SECTION B- ROMPER STOMPER

ROMPER STOMPER

Directed by Geoffrey Wright, Romper Stomper released in 1992 is an action drama film about a group of skinheads who become alarmed at the way their neighbourhood is changing. They take matters into their own hands by racially attacking Vietnamese who they refer to as gooks which leads to a violent conflict as a large group of Vietnamese decide it’s time to strike back. The plot is linear and with no evidence of a backstory for the characters aside from Gabrielle, Romper Stomper lacks emotional response for most viewers.

THEMES

· Violence

· Crime and Deviance

· Racism

Emotional Response

· Fear- This is what the Vietnamese feel and the audience believing there is injustice from the skinheads actions can empathize with them. They are more likely to take to side of the Vietnamese because they are more likely not to understand or respect Skinhead ideals.

· Disgust- We are disgusted with the behaviour of the skinhead subculture believing their racist violent actions are wrong and have no justifications.

· Anger- Audiences who are from ethnic minority groups that have experienced racism physically or verbally will be easily annoyed and angered by the skinheads lack or reason and hateful behaviour towards them. This removes all sense of empathy towards them.

· Excitement- The skinheads seem to get some sort of enjoyment and buzz from being violent racists. It reinforces their primitative state of mind and their masculinity is accomplished where status and respect is given for their violent actions.

· Anxiety- The scenes leading up to the fall of the skinhead group with leave audiences who are skinheads themselves feeling uneasy.

Binary Oppositions

· The distinguishing of the terrain of those in poverty and those of affluence. (Barriers)

· The Skinheads vs. Vietnamese. (Refer to Vietnamese as Gooks)

CHARACTERS

Hando- He is the protagonist and the dominant leader of the skinhead group. Hando is like the alpha male in the pack who hunts gooks and truly believes in the ideology of white supremacy. He seems to be the most intelligent of the group and has studied facts about Hitler which he agrees with.

Davie- He is Hando’s right-hand man and seems to be second in charge. He follows the rules of the group but eventually ends up leaving them towards the end for Gabrielle. He buys a key prop, the Hitler Youth Knife which would later end the protagonists life after he launches a violent outburst on Gabrielle.

Gabrielle- She is the femme fatal that leads to the disbandment of the group. She starts a romantic associating with Hando but later is dumped by him when he realises she is a nuisance. She seems to be educated and intelligent but is mentally unstable due to being abused by her father. She is responsible for calling the police and getting the group captured. She has manipulative power. (Davie) (Hando for dress) (Martin the father for idle things)

Bubs- The youngest skinhead who idolizes Hando which is why he is given the title of scout. Unfortunately, even though partially innocent and mislead into this subculture, Bubs is shot dead when he points a pistol at police officers.

Martin- He is Gabrielle’s abusive father who the audience feel disgust towards. This vile man gets what he deserves when Gabrielle leads the skinheads to rob her old home in order to steal expensive goods and guns.

Messages:

o “There will be consequences to your actions.”

o “Crime doesn’t pay.”

Key Values:

o Companionship

o Status and Identity

CINEMATOGRAPHY/VISUALS

· H/A and L/A at opening sequence where the Vietnamese are getting beaten up in the underground passageway. (Hando attempts to kill Gabe at seaside.) (Vietnamese tourists looking down at 2 skinheads taking photos is ironic in conjunction to opening sequence.)

· Low key lighting when crime performed. (Robbing Martin) (Acceptance to natural lighting effects for 7-9 minute battle sequence between skinheads and Vietnamese. Could represent stepping over the line naturally which represents the emotional limit of the Vietnamese abuse.)

· Takes often fast paced during importance action/conflict sequences. In conjunction with AMX, this has opposing effects instead of Slow Mo. (Vietnamese chase at pub, violent sequences) (Some Handheld Camera work at 7-9 minute fight scenes)

· Credits of Hando and Davie’s name pop up portray their importance in plot.

· Hando centrally framed in the group to portray his dominant strength over the others. (Especially occurs in opening sequence)

· Key prop is Davie’s Hitler’s Youth Knife signifying death. (Used stab Vietnamese man during battle sequence and kill Hando at resolution.)

· Tilted angle POV shot at resolution, Hando’s death.

