Representation We Want to Include in Our Film Opening

In our AICE Media Studies project, in which I will be working with Sophia Jauregui, we will be focusing on representing the group known as high school students. Usually in films, this group is represented as very social individuals who always have a non-school-related activity to do after school. They are portrayed as having a very busy schedule and at the same time going through many of life’s difficulties. They could also be represented as not very social individuals; however, that would not change the general representation of students doing everything but school work after school.

One example of this typical representation of students can be seen in the American television series, Gossip Girl (2007-2012). Moreover, in this show, the students of a private high school are seen doing non-school-related activities every single day after school. Some of these activities are going shopping in the city, eating expensive lunches with friends, or just hanging out with friends at someone’s penthouse. They also are even sometimes shown skipping school to handle unnecessary affairs. Furthermore, another example of this representation can be identified in the television series, The Vampire Diaries (2009-2017). This show represents high school students as having more things to worry about that have nothing to do with school. In addition, most of the characters in The Vampire Diaries go on quests and adventures when the last school bell rings. Moreover, both television shows represent high school students as having a full schedule after school, but of course the schedule does not include any after-school work (AKA homework).

The general representation of high school students in various forms of media is a representation that I do not support. Because I, myself, am a high school student, I am fully aware of all of the school work and studying I have to do after school. Moreover, I know that doing homework and studying for school takes up most of my time after any regular school day. Also, this is not just my personal situation due to the fact that many of my classmates go through the same instances of having to study and do homework for hours after school everyday. Thus, I do not think this typical representation depicted in many films and TV shows is either correct or fair because it gives other individuals, who are not high school students, a misconception of what it means to be a high school student. In other words, I believe the group of high school students is being misrepresented by the media.

In our AICE Media Studies project we would convey the group of high school students as they truly are. We would convey them as being studious every single day after school, and we would convey them as having a social life, but their social life would not overpower their school life. Thus, instead of being shown partying more, high school students would be shown studying more. Moreover, I think it is extremely important to fix the misrepresentation of high school students in many forms of media, especially in films and television shows.

Drama Genre Research

Genre

Drama

Genre conventions - Content

The genre of Drama can be defined as the fictional recreation of true, real life stories. The Drama genre is known for engaging its audience through the characters and worlds that they create within the film. Moreover, there have also been cases in which the worlds and characters of a film are entirely unbelievable, yet the film still is able to maintain its audience engaged. Furthermore, most films under the Drama genre portray realistic/believable characters along with a realistic setting. The characters of a Drama film are generally conveying in such a way that its audience often empathizes with them. Other important elements in the Drama genre to help develop the plot of the film are the use of steady increases to convey the tension being built up, the use of climaxes, and the use of anti-climaxes. All of these elements not only help the development of the plot, but they also are utilized to keep viewers hooked in the sense that they will not be able to stop watching the film. In the genre of Drama, one can also take notice how there are many depictions of hardships, struggles, pain, and difficulties of life. Some may even say that these depiction are what categorize a film under the Drama genre. Ultimately, films in the genre of Drama strive to make an emotional impact on their audience; they want to leave the audience with an identifiable, lasting impression.

Genre conventions - Production Techniques

In order for films under the Drama genre to excel and really be efficient in developing their narrative, the production techniques utilized must work together on a visual and oral level. Moreover, this mixture of production techniques allows for a creative and appropriate way to display the director’s interpretation of the writer’s ideas. One of the main techniques that the genre of Drama is associated with is that of dramatic irony. Dramatic irony serves as a very effective plot development device that results in the audience sensing the rising tension present in the film. The reason the audience can feel this tension is because of the fact that they can see all of the action occurring within the film, unlike the main character however. Other prominent techniques present in films under the Drama genre are soliloquies, asides, and monologues. These techniques are mainly used to reveal the inner thoughts and feelings of characters. Furthermore, in order to establish the setting and develop the atmosphere of a film under the Drama genre, the production techniques of lighting, special effects, sound, and music are utilized.

Film sample #1

• Gossip Girl (2007-2012)

• The American teenage drama television series, Gossip Girl, was aired for 6 seasons on the CW. The show depicted the lives of rich teenagers living in The Upper East Side of New York. The story of the teenagers’ lives are being told mostly through the narrator that calls herself/himself Gossip Girl, and this so-called narrator is known in the show for exposing the secrets of the teenagers. Moreover, Gossip Girl embodies a good example of a production under the Drama genre because it possesses some of the typical Drama genre conventions. For example, the idea of “the most popular girl in school” can be seen at the high school in the show. Also, the setting in the show is developed very efficiently in the sense that the audience is able to notice how rich the teenagers are, yet at the same time they can also sense the tension in the atmosphere. Furthermore, the show, Gossip Girl, is able to demonstrate the hardships and struggles that these wealthy teenagers experience in their daily lives.  

Film sample #2

• The Vampire Diaries (2009-2017)

• The show, The Vampire Diaries, is an American supernatural drama television series that was aired for 8 seasons on the CW. Moreover, The Vampire Diaries tells the story of a group of characters living in a supernatural town named Mystic Falls. The group mostly consists of high school students, one of which being the female main character. Furthermore, the storyline of the show mainly revolves around the inhabitants of Mystic Falls. In addition, one reason this show could be considered a drama is because it displays the troubles and situations the group of characters go through. Also, even though this show deals with supernatural phenomenons, it still manages to establish the real life setting of a high school as well as set the tension-filled atmosphere.  

Other Productions Within Drama Genre

• Wonder (2017)
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• The Shape of Water (2017)
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• 10 Things I Hate About You (1999)
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• The Greatest Showman (2017)
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• Mudbound (2017)
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