ states that he often uses father-son relationships frequently in his films.

Post-apocalyptic genre and narrative conventions

0 Although the type of the film can be very different, most of them feature a moral or a message.

0 As Shane Acker (director of animated post-apocalyptic film: ‘9’) states “The best post-apocalyptic films contain a serious warning about where we’re heading if we don’t slow down and pay attention.”

0 They are often characterised by expensive use of CGI and special effects, although not always, (‘28 Days Later’ is an example of a less expensive yet high quality post-apocalyptic film).

0 They are often set in Dystopian worlds, where everything is in an unpleasant, wretched state. The setting may also have been the opposite before the disaster, as a Utopian site. For example, the use of New York City in ‘I Am Legend’.

0 In many post-apocalyptic films, commonly post-nuclear, agrarian societies develop, where human life returns to pre-industrialised civilisation, where technology is either lost or forgotten in the majority, accounting for medical supplies and other resources. Weapons, however, often seem to remain.

Post-apocalyptic genre and narrative conventions

0 Agricultural existence subsequently re-occurs, although in some settings plants and therefore food does not grow and is scarce to come by.

0 They can have localised or global implications, for example, ‘Cloverfield’ is based in New York alone, whereas, ‘2012’ has dramatic consequences worldwide.

0 Whatever type of post-apocalyptic film, there is usually a sense of finality of the current generation, but sometimes, also a sense of a new beginning and that somehow, some people, or life survived or was preserved.

Post-apocalyptic genre and narrative conventions

Generic Conventions- Case Study‘I Am Legend’, 20070It is set in a haunting New York City, usually a hustling global enterprise, now a deserted dystopian wasteland.0The audience is initially left in limbo as to whether the situation is the same globally or just in New York, until Neville explains the population drop.0Robert Neville and his dog search each apartment in the city each day as food is scarce to obtain ‘naturally’.0Neville says to Anna, “God didn’t do this. We did.” This highlights humanity’s continuous attempts to ‘play God’ by making technological and medical ‘advancements’.0The film finishes climatically, with Neville finding a cure for the virus, and although he sacrifices himself to protect it, Anna and Ethan give the compound to authorities at a safe-zone, giving the audience hope for the continued survival of mankind.

Generic Conventions- Case Study‘The Day After Tomorrow’, 20040The film depicts the events of a sudden climate change, leading to dangerous hazards worldwide (tornadoes, tsunamis, ‘super-storms’).0It relates to the contemporary issue of mankind mistreating natural resources and the environment, which is leading to climate change and global warming.0It is set all over the globe (New York, Tokyo, New Dehli, Scotland), therefore having an effect on the audience showing that nobody is safe from the theme, and conveying the message that we all have to do something to prevent it happening.0The final message of hope for human survival is given as the astronauts look upon a clear atmosphere on Earth, in addition to several more groups being located on top of buildings in New York having survived the hazards.

Generic Conventions- Case Study‘The Road’, 20090The film is about a father and son trekking across a dystopian American landscape to get to the coast, which is safe from the murderers who stalk the road.0No disaster is defined to the audience, it takes the form of a mixture of nuclear fallout and natural disasters. This ambiguity has an effect on the audience as it shows we need to change the way we use technology and how we live our lives generally, as we are contributing to the slow descent to destruction one way or another.0The positivity at the end is conveyed with the boy beginning a journey with another family after his father dies; in addition, some organic life appears to have survived the disaster (the use of a dog and insects), giving us hope for humanity’s survival.

Generic Conventions- Comparison0 Although some of the hazards are directly environmental,

all of the disasters are caused by the acts of people. ‘I Am Legend’ revolves around a virus produced by people ‘playing God’ by continually developing technology and medicinal products. ‘The Road’ is ambiguous as it could be a nuclear fallout or a drastic result of climate change, either way, both would be due to human actions (or lack of). ‘The Day…’ is clearly climate change, and revolves around the lack of human effort to counter the effects of it.

0 Consequently, these post-apocalyptic films, and all other in general spread a message of warning to the audience about the way in which they live their lives.

0 A distinct feeling of hope is displayed in the climax of the films. ‘I Am Legend’ ends with the discovery of a survivors’ colony, to which Anna hands the cure for the virus. ‘The Road’ concludes with the boy being found by a new family, while some other animal and plant life has appeared to survive the disaster. Lastly, ‘The Day…’ finishes with the atmosphere clearing and the appearances of small groups of survivors appearing to be rescued on top of buildings across New York.

0 Between the 1920’s and 1950’s, this genre of film originated, firstly in the form of action adventure-disaster films like ‘The Hurricane’ (1937).

