Over time the design for movies has changed, when film first started out everything was new and everything was different. All the genres we love today were just beginning so they could do whatever they wanted. Originally horror movies were just visual versions of famous stories like Dracula and Frankenstein. When those ran out new things had to be created eventually people had a way of making and designing movies this was structuralism, but it wouldn't stop there. As time went on this format started to just turn out copies and sequels of the highest rated films and people got bored of seeing the same thing over and over again. Things changed too many different thing until eventually it arrived at the more current modernism and post modernism. The thing that is the biggest difference between the two movements of structuralism and post-modernism is the fact that post-modernism knows it’s a movie and uses this knowledge to sometimes make fun of the fact it is. The best way to show the difference is in two films of the same sub-genre from the different movements. Two of the best for this are “28 days later” and “Shaun of the dead”.
The first way to see the difference in structure between the two films is in the story design and plot. “28 days later” and “Shaun of the dead” are two zombie movies set in Britain and follows the actions of a small group of survivors. The difference between the two movements is shown in the tone of the films, In “28 days later” this is a big thing and the zombies are noticed and seen as a problem for the protagonist from the get go, where as in “Shaun of the dead” the character of Shaun doesn't notice the zombies or the things around him, because he lives in a place where a car with a broken window is more common or a homeless person asking for money, which is what he believes what one of the zombies is when it shuffles up to him. That is a perfect example of the difference between the movements Structuralism is much more serious about what is happening in their stories, Post-modernism is not as serious about their stories and adds more to them in a slight comedic fashion. The scene from “Shaun of the dead” I mentioned is an example of this, it makes a joke about what is seen in the zombie movies about after the outbreak, and life in suburban areas in the fact that Shaun doesn't pay attention to anything but his own actions not what is around him. The best way to describe these little half jokes is as inside jokes, even the name "Shaun of the dead" is a reference to another zombie film and one of the most famous "Dawn of the Dead". (Another famous example of these jokes is modern MARVEL movies as fans of the comics will see references to the comics and characters).
Further differences between the movements are in the use of sound and music. In "28 Days Later" the main song is used in a very dramatic scene and the music itself is a very dramatic and slow piece that sounds similar to a funeral death march for the most part. In a scene of "Shaun of the dead", that is a part of the equivalent scene the music is very different and for a different purpose, in the scene the song "Don't stop me now" by Queen is played. The use of music shows the difference between the films very effectively, in "28 Days Later" the music is non-diegetic and used to build tension and for drama, in "Shaun of the dead" the music is diegetic and the characters perform actions in time to the song, such as hitting a zombie to the beat or flipping switches, this is to make fun of music in films and their use. This is a great show of the difference in movements as "Shaun of the dead" shows the usual dramatic structure of structuralism by changing famous parts in them like the music. For example the main theme for "Shaun of the dead" is very different to that of "28 Days Later" as it is much more upbeat and jolly using electronic noises as opposed to the piano, violins and guitar from "28 Days Later". Then there are the sounds used in the film many times throughout "Shaun of the dead" when characters do certain actions there are sound effects added to the actions like when Shaun throws two others some weapons to use there is a swooping noise. Such effects aren't used in "28 Days Later", but the use is still for a joke about the sound effects added in films.
Next to show the difference between the movements is the difference in characters. In "28 Days Later" there are a number of characters some of which have parallels in "Shaun of the dead" those would be the characters of Jim, Selena, Mark and Frank. These four are most of the heroes of the story more specifically Jim being the lead. In the story Jim wakes up 28 days (hence the name) after the outbreak and learns how to survive in this new environment. His parallel in "Shaun of the dead" is Shaun who has a very similar role of waking up after the outbreak and figuring out how to survive, but the difference is that where Jim runs from the zombies Shaun, for the most part, fights them. However his methods are what truly show the difference, as he fights them by throwing mugs and records as well as using a swing ball like a flail, the best part that shows this is when during the "Don't stop me now" fight scene there is a moment where Shaun flips his around legs to stand back up an action like this is never really seen in real life but in movies, showing again that this knows it is a movie. Selena has a parallel in Liz both are the female lead and romantic interest of the male lead both are capable fighters and both survive until the end of the stories. Frank and Mark are similar in a small way as both are friends with other members of the group of survivors and they have three parallels in "Shaun of the dead" being Shaun’s step father, his mother and his best friend Ed; the last one is because they like Frank are friends to the male lead (Ed being friends prior to the outbreak) and help him but like all the others on the list get infected and have to be put down, except for Ed. This shows the similarities between the films but also differences, in the structuralist "28 Days Later" when a character is turned they are killed almost straight after with almost no emotional effect except for Frank, because he is Hannah’s father. However in "Shaun of the dead" Shaun's step father is killed almost straight after being infected after giving a speech that Shaun (who doesn't like him) doesn't really care for, referencing the emotional speeches dying characters usually give in movies, Shaun's mothers death is hard for him and causes group in fighting something that isn't as big an issue in "28 Days Later". However the biggest difference is what happens with Ed after he is infected as he unlike all the others is kept "alive" and lives chained to the wall of Shaun's shed, this is a great way of showing the difference in the movements as this wasn't the kind of ending you would see in a structuralist film as before either one of a few things would happen: everyone dies, there is one or two survivors or all the zombies are killed, but in "Shaun of the dead" the zombies are kept alive as they actually follow patterns from when they were alive so are almost kept as pets. That ending is a great example of post-modern style as it is different to what you might of expected but also makes a joke about how people do the same things over and over like zombies, this is even mentioned at the beginning of the trailer for the film.
Overall there are many things that have changed between the two movements and whilst there are some similarities these are either because that is the best way of writing such a story or a joke is being made. It is the use of the little jokes I mentioned the, sound work or the character arcs that can be the best way of showing just how different they are.
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