Firstly I will be giving a brief explanation on what the gangster genre actually is and introduce my critical investigation. I may perhaps included historical examples of early films that in fact established the type of genre itself here. With examples given, they will then describe the necessary semiotics of films (e.g. The Gangster is always a bad guy etc.). I may also describe why they are included and the effects they have on the audience (entertain & influence). Again this is will relate to my critical investigation question of what is glamorised (such as props) in contemporary films that entertain and influence the audience. A good example to particularly place here would be ‘Early 30's Gangster Genre, Howard Hawks’ website quote.
Firstly I will be describing the stereotypical aspects portrayed in films, which certain props can be described as being shown in several movies and I will also be explaining the effect of these props (copy cat theory & glamorising factor). A sensible comparison to use here will be comparing the media with actual gangsters in reality hence illustrating the conventions of the lifestyle. A direct comparison will be contrasting both contemporary film ‘American Gangster’ along with the historical non-fiction gangster Frank Lucas. Despite the lifestyle stereotypically shown in the gangster genre, it will also explain how the influencing effect can still apply to the audience even until today. For example children as young as aged 10 are though to avoid following a gangster path according to ‘Primary school children could be given anti-gun crime lessons (November 2009)’ article from the Guardian.
Considering I will concentrate on the representations props used by the protagonists shown in the film genre, I will also include background information based on the genre itself. Genre will most likely be stated within the opening paragraph but I will however describe the fantasising and attractiveness of the criminal lifestyle the gangsters live (e.g. amazing lives due to uniqueness. They’re breaking the law and living an outlaw life that is different to others). I will include theories here such as the hypodermic needle as well as the copycat theory thus demonstrating how the audience react and absorb lifestyles connoted in texts. In particular I will specifically refer to the ‘Top 5 Reasons Why We Love Mafia Movies’ article as well as ‘Philip Rayner, Peter Wall, Stephan Kruger, AS Media Studies, London and New York, Routledge, pg. 55’.
This paragraph will focus on the wider concepts in relation to the genre. I will be including SHEP factors in which are based around specific films in order to create the protagonists lifestyles to seem over dramatic as well as it seeming theatrically cool. A prime example would be to analyse 1980’s Scarface considering the film itself reflects the lifestyle of the rich and famous in Miami at the time. As the protagonist in the film lives a peasant lifestyle at the start and later converts it to a glamorise life similar to celebrities living in Hollywood; self explanatory to my critical investigation question. I will also be referring to two quotes from two online articles The Independent Moviemaker - Understanding Genre: the Gangster Film and Top 5 Reasons Why We Love Mafia Movies given that they will both explain the way in which the audience are exactally influenced by films.
To finish off the essay I will discuss the ideologies & values used in reference to specific texts. Thus leading to describe the different methods used to promote the unique elements of each of the lead gangsters to live their lives in the movies. Again using theories such as the hypodermic needle model will enhance the way in which the audience sees the gangsters’ lifestyles as being glamorous.
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