SOUND

· The “Smack Soundtrack” promotes hate and violence. Used as a way to link the audience with what the skinheads are thinking and feeling all the time.

· The “Fourth Reich Fighting Men” promotes hate and violence. The battle isn’t over till the war is done. This kind of music alongside with the visuals has the viewer’s feeling appalled as the theme is all about hate.

· Non diegetic background music is distorted when Hando attempts to murder Gabrielle in sea. Could reflect Gab’s POV. Sound of Hando’s diegetic roar is distorted.

· The music/soundtrack fails to control the audience’s state of mind unlike in AMX. It’s not mainstream music most people enjoy and only a select few do. This relates with those that can relate to the skinhead’s ideals.

MACRO ELEMENTS

· Todorov’s rules are broken, there is a constant use of the element of disruption within the narrative as the skinheads seek conflict and violence towards the Vietnamese.

· The films narrative structure is completely linear.

· Aside from minor info of Gabrielle, we aren’t provided with a backstory of the characters making the audience lack empathy towards them. (No use of flashbacks)

· Feel the skinheads are violent in order to make a pointless point provoking and causing trouble to reinforce their masculinity rather than for a just cause.

· The resolution is somewhat expected. Heeding the key messages, the audience know that the protagonist is walking a path that will lead to his demise.

· The visuals desensitize the audience towards violence. It’s only the opening sequence that shocks the audience but as the violent visuals are repeated viewers get used to seeing it very quickly. This stops them from feeling shocked towards anyone getting harmed in the film as it progresses.

· None of the characters redeem themselves for their immoral acts leading most viewers to be glad the key messages were heeded.

SPECTATOR/AUDIENCE THEORIES

· Gabriel could also be seen as a femme fatal if the spectators supported the skinhead ideology. This is because if it was viewed from this point, she is the fall of the hero and protagonist Hando disorganising the skinhead group. (She tells the police officers their current hideout.)

· Film likely not to be banned by governments because the messages are heeded and the audience lack emotional response for the characters.

· In a theoretical sense, Nazi skinheads could gain self-gratification from watching this film. (Hando directly reads from Hitler’s Mein Kampf)

· Male Gaze- The camera work is largely put in the perspective of a heterosexual who believe masculinity is an accomplishment. Thus the audience sees Hando and his group as representing their masculinity through the violence against skinheads even if they don’t agree with their morals.

SECTION B- AMERICAN HISTORY X

AMERICAN HISTORY X- (KAYE) 1998 (USA)
A visually and musically thrilling film of the crime drama genre, American History X is set in modern USA and directed by Tony Kaye. The non-linear plot is about 2 brothers, the older one Derek a former Neo-Nazi skinhead leader arrested for murdering black robbers and trying to prevent his brother Daniel from walking the same corrupt path as he. The film is viewed from the point of view of Daniel who takes a backseat protagonist role to Derek the main protagonist. Daniel begins to walk the same path as Derek but fortunately, a professor at his high school called Sweeny informs him to write an essay on how his brother became a skinhead leader through life experiences titled “American History X.” When Derek returns home, he aims to redeem his actions and set his brother on the right path before it’s too late. The essay proves useful to the cause as it allows Daniel to express his emotions and as he writes it, he unravels the meanings behind Derek’s actions. This is done through flashback sequences in black and white film stock. The film invokes a strong emotional response to audiences drawn into feeling part of Derek’s family.


Themes
· Crime and Deviance
· Racism
· Redemption


Emotional Response
· Fear- Afraid Derek’s life is threatened. Afraid what will happen to Derek on his return.
· Disgust- Seth’s attitude in Derek’s home. The racist comments and lack of reason by skinheads.
· Shock- Derek skull crushing curb stomp on the black thugs head. “Should have learned your place at the court.”
· Empathy- Throughout film, understanding and gaining a rapport of Derek’s attitude. See that he has reformed and saw the error of his ways.
· Anger- Cameron tries to corrupt Derek’s brother.
· Anxiety- Derek suffers from losing a father. He is burdened with being man of the house at a young age baring the responsibility of role model. Spectators can definitely relate if they too lost parents making it easier for them to forgive.
· Happy- Derek’s return home. Time spent with family.


