Children of Men CATEGORIES (i.e. what kind of text?): Genre Purpose Tone

Children Of Men 2

What is Genre? Like all classification systems, genre is a construction of the human mind, a way of sorting things out according to what they are like. In film, genre is used by production teams to create films that will sell to selected audiences. It is a way of ensuring as far as possible that the film will create the expected response in the audience. 3

Why does it work? We like to think that we are unique individuals. If we were, then genre wouldn’t work, because there would be no way anyone could predict what our response to a film might be. Genre works by using conventions to manipulate our emotional responses to a film. 4

How it works Film techniques are used to set up responses that are often almost unconscious. Genres appeal to different hopes, fears, desires, dreams and preoccupations that we have and, to a certain extent, share. 5

Genres in Children of Men Road Movies These include films like Thelma and Louise, Easy Rider, etc. They will involve a journey, usually to get away from someone, something, etc. The journey will become more difficult and complicated as the story progresses. Relationships will change in the course of the journey – discoveries are made, people become closer or are driven apart, characters’ lives are transformed. As the end of the journey approaches, tension builds towards the film’s climactic moments. 6

The trucker THELMA AND LOUISE 7

Science Fiction. All science fiction is based on a theoretical possibility – a “what if” – that is capable of scientific explanation. Hence Star Wars is science fiction, while Harry Potter is fantasy. In sci-fi, we expect to see characters exploring the possibilities and grappling with the consequences of future change. As a rule, we do not expect to see the world as we know it. 8

FUTURISTIC BUILDINGS – THE TYRELL CORPORATION BLADERUNNER 9

Future societies are usually portrayed as either recognisable variants of contemporary society (Star Wars; I, Robot) or as Dystopias. In the former, the social and political setting is relatively unimportant; in the latter, it is very important. 10

Dystopian Film Dystopias are political sci-fi, that play on nightmarish expectations of a future world characterised by harsh, devious, authoritarian and dictatorial governments; technology used to control, restrict and delude people; the heavy and obvious presence of security forces; and the absence of normal concepts of civil society – no civil rights; often basic human activities (such as childbirth and child-rearing) are interfered with.

In dystopias, advertising techniques recognisable by a modern audience are used to brainwash the masses – see 1984 & The Handmaid’s Tale. Dystopian heroes are usually rebels, often initially unwilling rebels, who are forced to try and deceive or defy the status quo in order to achieve something for the greater good. 12

In 1984 modern mass media – wall screens and films - are used for overtly propagandist purposes 13

Children of Men - Genre For each of the following genres, list as many features of Narrative, Iconography, Character and Setting as you can find: Dystopian Science Fiction Road Movie Action / War Movie 14

Categories - Tone As a category, Tone describes the mood or atmosphere of a text. Tone can vary throughout a text. Tone is established through: the choice of subject matter, the attitude of the text’s creators to that subject matter The use of Language to reflect that attitude

Categories Tone in Children of Men: The tone of the film overall is quite dark, but you need to be able to analyse moments where it changes Watch the following sequences, and make notes on how the tone is established and how it changes during them (look at mise-en-scene, camerawork, dialogue/sound, lighting etc.)

Tone Opening sequence: Sombre Shocking Car chase sequence (25.20): Relaxed Desperate Battle of Bexhill (1.24) : Violent Hopeful

Categories - Purpose The film has three main purposes: Entertainment Profit Political commentary It achieves these purposes in a number of ways – it aims to entertain by creating an intriguing narrative and believable characters It aims to make a profit by successfully entertaining its audience – the more effective it is at entertaining its target audience, the more profit it is likely to make. It creates an effective political commentary both through the events it portrays, but also through production design

Purpose Production Design & Dystopia: Task 1: Make detailed notes on the DVD extra “Futuristic Design” – what was the vision for the film, and how was it achieved? Add to these notes from the interview with Cuaron Task 2: Make notes on how Michael Rowin’s review of the film sees the film as balancing the purpose of entertainment with its more political message