Text 3 - Night Of The Living Dead
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Media Studies A2 Genre Study HISTORIC TEXT 3 “Night of the Living Dead” (1968)
Directed by George A. Romero
What was the origin of “Night of the Living Dead”?
George A. Romero created the “Image Ten” company which made the film. The story was written by Romero & Russo, based loosely on the novel “I am Legend”. The film cost $114,000 to make, and grossed $12,000,000 in the USA alone. The film was largely made (according to Romero) as a “reaction to the war in Vietnam”.
Intertextuality: Was “Night” the first zombie text?
“Dracula” and “Frankenstein” are all part of the ‘undead’. This film was the next logical step in genre evolution. Previously, a film of this nature would have been deemed too offensive. The liberal attitude of the 1960s, combined with the hysteria of war, gave Romero the perfect time to tell his story.
Iconography: the portrayal of the zombies The zombies in “Night” are slow and lumbering (Romero has referred to them as “Childlike”). The creatures have a craving for human flesh, and can only be defeated by killing the brain (shooting, decapitation, etc.). No explanation is given conclusively to clarify WHY the dead are walking the Earth (suggestions are made, but NEVER proven). The images of the zombies from “Night” have been copied in many genre films; this text created the rules (lore), and the look (iconography).
Representation: gender & racial roles in “Night”
“Night” was the first text to feature a black actor as the hero. It was a controversial and subversive move for the time. Romero insists it was not deliberate, and that Duane Jones was “simply the best actor for the part”.
“Night” uses conventional genre stereotypes, but shifts them slightly. The character of Barbara is very pro-active in the opening sequence. The character does then spend most of the film in shock, which damages the credibility somewhat.
Analysing the syntax: key scenes from “Night of the Living Dead” Three influential sequences exist in the 1968 text “The Night Of The Living Dead”. These are:
1. The opening zombie attack on Barbara and Johnny. 2. The matricide sequence – Karen attacks Helen. 3. The closing moments – the end of the siege and the response given to Ben.
Watch these scenes again and deconstruct them, considering the following : Mise-en-scene, Cinematography, Representation, Audience, Narrative, Editing, Sound, & Lighting.
Reactions to the final sequence of “Night” The ending provoked outrage amongst audiences because:
It breaks with Propp’s narrative; there is no happy ending. It subverts genre conventions seen by films like “Dracula” and “Curse of Frankenstein”, where the evil is vanquished and the hero victorious. The plague of zombies continues to exist. The text spends a large amount of time on characterisation deliberately in order to made the siege more shocking.
Was “Night” the first original movie franchise?
Romero and Russo did not make another film together after “Night” – Romero obtained the copyright to use the word ‘DEAD’ in his sequels. Romero wrote and directed 2 sequels – “Dawn of the Dead” (1979), and “Day of the Dead” (1985). He is currently working on the next instalment, provisionally entitled “Dead Reckoning”. Previous franchises were based on literary characters like Dracula and Frankenstein; this was the first ORIGINAL franchise in the horror genre.
Strengths “Night of
& weaknesses of the Living Dead”
1. “Night” created a more explicit approach to the genre. 2. It showed that there was a market for low-budget productions within the genre. 3. The film relies heavily on good characterization in order to carry out the finale effectively. 4. The ending proved that horror did not need to conform to be successful.
1. The final sequence may be a little too dark and oppressive for some audiences. 2. The issue of gender within horror is still present; Barbara still relies on men to help her. 3. “Night” could be seen an as angry film which attacks a reactionary government. 4. The lack of explanation for the zombies may frustrate some.
Practical exercise 1: is George A. Romero a genre auteur? In this task, you are going to assess whether George A. Romero is a genuine horror auteur. This will be achieved by comparing the opening sequence of “Night of the Living Dead” to the opening of his second sequel “Day of the Dead”. In groups of 3 or 4 compare and contrast the two segments, and write a short analysis of Romero’s work. Your piece of writing should be between 150 and 250 words long, and at the end you must conclude that either he is an auteur, or he is not. Remember to consider the following aspects in your evaluation: Visual style, Use of effects, Characterization, Similarities, Differences, Originality, Atmosphere, Use of shocks, Camera techniques.
Summary: essay task As homework, you are going to be set an essay to complete based around “Night of the Living Dead”. The question will require you to compare this text to the others you have previously studied, and also to incorporate what you have learnt in the initial genre theory lessons. You will be given a worksheet to guide you through what is expected in the essay, and the points you will need to consider. You will have a maximum of two weeks to complete your essay. The title is as follows:
“George A. Romero’s ‘Night of the Living Dead’ was a turning point for the Horror Genre.” To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?
