A2 Film StudiesA2 Film StudiesFS4FS4

SHOCKING CINEMASHOCKING CINEMA

‘‘Shocking’ HistoryShocking’ History

For this unit, we will be looking at how theFor this unit, we will be looking at how themedium of film has produced some medium of film has produced some shocking by-products for us throughout shocking by-products for us throughout cinema history. cinema history. However, in order to fully understand what However, in order to fully understand what audience ‘shock’ is, we shall start by looking audience ‘shock’ is, we shall start by looking at how other media have also achieved this.at how other media have also achieved this.

Before the advent of cinema, we sought entertainment Before the advent of cinema, we sought entertainment by other means, most notably, theatre.by other means, most notably, theatre.As is the case with film, theatre plays oftenAs is the case with film, theatre plays oftenproduced ‘shocking’ entertainment.produced ‘shocking’ entertainment.The most notorious of these were by La ThThe most notorious of these were by La Théâtre du éâtre du Grand Guignol in Paris, France.Grand Guignol in Paris, France.

Stage productions would often include Stage productions would often include horrific narratives & violence played out horrific narratives & violence played out using gory visual effects, which often using gory visual effects, which often appalled the audience.appalled the audience.

Can you think of a play that you saw, Can you think of a play that you saw, which shocked you?which shocked you?

Comics in the 1950’s have always Comics in the 1950’s have always been a concern with regards to their been a concern with regards to their content.content.

EC Comics produced such titles as EC Comics produced such titles as ‘Crime SuspenStories’ and ‘Tales ‘Crime SuspenStories’ and ‘Tales From The Crypt’ (that became a film & From The Crypt’ (that became a film & tv series) which often included tv series) which often included murders, bloodshed and strong murders, bloodshed and strong violence. violence.

This was one reason why EC Comics This was one reason why EC Comics became popular amongst younger became popular amongst younger readers, but their parents weren’t readers, but their parents weren’t pleased with the content!pleased with the content!

Shocking MusicShocking Music

Music has produced Music has produced many ‘shock’ many ‘shock’ movements movements throughout history – throughout history – from ‘Rock & Roll’ from ‘Rock & Roll’ music, to ‘Punk’, to music, to ‘Punk’, to ‘Gangsta Rap’, and ‘Gangsta Rap’, and beyond.beyond.

Another medium Another medium known for known for producing shocking producing shocking texts, is the video texts, is the video computer game. computer game. Games such as Games such as ‘Manhunt’ and the ‘Manhunt’ and the ‘Grand Theft Auto’ ‘Grand Theft Auto’ series have been series have been met with shock in met with shock in certain circles.certain circles.

* War* War* Terrorism* Terrorism* Murder* Murder* Riots* Riots* ‘Happy Slapping’* ‘Happy Slapping’* Teenage Gun & Knife * Teenage Gun & Knife Crime Crime* Fritzl – Austria* Fritzl – Austria* German Cannibal* German Cannibal* Madeline McCann* Madeline McCann* Soham Murders* Soham Murders* Serial Killers* Serial Killers* Columbine/Dunblane/* Columbine/Dunblane/ Hungerford MassacresHungerford Massacres

Shocking SocietyShocking Society

Shocking RadioShocking Radio

• War of the WorldsWar of the Worlds• ‘‘Shock Jocks’ –Shock Jocks’ –

* Howard Stern* Howard Stern* Chris Moyles* Chris Moyles

Shocking TelevisionShocking TelevisionBBC ‘Ghost Watch’BBC ‘Ghost Watch’9/119/11Jerry SpringerJerry SpringerLive AutopsyLive AutopsyLive Animal SlaughterLive Animal SlaughterBig BrotherBig Brother

Shocking AdvertsShocking Adverts

Shocking FilmsShocking FilmsFilm, more than any other Film, more than any other medium has made more medium has made more impact on what shocks impact on what shocks people.people.One of the first films to shock One of the first films to shock audiences was the Lumiaudiences was the Lumière ère Brothers’ Brothers’ ‘Train Pulling into a ‘Train Pulling into a Station’ (1895). Station’ (1895).

Cinema was such a new Cinema was such a new medium, that audiences medium, that audiences were convinced that the train were convinced that the train being projected onto the being projected onto the screen, was heading right for screen, was heading right for them, and ran for the exits in them, and ran for the exits in sheer panic!sheer panic!

Other films included ‘The Great Train Robbery’ (1903) which ended Other films included ‘The Great Train Robbery’ (1903) which ended with a bandit firing his pistol at the audience (something recreated at with a bandit firing his pistol at the audience (something recreated at the end of Martin Scorsese’s ‘Goodfellas’ (1990), and ‘Le Cabinet de the end of Martin Scorsese’s ‘Goodfellas’ (1990), and ‘Le Cabinet de Méphistophélès’ (1897), where we see the devil’s head detach from Méphistophélès’ (1897), where we see the devil’s head detach from his body and fly around a laboratory. his body and fly around a laboratory.

Also, footage of an elephant being electrocuted and mould growing Also, footage of an elephant being electrocuted and mould growing on a piece of cheese was seen as shocking viewing for early film on a piece of cheese was seen as shocking viewing for early film audiences.audiences.