0 The horrors of World War II, the threat of nuclear annihilation and radioactive mutancy during the resultant Cold War led to many disaster/ post-apocalyptic films in the 1950’s. These included ‘The War of the Worlds’ (1953), ‘Them!’ (1954) and ‘The Day the Earth Stood Still’ (1951) and ‘Day the World Ended’ (1956).

History of Post-Apocalyptic Films

0 The major era of post-apocalyptic and disaster films was the 1970’s as a variety of actual disasters occurred in and around this time period. They consequently acted as inspirations for films like ‘Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978), ‘The Omega Man’ (1971), ‘Airport’ (1970) and ‘The Crazies’ (1973).

0 After only a few post-apocalyptic films were made in the 80’s, albeit notable ones, there was a resurgence in the genre between the 1990’s to current day. This comes at a time of multiple fears in society, opening up new doors for the basis of post-apocalyptic films. These include ‘The Day After Tomorrow’ (2004), ‘I am Legend’ (2007) and ‘Prometheus’ (2012).

History of Post-Apocalyptic Films

Types of post-apocalyptic films

• Environmental/ Natural- ‘2012’, ‘The Day After Tomorrow’, ‘Armageddon’

-these revolve around natural hazards such as (super)volcanoes, earthquakes, tsunamis and asteroids. They often convey a message of danger that people are causing the planet’s destruction via climate change through excessive and dangerous use of technology. These films normally have global implications, to maximise the effect of the message on the audience.

• Aliens (invasion)/monsters/extra-terrestrial- ‘Aliens’, ‘War of the Worlds’, ‘Cloverfield’

-usually these are blockbusters and revolve around an alien invasion of Earth, leading to humanity’s destruction, although some occur outside of Earth, although effectively, the protagonists fight for theirs, and subsequently humanity’s survival. These films also relate to mankind’s increased use of technology and willingness to investigate what we do not fully understand. There is no certainty as to what we might discover in the universe.

Types of post-apocalyptic films• Virus/Infection, zombie related- ‘I Am Legend’, ‘28 Days Later’, ’28

Weeks Later’-these often take place after the original infection, so the audience does not see

the havoc in its prime, nevertheless, short scenes or shots, flashbacks or footage often show what the disaster began from. Subsequently, they normally focus on a small group of civilisation fighting to survive the apocalypse. These situations often push characters to the edge of their mental and physical capacity to continue living. The use of emptied, typically-hustling bustling cities make them more harrowing. While the setting is often localised, the infection can easily spread worldwide, while sometimes we do not know how far it has spread.

• Nuclear related crises or wars- ‘Watchmen’, ‘Unthinkable’, ‘Mad Max 2’, ‘Terminator series’, ‘The Book of Eli’

-these films relate to society’s possibly greatest fear of nuclear fallout, sparking from World War II, continuing through the Cold War, and nowadays, many countries are working to produce them as a deterrent and protection of their nations. These films often focus on small communities due to much of the population being killed by the fallout. Further conflict usually arises in these communities for resources as well as how they should live in these difficult times. They are mostly set worldwide, again, to maximise the impact of the message of warning.

Types of post-apocalyptic films

• Technology failing, mechanical accident, terrorism- ‘Terminator series’, ‘World Trade Centre’

-Technology often comes into the war or nuclear fallout category too, but post-apocalyptic films can make technology the real enemy, as it can with the environment (e.g. ‘2012’). Meanwhile, although they are not strictly post-apocalyptic, some accidents or terrorist acts have global consequences such as in ‘World Trade Centre’, as this subsequently caused the war on terror, and could eventually result in a disaster in the Middle-East.

• Some post-apocalyptic films are not specified to one type. For example, ‘The Road’ does not define what disaster has struck (nuclear or environmental), so this can have an effect on the audience as they realise that they need to change the ways they live their lives; do not go to war, protect the environment, and be cautious with technology.

0 Typically, the main protagonist is male, although there are some exceptions, such as Ellen Ripley in the ‘Alien’ movies.

0 Often, the main protagonist acts as a ‘post-modern cowboy’ (Dr Eric Dodson), as they are a loner who is pushed into action- he has no choice but to confront the disaster.

0 Shane Acker writes that there is also a presence of the spirit of ‘MacGyver’, the hero that can create astonishing technological marvels of whatever materials he can find.

Character Conventions

0 The main protagonist is usually one of a few good people, but is flawed in some way.

0 The main protagonist is also often characterised as being resourceful, creative, courageous, intelligent, physically and mentally strong and determined to succeed and survive the ordeal of the disaster and its effects.

