How does Frank Darabont use narrative and genre conventions to create meaning and effect for the viewer in The Shawshank Redemption (1994)?

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How does Frank Darabont use narrative and genre conventions to create meaning and effect for the viewer in The Shawshank Redemption (1994)?

The Shawshank Redemption is a film of a straight prison genre type, with a twist in the way generic conventions are displayed. The sequence I have chosen seems to have straight forward generic conventions as it is fairly obvious to see that this type of film is a prison film in the way the prison scenes are illustrated to us.

This film is under a drama genre, which was far from a theatrical success on release as the film wasn’t widely recognised for the true film it really was. From the $25 million production costs at the box office only $18 million was redeemed, but not surprisingly on release of video cassette it proved to raise awareness as word of mouth continued to make this film one of the most rented titles of the 1990’s. The Shawshank Redemption is now one of the most celebrated master pieces of cinematic history.

The sequence I have chosen starts with Red’s rejection interview, the sequence progresses throughout the period of the interview and provides a glimpse of Red’s life inside the prison walls. Suddenly sirens sound and Andy Dufresne along with the other inmates unexpectedly enter the grounds of the prison. We are then introduced to Mr. Norton the Warden and Mr. Hadley the Captain of the Guard; Andy Dufresne is washed and spends his first night inside Shawshank prison.  

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The opening of the sequence confirms the genre, through aspects of mise-en-scene, such as jail bars and confined cells, introducing Shawshank State prison it’s self. As the sequence carries on we see a major contrast between what Red is wearing and what Andy is wearing. Andy in a smart suit and Red in old denims. The contrast in costumes helps the audience to understand and realise, how socially out of place Andy actually is on arrival. Old denims and boots are typical generic costumes of inmates within the prison genre. Numbers on the backs of the inmate’s shirts symbolises the ...

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