What other shocking films are What other shocking films are there?there?

Discuss - why do they Discuss - why do they shock?shock?

Film and the creation of Film and the creation of ‘shock’‘shock’

• One emotional response that could be on your list of One emotional response that could be on your list of emotional responses to film would be 'shock'. Films, like emotional responses to film would be 'shock'. Films, like books, plays, paintings and other forms of cultural production, books, plays, paintings and other forms of cultural production, have always been seen to have the ability to shock an have always been seen to have the ability to shock an audience. The nature of this shock can cover a wide range of audience. The nature of this shock can cover a wide range of possibilities. The early audiences for films in Paris in 1895 possibilities. The early audiences for films in Paris in 1895 were apparently 'shocked' simply by the sense of realism were apparently 'shocked' simply by the sense of realism created by the filmed image of a train moving towards them. created by the filmed image of a train moving towards them.

• It might 'shock' some people to be shown experimental, It might 'shock' some people to be shown experimental, avant-garde or alternative film simply because they had never avant-garde or alternative film simply because they had never thought of the possibility of there being forms of film other thought of the possibility of there being forms of film other than realist narratives. However, most people's initial than realist narratives. However, most people's initial response when considering this issue is to see 'shock' in response when considering this issue is to see 'shock' in terms of scenes of a graphic sexual or violent content in more terms of scenes of a graphic sexual or violent content in more popular mainstream films. These are certainly the areas that popular mainstream films. These are certainly the areas that receive most media coverage in relation to 'shocking' film.receive most media coverage in relation to 'shocking' film.

What’s shocking to you?What’s shocking to you? List the range of ways in which you see film as List the range of ways in which you see film as

being potentially 'shocking', and try to give an being potentially 'shocking', and try to give an example for each. In order to comply with Film example for each. In order to comply with Film Studies good practice you should try to refer to Studies good practice you should try to refer to specific scenes within particular films.specific scenes within particular films.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hwVnZe_0D8M Irréversible (Gaspar Noé, v=hwVnZe_0D8M Irréversible (Gaspar Noé, 2002)2002)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ll8xvGEdp80 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ll8xvGEdp80 Un Chien Andalou (Luis Buñuel, 1928)Un Chien Andalou (Luis Buñuel, 1928)

What’s shocking to you?What’s shocking to you?

What exactly is at work in the clips you’ve What exactly is at work in the clips you’ve just seen that brings about the emotional just seen that brings about the emotional response of shock?response of shock?

Which image is more shocking?Which image is more shocking?

Which image is more shocking?Which image is more shocking?

Which image is more shocking?Which image is more shocking?

Video Nasties – Part IVideo Nasties – Part IThe home video recorder was first The home video recorder was first introduced to the British market in introduced to the British market in the late 1970’s, and the so-called the late 1970’s, and the so-called ‘Video Nasties’ arrived shortly ‘Video Nasties’ arrived shortly afterwards at the start of the 1980’s. afterwards at the start of the 1980’s.

One of the driving issues behind the One of the driving issues behind the impending ‘nasty’ hysteria was impending ‘nasty’ hysteria was simple – control. There were no laws simple – control. There were no laws to say that video films had to be to say that video films had to be certificated.certificated.

Even the video sleeve designs were Even the video sleeve designs were shocking.shocking.

Video Nasties – Part IIVideo Nasties – Part IIThe Copycat TheoryThe Copycat Theory

The James Bulger CaseThe James Bulger Case

Copycat Killing QuotesCopycat Killing Quotes

‘‘I am holding Oliver Stone personally responsible I am holding Oliver Stone personally responsible for my injuries, as it is his film, and he has for my injuries, as it is his film, and he has misused his powers of influence in creating such misused his powers of influence in creating such a horrific and irresponsible film.’a horrific and irresponsible film.’

(Hamsher, 1997: 229)(Hamsher, 1997: 229)

‘His moral values were obliterated by seeing women degraded in video films. What he saw made him believe that women were prepared to behave in a fashion that bore in relation to reality…

he lived out his fantasies.’

(KopyKat Killers, Darkside Magazine 26)

Presentation Presentation

In pairs: select a film which you believe to In pairs: select a film which you believe to be shocking:be shocking:

Discuss why it is shocking – specific Discuss why it is shocking – specific images, camera angles/shots etcimages, camera angles/shots etc

Who would be shocked by it?Who would be shocked by it?What might the effect on the audience be?What might the effect on the audience be?

Sample Exam Question- US Time Sample Exam Question- US Time

How important is performance in How important is performance in understanding the spectator’s emotional understanding the spectator’s emotional response to scary films? Refer to the films response to scary films? Refer to the films you have studied for this topic. you have studied for this topic.

Planning Your Answer – Top TipsPlanning Your Answer – Top Tips

1)write down the points you want to make as 1)write down the points you want to make as a spider diagram - showing the points which a spider diagram - showing the points which will fall out of themwill fall out of them2)What is your evidence going to be for 2)What is your evidence going to be for each point? (which film) each point? (which film) 3)Structure – which point will you start with? 3)Structure – which point will you start with? Which point will you end with? Which point will you end with? 4) I know its basic but remember: Point, 4) I know its basic but remember: Point, evidence and explain evidence and explain