Shaun of The Dead

A2 Media Studies: Shaun of the Dead

Introduction:

The title of the film: Shaun of the Dead

Date of release: 9^th April 2004

The name of the director: Edgar Wright

The genre: romantic zombie comedy

Part 1 One:

The film opens in a pub called the Winchester. This is where the equilibrium begins. Throughout the film we focus on the characters social lives until a zombie girl appears in the main characters (Shaun) garden. This is where the disruption begins however; a new equilibrium begins to come into play as he comes up with an idea. In the end he and his girlfriend Liz are saved my military forces and the new equilibrium shows the two living peacefully while the problem is still being dissolved.

The binary oppositions portrayed are generally between the ideas of life versus death. The main characters are trying to escape from the zombies who represent death. The two main characters Shaun and Ed because they seem to have conflicting personalities despite being best friends.

The time-line of the film is linear so it is in chronological order. This allows us to understand the story more clearly as it advances instead jumping back and forth. The narrative function is closed because the audience aren’t aware of what’s to happen next. The end definitely didn’t turn out the way people expected. So the narrative is restricted also.

Part Two:

Up to a degree the characters are introduced as modern representations. Shaun the main character is a sales manager so he wears a white shirt, red tie, trousers and black shoes. This contributes to his representation because that’s how sale managers dress and it is very formal. Throughout the film he has been associated with the role of the hero or leader because he has a plan and the group follows him. Before Shaun goes to work and is seen in a red t shirt and shorts which are his sleeping wear, grown men don’t wear pyjamas so this is a good representation.

He doesn’t seem motivated by his job so his face generally has disappointment. You can tell he doesn’t want to work there. The fact that he plays video games possibly shows he’s an underachiever. A lot of his emotions are also typical as well: when his girlfriend dumped him he was crying and angry when another character was going to shoot his mother.

The character Ed doesn’t have a career or any real money so he wears a t-shirt, trousers and trainers, also bearing layabout qualities. He is also seen on his phone a lot texting a person whom he sells cannabis to. This often gets the better of him at times and he doesn’t seem as supportive as he should be. Despite this he is Shaun’s best friend and tries to help him when the situation calls. He doesn’t represent his social class because a drug dealer would generally wear hoodies or big jackets to conceal their image. He doesn’t have to act like a drug dealer because that isn’t his main priority, which is superseded by playing video games. Ed is also an underachiever and hasn’t done anything with his life so it’s understandable why he can be immature at times because he isn’t very educated.