In the genre studies, “system of codes, conventions, and visual styles which enables an audience to determine rapidly and with some complexity the kind of narrative they are viewing” (Graeme Turner, 1999, p.97)
A genre film, can be selected in to some categories, they are iconography, settings, characters, themes and narrative. Using these categories, can explain why the Hong Kong film “Vulgaria” was success to gain many film awards.
Vulgaria, traditional Chinese in Hong Kong (低俗喜劇) is a 2012 Hong Kong comedy film. The iconography in the film “Vulgaria” are young girl model, sexy body, and mature man. Setting is city, force on Hong Kong society. Characters are filmmaker, director, film’s invertors, and sexy girl. Themes is funny, and many local cultures (Hong Kong) in the film, made of all Hong Kong people to watch. And last, the narrative unsuccessful filmmaker and a broken marriage let him fell stressful in the life, he still work hard because of his daughter, he want to show his successful to her daughter and prove to his ex-wife he can be a successful filmmaker, in the “Vulgaria” also showed out the “dark side” of the entertainment industry in Hong Kong.
Many audiences and critics agree “Vulgaria” can represent the folk culture in Hong Kong. According to the Hong Kong Apple Daily, “sometimes the foul language can boost morale and give vent to their depressed. “Pulp Comedy" is finally an exhaust port of the people of Hong Kong under high pressure”. In the film, we can deliberately retain the authentic characteristics of Hong Kong to show more the popular charm Cantonese little sex and more interesting.
This is the point why the film “Vulgaria” can be successful, in the film industry, many filmmakers are afraid about the box office and the profit of the film. Therefore, they will choose the most popular genre to write a script, also they think the film is representing Hong Kong, so they will rhetoric the script and film the story more beautiful, not one would like to add too much folk culture in the movie. Especially in the “Vulgaria”, most of the sentences are having foul language and sex joke, this is so truly in Hong Kong people, and audiences like this film because of the true feeling, not too much rhetoric not need to think too much during they are watching the “Vulgaria”.
In sum, the “Vulgaria” is really vulgar, but audiences love the “vulgar culture” in Hong Kong, audiences are relaxed while they are watching “Vulgaria”. This is the first film in Hong Kong which represented the “Hong Kong vulgar culture” well, not just selling sex. No matter people like this film or not, they also agree this film can represent the Hong Kong folk culture. Therefore, “Vulgaria” can be success and gain many different types of film award.
Vanessa, Chan Lai Ha (21047708)
“Vulgaria” is a representative local film with many easily identified cultural symbols that possess a kind of “nativeness”. You have examined a few keys of success of the text, with reference to public discourse like media critics and audience response.
ReplyDeleteYou might wish to cite some memorable scenes (or even dialogues) depicting the sense of localness and situate them in a larger social context. In addition, you should identify the “target audience” who are attracted by this film (as I know some of the audiences actually regard it as “annoying”, especially young educated lady like you). What are the implications behind such discrepancy?