Erin Brockovich

Plot

Erin Brockovich (born June 22, 1960) is an American legal clerk and environmental activist, who, despite her lack of formal education in the law, was instrumental in building a case against the Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) of California in 1993.

Trailer

EXAM QUESTION: Audience readings from different time period

Explain why audience readings made by the intended audience may be different from readings made by present-day audiences. In your response, refer to one media narrative that you have studied this year.

  • 6 marks –

Media Narrative: Erin Brockovich

During the texts release in 2000, Erin Brockovich was received as a comedy. Today however, it is read as a feministic text, depicting the plight of women in Corporate America. Erin Brockovich was written by Susanna Grant who was and is an advocate for women’s rights. She recently wrote, ‘Unbelievable’, a Netflix Series. Subsequently, the text has feminist elements showing the hard ships that women face in patriarchal corporate America, and how some prevail against the patriarchy.

However, given America’s relative conservatism of the time, audiences weren’t very interested in 3rd wave feminism or detested it. Subsequently, the film was given comedic elements and dramatic events which made the text more engaging for audiences of the 2000’s, whilst still retaining a modicum of women’s rights advocacy.

Unlike audiences in 2000, today’s audiences are more progressive and enjoy texts that reflect the ideology of 4th wave feminism. In turn, Erin Brockovich is perceived by todays audiences as less of a comedic/drama genre and more in-line with a serious statement on the relegation of women from Corporate America and the immorality of such phenomenon.

Character & Story Arcs

A character arc is the transformation or inner journey of a character over the course of a story. If a story has a character arc, the character begins as one sort of person and gradually transforms into a different sort of person in response to changing developments in the story.

Opening

Development

Closure

Character & Story Arcs – Questions

1. How did Julia Roberts character transform throughout the narrative?
2. What media conventions allowed the audience to understand this transformation?

Exam & SAC response

Erin Brockovich, was a film text distributed in the year 2000. The narrative was centred around the true story of an inspiring women who brought a small town to its feet, winning the biggest payout of any law injustice. Erin played by Julia Roberts was an American legal clerk and environmental activist, who, despite her lack of formal education in law, was instrumental in building a case against the Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) of California in 1993. Given the text was representing the American society in the time period 1993, particular code and conventions were employed by the director to convey the characters and story arcs.

In the opening sequence of the narrative the audience is presented with Erin’s character and understand her as a poor, single mum who is struggling to make a better life for her and her three young children. The dialogue of her character implies her defeated life and the costume reflects her sexual, tacky style. However, what she lacks in style and sophistication she makes up for in confidence and attitude. The audience instantly admire her and follow the point of view of this narrative. Her costume and acting barely shifts throughout the development and closure of the narrative. Using this convention as a technique to have the audience fight for her character throughout the duration of the film. In America in the 90’s women’s rights were a topic of discussion and women were represented and known in the media for their appearance and sexual attitudes. The success of this film text is based off this ideology. The director encourages the audience to engage with the explicit ideology of feminism and asks the audience to root for her character.

Costume to reveal the Ideology of Gender: Femininity

Costume & Acting to convey the ideology

Question: Analyse the function of TWO media codes and/or conventions used to convey meaning in one media narrative that you have studied this year. – 6 marks –

Media Narrative: Erin Brockovich

Erin Brockovich through illustrating the struggles of women in corporate America. This is done by characterising Erin as a resilient and empowered women who fights the patriarchy. This characterisation is achieved through rebellious costume choices and Julia Robert’s dominating and confident acting. The clothing worn by Erin is often exposing, evocative and sexualising. The lack of professionalism displayed in her attire suggests to the audience a defiance against the patriarchal oppression of women in corporate America. Her outfits represents a refusal to conform with standards set by men and women in the law firm where she works. Thus conveying to the audience a feminist ideology within the narrative.

Julia Robert, (cast as Erin), reflects a forthright and self-assured manner through her acting. Audience often see her crossing her arms, standing tall, talking with attitude and vocalising an intense, passionate tone to her voice. She is often seen doing this to her male components and male superiors. Another representation of the feminist ideology. These two media codes were obvious to the audience and made obvious to the audience in the opening, development and resolution of the narrative.