0 The post-apocalyptic world holds constant threats for the protagonist to battle against to survive, in all types of the genre. This could be natural hazards, aliens, violent groups of survivors and infected or mutated people or beings. Therefore, the protagonist often takes part in a series of fights (physically, with and without weapons, and intellectually) and chases away from the enemy or hazard.

Character Conventions

0 Shane Acker also writes that characters also form groups and/or small communities in many post-apocalyptic films as the audience can see that although individually we may not be skilled or strong, “together is when we can really do the best work and try to overcome the dangers of this world.” It also hints at survival after the disaster, and may act as a metaphor for what the audience needs to do to counter humanity’s modern ways of life, like causing climate change and wars for example.

0 At least one child is often involved, and is considered motivation for the protector or protagonist to continue fighting for. The child is also a symbol or survival and a new beginning.

Character Conventions

0 The group the protagonist becomes involved in is usually a small but tight-knit community. The people within it can vary, however, from family members to complete strangers. From film to film, the protagonist can be involved in the group from the beginning, usually as a family member or friend, or after some time of fighting the disaster’s effects, when he finds the group from the pre-apocalyptic modern world in some cases, who are struggling to survive. He will often take the lead role within the group, and often fight to protect each member.

0 Some groups or tribes are on the opposite side, and are violent and anarchic, and hunt the good, innocent group and the protagonist to destroy them. This may be for resources or merely because they consider them a threat.

Character Conventions

Character Conventions- Case Study‘I Am Legend’, 20070Robert Neville – The main protagonist feel it is his responsibility to protect civilisation from the spreading virus, “I’m not gonna let this happen.” He is a loner with the exception of his dog: Sam. This lack of social interaction leads him to odd behaviour, such as using shop dummies to achieve a sense of normality. We later question his sanity later though, when he becomes agitated by the movement of one of them, leading him to shoot it. His attributes fit with the typical protagonist, and he commits suicide for the cause of the cure he creates after one final battle against the infected.0Anna – Her Christian beliefs make Neville angry, as he has lost faith in God after the death of his family at the beginning of the spread of the infection. She also reminds us of hope, as we are under the impression that Neville is the sole survivor. 0Ethan – the young boy symbolises hope for human and other organic life’s survival despite the threat of extinction posed by the infection.0Sam – The dog helps Neville through the course of the film (and the past 3 years of the disaster), and becomes his main source of social interaction. She acts as his guardian angel too, saving him from vicious mutant dogs, giving her own life in the process.

Character Conventions- Case Study‘The Day After Tomorrow’, 2004 0Professor Jack Hall - Jack, the scientist, is the man who discovers the consequences of climate change that are about to occur, using information from fellow scientists in Scotland. Later, however, he attempts to rescue his son and any other survivors in New York. His characteristics are typical of a hero, and represents the fight in people to survive against all odds.0Sam Hall – Sam is Jack’s son, and is stranded in New York due to the extreme weather and environmental hazards. He helps others to survive, with the advice of Jack, and represents hope for the future of humanity. 0Vice-President Raymond Becker - The Vice President, acted by Kenneth Walsh, bore a distinct resemblance to then vice president Dick Cheney. The director, Roland Emmerich said this was purposeful, to act as a criticism of the environmental policies of the presidency of George Bush.

Character Conventions- Case Study‘The Road’, 20090Man – The man acts as the guardian of the boy and trusts no-one he encounters on the road, often with good reason. He also acts as a teacher so when he is gone, the boy will know how to survive. He is mentally and physically strong to cope with the disaster’s effects as well as the family’s turmoil shown in flashbacks.0Boy – The boy acts as a metaphor for hope and belief, expressed by the man. “If he is not the word of God, then God never spoke.” Furthermore, he represents justice and morality with the kindness he exhibits, even to, for example, the thief. 0Eli – Eli is the only named character in the film, although this is a fake name. He is elderly, yet has somehow survived the disaster and the evil groups that stalk the road, giving the audience hope for further survival of humanity.

Character Conventions- Comparison0 While the protagonist in ‘I Am Legend’ (Robert Neville) is

fighting to find a cure for the infected, as well as anyone who he hopes to have survived, the man in ‘The Road’ is solely interested in protecting his son. In ‘The Day…’, Jack attempts to rescue his son and protect civilisation as a whole, a mixture of the two others films.

0 Each of the protagonists are physically and mentally fit for fighting the terrible disasters that strike their diegesis. However, while Neville and the man use weaponry to fight the infected and those who stalk the road, Jack has to represent a MacGyver figure, and use what resources he has to make them useful.

