Media Narrative and Genre

The narrative is mainly linear, which allows the audience to journey alongside the gothic genre film, as it includes lots of enigma. However there is flashbacks at the begining of the narrrative, introduced by Ms Lovett, which allows the audience to identify with her more, as the Proppian helper for both the audience and the protagonist.

Another Proppian helper in the text is the old lady. It is clear that females in the text seem to play the Proppian helper. This could signify that the institution reflect a patriarchial society, reinforcing females stereotypes, where females play a more passive role as a helper, rather than a dominant role as a protagonist. However, it could also signify that females hold power as they know the right information to give to both the audience and the characters within the film.

Themes such as Love, Betrayal and Death are typical of a mainstream film, suggesting the film or at least the institution are of a commercial one. However, the film's unique hybrind genre of musicals, gothic and a hint of humour, introduces the mainstream themes to a niche audience.

Due to the musical genre, the digetic sound track helps move the plot foward or expresses the internal emotions of the characters. This is typical of musicals and is useful to the audience as it introduces different views of the narrative.

Iconographies of the gothic genre are present. For example the strip of white in the black hair- stereotyped view of crazy or insane characters derived from the mad scientist in Frankenstein.

One of the conventions of gothic genre present are a dark gritty mise en scene. This is signified through the colours and the low key lighing. Also the time period of the film also helps, as it is during the Medival period.

Tim Burton is a director famously linked with the Gothic genre with films such as Corspe Bride, Batman, And Nightmare Before Christmas. Tim Burton alongside Johnny Depp is a duo known to work together for example Corspe Bride, Edward Scissorhands, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Sleepy Hollow. Therefore audiences will have a certain expectation for the style and genre of the film, In particular expecting a strong male protagonist from Depp.

Helena Bonhem Carter is the main female character, who like Depp and Burton is famous for playing characters in "dark" films such as the Harry Potter series and Alice in Wonderland. She usually plays a charatcer which is mad or whacky, which is also present in this film.