Unit B322 – Textual Analysis and Media Studies Topic
Section A – Action Adventure – Revision Booklet and Overview
This booklet will provide you with an overview of some of the Key
codes & conventions, media language and themes & issues often
represented in this genre.
YOU MUST learn this and complete the tasks set in preparing for the
exam!
Action Adventure films - NARRATIVE

The narrative often revolves around a “Quest” – whether it’s saving a girl
(‘Die Hard’), saving the environment or a species (‘Avatar’) OR finding
treasure before the ‘villains’ (Propp) (‘Indiana Jones’ franchise, ‘Pirates of
the Carribean’ franchise)

Todorov’s 3 part narrative certainly applies to this genre, where the
‘disequilibrium’ is usally created by a ‘villainous’ (Propp) character or
someone who could also be perceived as being ‘monstrous’ (Neale &
Krutnik)
Equilibrium = Normality in the narrative
Disequilibrium = Where the normality is Disrupted
New Equilbrium = Where normality is restored OR the audience are
provided with an ‘enigma clue’ (Roland Barthes) of potential closure in the
narrative.

The narrative tends to be linear (follows a logical order) and closed (where
the issues/dilemmas that arise are solved, usally by the ‘prince/hero’ –
Propp).
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Task: Watch a 3-5 minute sequence of your choice from a film from the genre and
establish whether these 3 points are addressed in the sequence.

Action Adventure films – GENRE (Question 1 in the exam)

Often denoted as being a ‘High Concept’ (Justin Wyatt – 1994) characterized
by excess in order to attract a “dumb audience” (Yvonne Tasker – 1993) at
the box-office.

High Production Value; Lots of CGI (Computer Generated Imagery).

Lots of “whammo” (Joel Silver) effects that ‘hook’ (Justin Wyatt – 1994) the
audience in – both in terms of marketing and in the films themselves.

The male gender is often ‘repeatedly’ (Steve Neale) represented as a strong,
dominant character, who male viewers (Hartley’s 7 subjectivities) would
aspire to be like (‘Social Climbers’ – Maslow).

Lots of Jump cuts (Editing) and Close-Up/Extreme Close-ups (Camera work)
tend to ‘signify’ (De Saussure) the high-octane narrative and dramatic,
dangerous circumstances that the characters often find themselves in.

Often seen as being a hybrid genre, whereby other genres codes &
conventions are presented – for example romance between a male and
female characters (‘Indiana Jones’); comedy and animation (‘Shrek’).
Example: Avatar
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Task: In considering the 4 points above for GENRE YOU MUST write a short paragraph explaining
what elements of ‘repetition and difference’ (Steve Neale) there are in this genre.
YOU SHOULD refer to examples of where this theory applies in case study examples we have
studied and/or your own case study examples (Action Adventure films).
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Action Adventure films – MEDIA LANGUAGE (Question 2 in the exam)
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Mise-en-scene (Everything you see – NON-VERBAL CODES)
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Mysterious/exotic location – for example Pandora in ‘Avatar’ (2009) Dir.
James Cameron.
-
Familiar setting in order to create a sense of moral panic and fear amongst a
predominantly passive audience (accepts what they see on screen) – for
example the terrorists taking control of a building in ‘Die Hard’ (1988) Dir.
John McTiernan.
-
High Key lighting and top lighting to add glamour, tension and suspense to the
narrative – for example the opening sequence of ‘The Fugitive’ (1993) Dir.
Andrew Davis – however this is often juxtaposed with low key lighting in
order to ‘signify’ (De Saussure) tragedy, danger and a threat to the audience.
-
Props – Often provide connotations as to who the character is and are often
seen as essential in presenting a sense of generic verisimilitude (reality) to
the audience – for example the use of innovative technology and weaponry in
‘Avatar’ (2009) Dir. James Cameron is imperative in providing a post-modern
view of the future. Props will often be in the form of guns, weapons, costumes
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(John McClane in ‘Die Hard’ is synonymous for wearing a grubby vest) and
modes of transport – for example Captain Jack Sparrows ship.
-
Characters – Often deliberately provide ‘star appeal’ (Richard Dyer) for the
audience in order to get “bums on seats” at the box-office – these stars often
become essential to the economy of the genre as Directors and studios will
recognize their market value and will ‘repeatedly’ use them in the genre – for
example Bruce Willis (‘Die Hard’ franchise) and Harrison Ford (‘Indiana Jones’
franchise and ‘The Fugitive’).
Task: -
YOU MUST watch a 3-5 minute sequence from the Action-Adventure genre to complete
the following 20-mark question:
YOU SHOULD use media language in your answer such as denotes and connotes and
answer in full sentences.

