The central character Red being the narrator in the Shawshank Redemption is very significant. He gives things both from his point of view as Red, but also sometimes as an omniscient narrator, commenting on what is going on in situations. Throughout Red’s narration we see the different growth of the characters and we also learn more about the secondary characters such as Brooks. Although we see Andy’s development and also his escape, Red is the central character as we see him having the epiphany which demonstrates the theme throughout the film of hope. Narrative is very important as it is what creates the different themes and structure of a good movie.
-table of genre repertoire of events
| Generic Feature | Description | Link to other macro concepts |
| Story | Similar (predictable) plots and narrative structures, situations, conflicts and resolutions. | Narrative |
| Themes | Core ideas being explored, topics, subject matter, conflicts and underlying ideologies. | |
| Characters | Similar types of characters who have similar roles, personal qualities, motivations, goals, flaws and behaviours. | Representation |
| Setting | Geographical and historical, and how those times and places are represented. | |
| Mise-en-scene (Iconography) | A familiar stock of images the connotations of which have become fixed; including setting, costume, props, characters… | Film Language |
| Production Techniques | Stylistic or formal conventions of camerawork, lighting, sound-recording, use of colour, editing etc. |
| Generic Feature | Your analysis of Genre |
| Story | Someone who does not belong in prison is incarcerated
They try to retain their humanity and want to escape They also make friends with an unlikely group of criminals/ inmates They are either redeemed or escape the brutality of the institution |
| Themes | The ambition and need to escape
Cruelty Brutality Violence Loss of hope Rediscovery of humanity |
| Characters | The main protagonist (the person who doesn’t want to be there) – (the fish out of the water)
The guards The warden- the brutality/authorisation guards The prisoners The fixer/finder of things The vulnerable and weak character |
| Setting | Very bleak, forbidding scary place/institution
Industrialised |
| Mise-en-scene (Iconography) | Guns and whips- used to demonstrate extreme violence
Bars,uninformed prisoners and guards The regimented/ routine lifestyles Uniforms Use of crowd shots PANORAMIC trading – (black market) “ I understand you know how to get things.” |
| Production Techniques (Camera & Lighting) | Lowkey lighting. Use of frames within frames bars/ doors to communicate entrapments |