0 Nonetheless, each of them has a flaw; Neville’s loneliness may be leading him to insanity while his social skills have deteriorated, as have the man’s in ‘The Road’, as he trusts nobody- he is also quick to make rash and immoral decisions, such as robbing the thief of everything and leaving him to die. Similarly, Jack is rash and naïve as he risks his life firstly to save his research, and then, understandably, his son.

Character Conventions- Comparison0 The characters display hope and faith in differing ways.

Neville has lost belief in God due to the loss of his family after praying for their safety, and subsequently becomes angry at Anna’s belief. However, he still has reason to have belief in his cure.

0 The man in ‘The Road’ appears to be religious as a matter of hope, as he states: “If he (the boy) I not the word of God, then God never spoke.”

0 Hope is not addressed by individual characters as much in ‘The Day…’, but left at the end for the audience to observe human survival, as small groups are seen on top of buildings, having survived the disasters.

0 The child of the characters represent hope for humanity’s future survival, as we attempt to adapt to changing conditions which we may not be meant to survive. Ethan in ‘I Am Legend’, the boy in ‘The Road’ and Sam, who is clearly more knowledgeable and older but still represents this hope in ‘The Day…’.

Mise-en-scene: Case Study

‘I Am Legend’, 20070Camerawork:

-POV (Associated) shots make the scenarios appear more real and consequently more frightening to the audience, to get an insight to Neville’s horrific experiences.

-Establishing shots show the audience the state of the setting and how the world has become a Dystopian landscape.

-Some use of seemingly handheld camera to replicate a sense of realism and therefore convey fear, and in some cases disorientation, such as when the explosion goes off around Neville’s house.

0 Editing:

-Mainly straight cuts are used to continue the action and convey tension to the audience. However, one notable fade is when Neville becomes unconscious and subsequently vulnerable to the ‘Darkseekers’ attack.

-Match on action is also used to continue the fast paced action scenes to also convey tension. It is additionally used in slower sequences to convey shock, such as the opening establishing shots, where the audience are stunned by the emptiness of the usually hustling, bustling city of New York.

-The use of shot-reverse-shot is also used, particularly when Anna and Ethan enter the film, and present Neville as socially inept due to his loneliness, and suggests an unfamiliarity in these situations as the audience has come to forget this form of editing for much of the film.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_tts6_LpGnk

Mise-en-scene: Case Study

Mise-en-scene: Case Study0 Props

The lab and medical equipment used are ironic, considering they are what caused the infection to initiate, and Neville is now using their power to attempt to reverse it. Also, weapons are used, as is common in these films, to counter the danger he faces, and juxtapose the medical equipment he is using to find a cure.

The shop dummies reflect Neville’s attempts to create a sense of normality about his life, but ultimately make us question his sanity.

0 Lighting

A statement frequently used in the film is “light up the darkness”, which albeit used as a metaphor, is what Neville uses throughout the film. He searches each apartment and lets the light in, to give them the impression of safety. The audience understands that dark is used to convey evil and danger, while light is used to convey safety.

0 Setting

The film is wholly set in New York, but implications of the disaster mean that we think it has had worldwide consequences. It is incredibly haunting, as we are used to seeing New York being an incredibly busy city, so to see it derelict is very sinister.

0 Costume, figure expression

Neville usually wears a dark jacket which symbolises that he is haunted from his past, and shows us he is willing to do what’s necessary to protect his work and the people around him.

Mise-en-scene: Case Study

Mise-en-scene: Case Study

‘The Day After Tomorrow’, 20040Camerawork:

-Long shots, extreme long shots and establishing shots show the catastrophic events that affect places across the globe. Meanwhile long shots and medium shots follow the action that takes place throughout the film, such as on the ship when the group get attacked by wolves.

-Close ups are also used to show the emotional draining the characters suffer as the effects worsen.

0 Editing:

Straight cuts are mostly used to continue the rapid pacing of the action.

Parallel editing is also used to reinforce the size and power of the catastrophes that are occurring, as well as demonstrate the impacts they each have on people.

Match-on-action also often occurs in the action sequences, as the action flows better and is more pleasing to the audience. It also helps the suspense flow from each scene to the next.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_1VnGp8Lls

Mise-en-scene: Case Study

Mise-en-scene: Case Study

0 Props

The use of books, particularly in the library, are ironic, as many writers have spoken of their theories of climate change and natural hazards, yet society fails to respond by changing the way they live their lives and protecting the environment.

