Genre Research

Genre - Science Fiction

    Science fiction movies are generally recognizable by their inclusion of futuristic technology, such as space or time travel, and complex universes with in depth world building. They frequently contain criticisms or discussions of contemporary societal ills; racism, autocratic regimes, and poverty to name a few. The science fiction genre typically depicts dystopian worlds, where the advancement of technology exhausts entire planets of natural resources. A notable example of this is Bladerunner 2049, where even plant life is scarce.

Blade Runner 2049

    Science fiction movies often utilize establishing shots to portray their grandiose, futuristic settings. As the genre is filled with advanced machinery such as spaceships, tracking shots are
used to capture their wide ranges of movement. Additionally, lighting typically utilizes a cool, blue tone to depict the sleekness and sterility of the future. As the settings of science fiction movies often show worlds with vastly more complex technology, CGI is used to better depict them. Practical effects are still seen, such as the puppeteering  of aliens, but not in regards to the movie's scenery. 

    Sci-fi movies are conventionally marketed with action figures, posters and trailers. Their advertisements show the sheer scale of the universe depicted, attempting to introduce the movie's world and its nature to consumers. The demographic for science fiction movies has broadened over time, but the genre originally catered to a younger male audience.

Star Wars is one of the most notable science fiction franchises in history, and for good reason. With movies, shows, and books under its name, the brand's sheer breadth has allowed the different facets of its universe to be portrayed. But despite its futuristic setting, the original trilogy is grounded in very contemporary themes. The tragedy of Anakin Skywalker discusses heartbreak, betrayal, all during a time of intergalactic warfare. 

Not all sci-fi movies revolve around beautiful and diverse environments - Denis Villeneuve's Blade Runner 2049 is a prime example of this. The film takes place in a dystopian universe, where grand enterprises supersede the likes of the government and the law. Villeneuve masterfully captures the dark side of technological advancement, as organic life is a rarity. The world's inhabitants live in towering skyscrapers, under a dark, dull sky, solely illuminated by artificial lighting. 

Here's a few other examples of Sci-Fi movies:

Alien

Back to the Future

The Terminator

Interstellar

The Martian

The Matrix

Representation Patterns

    One of my favorite video games is Red Dead Redemption 2, which follows the story of a gang of outlaws in the Wild West. As the era of cowboys is being ushered out for industrial expansion, the gang sets out to escape the life of crime. The game received critical acclaim, being praised for its moving narrative and beautiful visuals.

    The protagonist of the story is Arthur Morgan, an outlaw sitting at the right hand of the gang's leader: Dutch Van der Linde. Arthur is reflective of the South's culture, characteristics, and values at the time. Donning a heavy southern accent and dressed with a cowboy hat and boots, Morgan's external appearance constructs the typical southerner. The game's protagonist was born and raised into a life of crime, rejecting the order and restriction that comes with the rise of industrialism. This is reflective of typical conservative values in the South, prioritizing individual freedom. 

    Not all of Red Dead Redemption 2's characters fit the southern stereotype, however; Dutch Van der Linde is a prime example of this. The gang's leader is bent on securing a more stable life through any means necessary, hoping to adapt both order and structure. While both characters have similar upbringings and physical characteristics, the game differentiates them through their values and ideologies.

    The game also portrays the racial discrimination present in the time period, as P.O.C. receive cruel and unfair treatment throughout the story. As you travel through the different towns and cities of Red Dead Redemption 2, you can overhear the conversations and actions of the citizens. Both physical and verbal abuse can be seen towards people of color, representing the negative attitude towards minority groups. This is contrasted by Dutch's gang, which features outlaws of all sorts of backgrounds. Van der Linde cares for one's capabilities over their race, continuing to depict more progressive values.

   The characters of Red Dead Redemption 2 are masterfully written, effectively representing different groups, races, and cultures. I strongly recommend this game, even to those who aren't avid video game players.

Sound project

 Our class was assigned a "Sound project," in which we were tasked to create a 1-2 minute long soundscape without any sort of visuals, telling a story through only audio. Additionally, several of our sounds were to be created through Foley.

My group decided on creating a soundscape depicting Santa Claus dropping presents off at a house, getting spotted by a young child in the act. We divided the project into scenes, using an outline to compile the various sounds playing simultaneously. The outline effectively helped us organize the large amounts of sounds layered on top of each other. 

The project was edited through Adobe Premiere Pro, occasionally using FL studio for equalization and effects. While I think we effectively told the story we decided on, further layering could have been utilized to create a more immersive scene. 

HernandezDragonetti_soundscape_per7.mp4