KEY SCENE TEXTUAL ANALYSIS: 'GET OUT'

KEY SCENE TEXTUAL ANALYSIS: 'GET OUT' (2017)

Distributed by Universal
Independent film

Budget: $4.5 million

Box office: $255.4 million

EXAM QUESTION:

'Analyse how mise-en-scen elements contributed to the construction of stereotypes in a media product you have studied' (15 marks)

KEY WORDS

- Conforms to.. (follows)

- Challenges the stereotype..

- Stereotype

- Representation

- Dominant representation (this is something that is widely accepted/agreed with for example 'Stereotypically blonde girls are unintelligent')

STEREOTYPES YOU COULD EXPLORE
- White power
- Male power
- Feminism
- Black representation
- Class representation
- Old VS Young

M-E-S
- Lighting
- Colour
- Location
- Facial Expression
- Costume
- Props

PEET
- Point
- Example
- Explain
- Theory/Theorist

point: In the opening scene 'Get Out' (2017) mise-en-scen is constructed to comment on stereotypes. The protagonist is the victim of an attack which occurs evidence:at night time. In terms of the location, it is set in a predominantly white neighbourhood. 
explanation: This challenges the stereotype because a black character is being attacked in a white neighbourhood and is seen as vulnerable which opposes the dominant representation. However it conforms to the danger of night time crime. 
theory: This links to the binary opposition theory founded by Levi Strauss. 

point: The protagonist is subject of stereotypical class representation in his performance during the opening scene.
evidence: This occurs when the main character speaks profoundly poor language in the films opening dialogue. 
explanation: This is further intensified and represented whilst the character is speaking in this manner in a white affluent neighbourhood. This adds to the black stereotype that black people are not well-mannered, or well-brought up. 

Analyse how camera language has been used to construct the narrative in a media product you have studied (12 marks)

Use of many tracking shots and handheld? why?

What does it reflect?

How does it construct the narrative (story) theory?

In the opening scene of 'Get Out' (2017) camera language is used to construct the narrative. The construct of tracking shots and handheld reflects the uncertainty of the situation. It therefore builds up tension and creates the sense of anxiety to the audience, as if the tracking shots are the piercing eyes of the villain watching him, plotting their next move. As well as this the tracking shot presents the victim, as well as the protagonist, portraying a sense of foreshadowing that something bad is about to happen to him. The audience feels a discomfort in when and what will happen. The use of this camera language constructs the narrative to the overarching plot of the movie, with the ending proposal of the scene of the protagonist being attacked and kidnapped. It builds additional curiosity to the audience on why this attacked has happened and what we will see in the next scenes of the movie. This is the perfect representation of Barthe's theory. 

Use of zoom, mid-shots and close ups?

Why?

How does it construct narrative theory?

Another example of camera language used to construct narrative in 'Get Out' (2017) can be seen in the use of a variety of camera shots such as mid-shots, zooming in and close ups. One example of this can be seen in the use of low angle shots to portray the antagonist character, who forcefully kidnaps the protagonist in the opening scene. The use of this low-angle shot allows the kidnapper to appear taller, and more fearful, placing this character into a position of power. The audience will be more inclined to feel intimidated by this, thus creating a plot, with characters to side with. This 'bad-guy' representation makes the audience feel anxious and therefore makes the build-up more appealing and enticing. The idea behind this can be incorporated into Altman's theory. The use of 'visceral pleasures' helps the audience connect with the plot, showing the emotional state of gut responses of fear and excitement, exemplified for the latter scenes in the film. 

One final example of camera language that constructs language in 'Get Out' (2017) can be seen in the shot types used in the opening scene. Close-ups are used in the opening scene to portray the protagonists emotions and convey them accurately before the action of the kidnapping. The scene displays man in fear for his life, speaking to himself, discussing himself being an outsider to a neighbourhood he doesn't belong to. This is a huge part of displaying the performance of the production using body language and facial expressions. With the focus on the black male who gets kidnapped, the audience can confer the characters importance, encapsulating detail of this opening element of the film and why it may be important to remember later. Short, quick, and snappy scenes like this are crucial to the plot of the play, especially portraying 'easter eggs' in the production once it is replayed. One theory that can be used to explain this is Strauss' binary opposition. With a quick action scene like this there needs to be a protagonist vs antagonist captured, in this case it is race - black vs white. With the whole plot focus being based around this, this opening scene can give a feel to the audience what this whole film production is all about.