Aiming for Excellence Power and Control / Justice and Revenge Essays
Essays you could answer with this content: Describe at least ONE conflict in the text(s). Explain why the conflict was important to the text(s) as a whole, supporting your points with examples of visual and / or oral language features. Describe at least ONE idea that you thought was important in the text(s). Explain how visual / oral language features were used to show you the idea(s) was important. Describe at least ONE important event at (or near) the end of the text(s). Explain why the event(s) helped you understand the director s idea(s). Discuss visual / oral text features in your response.
Parallel Action - Sutler's broadcast vs Final fight The mise-en-scene of the parallel action shows Adam Sutler's final broadcast, played on 5 television sets, about justice and enemies. The irony of his speech is shown through the parallel action - Sutler is receiving the swift justice from V that he deserves and that matches his own speech. It also shows no one is listening to him anymore and he's lost power because of the empty seats. This is paralleled with V meeting with Creedy, his guards and the captive Sutler underground.
Dialogue - Sutler's broadcast "My fellow Englishmen: tonight our country, that which we stand for, and all we hold dear, faces a grave and terrible threat. This violent and unparalleled assault on our security will not go undefended... or unpunished. Our enemy is an insidious one, seeking to divide us and destroy the very foundation of our great nation. Tonight, we must remain steadfast. We must remain determined. But most of all, we must remain united. Those caught tonight in violation of curfew will be considered in league with our enemy and prosecuted as a terrorist without leniency or exception. Tonight, I give you my most solemn vow: that justice will be swift, it will be righteous, and it will be without mercy.
The V or 5 is constantly brought about in obvious and subtle ways to continually remind the viewer of the mission and justify V's murderous and terrorist tactics as an acceptable means of carrying out his work.
High/Low angle shots + Performance V is visually shown to gain control/power over Sutler and Creedy through the use of high angle shots of Sutler and the subtle low angle shots of V High angles showing loss of power Low angle + performance showing power/control gain
Symbolism - symbolic comparison between V's broadcast and Sutler's V's broadcast Sutler's broadcast 5 TVs shown with people all avidly paying attention to V s message Government in control Government officials trying to find V by storming the BTN tower BTN tower = high building, clearly shows power and control. It represents the government s, in particular Sutler s, control over England 5th of November Same 5 TVs shown with no one watching all of the seats are empty V gains control - Creedy s closest mean trying to find V, so they storm the Underground. Underground V s operation is underground figuratively and literally. It is the place where he gains final control over the government: - He finishes killing the leaders - He gets Evey to blow up parliament with him on the train. 4th of November a year later
Symbolism symbolic comparison between V's broadcast and Sutler's V's broadcast Sutler's broadcast
Dialogue - Creedy vs V Creedy: [desperately shooting at the approaching V] Die! Die! Why won't you die?... Why won't you die? V: Beneath this mask there is more than flesh. Beneath this mask there is an idea, Mr. Creedy. And ideas are bulletproof. V stays standing long after he should have because he's driven by his thirst for justice and revenge.
Essay Structure Introduction - funnel Paragraph 1 - parallel action/ironic dialogue Paragraph 2 - high/low angle shots Paragraph 3 - symbolic comparison between V and Sutler Conclusion - reverse funnel
Body Paragraphs Structure Topic Statement Describe the section of the scene you will talk about that shows the idea Identify the technique used to show this Example Describe what is happening at the time the technique is used in the film, using film language explanation Explain how this shows the idea and why that makes it important/memorable Analysis Explain what this shows us about human behaviour Discuss how this is similar/different to something in your life or wider society. Summary Restate that the technique used helps show the idea Link back to essay topic
Introduction Broad idea quote e.g. "The only verdict is vengeance; a vendetta... for the value and veracity of such shall one day vindicate the vigilant and the virtuous." Link quote to text and essay topic e.g. In the visual text V for Vendetta, directed by James McTeigue, the final fight scene clearly illustrates the idea of control and power. Outline techniques that show this e.g. In this scene McTeigue uses parallel action, ironic dialogue and symbolism to develop our understanding of the change in power and control through the direct comparison of V and Adam Sutler.
Paragraph 1 Parallel Action Topic Statement Firstly, in the beginning of this scene the director uses parallel action to make a direct comparison between Chancellor Adam Sutler and V. This comparison helps develop our understanding of the idea of power and control. Example For example, we see close ups and mid-shots of the TVs broadcasting Sutler's final speech crosscut with V meeting Creedy, his guards and captive Sutler in the underground, where he kills them. This is used alongside Sutler's ironic speech about punishment, unity and justice. "Tonight, I give you my most solemn vow: that justice will be swift, it will be righteous, and it will be without mercy." explanation This use of parallel action and ironic dialogue helps show the idea of justice and revenge because it visually illustrates V upholding justice by killing Sutler, then the guards and Creedy. V is killing the remaining leaders of Norsefire, thus getting his revenge for ill-treatment and justice for all of the wrongs these government leaders have committed. Analysis The idea of power and control can be seen in real life through the revolutions that have happened throughout history, such as the uprisings that have happened in Egypt and Turkey recently. When societies try to stand up for themselves you often see a struggle for justice and sometimes it results in people becoming bloodthirsty and hateful, such as the ongoing war between Israel and Palestine. V's hate for the government fuelled his bloody sense of justice and revenge, and resulted in him gaining power and control over the minds of a country. Summary In this scene it is clear the V's conflict struggle for power with the government is driven by a desire for his justice and revenge.
Conclusion Outline techniques that show this e.g. In summary, the parallel action, ironic dialogue and symbolic comparison between V and Sutler all work together to develop the idea of justice and revenge in the final fight scene. Link quote to text and essay topic e.g. McTeigue's development of this idea is crucial to our understanding of the driving force behind V's actions. Broad idea quote e.g. "The only verdict is vengeance; a vendetta... for the value and veracity of such shall one day vindicate the vigilant and the virtuous."