Macro Elements
· Non-linear structure, past sequences explained through flashback sequences. (Racconto Flashback Technique)
· Red Herring used at resolution sequences, made us believe Derek would get killed but actually tricking us when Daniel is shot dead instead. (Drive by, Slow Mo)
· Breaks Todorov’s Rules of calm, disruption then equilibrium as the film is opened up in a disruptive state. (Derek kill thugs at the films opening sequence.) (Prop-Gun)
· Narrative Structure is focused on redemption and used to make the audience understand how Derek became the way he was and to show that people can redeem themselves.
· The Plot is viewed from the POV of Daniel who explains what is occurring through his voice overs as he writes his essay.
· Opening Sequences uses enigma codes making the audience ask key questions why did he shoot them dead and what is going on.
· The sequences where Derek shoots the black thugs is shown in the opening sequences and later reshown in more detail.
· According the Uses and Gratifications, theory of escapism as Derek wants to escape the lifestyle of a skinhead but is constantly drawn into trouble.
· Director puts audience into a trance like state using the musical score in combination with slow motion effects to keep control over the mood of the audience. According 2 Step Flow Theory, director is the expert and we follow the set rules he has exhibited.


Micro Elements
· The flashback sequences for the characters are in black and white film stock. This signifies the viewer that these scenes are what happened prior to the narrative timeline.
· Constant use of Slow Motion editing to make the scenes more dramatic and have more of an impact on the audience. (When Derek is about to skull crushes black thugs head on the street curb and Danny screams and falls to his knees. Also when Derek is taken away by officers.)
· Officer covering up tattoo as he drags Derek away so that Daniel doesn’t get inflicted or traumatized by the events occurring. (Slow Mo)
· The Non Diegetic Musical score is there to set the mood putting the audience into a trance like state where their emotions are controlled by the expert. (According to the 2 Step Flow Theory)
· The narrative is explained from Danny’s V.O and through his essay “American History X.”
· Derek centrally framed when he does his Neo Nazi speech to the skinhead gang. Also centrally framed at the basketball court D.O.C (Emphasizes power and leadership)
· Tons of POV shots, usually from Daniel. (Lamont shoots Danny)
· Natural Lighting Effects
· Low Key Lighting Effects portray times most likely when crime will occur. (When Seth gets violent on Black Man and his white girlfriend.) (When Derek has to flee from the skinhead hideout.) (Lamont shown in his car with his crew driving through neighbourhood.) The lighting effects act as visual signifiers when crime occurs.
· Good use of close ups to show who is talking.


Conflict
Binary Oppositions
· The Skinheads vs Blacks. (D.O.C)
· Derek and Davina. (Conflict of ideologies)
· Police and the Criminals.
· Immorality conflict with morals and decency.


Characters
Derek Vinyard- The protagonist of this film a villain turned good. He was once a dominant white supremacist and Neo-Nazi skinhead leader as seen in the black and white film stock flashback sequences. However, he is reformed and sees the error of his ways after spending time in prison. Derek returns home to try and prevent his brother from going forth the same path as he knowing as a role model he should have known better. As the audience learns about his tragic past, they gain rapport of his lifestyle allowing him to redeem himself in the later parts of the narrative. (“See this tattoo, it means not welcome”, says Derek.)

Daniel Vinyard- Derek’s younger brother, the film is viewed from his point of view in the narrative. He follows his brothers footsteps after he is arrested due to seeing him as a role model and imitating his behaviour. However, when his brother returns he slowly begins to realise the wrongness of his behaviour as he writes an essay on how Derek became the way he was. Unfortunately Daniel is shot dead by a black student called Lamont due to previous conflict at school. (“When people look at me they see my brother.”) (“I hate the fact that it’s cool to be black…”)

Doris Vinyard- The mother of the Vinyard family who has to live with the nightmare of not one son straying from the path of decency but another. She seems to be the one suffering the most and has gotten physically ill with the stress of it all. She wasn’t even allowed to move on and engage in a new romantic interest after the death of the father thanks to Derek’s behaviour. (“What did I do?” “You feel good?” “I’m ashamed you came out of my body!”)

