AS Media Studies Evaluation Q1

1. Mirage

2.  Todorov stated that narratives in general, including that of thrillers, are
led by events in a cause and effect format. Our thriller opening seems to
fit quite closely with this theory however it has proven to be slightly
unconventional.
disequilibrium
Equilibrium

3.  For example, our thriller doesn’t begin with a
total equilibrium, instead it begins with a
slightly uneasy tone without a calm and
relaxed atmosphere and gradually builds up to
a disequilibrium.

4.  Our thriller also ends in-between equilibrium and disequilibrium because
not everything is resolved and it ends with a kind of cliff hanger at the
end.
 However, it does follow the correct pattern as the tension gradually
become diffused.

5. 1-Slight
equilibrium
(begin running)
2-Rise in
tension
(flashback)
3-Further Rise
(First sight of
antagonist)
4-Slight rise in
tension
disequilibrium
(flashback)
5-Fall in
tension slight
equilibrium
(phone call)

6.  This theory states that a film or TV series’ genre
can be defined in six different ways through
categories such as narrative, characters, themes,
settings , iconography etc.
 The following slide contains a work sheet
where we decided upon how well we met these
conventions of a thriller and why.

8.  In our thriller we have stuck closely to the conventions of a thriller film
by playing with the concepts of conspiracy this adheres to the
conventions of the thriller genre as it is quite a typical of the genre.
The Bourne series is a brilliant
example of this narrative which
sticks closely to concepts and
themes such as torture and medial
experimentation.

9.  The conventional types of characters in a thriller film usually
consists of a protagonist, an antagonist and a victim, among other
smaller roles.
 Our thriller has adhered to this convention by using a protagonist
and an antagonist. However, we have subverted slightly by also
making our protagonist a victim whereas in most thrillers, the
victim is a sepirate character.
Protagonist
Victim
Antagonist

10.  Our thriller appears to adhere quite well to the conventional themes of a
thriller film. This is because we stuck closely to the themes of mystery as
in our opening, the identity of the antagonist remained unknown as did
the name of our protagonist.
 Our thriller also has a suggestion of torture through our use of flashbacks
to show the medical testing on the protagonist.
 However our thriller did subvert slightly from the conventions of themes
because (at least in our opening) there was not an instance of death which
most thrillers contain, particularly in the opening. The film ‘se7en’ is a
good example of this.

11.  Our thriller very much adheres to the conventions of a Thriller’s
setting as it has been quite a common idea to set films that fall
under the thriller genre/sub-genre in an eerie and derelict area
such as woodlands and abandoned towns etc.
 However, this kind of setting is often seen more in thriller films
with the sub-genre of horror, which our film is not and so in this
way, our film subverts from the conventions of thriller films.
Evil Dead Mirage