Jurassic Park’ and ‘jaws’

Introduction:

The films ‘Jurassic Park’ and ‘Jaws’ conveys powerful themes and messages to the audience through individual characters and their experiences. Steven Spielberg is a prime example of a director who uses powerful and cinematic techniques such as camera angles, camera shots and sounds to explore his films. He explores the themes of ‘man vs nature’ where nature competes against man to survive and dominate. Furthermore, Spielberg also explores the idea of masculinity where he presents stereotypes of men in contrast to women. Throughout the film ‘Jurassic Park’, the children Tim and Lex Murphy explore a new genetically engineered dinosaur theme park on Isla Tubular where they get confronted by an epic clash between man and mother nature. Spielberg’s film, ‘Jaws’ is based off one of the many beaches surrounding Amity Island. It starts off with a drunken teenager named Chrissie who decides to dive into the daring surf.

Paragraph 1: Jurassic park (Man vs Nature)

Spielberg explores the theme, ‘man vs nature’ in Jurassic park through diegetic sounds, camera angles and shots. The opening scene of Jurassic park is introduced to the audience first by using a tracking shot through the bushes. Spielberg then adds the diegetic noise of an unhuman sound which adds a hint of mystery to the audience. Spielberg then explores the power that nature has against men by using a low angle panning shot of a spacious steel crate, to show the audience that the creature is much bigger then mankind. In this shot we hear the diegetic sound of men panicking as they begin to set the crate down. The audience is then put into a point of view shot of the eyes of the unknown. Through the eyes of the unknown, the Audience sees the panic in the men’s eyes. A chilling and unrecognised screech is heard which evokes the audience to become fearful and alert. As the gate keeper begins to open the crate, non-diegetic music begins to play. As the gate keeper gets closer and closer to opening the gate the music gets higher and higher which adds anxiety and anticipation to the audience. The Audience is then notified of the unhuman like roar of the unknown which intensifies the tension towards the audience. Spielberg then focuses on the low angle shot where the audience sees expression of the men when the roar is heard. This shows the incredible power nature has against men even through a roar.

Paragraph 2: jaws (man vs Nature)

The film jaws introduce the theme, ‘man vs nature’ through the interesting angles and shots whilst adding thrilling non-diegetic sounds. The scene first starts out with a camera track shot of a drunken teenager named Chrissie, who is leading a heavily intoxicated man to a lonely beach. The diegetic sound of the two-teenagers panting heavily adds tension towards the audience. They both run down the sand dune while the man trips and vigorously tumbles down it. The lighting is dark and gloomy which indicates the audience that it is almost sunrise. Chrissy has gone naked into the water whilst her intoxicated friend is struggling to take his clothes off. A long shot of Chrissy swimming in the depth of the ocean is used to show the Audience how vulnerable Chrissy is to the creatures inside the water. The sudden non-diegetic theme song is heard which creates an anxious audience. The music intensifies getting higher and higher while the shark attacks her which adds fear to the audience. It then cuts off as soon as Chrissy gets drowned by the shark. This is Spielberg’s way of reinforcing that nature has much more power over man even when it is least expected.