Language and Angle of the article:
The mode of address is the way the script is written in order to be understood by certain readers. Mode of address's include peer to peer, which is when the language is informal and aimed to have a more friendly feeling to it, as if you were speaking to one of your peers. Another includes teacher to pupils, when the language's aim is to teach the reader something, in a way which can be understood by most people with basic intelligence. Another is carer to child, which as you may have guessed is an affectionate and concerned way of using language to inform them on things that are vital and should be known by all humans in order to survive and continue increasing our population. The way of being able to figure out what mode of address's are being used, is by figuring out whether elaborate or restricted coding is being used. Elaborate coding is usually complicated and is aimed to be understood by people who are either very experienced and knowledgeable of what they are reading about, or a sophisticated person who can usually come to some form of understanding of many subjects. Restricted coding is when language is basic and very easily understood, and is used for the purpose of either educating undeveloped minds, or to entertain the reader and make them feel comfortable and laid back.
The script for the film Fargo (by the Coen Brothers) uses the elaborate coding through uses of sentences like the example below:
"Slowly the white becomes a barely perceptible image..." Page 2
The word perceptible is a word which is more likely to be understood by people within the film industry, since creating films is about manipulating what the audience perceives, however restricted coding would've used a word like visible instead. Meanwhile the actual dialogue within the script uses a restricted coding, since the narrative follows characters of very basic intelligence.
"Waitress
Can I Warm that up for ya there?
Anderson
(absently)
You bet." Page 3
The actual dialogue uses the peer to peer mode of address, through the use of phrases like "You bet" which in a more formal context would translate to "Of course". The phrase "You bet" is also a very specific use of dialect which informs the audience of the location the film is based in, since when pronounced in the correct way have a very Canadian sound to them. The reason this type of friendly dialogue is used through out most of the script, is because of the film's genre, black comedy. This is because the contrast with Canadian's friendly mannerisms verses the cold blooded crimes which are committed in the narrative is a very entertaining juxtaposition to observe if you are humoured by such things. The reason this is such an obvious device that is used is because the target audience are going to immediately engage and enjoy the narrative. The target audience for this film addresses both males and females, since the main protagonist is a pregnant police officer, whilst the three entertaining villains are all male. The age for the target audience is difficult to narrow down since the slap stick violence and incredible soundtrack appeals to young teenagers like myself, whilst the more thoughtful commentary the psychopathic obsession with money appeals to more mature audiences, perhaps reaching ages like 40. Since the film is directed and written by the Coen Brothers and is produced by PolyGram filmed entertainment, it is likely that the target audience are also going to have a higher spending power and fall under the ABC1 demographic, since films produced by big budget companies usually try to make their products appeal to a richer audience, since they charge more for their films, than independent companies.
The style of the script (as a whole) has a narrative structure which begins positive, and then eventually leads to most of the characters down fall towards the end of the script, in a similar way to the large narrative in breaking bad. This type of narrative appeals to audiences who are into dark humour, and have pessimistic views on life. This almost breaks the rules of Todorov's narrative theory, since the script has a equilibrium beginning, however a permanent disruption of the equilibrium for the rest of the story.
This type of script is fiction, however the film begins stating that it has been based on real life characters. This however is just a way of increasing the drama of the narrative, and is another way of the coen brothers satiring a certain type of genre.
COMMUNITY:
The other script I analysised, was a different genre to FARGO, this was the script for the first episode of the comedy Community by Dan Harmon. Again, the mode of address of this script, is one that is meant for the production company to read, and then turn into an audio visual product. This is evident throught the specialist terms he uses, for example at the beginning of the script it says;
"EXT. COURTYARD"
which is a specialist abbreviation of the word exterior, which means that the script begins with an exterior shot of the courtyard, which is also the establishment shot of the scene. The script also uses terms like FADE IN which is obviously meant to be understood by an editor, that Dan Harmon wants the scene to begin with a fade in. The script however is not elaborately coded, like the FARGO script, which may be because it is a much more modern script, and has more light hearted and comical intensions than the dark madness which FARGO focuses on.
It is clear that the genre of this clip is comedy, since already in the very first scene, a crude reference to one of Busta Rhymes songs comes on, when it is played accidently outloud in a community college by the dean. The follow up to this event is the dean "frantically" trying to put an end to this disaster.
The use of the word "frantically" implies that the character is shocked by this mistake, and creates a humourous image in the readers head, which is entertaining even in the form of a script. The trait of a good comedy script, is if it humours you whilst you are reading it before you see it on the screen.
In the next section of the script, the head teacher or "dean" as it is called in america is discussing the stereotypes of a community college (since the TV show is about students in a community college). He has already stated that people may have heard all types of things about community college, and you can tell that he is leading up to a sentence which removes those steretypes, however at this stage he is discussing the type of "losers" who may go to community college.
