NEALE, GENRE AND HOLLYWOOD (ACTION-ADVENTURE) GALLAGHER, ACTION FIGURES. Ali A. & Göktunç V. & İris C. & Reysi R.

Transcription

1 NEALE, GENRE AND HOLLYWOOD (ACTION-ADVENTURE) GALLAGHER, ACTION FIGURES Ali A. & Göktunç V. & İris C. & Reysi R.

2 Steve Neale, Action Adventure "Action-adventure" term has been used to describe the common characteristics such as physical action, fights, chases, explosions, special effects and emphasis on athletic features. Jeffords explains in his previous book the shift from hard body of the Reagan years, to soft body of the Carter years. It s also suggested that this shift isn t a return to soft body but a reframing of masculine power through internal, personal and family-oriented values.

3 Mark Gallagher, Action Figures: Men, Action Films, and Contemporary Adventure Narratives Action narratives are the most suitable genre for the performance of active masculinity where the idealized main character can perform exceptionally successful behavior which can only be logical in narratives pass beyond the normative terrain.

4 According to James Heartfiel women typically shoulder the blame for conditions attributable to capitalism. And patriarchal capitalism privilege men s political, economic, artistic, and ideological power over women s. The absence of women produces the problem of inability to demonstrate heterosexuality therefore women characters are involved into the story only to prove the heterosexuality of the characters due to dominant masculinity.

5 Action genre was known as male genre in 80s. Movies are made with concerning male audiences, women don t have an important role in the movies. After the 90s, action genre mixed with melodrama and comedy which are more related with women perspective Violence is important role in action scenes in this genre. According to John Fiske, action movies show violence as «cartoon violence» which indicates violence in acceptable way. It increases tendency to real violence espically for children.

6 Contemporary action movies use melodrama characteristics to change classical action movie themes into a more attractive, easily accepted and viewed format. Especially comedy part of a melodrama easily assures that what has been told is actually a joke to avoid any criticism to anti-social conclusions. Action films as a whole, uses all possible characteristics of comedy to disguise conflict with modern social reality such as sexual discrimination, racism, political conflicts like nationalism by mixing elements from western, comedy and martial-art films.

7 Discussion Question 1: In the 1980 s action genre named as male genre. In your opinion, contemporary action movies are still male dominant movies or not?

8 Discussion Question 1: In the 1980 s action genre named as male genre. In your opinion, contemporary action movies are still male dominant movies or not? I think, action movies can still name as male genre. Even though after the 90s women have more important roles in action movies, male actors are still dominant characters. For example, Terminator and The bourne series have talented man characters who saves innocent girls. Most of the action movies based on this story. For these reason, I think action genre is male dominant and actress always underlying character.

9 Discussion Question 2: How does contemporary action movies avoid viewers from judging the scenes from an intellectual or sentimental level? In which genre we see a similar approach?

10 Discussion Question 2: How does contemporary action movies avoid viewers from judging the scenes from an intellectual or sentimental level? In which genre we see a similar approach? Contemporary movies avoid viewers with multiple camera positions and rapid cutting which helps action to be transformed into a virtual reality. Similar approach is seen in science-fiction films.

11 Discussion Question 3: There are many series of movies in action genre (for example, The Bourne trilogy, James bond movies, The Terminator, Die hard series, Lethal weapon, Fast and Furious) by comparing other genres. In your opinion, what are the reasons that there are many action movie series?

12 Discussion Question 3: The first reason of that these movies have many audiences. If the first movie is watched by many people, producers know that people will watch other movies of the series. With this way, it is profitable that making series if the movie is popular. Also, action movies are high budget movies. Making new action movie is more risky than making other series of popular action movie.

13 MCQ1: Which one below can t be considered as a characteristic of action-adventure genre? n Chase n Femme Fatale n Fights n Athletic Male Character

14 MCQ1: Which one below can t be considered as a characteristic of action-adventure genre? n Chase n Femme Fatale n Fights n Athletic Male Character

15 MCQ2: Which of the following years melodrama and women start to gain importance in action genre? n 60s n 70s n 80s n 90s

16 MCQ2: Which of the following years melodrama and women start to gain importance in action genre? n 60s n 70s n 80s n 90s

17 MCQ3: Chase and fight is a characteristic of action genre, in which of the following it is also usually seen? n The Heritage n Romantic comedy n Noir n Western

18 MCQ3: Chase and fight is a characteristic of action genre, in which of the following it is also usually seen? n The Heritage n Romantic comedy n Noir n Western