Film Analysis on Masculinity Let Me In

Film Analysis on Masculinity Let Me In Introduction Let Me In is an American horror movie that narrates the story about the bullied and reserved boy Owen who meets a girl Abby and develops a friendship; later he finds out that she is a vampire.Advertising We will write a custom critical writing sample on Film Analysis on Masculinity: Let Me In specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Owen is very lonely and unhappy because of his parents being divorced and because he does not have friends. He is also harassed by his schoolmates. This is specifically illustrated by the movie scene in the locker room when the main bully Kenny together with this fellows start insulting and beating him claiming that he is not a boy and that he does not swim in the pool because of the fear of being exposed. The scene is quite cruel and realistic as it discloses typical relations between children under the age of twelve where each one wants to prove he is the leader and that he is much stronger than oth ers Respectively, in the scene concerned, the author portrays the characters’ attempts to display their masculinity and prove their superiority and strength. More importantly, the scene presents a wider cultural context depicting typical American school conflicts as well as psychological and gender development where juvenile aggressiveness is the main tool of control and power. In order to render this idea, I need to define the role of cameral angles and light. Then, I will talk about the importance of sound and special effects to disclose the atmosphere of the film. Finally, I am going to define the influence of mis-en-scene to disclose the role of setting and costumes in delivering a wider cultural and social context. Main body Scene Analysis: Discussing Film Language Camera Angles and Light Light and shooting angles are really important for delivering the director’s message. It is obvious that images and words are closely intertwined through connotative and denotati ve meaning where the former specifically refers to an interpretive nature and largely depends on cultural and social contexts rather than on a literal meaning. This is the so-called social dimension of language that is predominantly used in films to render the main author’s idea (Turner 54). While discussing the film language, the author resorts to specific light effects, color, and camera angles to highlight the above-mentioned aspects and deliver a certain message to the viewers. Particular emphasis is placed on light which is quite heavy, dark, and even gripping and which contribute to thrilling and depressing atmosphere presented in the scene.Advertising Looking for critical writing on art and design? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Owen is, apparently, weaker; he lies in the middle of the locker room whereas bullies are surrounding him, humiliating and looking at him coldly and aggressively. Perhaps, this aggressiveness and enormous efforts to conceal their feelings and emotions are believed to be the wrong images of masculinity, being the result of improper upbringing and false stereotypes. Camera angles and lightning are one of the part of the film signifying systems that contribute greatly to the meaning and important messages. In the scene, Reeves makes use of all possible signifiers to render the stereotypical atmosphere of school violence. Close-ups disclosing Owen’s frightened expression on his face, embittered tone and evil eyes of Kenny, abrupt knocks by the locker door, and forcing atmosphere created by light and sounding all these are captured for the audience to understand what emotions are endured by the main protagonist. Sound and special effects I would like to mention several important contributions made by sound and special effects. The involvement of sound effects is specifically significant because they contribute greatly to creating a sense of emotional e ngagement of the characters and realistic display of the events. In this respect, sound and music are always combined with language, atmosphere and setting; it is never separated from the main idea and theme of the film (Turner 66). Therefore, sound accompanying verbal language as well as specific effects constructs holistic pictures of movie characters as well as heterogeneity and multidimensional nature of the film (Aumont 159). Referring specifically the described scene, sound adds to the overall depressing atmosphere; it helps characterize the heroes, define the climax of the episode as well as the final outcome. Sound also makes the viewers to empathize with the main hero and predict further development of the scene. What is more, sound enables the audience to understand that the boys’ intentions are evil and that they are going to hurt Owen. Mis-en-scene Setting, lightning, locations allow the viewers to understand the significance of the scene depicted and suspend thei r beliefs about the action taking place.Advertising We will write a custom critical writing sample on Film Analysis on Masculinity: Let Me In specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Setting plays an enormous role because it renders specific devices by means of which the text is performed