Genre

• Social realism genre...
• Deals with the experiences of ordinary people 


  Shaun represents Meadows’ upbringing and many peoples’ experiences in England at the time
• Grounded in contemporary society 


  Opening montage
• Expresses values and politics of the film maker 

  Anti-nationalist, anti-Thatcherism, left-wing
• Looks to extend representations to traditionally marginalised 


  Immigrants/working class, skinhead culture unfairly represented 
• Explores human truth/condition 


  Bullying for poverty 
• Aimed at UK audiences 


  Centered around UK social issues 
• Adult / cine-literate audiences 

  Brutal violence, Meadows references other films (400 blows)
• Urban/suburban setting 


  Midlands, England
• Coming of age genre...
• Setting nearly always in the past, heavy nostalgia 

  80s
• Main character has a desire to leave themselves behind and go on a journey to discover their identity 


  Shaun discovering subcultures and political views 
• Casting – young inexperienced performers 

  Shaun
• Conflict – usually an adult to either inspire or revolt against


  Combo, Woody
• Mentors – another adult that reaches out to isolated person 


  Combo, Woody
• Love interest 


  Smell
• Gifts given to main character 


  Woody/clothes, Combo/flag 
• The gang – set of rules of one group protagonist can break to join another

  Move from the Woody’s gang to Combo’s gang
• Make-over scene 


  Shaun becoming a skin