Davina Vinyard- She acts as the character in the family who is the opposite of the old Derek’s reason. Davina takes a more realistic approach than the idealistic ideology of Derek’s thoughts which is why they previously had conflicting arguments. (This especially happened when Derek grabbed her by the throat and she picks up a bat to assault him with.) Everyone in Derek’s family seems to be quite intelligent but she is the one who is the most intelligent when it comes to morals. It seems that could have been inherited by the mother who didn’t accept racism or discrimination which the father promoted to his family. (Close up shot to plates, red-herring thinking knife?)

Sweeney- A High School Professor who demands that Daniel writes a new essay titled “American History X” in order to secure his place at the institution and prevent the student from becoming a rebel on the streets. Sweeney also manages to speed up the process to get Derek out of prison as long as he agrees to help reform his brother. Sweeney seems to be the most powerful character in the film, suppressing his emotions towards the racism trying to prevent emotional response from characters within the diegesis for the greater good. (See this at resolution sequences of Danny’s murder)

Cameron – He is the true leader of the Neo Nazi skinhead group working behind the scenes. Cameron manipulates frustrated teenagers who have been wronged by other black youths to get them to join. Derek was one of the people he used seeing that he could influence a large amount of people because of his charismatic body language, voice and reasoning. He has deep hate for blacks and ethnic minorities and is probably the main reason Derek formed the D.O.C and became the way he is. However, Derek figures him out and learns that he even lied about spending time in prison. He is referred to as “the skinhead,” by Sweeney.

Seth- This is Derek’s incredibly racist friend. Seth has become truly corrupted with hate and only finds pleasure in making ethnic minorities suffer strongly believing in Cameron’s constructed dominant ideology. Hearing Daniel make nasty comments about ethnic minorities brings joy to his ears, quote “I hate the fact that it’s cool to be black.” When Derek tries to leave skinhead territory with his brother he points a gun to his head.

Stacey- This is Derek’s girlfriend. She is also extremely racist and a deep follower to the skinhead group. Upon Derek’s return, she believes he has changed and tries to get him killed. “Do it!” she says to Seth to shoot Derek. She seems more concerned about power lacking emotions of the behavioural norms of most females. She also refers to Derek as being viewed as a God, so why would he want to leave such an organisation.

Lamont- He is the school bully and black thug. Lamont is introduced to the narrative beating up on a white nerd. He seems to have dominant physical power over others and this is portrayed from the H/A and L/A shots of him kicking the nerd on the ground. When he encounters Daniel, he meets someone who doesn’t fear him and feels threatened. He pushes Daniel but he doesn’t back down and simply blows smoke in his face even though he has 2 goons by his side. The stress, feeling of a threatening presence causing anxiety and fear leads Lamont to obtain a prop which would later end Daniel’s life at the resolution sequences.


Messages and Values
Messages:
o “There will be consequences to your actions.”
o “Crime doesn’t pay.”
o “You can change yourself before it’s too late.”

Key Values:
o Family
o Education
o Status
o Respect

Cinematography/Visuals
· Black and White Film Stock
· Swastika (Tattoos) (“Not Welcome”)
· Computer Screen for essay acted as a Motif.
· Eye line matches (Daniel staring at Derek before skull smash at curb) (Commonly used to emphasize Daniels point of view in the narrative.) (Slow Mo)
· Slow Motion used for tragic sequences to get most out of emotional response. Makes images easier to recall for audience to understand perspective of characters.
· Officer covering up tattoo as he drags Derek away so that Daniel doesn’t get inflicted or traumatized by the events occurring.
· Restricted Visuals during the rape sequences and when black thug gets skull crushed on the curb. (Shows how shocking the event is to be imagined.)
· Low Key Lighting Effects portray times most likely when crime will occur. (When Seth gets violent on Black Man and his white girlfriend.) (When Derek has to flee from the skinhead hideout.) (Lamont show in his car with his crew driving through neighbourhood.) The lighting effects act as visual signifiers that most crime occurs in the dark, behind the scenes, unexpectedly and late at night.
· Derek centrally framed when he does his Neo Nazi speech to the skinhead gang. Also centrally framed at the basketball court D.O.C

Spectator/Audience Theories
Male Gaze- The camera work is largely put in the perspective of a heterosexual who believe masculinity is an accomplishment. Thus the audience sees Derek as a true alpha male who they wish to become like even before he is reformed. He has all the values and strength a masculine man should have which audiences envy.
Two Step flow Theory- The director is the expert who is able to manipulate the audience’s emotions who are the followers. The non diegetic musical score sets the audiences mood putting them in a trance like state where the film is constantly making them think in relation to their emotions.
Also film could be accused for giving a platform to fascist ideas. The scene where Derek makes a convincing speech about racist justification against ethnic groups could move some audiences to accept it as truth especially if they are already currently skinheads themselves.

