CCR Research Question #1

Calling Card: CCR Question #1

How does your product use or challenge conventions and how does it represent social groups or issues?

First, I want to discuss what type of format I am going to do for my first two questions. When I was in the 2nd Group meeting with my group I received inspiration from one of the other members who said they were going to do a gameshow where the punishment was that they had to eat spicy food. This made me think about other popular gameshows and as a result I decided to do my answers in a Jeopardy like format. It's entertaining and is relatively simple to do and can be done with the help of my partner Marat who can act as the game host. I can use a buzzer and choose a section (For example, CCR #1 for 200 and answer the question when it appears on the screen.)

Our film opening revolves around two protagonists that are working together to defeat the antagonist who is called Shade. Our product definitely uses the typical conventions of films in the mystery genre. However, while our opening does utilize the typical conventions and tropes we still wanted to make it feel more original.  

We did by including a trope that isn't as common as the main one but is still very well-known. We added a deuteragonist or the second protagonist, who goes by the name of Oliver, that will work together with Matthew, who is the first or main protagonist of the story. We want to make it clear that they are seen as close or that they have known each other for a long time. 

We represent social groups by challenging the "Lone Wolf" stereotype with characters like Batman, Sherlock Holmes, and Doctor Who being some of the more iconic representations of the archetype. They are all depicted as characters that are isolated, cold, intelligent, and sometimes even believing they are superior to other characters as a result of their skill. We are challenging this stereotype by portraying a more healthy and friendly bond between Oliver and Matthew. This will be similar to Sherlock's relationship with Doctor Watson while still being different as neither of the characters will believe they are superior or that they are geniuses to make them seem more humble and relatable. We will also represent different ethnic backgrounds to make their connection between them feel even greater as they endeavor to solve the case together. 

An issue we also represent is the real problem of obsessions with things like work. We show with Matthew clear signs of an unhealthy lifestyle as he is obsessed with the case to the point that he is neglecting himself. There are plenty of people out there who are the exact same way and we decided to people about the harm that way of life can do to you. However, we also challenge it by showing that Matthew still has some semblance of a life as he has a girlfriend/wife to signify that even though it may seem impossible to get out of the cycle there's always a way to turn your life around.

Other tropes and conventions that we will follow the trope of a "phantom thief" by having Shade represent the stereotype of being a thief that seemingly is able to get in and out of a heist like a ghost. We also represent social issues like the fear of the unknown using Shade as the incarnation of that.  It is a serious fear and issue that we are going to try to represent with Shade.