Silence of the Lambs

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Discuss 3 points within the film where semiotics was being used. How did these relate to the genre?

In the opening scene I can denote that there is a sign on the tree, saying, “Agony, Pain and Love-It.” I can then connote that it gives the audience the idea what the film might be about. Also Clarice’s story of the screaming lambs and Hannibal asking is they have stopped screaming the icon which makes the title iconic. Hannibal Lecter is the Icon in the film and makes the film iconic. The F.B.I logo is a symbol and it symbolises safety and control.

Discuss in detail how the genre was communicated in the opening scene of the film using genre analysis.
The location was in a dimly lit forest. This shows isolation and gives the scene a creepy feel. There was a woman running and at first we are not sure if she is running away from something. She is also alone which shows vulnerability. There is a lot of sound such as heaving breathing, and running through leaves. There is also eerie and tension building music in the background.

How is the main female character portrayed in this film?

She is the main focus of the film. She is very strong character which contradicts other female stereotypes. However she is main involvement was to be used by the F.B.I to get information. She is subjected to a lot of stares and harassment. In some scenes she is considered an object rather than a person. She is very pretty and attracts attention from most of the males in the film.

How is queer theory relatable to some of the characters in this film?

Jame Gumb (a.k.a. Buffalo Bill) is the main antagonist in the film. He skins the bodies of women in an attempt to make a woman suit of his own. He is bi-sexual and transgender and known to have relationships with men. Not only does he want to wear women's skin, he wants to become a woman; he dresses in women's clothes and tucks his penis behind his legs to appear female. This shows he does not feel confident in his own skin and has to be in someone else’s. Also Hannibal’s fussy mannerisms show him as a queen.   

What was the most memorable scene for you from this film and why?
The scene where Hannibal escapes is the most memorable scene because it’s what the film leads up to. Throughout the whole of the film it is predictable that he will escape. The eerie – yet calm – music in the background keeps us as the viewer fixed and still relaxed as Hannibal is still calm and collected. Hannibal shows the classic traits of a psychopath, he appears to be normal showing no sign of emotion. As the viewer we are let into the secret that Hannibal is hiding something in his stomach as he forces is back up behind the screen.

It is then the usual procedure of the officers to bring in Lecter’s food and they hand-cuff him to the railings. We know that Hannibal is hiding something to pick the lock and sit and wait for him to escape. The reason why this is the most memorable scene for me is because of the way Lecter handled himself. There was no emotion shown as he was killing the officers. There was a glimpse of relief in his eyes when he was constantly hitting one of the officers over the head until dead. His plan of escape was very complex so we can tell that this was very well thought out by Hannibal and must have took some time. This also shows how who the film was leading up to this moment.

Any other comments?

From my own knowledge there is a bird called “The Starling” bird which Clarice’s last name. The starling bird is small yet strong. We can see how this relates to Clarice’s character when she steps into the elevator. She is surrounded by men towering over her making her look very small. They are all wearing red shirts whereas Clarice is wearing blue. This all relates to my earlier question about how the female character is portrayed.