SPIDERMAN EXTRACT ANALYSIS

Identify two ways in which the narrative (characters and events) in the extract fit the AA genre

This film is a classic superhero action and adventure film. It displays clear conventions of the AA genre, for example speed and motion. There is a car chase with the police pursuing the antagonist. The chase is fast-paced and makes the audience feel excited because you don't know what will happen, if the police will catch the villain or not. Another example of speed and motion is when Spiderman is swinging from building to building with his webs. He moves quickly (creating speed) and with agility but often falters and almost falls, for example when he lands very precariously on top of a building. This also creates suspense and jeopardy, more key conventions of the AA genre, because we don't know if Spiderman will fall or if he will manage to keep his balance.

The characters also very clearly fit the AA genre because we have a clear protagonist (hero) in Spiderman as well as an obvious antagonist. It is easy to tell Spiderman is the hero because he does not use violence unnecessarily, that is, he does not start a fight, he only goes to right a wrong such as catching the antagonist who shot his uncle, which is very typical of heroes in this genre. He also possesses supernatural abilities such as being able to swing from webs and scale skyscrapers with his bare hands. Having these special powers is a key code that it is a classic superhero action adventure film. There is also a clear antagonist, another convention in AA films, who shoots his uncle and then drives off. Killing an innocent person makes it obvious who the antagonist is, therefore we have the theme of 'good vs evil' which is yet another convention in classic action adventure films.