List 5 conventions of the

Superhero Genre

Starter
Define:

Convention

the things you usually find in films of the

genre.

Connotation

the meaning or feeling from a technique

What is Mise-en-scene?

Location/Setting
Costume
Hair & Make-up
Performance
Lighting - High/Low-Key
Colours (Particularly costumes/Make-up)
Props
Remember to think about how they are
conventional to genre and excite the
audience!

Cinematography
Extreme
Close-up
Long
Shot

Low
Angle
Close
Up

Mid
Shot

High
Angle

Establishing

Bird's Eye View

Canted Frame/Dutch Angle

Camera Movement
What is a pan?
When the camera is turns left/right
What is a tilt?
When the camera turns up/down
What is a tracking shot?
When the camera follows the subject
What does depth of field mean?
How much of the shot is in focus

Sound
What is non-diegetic sound?
Sounds only audience can hear. Not from
within film world.

Soundtrack

Narration

What is diegetic sound?

Sounds from within the film world.

Dialogue

Explosions

Fighting

List as many editing techniques as you

can...
Cut
Cross Cutting
Shot-reverse-shot

Shot changes to next with

no transition.
Cuts between two events
happening at same time
Cuts between back and
forth usually conversation

Object in one shot similar

Graphic match cut in shape to one in next

Fade
Dissolve

Shot fades in/out from/to

usually black or white
One shot fades out while
other fades in. Both can
be seen.

Remember to think about the pace!!!

What techniques can be included in

Special Effects?

Iconography
Iconography - A collective term for objects and
symbols associated with a particular genre.
For example:
Horses, revolvers, saloons, and a Sheriff's badge
are typical iconography of the Western genre

Binary Opposition
Used in Superhero
films to show
themes.

Light vs dark
Good vs evil
Right vs wrong
Black vs white
Cats vs dogs
Key Theorist:
Claude Levi-Strauss
The constant conflict/
opposition drives the story.

Think of 4 more
binary
opposition pairs
Think

Pair

Share

Themes
A Theme is an idea which is
explored throughout a text.
Sometimes it is said that
Superhero films are like myths or
legends - they are there to
discuss an idea.
Themes can be divided into
public (society) and private
(the superhero) categories.

Plenary
Revenge

Truth, Justice
& the American
way
Good v evil

Public responsibilities
vs personal happiness

Themes

discrimination
Redemption
Do the ends justify
the means?
Right and wrong

Family
Motivation

moral
dilemmas
self preservation vs
self sacrifice
Politics

Hero's
responsibilities

Narrative is another word for story or plot.

In superhero narratives the protagonist usually has to
fight against a powerful nemesis. Usually anonymously.
There are complications along the way and usually great
pain for our hero. But in the end they always triumph.

Equilibrium

Disruption

Peter Parker is a geek

who lives with his
aunt & uncle

He is bitten by a
radioactive spider, his
uncle is killed & a villain
begins a reign of terror

New
equilibrium Peter Parker learns how
to use his powers for
good and becomes a
hero for the city

England is ruled by a
fascist dictatorship

V starts a
terrorist spree.

England is freed from

the government.

Characters often fall into certain types. Who do we

usually find in films in the Superhero genre?

Hero
Villain/Nemesis
Side-kick
Love interest
Family
Supporters
Father figure
Side-swapper

Ideology

A system of beliefs

Superheroes are
usually American - so
is their
ideology.

What Ideologies do
you remember?

Often they are truly

American heroes that
save
the world.

Give an example
from a superhero
film you have seen.

Dictatorship

Fascism

Communism

Truth, Justice, Freedom

& The American Way

Propaganda
Information (often false), ideas, or
rumours deliberately spread widely to
help or harm a person, group, nation.

Representation
Representation is how things are shown in a film.
How the filmmaker represents the truth to help tell
their story.
Can be postitive or negative.
Often shown through stereotypes (simplified
representation).
What examples can you think of from superhero
films?

Positive

Negative

Representations

Franchise

A film and its sequels are

part of a larger business
plan.

Films are based on whether they are an original screen play or a pre-existing
property.
Pre-existing properties could be for example; a novel, comic book, play,
magazine article, true stories or an old film. The Pirates of the Caribbean was
based on a fun fair ride.
A producer or studio who owns the film rights to a comic book will be able to
recreate a franchise. Here a film and all its sequels have multiple tie-ins and
merchandises licences.

75mil

60mil

55mil

52mil

46mil

39mil

37mil

8
35mil

9
33mil

10

32mil
If you were going to make your own
superhero movie, who would you get to
play the lead role? Why?

Write down answers to the

following;

Starter

What different ways are

films marketed?
What different places have
you seen film marketing?
What do you think is the
most effective way?

Prepare to share your

answers with the class
Think

Pair

Share

Tie-ins
A piece if a franchise designed to cash in
on the interest generated by the film.
Books
Computer game
Soundtrack
Fast Food

Spin-off
Film leads to other related produces
TV series
Other films about the characters
Computer games

More money comes

from:
Cable TV fees
DVD releases
Terrestrial TV fees.
iTunes
Netflix

DVD releases
probably more
important than the
cinema release.

A* Terminology

Marketing & Merchandise

Viral Marketing

Dark Knight (2008)

Worldwide Premieres via Instagram

Why would a DVD have

special features?

What are the

connotations attached to
this dark background?

What does the main

image say to us?
What do we expect?

What is this
institutional
information
for?

Why put stills

from the movie
here?

How would you

describe the
protagonist in this
still?

Why are the actor's

names at the top?
Who is the most
important star?

What can we tell

about the film from
these pictures?

Teaser Poster

Final One Sheet

Character Posters

Recurrent Issues
Speaking about features without directly
referencing the material provided by name E.g. you need to say "On the Green
Lantern DVD Cover/Poster"
Not discussing how a feature is designed to
directly attract the target audience
Wasting time discussing the blurb/synopsis
instead of a more challenging/interesting
point
Not annotating the creative question enough.
You must briefly describe why you have
added each key feature.
Not giving enough detail in answers. More
analysis and discussion of connotations
needed.

Write down any concerns or questions you have

about anything we have covered or the exam.
Place your post-its below.

ND D
I SRS TS T
T
M R BB ES PEE
C MD R TA A
H CC ECU J D
I

Finally... Remember the following:

At the start of the exam create a grid for
note taking during the clip
Try to work at a mark a minute
Always refer your answer specifically to the
superhero genre and its audience
Be analytical - look for connotations, e.g.
colours/design of costume, camera angles
And revise and use the following:
Terminology - conventions, iconography,
connotations, representations
Common Superhero Themes
Conventions of the Superhero genre
Specific target audiences for the genre
Conventions of Posters/DVDs/Merchandise
Good Luck!