SECTION C - FIGHT CLUB

FIGHT CLUB- (FINCHER) 1999 (USA)
Directed by Fincher and released in 1999, Fight Club is an American Film based on the novel of “Fight Club” by Chuck Palahniuk. Fight Club is about an unnamed protagonist with a philosophy that figures out the organisation of society and realises people are mere slaves to capitalism. The protagonist cannot sleep and seeks comfort from mental institutions until he meets Marla, a female who shares a similar philosophy and is a constant reminder of himself. Eventually the protagonist creates an alter ego called Tyler Durden who forms a Fight Club that goes against the organisation of society. Engaging in this new cultism, Tyler or rather the protagonist himself becomes his own hypocrite. He becomes this leader of a group of cultists that aims to bring down capitalist society through setting off a bomb that destroys the banks and reduces everyone’s credit rating to 0. Not realising he is this leader, our unnamed protagonist figures who he is by the films resolution.


Themes
· Violence
· Masculinity
· Primitivism
· Cultism

Macro Elements
· The structure is non linear, it’s opened up from the same scene used at the films resolution sequences. (Repeated)
· Protagonist is the narrator and V.O is used to explain the story unfolded. Plot is viewed from his POV.
· Narrative Structure is quite straightforward but does at times go back and fourth a little bit. Flash-forwards and Flashbacks. (Case of Bob’s Bitch tits to earlier period within the story unfolded.)
· Enigma Codes “Who is Tyler Durden?” Why is protagonist in that situation?
· The lifestyle Tyler wanted to inhibit unpredictability kept the audience in a state of red –herring.
· Follows the theme of violence and masculinity. The audiences believe that to the members of Fight Club, masculinity is an accomplishment.
· Todorov’s rules are clearly broken, the film opens up in a disruptive state and there is a constant calm and disruption. At times you never know whether the disruptive scenes are meant to be the calm ones as Tyler’s philosophy is largely about enduring disruption to be masculine.
· Distinct focus on the conflict against dominant ideologies such as consumerism and capitalism.
· Conflict between two personalities. One is more realistic where as the other is more idealistic. We know which is easier to recognise as realistic.
· Tyler has flashback events of the past, where he unravels what was really happening through a re-animation of the shots used to show the true and hidden perspective. In which case it’s himself attacking himself during the first fight scene with the narrator and his alter ego.
Conflict
Binary Oppositions
· Fight Clubs Ideology goes against mainstream society’s ideology. (Acts like a charismatic leader in the face of oppression from consumerist ideology.)
· Capitalism, Consumerism Vs Primitivism.
· Fight Club Cult vs. Dominant Ideologies of Mainstream Society.


Characters
Jack- This is possibly the name of the unnamed protagonist. He was once a slave of capitalism but was aware and suffered from insomnia because of it. Upon realising this, he formed an alternate personality and alter ego called Tyler Durden in order to live a more primitive and unpredictable life. What triggered this was likely his encounter with Marla whose philosophy about life was that she could die any time. “Like so many others I had become a slave,” (referring to slave of capitalism and conforming to pointless consumerist demands.)
Tyler Durden- Our unnamed protagonists alter ego and alternate personality. Tyler Durden represented everything Jack wasn’t, a non conformer to the dominant ideologies of society and primitive in form. He guides the protagonist who imagines his presence on the path to enlightenment or rather to a primitive state of mind and for his ambitions. At the films resolution we partially believe both personalities must have fused together. Tyler is charismatic, physically capable and has no fear which is what was needed for Jack’s hidden agenda to be achieved. “The things you own end up owning you”
Marla- She meets our protagonist when he is falsely seeking comfort from mental institutions when there’s nothing wrong with him. Reminding her of himself, the protagonist’s insomnia returns back to him. She represents a female in her primitive form. Although our protagonist doesn’t want to admit it, he actually likes her. Her philosophy in life is that you can die anytime so she had already found freedom. I think the protagonist partially hated her for realising this so when his mind returned to his old self he would treat her like dirt. It was also a self defence mechanism of protecting his alter ego.
Bob- This is Tyler’s friend who he meets at a mental institution for testicular cancer. He sympathizes with him and is upset at his death.

