"All genres exist and function through a process of repetition and difference" - use Steve Neale's genre theory to explore this notion in Humans and Les Revenants [30]
Introduction - DAC
Definition
Argument
Context
Neale argues that that genre works through presenting a series of easily identifiable generic paradigms in order to ensure an audience. However, in order to maintain audiences over time, there is also a requirement for the producer to vary genre conventions. Thus all media products exist as a combination of the repetition and difference of genre conventions. I shall argue that both of the TV shows I have studied are simultaneously typical and yet atypical in the ways they present as genre. This is primarily to appeal to both a core and a niche audience. In order to explore this, I shall be using the examples of Humans, a 2015 Channel 4 sci-fi UKTV series, based off the Swedish sci-fi show Real Humans, and Les Revenants , a French supernatural drama/zombie show, first broadcast in 2012 on Canal Plus. and based on 2004 film of the same name. Both shows have been distributed to a number of audiences in other countries.
I pinched the following notes off of Luce. They're great! Thanks!
Les Revenants
- Julie wears oversized clothing, going for comfort over style - atypical representation
- not obvious, going against Hollywood stereotypes
- proairetic code as Mr Costa is walking down the corridor, expecting to see something scary but rather just see a woman eating pasta out of a pan, which suggests a comfort within the home, and seems more 'cute' as opposed to something scary as audience expects
- the whole show is extremely anti climatic, subverting conventions in order to appeal to a cult audience
- establishing shot, with diegetic ambient rain noise, and mogwi soundtrack, high pitched synth, low tempo and sparse to create a creepy feel
- on the bus, shallow depth of field allows the audience to see Victor in the background, suggesting Julie is being stalked
- Cross cut to Lena at the bar, interjecting moments of more light heartedness in order to build more tension with Julie, then cuts to a middle class family house setting - all these different settings help to appeals to a mass audience
- silence when the doctor is examining Camille - this suggests somethings a little bit off, and the silence makes the audience uncomfortable
- ensemble cast - large cast with variety of ages, genders and class
- tracking shot of Victor following Julie, mise en scene of the gritty, dark colours. harsh artificial lighting within the apartment building
- long shot of victor stood in the garden
- lack of expressions on victor's face in his performance
- choosing to set it in a council housing estate makes it more relatable to an audience - plays upon the idea that it could happen to anyone
- binary opposition between the extremely young boy in a dark, deserted location by himself
- les revenants takes the notion of hermeneutic codes to the extreme - asks more questions than it answers - this causes the audience to become more active and interact with and discuss the show. henry jenkins theory of fandom
- each episode focuses on a different character
- the setting looks very french - makes les revenants very atypical, never seen a horror set in the alps as opposed to Paris
Humans
- humans focuses on AI, and themes around the idea of what happens when technological AI becomes equals to humans, an allegory about jobs, but also emotional labour
- Anita acts as a mother to Sophie, taking on the role
- Laura see's Anita as competition in terms of motherhood and attractiveness, while to Matty she is a toy
- 'this is what breakfast is supposed to look like' anita is perfect because she is not real - she is everything to everybody. she is hyperreal. this highlights the differences between men and women in society
- Mise en scene of british supermarket, loads of british brands, we as an audience are positioned as if we are there - remade to appeal to a british audience
- atypical science fiction setting - supermarkets, middle class homes etc
- low angle shot of George, shows his weakness both as an old man but also with the authoritative voice over him
- odi is hyperreal, he is more real than real. he is broken and needs to be looked after, and george loves him completely
- humans deals with numerous extremely controversial topics such as rape and kidnap
- anoushka is blank faced while being raped
- bright green synth eyes
- entire show is a comment of objectification - odi is being objectified due to mental health issues
- humans offers numerous readings - negotiated, preferred, oppositional etc