SPY KIDS: Q3

Q3) Discuss the representations in the extract.
       Refer to stereotypes in your answer.
       Use examples from the extract.

You might consider the representation of:

• gender
• race and nationality
• spies
• family, love and marriage

Love and marriage

Gregorio and Ingrid’s wedding is an anti-stereotype of most modern marriages. Firstly because Ingrid is not wearing the traditional white gown, but she is instead wearing a more golden colour. Secondly, the guests seem very normal but that’s what spies have to act like- normal. They are wearing very gorgeous gowns and clean cut suits and wearing sunglasses which also make them look like spies as well. Most weddings do not have secret agents waiting to rescue the bride and groom from a helicopter attack providing them, very quickly, with parachutes which they jump over the cliff edge in a plan to escape.

Gender and family

Ingrid is a stereotypical mother because she is loving and caring to her children. For example, she is telling her daughter her love story as a bed time story. This is produced in a cosy happy scene which is typically known in many households with young children. However, Ingrid breaks her stereotype motherly side because she hides the fact that she is really a high skilled, notorious secret agent from them.

SPY KIDS: Q1

Q1: Explain two ways the narrative (characters and events) in the extract fits the action genre.

       Use examples from the extract.

This extract is a hybrid of spies and childrens story in the action and adventure genre.

One AA convention used in the extract is spectacle. An example of this is when Ingrid and Gregorio are on top of the Eiffel Tower. The Eiffel Tower is in Paris and Paris is the city of love and the city of light. This fits in well with the scene showed in the extract as Gregorio has just slid the ring box across to Ingrid which shows his spy-like skills. The scene is very romantic as they are on top of the Eiffel Tower and they are both wearing very galamorous evening gowns, this connotes the fact that Paris is the city of love. When Ingrid opens the ring box fireworks go off in the background which connotes Paris to be the city of light.

Another AA convention used in the extract is the characters as there is a clear antagonist and protagonist in this extract. The story is told from Ingrid, the mother’s, point of view which positions the viewer as sympathetic to her and she is also positioned as a heroic protagonist because of this. At first, Gregorio is shown as the antagonist as Ingrid’s mission is to ‘take him out’ which suggests he is the enemy. However when they look into each other’s eyes in the lift of the hotel he refuses to kill Ingrid and then joins her side on the protagonist side and therefore becoming one himself. Having an antagonist and a protagonist is a typical convention of the action and adventure genre, as there is an idea of good vs evil.