Tuesday 30 April 2019

TV - component 2 section a - explore the generic fluidity of Humans and Les Revenants

"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