SHIRLEY [early 40s, shy, modest 90s attire], was briskly crossing the courtyard, eyes cast downward. She stops and looks toward the stage"
What the script is doing, is describing a certain persons insecurities whilst actually seeing that stereotypical person walking along on screen. This is humourous and both heart breaking to see, since the character Shirley fits the appearance and description that is heard whilst she is walking. The reaction of her stopping and looking towards the stage makes the audience aware that she feels personally described.
The script is already creating a sense of ligh-hearted comedy, which will directly appeal to a target audience of males and females aged 15-24, since the comedy is also very cheesy, and probably isn't considered "sophisticated" enough by older audiences.
The majourity of the script does follow the typical narrative style deviced by Todorov, since the episode begins with everyone happy, then a break in the equilibrium is made when the character Jeff decides he wants to date Britta, now he has a task to complete. The equilbrium however isn't restored in the way he wanted too, and actually results in a new friendship of a group in community, which includes a range of different types of people who the audience would never have thought would group together.
This type of script is clearly fiction, since narrative is obvious comedy, with barely any realistic aspects to it. The use of fiction allowed the writer Dan Harmon to create a comedy which was interesting due to the clash of misfits in the first episode, and due to the self aware style the dialogue is written.
The style of the script (as a whole) has a narrative structure which begins positive, and then eventually leads to most of the characters down fall towards the end of the script, in a similar way to the large narrative in breaking bad. This type of narrative appeals to audiences who are into dark humour, and have pessimistic views on life. This almost breaks the rules of Todorov's narrative theory, since the script has a equilibrium beginning, however a permanent disruption of the equilibrium for the rest of the story.
This type of script is fiction, however the film begins stating that it has been based on real life characters. This however is just a way of increasing the drama of the narrative, and is another way of the coen brothers satiring a certain type of genre.
COMMUNITY:
The other script I analysised, was a different genre to FARGO, this was the script for the first episode of the comedy Community by Dan Harmon. Again, the mode of address of this script, is one that is meant for the production company to read, and then turn into an audio visual product. This is evident throught the specialist terms he uses, for example at the beginning of the script it says;
"EXT. COURTYARD"
which is a specialist abbreviation of the word exterior, which means that the script begins with an exterior shot of the courtyard, which is also the establishment shot of the scene. The script also uses terms like FADE IN which is obviously meant to be understood by an editor, that Dan Harmon wants the scene to begin with a fade in. The script however is not elaborately coded, like the FARGO script, which may be because it is a much more modern script, and has more light hearted and comical intensions than the dark madness which FARGO focuses on.
It is clear that the genre of this clip is comedy, since already in the very first scene, a crude reference to one of Busta Rhymes songs comes on, when it is played accidently outloud in a community college by the dean. The follow up to this event is the dean "frantically" trying to put an end to this disaster.
The use of the word "frantically" implies that the character is shocked by this mistake, and creates a humourous image in the readers head, which is entertaining even in the form of a script. The trait of a good comedy script, is if it humours you whilst you are reading it before you see it on the screen.
In the next section of the script, the head teacher or "dean" as it is called in america is discussing the stereotypes of a community college (since the TV show is about students in a community college). He has already stated that people may have heard all types of things about community college, and you can tell that he is leading up to a sentence which removes those steretypes, however at this stage he is discussing the type of "losers" who may go to community college.
"PELTON (CONT'D)
A tax-funded self esteem worshop
for newly divorced housewieves
piecing togehter shattered
identities,
SHIRLEY [early 40s, shy, modest 90s attire], was briskly crossing the courtyard, eyes cast downward. She stops and looks toward the stage"
What the script is doing, is describing a certain persons insecurities whilst actually seeing that stereotypical person walking along on screen. This is humourous and both heart breaking to see, since the character Shirley fits the appearance and description that is heard whilst she is walking. The reaction of her stopping and looking towards the stage makes the audience aware that she feels personally described.
The script is already creating a sense of ligh-hearted comedy, which will directly appeal to a target audience of males and females aged 15-24, since the comedy is also very cheesy, and probably isn't considered "sophisticated" enough by older audiences.
The majourity of the script does follow the typical narrative style deviced by Todorov, since the episode begins with everyone happy, then a break in the equilibrium is made when the character Jeff decides he wants to date Britta, now he has a task to complete. The equilbrium however isn't restored in the way he wanted too, and actually results in a new friendship of a group in community, which includes a range of different types of people who the audience would never have thought would group together.
This type of script is clearly fiction, since narrative is obvious comedy, with barely any realistic aspects to it. The use of fiction allowed the writer Dan Harmon to create a comedy which was interesting due to the clash of misfits in the first episode, and due to the self aware style the dialogue is written.
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