0 Lighting

Natural exterior light is often used to highlight the relation to real life environmental situations. Meanwhile, darkness often ensues buildings to suggest there is no escape from this disaster when it begins to occur.

0 Setting

The use of cities and countries all over the world highlights the global consequences that will occur should humanity fail to respond to the crises of global warming, climate change and unsustainable technology and energy resources.

0 Costume, figure expression

The sequence in New York where people are wandering the streets in casual and smart casual wear (suits, etc) without raincoats, let alone warm enough clothing to protect them from the cold of the ice age that is coming, illustrates the lack of preparation of all people for the oncoming disasters. This creates a disillusion in the sense that the suits and casual wear people usually wear reflect a sense of normality, when the oncoming disasters will change peoples’ perception of normality, and therefore their needs such as warm clothing. Jack, however, illustrating his intelligence concerning climate change, is prepared for his journey to rescue Sam.

Mise-en-scene: Case Study

Mise-en-scene: Case Study

‘The Road’, 20090Camerawork:

-Frequent use of close ups or medium close ups emphasise the strain mentally and physically the man and the boy are under each passing day, as their emotions are conveyed to the audience.

-Establishing and long shots are also frequent to shock the audience with the dystopia that is America. The ash, fog and general horror of the setting is successfully conveyed to the audience.

0 Editing:

-Shot-reverse-shot is used frequently as the characters continuously communicate and teach each other, in terms of survival and morality, in addition to being used when they meet others on the road

-Graphic matches appear frequently as the characters continue venturing across the American wasteland.

-Match-on-action is mainly used in the action sequences, such as the escape from the house as well as the earthquake striking.

Mise-en-scene: Case Study

Mise-en-scene: Case Study0 Props

The gun and limited supply of ammunition represent the easy way out for the man and his son if circumstances came to the worst. However, they also represent the lack of morality in this dystopian world. There is no trust. Most of the people the man and boy meet are evil through nature (murderers) or desperation (thief).

The trolley shows us how little the pair own, because they could not take much with them on their journey as it slows them down. It makes us think of our own priorities if we were put in a similar situation.

0 Lighting

With the exception of, strangely, the bunker, everywhere is very dark, emphasising the state of dystopia that America is in. The bunker meanwhile, is lit up to represent a safe haven, with supplies aplenty for the man and boy.

0 Setting

The American landscape is usually known for its outstanding beauty, so to see it in a desolate way is strange and disturbing. The fog and ash that covers everything make every location monotonous, and appear to make their journey even more disheartening.

0 Costume, figure expression

Having been in this world for some time, the characters are appropriately dressed in warm and partly camouflaged clothing, to protect them from natural or artificial means.

Mise-en-scene: Case Study

Mise-en-scene: Comparison0 Establishing shots and long shots are used

frequently in each of the films, as the characters in ‘The Road’ travel across an American dystopia, while in ‘I Am Legend’, Neville fights to survive the isolated New York City wasteland, and the characters across the world fight to survive the natural disasters in ‘The Day…’.

0 Close ups are used more regularly in ‘The Road’ and ‘I Am Legend’, as they include fewer characters, allowing us to create greater character development, and observe their changing physical and mental state as the problem progresses. Although ‘The Day…’ still uses them, the frequent CGI of the dramatic environmental hazards restricts our ability to bond with the characters, and their emotions are followed less.

Mise-en-scene: Comparison0 The match-on-action is critically used

along with the straight cut in these films to continue the movies’ flow. ‘The Road’ uses continuity editing less as it jumps from location to location as the man and boy continue their journey.

0 The clear presence of scientists and doctors (through their lab coats) is ironic considering they are part of the reason for the disasters in ‘The Day…’ and ‘I Am Legend’. Yet they are trying to assist the recovery. The thick, dirty warm clothing present in ‘The Road’ enforces the environmental aspects of the film, although the characters are more focused on survival, rather than recovery.

0 Weaponry (guns) are used in ‘The Road’ and ‘I Am Legend’ either for protection or hunting, as society has fallen into chaos.

Mise-en-scene: Comparison0 ‘I Am Legend’ is entirely based in New

York, but hints that effects of the virus have spread worldwide. Similarly, ‘The Road’ and ‘The Day…’ are based across America, and suggest or show the global consequences of the hazards that originally caused the disaster.

0 The darkness used in each film conveys the loneliness and isolation of the characters from modern day society. It is also used in ‘I Am Legend’ to convey the danger that is present (the vampiristic infected). Brighter light used in each film seems to convey a sense of safety for the characters within it.