Soundtrack (Verbal codes) –
How do the following fit the action adventure genre?
Diegetic Dialogue; Non-Diegetic soundtrack; synchronous sound – e.g explosions
that are in time to the what the audience sees; ambient sound
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Camerawork (Technical codes) –
How do the following fit the action adventure genre?
Shot type(s) – Close-Up, Mid-Shot, Long shot; Camera angle(s) – Low angle
(connotes dominance), Eye level (Audience are on the same level) and/or High
angle (characters are dominated/submissive); Camera movement – zooms, pans
(Left-right), tilts; Tracking shots – Anchor the High action is involved/stunts/car
chase etc.
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Editing (Technical codes) –
How do the following fit the action adventure genre?
Transitions (Jump cuts for fast paced narrative; fades for more somber moments
in the narrative); 180 ° rule (Continuity; face-off between good v evil that denotes
binary opposition – Levi Strauss – between the characters in the genre); PostProduction effects – CGI, SFX
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Mise-en-scene (Non-verbal codes) –
How do the following fit the action adventure genre?
Setting – Familiar (Utopian) OR unfamiliar (Dystopian); Props – what do they
‘signify’ (De Saussure) to the audience in relation to the genre? Characters –
Stereotypical? ‘Tough Guy’ OR ‘Wise Guys (Tasker- 1993)? Alpha-male/female?
Do the characters provide a ‘male gaze’ (Laura Mulvey) OR a ‘female gaze’ (Diana
Saco)? Do they conform to John Berger’s “men act, women appear”? Lighting –
High key (bright) OR low key (dark)?
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Action Adventure films – REPRESENTATION (Question 3 in the exam)
Characters:

“One dimensional stereotypes” (Thompson – 1999) - Stereotypical representation
of the male gender as strong, dominant and ‘heroic’ (Propp); Often seen as the
‘Tough Guy’ (Yvonne Tasker – 1993) and often save the ‘princess’ (Propp) from
harm (See areas covered in Page 1 of the booklet on the genre often presenting a
“Quest”)

Justin Wyatt (1994) argued that genre “provides style OVER content” – therefore
the characters are often represented as status symbols for the audience to admire
and aspire to be like – yet in contrast they very seldom denote a ‘wise guy’
(Tasker – 1993) persona whereby their intelligence is what makes them
admirable – the stereotypical “brawn over brain” certainly applies to the male
gender in this genre.
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
The female gender are often there for a passive male (Hartley) audience to ‘gaze’
(Laura Mulvey) at – therefore the producers sexualize the female form and thus
repeat the stereotypical view of how “men act, women appear” (John Berger).
However, a new wave of “alpha female” characters have emerged in presenting a
post-modern (futuristic/new) view of the stereotypical gender hierarchy and
hegemony of society.
Task: -
1) How does Lara Croft (Angelina Jolie) conform to (agree with) and/or challenge
(disagree with) the gender stereotype of female’s “appearing” (John Berger) in
the action-adventure genre?
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2) Research and comment on the representation of women in action-adventure
films – How are they similar or different
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
Men have also been seen as objects of desire, denoted as providing a ‘female gaze’
(Diana Saco) due to their bravery, physical strength and courage on screen as
well.

The genre as a whole also tends to represent events that reflect the zeitgeist
(spirit of the times) – for example ‘Avatar’ focuses on racial tension between 2
very different species, yet leaves the audience with the message that we should
live in peace and harmony; a lot of contemporary Action-Adventure texts deal
with issues such as terrorism as well, especially post-9/11.
Revision Tips!
1) “Mind map” Key terms associated to each of the following Micro features (technical
areas):
YOU MUST know these 4 areas in preparation for the exam and YOU WILL be
expected to make notes in the exam itself when viewing the 3-5 minute sequence.
YOU WILL be shown the sequence 4 times – although you will NOT be allowed to
make notes during Viewing 1).
YOU SHOULD refer to your Micro Feature booklet for an in depth overview of the
language and micro-elements (conventions) YOU WILL need to refer to!
2) Read through and highlight the theory/key terms you need to know from you’re a-Z
Handout.
3) PRACTICE! –
Watch Action-Adventure sequences and give yourself the time and experience of what
YOU WILL be expected to address in the exam.
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