Conventions of Social Realism

Riley Wright

General Conventions• Diegetic Sounds and Diegetic Music.• Realistic Themes.• Social Problems that affect society.• Dramatic Silence.• Protagonist has direct link with social problem.• Gritty visuals and themes.• Strong Language

Sweet Sixteen• UK Social Realistic film by Ken Loach• This film is very gritty and almost if not all locations are real locations

rather than filmed in studios, this not only makes the film more realistic but also makes it cheaper for the film makers.• The film has mainly diegetic sound and hardly any music, the dramatic

silence makes the audience feel like this is real and not a dolled up Hollywood film adding to the Grittiness.

This is England• UK Social Realistic film by Shane Meadows (Released in 2007)• This film tackles racism in the 1980’s and shows real controversies and

views of racial diversity in England during this time. • The film shows the difference in views of racial diversity. The younger

generation being more liberal and the dominant view being a traditional view which is slightly forced upon the younger characters.

Half Nelson• US Social Realistic film by Ryan Fleck• A Genre not really explored by American Film makers and a genre

associated with British film, Half Nelson tackles the theme of Drugs and a Dysfunctional students. • The film uses diegetic sound in the same way Sweet Sixteen does

however sometimes uses diegetic music to give a realistic way to make a scene more emotional.

The Shawshank Redemption • Award Winning US Social Realistic film by Frank Darabont and

Stephen King.• This film tackles prison life in a bluntly realistic way following the

conventions of social realistic films but adding a more emotional take on the genre. The film uses narration and non-diegetic sound something not many social realism films do.