Messages and Values
· Messages, “Even one person can make a difference.” “Take a closer look at the life you live, it’s not what it seems…”
· Values,
o Respect
o Freedom
o Primitivism


Sound
· Often protagonist’s diegetic V.O are used to explain everything. (Looking at audience on screen.)
· Non diegetic when speaking to himself and audience.
· Distorted Sound Effects during violent fight scenes with characters like when Tyler is getting face pummelled on the ground floor during a fight sequence in the fight club.


Cinematography/Visuals
· Narrator largely looking at screen towards the audience, giving speeches and explaining the back story of characters and events. Used to draw audience into film.
· Distorted Edited Visuals when Narrator has sex with Marla showing he can’t remember the event as Tyler Durden who he really is.
· Flashback effects of the previous events that occurred where this time the narrator is filmed in the scenes rather than Tyler being caught in the act.
· Low Key lighting when violence and danger occurs acting as a recognisable signifier.
· Blood, scars, the masculine body of being bare-chested represents Masculinity. (Male Gaze Effect)
· 360 Degree Shot of Narrator as Tyler he enters the club to inspire the audience.
· BEV as people about to join fight club follow the narrator and Tyler into the underground facility.
· Tons of Close Ups especially at Narrators face used alongside with distorted editing techniques of imagery on screen to emphasize Tyler’s insomnia.
· L/A shot of Tyler over Narrator pouring fat onto him when they steal. (Used for show dominant personality in control at the time.)(Looking up to Tyler as a role model.)
· Slow Motion and disfigured diegetic and non diegetic sound as the members of Fight Club fight for honour and respect whilst being chanted on by fellow members of Fight Club.
· Constant use of eye line matching and POV shots to empathise POV in audience perspective of the journey the narrator embarks on.
· Tyler wore the same clothes again and again. (Represents opposition to consumerism.)
· Dragged by a poltergeist or demon in one shot similar to paranormal activity in scenes briefly showing him in security cameras of Project Mayhem base when he attempts to prevent bombs from going off.
· Tyler is false and imagined and the audience don’t realise that we are viewing the plot most of the time from the narrator’s perspective. Tyler acts as an alter ego or doppelganger going against society. Later events re-shown where scenes take a different perspective.
· Scene where Acid is poured on Tyler’s hand. (H/A L/A Shots.) (Looking down at narrator in floor in agony.
· At times visuals could be emphasized as promoting homoerotic tendencies. Male Gaze largely focuses on the male body and sexual tendencies. (Marla getting sexed up, Tyler Naked body. Narrator has feminine Gaze towards Tyler.
· Zoom into Tyler, one of the most memorable sequences is when he figures out who he is. Quote, “Because we are the same person…”


Popular Quotes To Remember
· “We are consumers, by products” Tyler Durden.
· “The things you own end up owning you” Tyler Durden.
· “We are all God’s unwanted children, so be it” Tyler Durden.
· “I’m wandering if a woman is what we really need”; “We are a generation raised by women.” Tyler Durden.
· “Losing all hope was freedom” Jack.
· “Every evening I died and was born again” Jack.
· “If I did have a tumour, I’d name if Marla…” Jack.
· “Marla the big tourist…Her lie reflected my lie.” Jack.
· “Has something to do with Marla” (Intro quote)
· “In death, a member of Project Mayhem has a name,” Tyler has created a group of brainwashed followers.
· “Sometimes Tyler spoke for me” “Fell down some stairs…” (Scene at Doctors)
· “Sooner or later we all became what Tyler wanted us to be” Narrator. Eventually starts to refer to members as “space monkeys”
· “My father dumped me, Tyler dumped me” “I am Jack’s broken heart” “Tyler isn’t here…” “Tyler went away” (When he tells off Marla)
· “Because we are the same person!” (Zooms into Tyler!) (Effect used to shock audience)