Students seem to be really enjoying this dystopic unit. 'V for Vendetta' is well pitched both conceptually and in terms of film and representational techniques. Revamped the introductory ppt to clarify genre conventions and to strengthen the cautionary underpinnings of this type of text. Have attached the simple viewing response sheet given out to students as well. With discussion and teacher commentary where warranted, it took about 70 minutes to cover properly.
By the end, students were comfortable with highlighting visual techniques used to reinforce things such as the avenger's flamboyance and the 'revenge tragedy' genre's tendency for melodrama and theatrics. Comparing film posters from around the world also proved effective for it made students aware of how visual representation could shape viewer response and interpretation. Some emphasised 'V' while others foregrounded Evie. Colour imagery and symbolism also varied from poster to poster but in all, there tended to be the massed mask populace as a motif.
Examination of key scenes from the film script will be the focus of the second viewing which will be a deconstruction of the film rather than the straight through/no commentary initial viewing for first impressions.