 

Well written response: By Student

In the opening of one of your media texts discuss the narrative possibilities that the audience would expect to unfold. In your response include a discussion of how a code and convention revealed the ideology of gender within the narrative possibility.
– 8 marks –

The opening of a narrative sets up the future possibilities of the text. Information is revealed at this point and expanded upon, basing its direct interest to the causes of subsequent events, significant motifs and important features. The audience, expecting a resolution at the end of the film, needs narrative possibilities to be established in the opening and developed during the duration, to allow for this to happen. Expectations also need to establish so as the story unfolds and events occur the audience has an acceptance of what is occurring on screen and can make sense of them.

Mise-En-Scene when used as a media code focuses the audience’s attention on the composition of everything visually within the physical boundaries of the shot. Through this effect, the creator can choose to highlight the narrative’s ideology. The ideology of gender, using Mise-En-Scene can be reflected through the visual element of costume and make-up. The clothing a character wears can reflect personality straights, cause misjudgement or subsequently easily distinguish a male figure from a female. An actors clothing often reflects society at the time and therefore its dominant ideology, in this case being gender.

In the text, ‘Erin Brockovich’ (2000), directed by Steven Soderbergh, this convention is revealed from the protagonist, Erin. The character; a hardworking and driven woman was played by Julia Roberts, a role and persona well developed. The narrative explored the explicit ideology of gender, through her clothing being subject to misjudgement. Her choice of tight, tacky and often sexual clothing appears to show from the opening of the narrative. It gages the impression of the audience that she has little respect for herself, however, in the ending this is incorrect due to the passion she puts into her workplace and the outcome of this passion. She stays true to this costume and style amongst all the events, despite being in the field of Law. This proclaims the ideology of gender, more specifically, femininity.

Cause & Effect questions –

1. What motivates each character?
2. What events do the characters’ motivations cause?
3. Give examples of cause and effect chain within the narrative.

Character questions –

1. Consider the fictional film narrative and list the decisions and actions that reveal the character of the main protagonist.

2. Choose two characters from the text and explain what changes occur and their character development.

Well written response: By Student

In the opening of one your media texts, discuss the narrative possibilities that the audience would expect to unfold. In your response include a discussion of how a code and/or convention revealed the ideology of gender within the narrative possibility.
- 8 marks -

The opening provides the audience with a basis of things to come. Causes of subsequent events, significant motifs and important features of the initial plot are all laid out during this stage of a film. Narrative possibilities and expectations are set up in the opening of a film and throughout the narrative, allowing the director to reveal information and then expand upon it. Expectations need to be established so as the story unfolds and events occur, allowing the audience to accept and make sense of them.

Character motivation when used as a convention of the moving image is a good indicator of the narrative’s ideology. In modern texts, the protagonist is often motivated by the need to restore order and set the social values right, according to the society and its beliefs at the time the text was produced and distributed. The motivation will often reflect the dominant ideology of the time and society.

In the text, ‘Erin Brockovich’, a 2000 American biographical film, directed by Steven Soderbergh, the protagonist Erin, played by Julia Roberts explores the explicit ideology of gender and femininity, through her pure motivation to set the social values right. Although the dialogue of her character implies her defeated life and the costume reflects her sexual, tacky style in the opening of the narrative, her character motivation always manages remain the focal point of the narrative. This reoccurring theme allows the audience to be immersed in the ideology of femininity from the time period.

Question requesting TWO film text examples: By Student

Q9. Analyse how media codes and conventions have COMBINED to create an effect or to engage an audience in one or more of the media narratives you have studied this year. Your answer should at least include two codes and/or two conventions. -8 marks –

Steven Soderbergh’s text as produced in 2000 based on 1993 events, ‘Erin Brockovich’ explicitly conveys the ideology of gender and creating an effect in challenging social norms. Setting is a code employed by Soderbergh that instantly reveals Erin as a struggling single mother who lives in a low socio-economic area. Erin is shown to have no male figure providing income, which explicitly challenges audiences in 80s expectations on how the working dynamic should exist and the importance of male dependency. George, Erin’s later boyfriends’ character arc is also intertwined with the ideology the setting conveys where his introduction is unsettling to the audience as his representation of man being the sole care giver to her children and being unemployed adversely goes against the notion of men being the primary worker. This character arc and setting combine to create meaning through expressing the notion of male and female roles being changed and promotes the ideology of women becoming more associated with work and men being allowed to be associated as father figures and by their relationships.

