Essay Plan

Thesis Statement

In this essay I will be discussing how the typical youth conventions nowadays are used in these two films: Super 8 and Attack the Block. Super 8 was directed by J.J. Abrams (2011), this film is about a small group of friends who live in a small Ohio Town who witness a disastrous train crash whilst making a Super 8 movie and they soon suspect that the whole train crash wasn't an accident. Shortly after, you begin to see a lot of unusual disappearances and events beginning to unfold. The local deputy who is Joey (the main protagonists) father, tries to uncover the truth. However, the truth was far more terrifying than any of them could ever imagine. Attack the Block(2011) was directed by Joe Cornish, is about a small council estate in South London, where hostile aliens have fallen from the sky. A local teenage gang take it upon themselves to fight off the unwanted visitors, but quickly discover they are outnumbered by these pitch-black, bear like creatures with glowing razor sharp teeth. Attack the Block is a fast-paced and inventive action/science-fiction film with an unconventional set of heroes.
Both of these films represent youth by using two groups of young people who are adventurous and are willing to risk their life's for the life of others, each film represents the youths in different ways. Nowadays the media and our general society would see us being dangerous individuals, who go around causing havoc, but as we look at these films in more depth, we notice that Super 8 is completely opposite to how us youths are thought of today. None of the teenagers in Super 8 caused any pain to anyone, instead of doing what the typical teenagers in Attack the Block did, they spent their time writing scripts and filming for their own movie.


Point Number 1: Representation 

Super 8: How the children are first represented - they are genuinely lovely children and are just getting on with their life, in a normal matter. Innocent children - children's POV - perception: this isn't how everyone is in society!

Attack the Block: Demonised children - chav/gang-like, go around mugging people, the woman - live in a harsh world - Adults POV(nurse) - what is her perception of the gang?

Both: Mise-en-scene - the clothing they wear and their dialogue

Synthesis:

Point Number 2: Shock - horror!

Super 8: aliens arriving - crashing into the cargo trains - they act like a normal bunch of children, quite scared but they are adventurous when it comes to finding out the truth - seems like fun and games

Attack the Block: aliens arriving on earth - shot from the sky in crates - the teenage gang react by beating the shit out of the aliens in the crate

Mise-en-scene: lighting - special effects - flashing to show horror and the frightened children - shock - contrasting?

Cinematography: re-watch to find out the angles used to show the emotions on the children's faces when it happens - detailed analysis

Synthesis:

Point Number 3: Friendship/Strength 

Super 8: Joey talks to the alien - friendly - helpful

Attack the Block: Moses sacrifices himself to the aliens

Micro aspect:

Synthesis:


Conclusion:

Overall, whilst analysing the two films Attack the Block and Super 8 in high detail, I noticed how youth was represented through the way in which the actors and actresses were portrayed. For example, in the independent London situated film Attack the Block, we notice that the main characters of the film are a gang of 'chavs'. The way in which they speak and dress are the main give away. In society and media usually any youths that are dressed in this way are in-fact addressed as troublesome people, they would usually be seen mugging people or inflicting pain on others, etc. We first see this happen in the beginning of Attack the Block when it all starts out negative, however, as the film progresses we notice a change of heart in the gang of youths, they end up helping people and a lot of positive attitude is spread throughout the characters. It's a completely different story when we look at Super 8, the gang of youths that are involved in this film are the opposite of what youths are thought of today. The film depicts this by the youths involving themselves in something that is harmless and creative, they wanted to make their own Super 8 film away form the rural area. This film evidently goes against what the older generations think of us and they do it by their use of language and positive attitude to their elders who are involved in the film. The representation of youth in both of these films have their negatives and positives.

PEAS

 

Conclusion on Attack the Block vs Super 8

Overall, whilst analysing the two films Attack the Block and Super 8 in high detail, I noticed how youth was represented through the way in which the actors and actresses were portrayed. For example, in the independent London situated film Attack the Block, we notice that the main characters of the film are a gang of 'chavs'. The way in which they speak and dress are the main give away. In society and media usually any youths that are dressed in this way are in-fact addressed as troublesome people, they would usually be seen mugging people or inflicting pain on others, etc. We first see this happen in the beginning of Attack the Block when it all starts out negative, however, as the film progresses we notice a change of heart in the gang of youths, they end up helping people and a lot of positive attitude is spread throughout the characters. It's a completely different story when we look at Super 8, the gang of youths that are involved in this film are the opposite of what youths are thought of today. The film depicts this by the youths involving themselves in something that is harmless and creative, they wanted to make their own Super 8 film away form the rural area. This film evidently goes against what the older generations think of us and they do it by their use of language and positive attitude to their elders who are involved in the film. The representation of youth in both of these films have their negatives and positives.

Super 8 vs Attack the Block

Here is my presentation on my idea of the genre conventions and themes and messages in these two sci-fi/horror/comedy films.. Click here.