GENRE: WAR

By Issie, Gemma, Sophie & Kat

ICONOGRAPHY

Costume/Make-up

Uniform
Helmet
Mud
Blood
Camouflage
Bandages
Gas mask

Props
Guns
Horse
Planes/helicopters
Grenades
First aid/medical care
Men in practically all war films are often matched
with guns and weapons to show a sense of power
and it also shows how strong they can be too.

Target audience
Usual target audience
Young adults-older people
More of a male based audience as usually a
lot of action

Setting
The settings usually include a war field where battle is
carried out. This part in the film would usually contain
low tense music in the background .
It includes the bunkers and trenches where soldiers
rest. Its usually the part in the film where you
understand other soldiers personalities and characters.
Ships are a setting commonly used to take the soldiers
to war, the music in the background again tends to be
low & deep music. You also learn here a lot about
characters.

Codes And Conventions

War films are mainly about battles carried out on land,
air or in the water. They usually focus on people who
do military training and operations, and victims of war.
Sometimes war films will show life behind the war or
society during war but will not feature battle scenes.
The war stories can vary from historical stories,
fictional stories, biographical or documentary.
Films that show viewers the true terror and pain about
war are sometimes given the term anti-war film.

Conventions

Death of loved ones

Explosions and shootings
Fast pace low music
Destruction and damage
Wounds/Injury

PLOT

Characters- Heros/Villains
Heros are usually soldiers, going to war, the film plot
usually follows their life story and journey into battle.
War films are quite clear on the goodys and baddys we
as viewer straight away assume the baddys are the
opposing army.
Sometimes, although this is very rare, the women are the
main characters, but these types of films are usually
the war films that are more romantically based.

Structure
War films often allow viewers to acknowledge the horror and
heartbreak of war. The battle and fighting scenes usually just set
the main plot line and back ground for the film. Typical war film
plots include friendships built by soldiers, harsh trench conditions,
aeroplane explosions and shootings, undercover work and escapes.
The usually theme you see are escape and survivor stories, effects on
society and sacrifice and struggle.
Some war films include both the tragic heartbreaking scenes and
action packed excitement in their films to create a balance.
And some 'war' films concentrate on the home front rather than on
the conflict at the military war-front. But many of them provide
decisive criticism of senseless warfare.

Saving Private Ryan

Saving Private Ryan is a war film that follows the
story of Normandy Landings, the story involves
the search and rescue of a paratrooper whose
brother was killed in action.
The American flag at the beginning of the film
connotes the fact that the film is going to be
patriotic. The director of the film wanted to
present the realism of the war brutalities. The
music at the start of the film is military trumpets
which straight away prepares you for what the
film is going to represent.

Lone Survivor.
Lone Survivor is a film based on the current war that is happening.
Four American SEALs are sent to discover a Taliban leader who is
responsible for 20 Marine deaths. This film is based on a true story,
its one of your typical war films with guns, granades and killing. Its
full of suspense and action, it draws you in and the audience want
to get involved. Its also an emotional film, knowing that its a true
story makes it heart wrenching and brutally violent.
A lot of the music is played as a back ground sound, apart from key
moments in the film where the music is the only thing you can hear.
When there are gun fights, there is no non-diegetic sounds, just the
sound of guns, heavy breathing and shouting. This creates a
particular effect on the audience, it allows them to just focus on the
scene and be drawn into the chaos that happens whilst fighting for
your country.