The 2015 text The Intern is a modern interpretation on the ideology of gender where women are more self-governing and independent. Story arc is employed in relation to the female protagonist Jules, as the audience understands the femininity ideology embedded, they follow her success, failures and victories. As Jules is later affected by her relationships and her husband Matts affair, this conveys the notion that women still can’t win on all occasions and be solely successful without being adversely impacted by their relationships and males in some way. Costume is also optimised where although her red outfits convey power anatomy in modern contexts, Myers use of the handkerchief motif links to traditional chivalry highlighting the evolvement, yet how women still long for male companionship despite their independent capabilities. This creates meaning that women although have become more empowered still in times of adversity long for a supportive male figure.

Mise-En-Scene

This refers to the arrangement of props, objects, actors, lighting, space, costume and make-up within a specific scene. Or put simply – the composition and layout of everything within the frame.

Careful and well-planned arrangement of mise-en-scene elements can determine the nature of the media product and create a purposeful impact on the audience.

Using the images below from the film text, Erin Brockovich, list all the mise-en-scene elements employed and explain the impact they have on the audience. How do these conventions impact the narrative?

Well written response: By Student

Question: Analyse the role media codes and conventions have played in the creation of ideologies evident in one of the media narratives you have studied this year.
6 marks

Within the narrative Erin Brockovich (2000), Setting and Mise-en-scene aid in the deliverance of the ideology gender. Setting within the opening reveals the protagonist to live in a lower socio-economic area, suggesting to the audience that she is a single mother trying to make ends meet. Erin’s character is represented to the audience as a struggling mother trying to stay afloat of societies expectations. She is constantly seen, frustrated and sourcing new ideas of income for her young children.

As the narrative progresses, her character goes against the common trends of this time period and makes a statement that she does not need help from a male to provide a, “good life” for her family. The audience then sees, Erin get a job working in a law firm and feel empowered and motivated for her character. Although this idea goes against the social values of this time period we are brought back to the reality of working women as ‘sexual objects’ by seeing her character wearing see-through, tight tops and short skirts. We then identify her character as a women who wants to work her way up in a male dominated workforce. By using this Mise-en-scene technique the audience relates to the ideology of femininity in the 90’s as women being identified and rewarded for their appearance rather than their brains.

As the narrative resolves the audience are placed in a position where they mis-judged her character and realise she utilised her femininity and appearance to gain the support and trust of her clients. The audience can relate to this and support her decisions, resulting in her character being recognised for her ethical and business decisions.

Well written response: By Student

In the opening of one of your media texts discuss the narrative possibilities that the audience would expect to unfold. In your response, include a discussion of how a code and convention revealed the ideology of Gender within the narrative possibility.
- 8 marks -

The opening sequence sets up a range of possibilities for the development of the narrative in an attempt by directors and producers to provoke audience expectations through features of the opening. Audiences establish narrative expectations in the opening of a media text in order to engage and fullfill their expectations in the resolution as events occur throughout the narrative.

In the 2000 text, Erin Brockovich, the explicit ideology of gender is depicted through differing codes and conventions. Mis En Scene in the opening of the text represents the protagonist of Julia Roberts' character 'Erin Brockovich' as an unorthodox, struggling, single mother who is searching for employment. Audiences are able to form an expectation of the development of the narrative from the opening, where the use of costume and makeup highlight the characterisation of Erin and the ideology of gender. The costume reflects her sexual, tacky style as a woman, demonstrated by the director as an explicit ideology to structure the progression of the narrative. Erin's choice of clothing for a job interview as demonstrated in the opening scene, provides insight into her personal background of a poor single mother, as well as her personality in order for audiences to form narrative possibility expectations.

Audiences begin to generate expectations for the development and closure of the narrative after gaining an insight into her hard working and passionate desire to find employment in the opening. Her costume and makeup that is contradictory of a 'normal' workplace attire, persuades audiences to understand the rejections she received by businesses. However, they being to expect the narrative to progress and expand on her hard working ethic strengthened by her failures, where challenges and changes may begin to surface.

Well written response: By Student

Question: Analyse how media codes and conventions have combined to create an effect on or to engage an audience in one or more of the media narratives you have studied this year.
8 marks

Media cods and conventions are used within media products such as film in order to engage an audience or portray societies present values. Erin Brockovich (2000) directed by Steven Soderbergh uses Story Arcs and Character Development in order to portray the ideology of gender.