and socialized by actors and director (Pavis 199). While evaluating the scene from these perspectives, particular attention should be given to the set layout, lightning, and props that create a specific mood, underscore characters statuses and positions and reveal a sense of realism (Film Language Glossary n. p.). Locker room is really dark, dim and grey, which enhances the forcing and thrilling atmosphere. Captions also provide a clearer picture of the situation allowing the audience to understand the real intentions of the characters and Owen’s fears (Reeves n. p.). Particular focus is paid to frame composition because it is more reminiscent of a c age where boys are placed within a narrow holding alley and there is no way for Owen to run. Closed space also reinforces the overall thrilling atmosphere. It should be stressed that a film is a sophisticated mixture of signification and its multidimensional meanings and contextual layers are result of this interactions. The desirable effect is possible to achieve by means of conflicting and complementing each part of the system, such as editing, sound, lighting, color, shots, and captions constructing a holistic image and the author’s main message. Each scene is, therefore, is a complicated interaction of these devices entailing the analysis of particular details that contribute to the creation of film language. Disclosing Cultural and Social Context of the Movie In order to achieve the desirable effect and render the main idea of the film, all components of the movie should be combined in a way that the audience could perceive the sense of reality as well as emotions accomp anying the movie characters. All visual and sound representations are also aimed at delivering social and cultural message of the film. In this respect, the scene under analysis is endowed with all necessary features to interpret the message of about the suffering of the victimized boy who is under psychological pressure and who is unable to reveal his real problems to his parents and teacher because of the fear of being misunderstood. The scene under consideration is culturally charged as well; it depicts the concept of juvenile masculinity that is revealed through aggressiveness aimed at suppressing any displays of weakness and emotion. The scene also interprets vices existing in the 80s of the past century when boys strive to independence, power, and possession.Advertising Looking for critical writing on art and design? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More All these cultural, psychological, and social problems are possible to conceive from the scene in interest even if without placing it within a film context. According to Turner, â€Å"[t]he complexity of film production makes interpretation†¦essential. We need to†¦scan the frame, hypothesize about the narrative development, speculate on its possible meanings, attempt to gain some mastery over the film as it unfolds†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (73). Judging from this, the concept of masculinity displayed in this film scene is not accidental; it allows the audience to realize the hero’s major concerns and experienced problems and create cultural and social underpinning for explaining and reasoning his further actions. Due to the fact that scenes in the films are not culturally isolated, movies can also be perceived through the prism of intercontexuality (Turner 73). To enlarge on this, the viewers often understand the film text via their own awareness, feelings, and experience. In this respect, the chosen scene also renders conventions of the American schools in the 80s when the moments of school violence are much more understandable to the American audience. What is more important is that the scene also allows the viewers to suspend the reality and feel the atmosphere of the past. Conclusion In conclusion, the film production is a complicated process requiring the director to skillfully combine all visual and aural effects to engage the viewers into the social and cultural meaning of the presented story. The scene chosen for analysis helps the audience to understand the reality of time and space of the event taking place. The concept of masculinity, hence, is revealed through aggressiveness, forcing atmosphere, and character’s superiority over the main hero. The scene also represented a much deeper cultural meaning because it depicts typical American school conflicts where weaker children used to be under psychological and moral pressure and where ag gressiveness and indifference were the main indicators of power. All this is possible to conceive by means of the close-ups, color, setting, lightning, and sound effects that complement the entire scene and make the audience foresee the future development of the events. Aumont, Jacque. Aesthetics of film. US: University of Texas Press, 1992. Print.  Film Language Glossary. SlideShare, inc. 2011. Web. https://www.slideshare.net/nairm/film-language-glossary Pavis, Partice. Analyzing Performance: Theater, Dance, and Film. US: University of Michigan Press, 2003. Print. Reeves, Matt, dir. Let Me In. Hammer Films, 1 Oct. 2010. Film. Turner, Graeme. Film as a Social Practice. London: Routledge, 1999. Print.