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Urban drama. By Declan Rigby. G enre. The Urban Drama came about as the emergence and popularity of ‘hood films’. focussed on social issues like racism and integration. dealing with issues such as crime, drugs, poverty.
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Urban drama By Declan Rigby
Genre • The Urban Drama came about as the emergence and popularity of ‘hood films’. • focussed on social issues like racism and integration. • dealing with issues such as crime, drugs, poverty. • Urban drama is similar to social realism as its real life and people can relate to what's occurring in the film. • Ensemble drama where there is no main character or storyline, sub plots and all characters are equal. • Establishing shot- set the scene of where scene or film is taking place, shows the ‘ghetto’ or council estate which urban dramas usually take place. • Two shots – shows characters dialogue or tension between characters. • caps, hoodies and tracksuits usually worn to represent youth and under privileged childhoods.
Urban drama examples • Boyz n the hood • Menace to society • Kidulthood • Adulthood • Anuvahood • Coach carter • Do the right thing • Clockers • This is England • Crash
Representation • Stereotyping youth or a gangs, by wearing the clothes of the average teenager (caps, hoodies and tracksuits). • In the earlier American urban drama’s it mainly was all African American casts, stereotyping that the ethnicity was seen as bad or dangerous due to the narratives that occur within the films. • A lot of stereotyping occurs in urban dramas as they need to make the film as realistic to peoples views on others as possible to give a realistic and traditional views.
Audience • Relatable story lines get viewers hooked. • Views of urban dramas are usually of a young age (teenagers) 18-25 • mainly aimed at teenagers who can relate to the context used. • Aspirers who idolise the actors within the film would go to watch it. • The audience aimed at would fit into band D,E on the social economic status.
Narrative • Beginning: establish the harsh environment the characters are living in. We as the audience are given a taste of the character’s lives. • Middle: a state of disequilibrium occurs. Usually followed by life-threatening encounters with this obstacle be it being chased by the police for the crime they did or didn't commit. • The concept of the fairy tale happy ending is played with in Urban Dramas. These films often kill off the main character or jail them at the end to reinforce that sense of realism • The idea of escaping ‘the ghetto’ are shown typically within the ‘Urban Drama’ genre. Living the ‘American dream’ to be successful. • Ideologies explored include the importance of friendship ,romance, racism and the effects of living multi-culturally modern society. These are usually explored through sub-plots rather than being the main focus of the actual film.
Steve Neale: genre evolution • The form finds itself: “The colour purple (1985)” Director: Steven Spielberg Stars:Danny Glover, Whoopi Goldberg, Oprah Winfrey first hit film of the main era to which urban dramas arose, seen as the film that started off the genre. • Classic: “Boyz n the hood (1991)” Director: John Singleton many see this film as the classic film of the genre that has all the ideal conventions of an urban drama genre. • Stretching the boundaries: “clockwork orange (1971)” Director: Stanley Kubrick this film has taken the urban drama conventions and expanding it, its usually where it merges with conventions of another drama. • Parody: “Anuvahood (2011)” directed by: Adam Deacon staring: Adam Deacon, JazzieZonzolo. where the conventions of an urban drama are taken and tried to be made funny, taking the mick out of the genre. • Homage: “training day (2001)” directed by :Antoine Fuqua, starring Denzel Washington, Dr Dre.