Audience’s in the year 2000 engage with this ideology due to changing perceptions of a man’s role in society and his key characteristics but also the idea of how a women should conduct herself. Story arcs most typically follow the pattern of, success to failure to overcome triumph to victory storyline. This storyline is followed as success is given to the protagonist towards the opening of the film in her achievement of obtaining a job. Failure is then followed by her character, to which the audience can empathise with. During this moment of conflict, Erin Brockovich proves strong, independent and driven.

The female figure is career and justice focused, embodying a women’s role to not just be restricted to household duties. Her optimism leads to triumph as she is employed once more and comes across victory within the narrative by winning of her legal battle. This movement in the story arc allows the audience to feel motivated by her character. An empowering and self-driven woman is inspiring to audiences and portrays the idea through staying strong during moments of downfall that females can be successful.

Character development is displayed in the films antagonists, Erin’s boss and partner. Through Brockovich’s journey at work both characters are transformed by her dominance and resilience as a female. Her boss although doubting her potential in his company was featured in the final scenes to show how proud he was. He learnt to support her, going against societies norms where males are usually in charge. By the resolution of this text, gender roles in this narrative are encapsulated to hold no boundaries in terms of success.

Well written response: By Student

Question: Analyse how media codes and conventions have combined to create an effect on or to engage an audience in one or more of the media narratives you have studied this year.
-8 marks-

Media creators and producers through the use of codes and conventions, attempt to encourage a target audience to engage with a consume a media product with a given ideology which reinforces such ideals, to create a casting effect on its audience.

Through the use of mise-en-scene and narrative possibilities, the 2000 text, Erin Brockovich highlights the explicit ideology of gender to its audience. Costume and Setting as a result of mise-en-scene in the opening of the narrative, represents the protagonist Julia Robert’s character Erin Brockovich. The audience identify her as an unorthodox, struggling, single mother who is searching for employment. Audiences are able to form an expectation of the development of the narrative from the opening, where the use of make-up highlight the character of Erin. The choice of costume that audiences would consider sexual and tacky to a formal job interview, provides insight into her personal background as a poor single mother, as well as her individuality to allow audiences to form narrative possibilities and expectations of her.

Structuring of time has also been employed in alternative texts such as, ‘The Family Man’, to convey the ideology of gender to an audience. The 2016 text, directed by Mark Williams uses the technique of temporal frequency to emphasise the ideology within his narrative. Protagonist Dane Jenson is represented as a working-class man during the 2016 time period. Williams attempts to convey an explicit ideology of masculinity by referring back to the setting of Jenson’s work office. Revealing this setting on numerous occasions to the audience, provokes them to identify his character as a hardworking, driven income provider for his family. These series of flashbacks also indicate to the audience that his work ethic in a 2016 American society, is required for a male to feel a sense of self-worth.

Revision questions –

1. Define how codes and conventions have been used in the construction of Erin Brockovich. 4 marks
2. Define how a challenge to ideology was made explicit within the character of Erin. 4 marks
3. Now explain how this ideology was supported by other scenes within the text. 3 marks
4. Explain how the producers of this text utilized the ideology of ‘gender’ to create an empowering narrative for women in the year 2000. 6 marks

5. Describe how the ideology identified in Erin Brockovich shaped the narrative. 4 marks

6. Analyse the function of two media codes and/or conventions used to convey meaning in one media narrative that you studied this year. 6 marks

 

(Source: Text Media Reframed, Cambridge 2018 & Past VCAA Exams)

Score: Soundtrack - Media Convention - Credits Sequence

The soundtrack below is heard by the audience when the Credits roll

Sheryl Crow: Everyday is a windy road

I hitched a ride with a vending machine repair man
He said he’d been down this road more than twice
He was high on intellectualism
I’ve never been there, but the brochure looks nice
Jump in, let’s go
Lay back, enjoy the show
Everybody gets high, everybody gets low
These are the days when anything goes
Everyday is a winding road
I get a little bit closer
Everyday is a faded sign
I get a little bit closer to feeling fine
He’s got a daughter he calls Easter
She was born on a Tuesday night
I’m just wondering why I feel so all alone
Why I’m a stranger in my own life
Jump in, let’s go
Lay back, enjoy the show
Everybody gets high, everybody gets low…