Directed by George A. Romero
What was the origin of “Night of the Living Dead”?
George A. Romero created the “Image Ten” company which made the film. The story was written by Romero & Russo, based loosely on the novel “I am Legend”. The film cost $114,000 to make, and grossed $12,000,000 in the USA alone. The film was largely made (according to Romero) as a “reaction to the war in Vietnam”.
Intertextuality: Was “Night” the first zombie text?
“Dracula” and “Frankenstein” are all part of the ‘undead’. This film was the next logical step in genre evolution. Previously, a film of this nature would have been deemed too offensive. The liberal attitude of the 1960s, combined with the hysteria of war, gave Romero the perfect time to tell his story.
Iconography: the portrayal of the zombies The zombies in “Night” are slow and lumbering (Romero has referred to them as “Childlike”). The creatures have a craving for human flesh, and can only be defeated by killing the brain (shooting, decapitation, etc.). No explanation is given conclusively to clarify WHY the dead are walking the Earth (suggestions are made, but NEVER proven). The images of the zombies from “Night” have been copied in many genre films; this text created the rules (lore), and the look (iconography).
Representation: gender & racial roles in “Night”
“Night” was the first text to feature a black actor as the hero. It was a controversial and subversive move for the time. Romero insists it was not deliberate, and that Duane Jones was “simply the best actor for the part”.
“Night” uses conventional genre stereotypes, but shifts them slightly. The character of Barbara is very pro-active in the opening sequence. The character does then spend most of the film in shock, which damages the credibility somewhat.
Analysing the syntax: key scenes from “Night of the Living Dead” Three influential sequences exist in the 1968 text “The Night Of The Living Dead”. These are:
1. The opening zombie attack on Barbara and Johnny. 2. The matricide sequence – Karen attacks Helen. 3. The closing moments – the end of the siege and the response given to Ben.
Watch these scenes again and deconstruct them, considering the following : Mise-en-scene, Cinematography, Representation, Audience, Narrative, Editing, Sound, & Lighting.
Reactions to the final sequence of “Night” The ending provoked outrage amongst audiences because:
It breaks with Propp’s narrative; there is no happy ending. It subverts genre conventions seen by films like “Dracula” and “Curse of Frankenstein”, where the evil is vanquished and the hero victorious. The plague of zombies continues to exist. The text spends a large amount of time on characterisation deliberately in order to made the siege more shocking.
Was “Night” the first original movie franchise?
Romero and Russo did not make another film together after “Night” – Romero obtained the copyright to use the word ‘DEAD’ in his sequels. Romero wrote and directed 2 sequels – “Dawn of the Dead” (1979), and “Day of the Dead” (1985). He is currently working on the next instalment, provisionally entitled “Dead Reckoning”. Previous franchises were based on literary characters like Dracula and Frankenstein; this was the first ORIGINAL franchise in the horror genre.
Strengths “Night of
& weaknesses of the Living Dead”
1. “Night” created a more explicit approach to the genre. 2. It showed that there was a market for low-budget productions within the genre. 3. The film relies heavily on good characterization in order to carry out the finale effectively. 4. The ending proved that horror did not need to conform to be successful.
1. The final sequence may be a little too dark and oppressive for some audiences. 2. The issue of gender within horror is still present; Barbara still relies on men to help her. 3. “Night” could be seen an as angry film which attacks a reactionary government. 4. The lack of explanation for the zombies may frustrate some.
Practical exercise 1: is George A. Romero a genre auteur? In this task, you are going to assess whether George A. Romero is a genuine horror auteur. This will be achieved by comparing the opening sequence of “Night of the Living Dead” to the opening of his second sequel “Day of the Dead”. In groups of 3 or 4 compare and contrast the two segments, and write a short analysis of Romero’s work. Your piece of writing should be between 150 and 250 words long, and at the end you must conclude that either he is an auteur, or he is not. Remember to consider the following aspects in your evaluation: Visual style, Use of effects, Characterization, Similarities, Differences, Originality, Atmosphere, Use of shocks, Camera techniques.
Summary: essay task As homework, you are going to be set an essay to complete based around “Night of the Living Dead”. The question will require you to compare this text to the others you have previously studied, and also to incorporate what you have learnt in the initial genre theory lessons. You will be given a worksheet to guide you through what is expected in the essay, and the points you will need to consider. You will have a maximum of two weeks to complete your essay. The title is as follows:
“George A. Romero’s ‘Night of the Living Dead’ was a turning point for the Horror Genre.” To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?
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