The Hurt Locker: exam style questions

Q1. Explain two ways the characters and/ or events fit the action adventure genre.

Use examples from the extract. [10 marks]

The character James conforms to the action adventure genre due to him being very skilful with weapons. We see this as he walks up to the person claiming he has a bomb strapped to him and starts to give orders about what equipment he needs to help disarm it. As the person with the bomb, in this case the antagonist in the scene, attached to his torso cries out James, the protagonist, pulls out a gun to tell him that he cannot save him and that he has tries all alternatives. This suggests to the audience that a tense scene is occurring and that the main character will have to make a choice whether to save him or to kill him. This fits the action adventure genre because of the climax it builds up leading the audience to be engaged in what's going on.

The events in which occur in the scene also conform to the action adventure genre due to the setting in the exotic location. It looks like it is set in a very hot place in the east that has been deserted because of war-suggested by the military squad nearby. This will most likely be a place that the majority of the audience will have not been before, therefore giving them an experience of a more foreign place. This build to the tense atmosphere as the audience will have little knowledge of the place and so will the characters and so they can relate and experience the scene together.

Q2. Explain how each of the following is used to create effects:

• Soundtrack
• Editing
• Mise-en-scene
• Camerawork

Use examples from the extract. [30 marks]

Camera- At the beginning of the extract an establishing shot is used to set the scene and help the audience establish the setting. The camera often alternated between point-of-view shot and hand-held camera shot because of the scene and the tension building up for the audience. This gives a very personal perspective for the audience and makes them feel as though they are involved in the action altogether. The different P.O.V shot helps the audience distinguish the character dialogue from the fast-paced action.

Editing- Fast-paced editing is used throughout the entire extract to maintain the focus on the action and keep the audience on the edge of their seats. Shot-reverse-shot us also used to distinguish dialogue and help the audience keep up with the characters thoughts and movements. The use of cut editing helps to make an abrupt transition from each scene and used to maintain continuity editing.

Sound- An extensive use of diegetic sound is used, for instance, the sound of shouting, gunfire and the sounds of machinery which helps with the use of sound bridge. This is also identifies with the use of synchronous sound.

Mise-en-scene- The costumes of the characters are all military based which connotes that the film is an action/adventure genre and also what is happening in the scene which adds to the tension and the audiences initial thoughts of the scene. The exotic setting helps the audience experience this from the character's perspective as it is a place that the audience will have not likely been before- as well as the character and so they can experience the same thoughts as the characters and see how the plot develops further to overcome the problem at hand.

Q3. Discuss the ways in which people are represented in the extract.

Refer to stereotypes in your answer.
Use examples from the extract. [20 marks]

Throughout the extract, characters are portrayed stereotypically and atypically to connote and celebrate different values and ideals. For instance, the representation of race and nationality is predominantly unconventional, as it doesn’t follow the stereotype of one race as the hero and another as the villain. This is shown through the military squad rushing around as the camera fall on different types of ethnic people all fighting o the same team. The only main stereotype is the hero being young and the villain being a civilian of the exotic setting that has been caught up in the action.

Gender is another stereotype that mainly occurs in the extract, as the genre stereotype of a women is to be weaker and less violent and less powerful than men. However there are no women in the scene. It could be argued that the setting is stereotypical as it looks in a place in the far east- Iraq where the theme of war is common and 'stereotypical'.