General Overview

Name: Back to the Future

Director: Robert Zemeckis
Year of Production: 1985
Niche or Mainstream: Mainstream
Genre: Hybrid (Science Fiction, Action & Adventure)
Key Characters & Actors:
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Marty Mcfly: Michael J Fox

Dr Emmett Brown: Christopher Lloyd
Lorraine Baines: Lea Thompson
George McFly: Cripsin Glover
Biff Tannen: Thomas F Wilson

Budget: $19 million

Conventions
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Very successful Sci Fi film but not a classic

Typical hybrid of Sci Fi and action with comedy.
Uses the what if scenario with future technology, special objects and
props, time travel, stereotypical mad scientist, damsel in distress.
Creates enigma through the use of time travel and change of events

Detailed analysis of Scene 1

The narrative opens to a diegetic sound of a ticking clock connoting the
importance of time within the film. The sound has been amplified to show
its importance. In addition the films opens with a close up of the clock
face. Next we see a slow reverse zoom to show the multitude of clocks.
We also see news papers from the past with photos of famous inventors.
The most iconic being Albert Einstein and Thomas Edison. They are known
to be heroic and to have embraced the impossible. The Mise-en-Scene we
see includes props such as the inventions and machinery as well as the
nuclear chemical. The news report at the beginning establishes the
plutonium theft, nuclear warfare and nuclear power. Again we see this
through the very recognisable nuclear logo. The news report also links to
terrorist groups. The scene reflects human nature about fearing what we
dont and do understand.
The malfunctioning toaster in the scientists room suggest the characters
imperfections and wackiness, suggesting a Mad Scientist
The pace of the editing Is very slow with minimal cuts encouraging the
audience to rely on visual codes with the use of setting and props.

The scene ends with brilliant special effects that still relate to the genre.
The protagonist enters and causes mayhem which reflects the characters
age.
Representation
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The male characters are constructed in a stereotypical manner, as

well as the females.
Dress codes include Nike trainers, denim jeans, skateboard as well
as good grooming. The dress codes reflect the characters persona
and age. (Typical teen of the 80s)
Mad scientist (Wacky Hair, overcoat)
Good Vs Evil (Marty Vs Biff)
Binary opposites and Stereotypes
Woman are shown to be pretty and a bit pathetic often adopting a
caring role towards the males
Men shown to be in control, running the household and masculine
Context
As so much of the film is set in the 1950s the values of that
time have of course a massive impact on the representation
of gender context is all important here the gender roles
reflect what was typical at the time.