NCFOM and Ideology

• NCFOM - How useful is an ideological critical approach 



  Feminist ideological approach: Strongly patriarchal movie. Carla-Jean is presented as a classic Proppian princess who needs rescuing. "Stop talking or I might have to screw you" reveals her status, and she is unhappy at the relocation under Llewelyn. Her mother is a comedic parody - "I've got the cancer" . Woman near the pool - sexualised in a bikini, trying to persuade Lleweyln to go back to her room with her. Negative representation of loneliness and desperation. Zoone's trope of mother, virgin or whore
• NCFOM - How useful is an ideological critical approach 


  From a Marxist critical perspective NCFOM represents a criticism of capitalist society. The prop of the case of money fundamentally initiates the disruption to the equilibrium of the narrative. Conventionally seen as “the happy ending” trope in mainstream cinema, this money activates the bloody death of 3 characters and many others. The money is seen as more valuable than human life; Moss chooses money over the dying Mexican’s life. He also could have spared Carla-Jean, but chooses the money instead
• NCFOM - How useful is an ideological critical approach 


  Marxist ideological approach - Chigurh’s prop of the coin, literally symbolizes money signifying life or death. This is seen in the coin toss scene and at the end with Carla-Jean. Finally, the boys’ dialogue at the end of the film, reveal them greedily arguing over the money Chigurh offers for the shirt, showing that the capitalist machine of greed continues with the next generation
• NCFOM - How useful is an ideological critical approach


  Political ideological approach - Film form is used to challenge the genre and present Chigurh as a threat. The film is presented as a western film with establishing shots. However, unlike typical western film, there is a lack of sound, the occasional low drone or sounds such as wind, footsteps, doors slamming and gunshots are associated with horror. Until the coin toss scene there had been a significant lack of sound, but during this scene, there is a low drone allowing a spectator to pick up on the sound cue that Art is under threat.
• NCFOM - How useful is an ideological critical approach


  Political ideological approach - Chigurh’s footsteps are edited to appear louder, presenting him as more of a threat. Chigurh is the embodiment of “You can't stop what's coming...”. suggesting nothing can be done to prevent this new force of evil or ‘terrorism.’ The movie was produced in a post 9/11 world (2007), still reeling from the unexpected chaos of a terrorist attack. A political ideological approach reveals Chigurh as the embodiment of terrorism; following a moral code alien to dominant hegemonic values.
• NCFOM - How useful is an ideological critical approach for understanding the way the spectators are positioned in your chosen films


  Nihilistic approach - Chigurh is the embodiment of a nihilistic world view, sees all life as meaningless and insignificant- example, shooting of the crow, killing of innocent civilians throughout. Coin toss scene. However, Chigurh does have a moral code - so is he a nihilist?