Mark Kermode - Rom Coms
1. Which episode of Mark Kermode Secrets of Cinema did you watch?
Rom Coms
2. Apply Daniel Chandler's theory of conventions of content to this genre.
3. What ideas does Kermode discuss in this documentary?
- The couple will meet in a way that makes them remember each other, known as the 'meet cute'
- There will usually be a partner or person that stands in the way of the couple being together
- Near the third act, the couple will usually break up or have a rocky patch
- Traditionally, the rom com was boy meets girl, but has evolved over the years to things like boy meets boy, girl meets girl, girl meets fish, boy meets fish
- At the end, the couple will usually face a decision as to whether they stay with the other person, and then we get the classic running across town or through an airport scene
- Usually, they are lighthearted and fun, but occasionally they can be quite dark
- The theme of death is often very present
- Musical numbers and dream sequences are frequently used
4. What films had you already seen?
- When Harry Met Sally
- Love Actually
- Notting Hill
- La La Land
- Love, Simon
- Groundhog Day
5. Which films hadn't you?
- Splash
- The Shape of Water
- But I'm A Cheerleader
- 500 Days of Summer
- Bringing Up Baby
- Four Weddings and A Funeral
- Annie Hall
- Pretty Woman
6. Which films made you think 'I'd like to watch that' and why?
I wanted to watch The Shape of Water, as it looked like nothing I'd ever seen before. Plus, it was very well received and won many awards - including four academy awards and thirteen nominations overall.
7. Which film did you watch?
But I'm A Cheerleader (1999)
8. Apply narrative theories of Todorov, Propp and Strauss to this film
Equilibrium - Megan is a cheerleader at her high school. She has a boyfriend of two years and lives at home with her parents.
Disruption - On arriving home, she is made to attend an intervention which includes her friends, parents and someone wearing a t-shirt which says "straight is great". They sit her down and tell her they think she's a lesbian. Megan has no idea what they're talking about, but is sent to a gay conversion camp nonetheless.
Recognition - Megan meets the other kids at the retreat and they make her realize that she is a homosexual, learning that the thoughts she has about women, aren't the thoughts that straight women have.
Attempts to Repair - Megan reassures herself that she will become "normal", her parents saying that if she doesn't, she has no place in their home and will have to fend for herself. She gets paired with Graham, and they start to form feelings for each other. This results in Megan getting kicked out and is therefore homeless. She goes to live with the ex retreat members after Graham chose to stay in the program. Megan goes to the graduation ceremony, trying to win Graham back with her cheer routine.
New Equilibrium - Graham and Megan escape together with the ex retreats, deciding to live their truth instead of hiding who they are.
Hero - Megan is the hero of the story. At the start, it may have seemed like she was the damsel in distress, but her growth and development means that she is able to help the others escape.
Villain - Mary is the villain of the story. She runs the retreat and tells the kids that their thoughts and feelings are wrong. The parents are also the villains of the story, sending Megan to the retreat and throwing her out of their home.
Donor - The donor is Dolph, another ex retreat member who got kicked out just before Megan. He assists her in retrieving Graham and makes her realize that they should be together, no matter what anyone says.
Princess - The princess is Graham. This is only really discovered towards the end of the second act. Graham's parents threaten to cut her off if she doesn't complete the program, and so she decides to stay, deserting Megan. She is rescued just before she is about to graduate, running of with Megan.
Binary Opposites:
- Straight vs gay
- Old vs young
- Boy vs girl
9. Apply Daniel Chandler's conventions of content to this film
- The film uses bright colours
- Graham and Megan's meet cute is Megan walking into their room and seeing Graham smoking on her bed
- There is an obstacle standing in their way of being together
- Another person is interested in Graham and it causes Megan to get kicked out
- At the start of the third act, the pair are separated
Rom Coms
2. Apply Daniel Chandler's theory of conventions of content to this genre.
3. What ideas does Kermode discuss in this documentary?
- The couple will meet in a way that makes them remember each other, known as the 'meet cute'
- There will usually be a partner or person that stands in the way of the couple being together
- Near the third act, the couple will usually break up or have a rocky patch
- Traditionally, the rom com was boy meets girl, but has evolved over the years to things like boy meets boy, girl meets girl, girl meets fish, boy meets fish
- At the end, the couple will usually face a decision as to whether they stay with the other person, and then we get the classic running across town or through an airport scene
- Usually, they are lighthearted and fun, but occasionally they can be quite dark
- The theme of death is often very present
- Musical numbers and dream sequences are frequently used
4. What films had you already seen?
- When Harry Met Sally
- Love Actually
- Notting Hill
- La La Land
- Love, Simon
- Groundhog Day
5. Which films hadn't you?
- Splash
- The Shape of Water
- But I'm A Cheerleader
- 500 Days of Summer
- Bringing Up Baby
- Four Weddings and A Funeral
- Annie Hall
- Pretty Woman
6. Which films made you think 'I'd like to watch that' and why?
I wanted to watch The Shape of Water, as it looked like nothing I'd ever seen before. Plus, it was very well received and won many awards - including four academy awards and thirteen nominations overall.
7. Which film did you watch?
But I'm A Cheerleader (1999)
8. Apply narrative theories of Todorov, Propp and Strauss to this film
Equilibrium - Megan is a cheerleader at her high school. She has a boyfriend of two years and lives at home with her parents.
Disruption - On arriving home, she is made to attend an intervention which includes her friends, parents and someone wearing a t-shirt which says "straight is great". They sit her down and tell her they think she's a lesbian. Megan has no idea what they're talking about, but is sent to a gay conversion camp nonetheless.
Recognition - Megan meets the other kids at the retreat and they make her realize that she is a homosexual, learning that the thoughts she has about women, aren't the thoughts that straight women have.
Attempts to Repair - Megan reassures herself that she will become "normal", her parents saying that if she doesn't, she has no place in their home and will have to fend for herself. She gets paired with Graham, and they start to form feelings for each other. This results in Megan getting kicked out and is therefore homeless. She goes to live with the ex retreat members after Graham chose to stay in the program. Megan goes to the graduation ceremony, trying to win Graham back with her cheer routine.
New Equilibrium - Graham and Megan escape together with the ex retreats, deciding to live their truth instead of hiding who they are.
Hero - Megan is the hero of the story. At the start, it may have seemed like she was the damsel in distress, but her growth and development means that she is able to help the others escape.
Villain - Mary is the villain of the story. She runs the retreat and tells the kids that their thoughts and feelings are wrong. The parents are also the villains of the story, sending Megan to the retreat and throwing her out of their home.
Donor - The donor is Dolph, another ex retreat member who got kicked out just before Megan. He assists her in retrieving Graham and makes her realize that they should be together, no matter what anyone says.
Princess - The princess is Graham. This is only really discovered towards the end of the second act. Graham's parents threaten to cut her off if she doesn't complete the program, and so she decides to stay, deserting Megan. She is rescued just before she is about to graduate, running of with Megan.
Binary Opposites:
- Straight vs gay
- Old vs young
- Boy vs girl
9. Apply Daniel Chandler's conventions of content to this film
- The film uses bright colours
- Graham and Megan's meet cute is Megan walking into their room and seeing Graham smoking on her bed
- There is an obstacle standing in their way of being together
- Another person is interested in Graham and it causes Megan to get kicked out
- At the start of the third act, the pair are separated
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