assessment on crime fiction genre (conventions) (1 Viewer)

[abdooooo!!!]

does anyone else have a similar assessment like this? we have to do it in class as an examination...

can someone give me some ideas on what i'll have to talk about and in what order... like if its an essay how should i structure it and what are the key arguments i'll have to raise...

 

[Huy]

Check the main page, www.boredofstudies.org

English -> Extension 1

Essay - conventions and values associated with the genre.
http://www.boredofstudies.org/courses/english/ext1/2002_EE1_A_Crime_Fiction_Anthony.pdf

Notes - conventions of crime fiction that are satirised in "The Real Inspector Hound".
http://www.boredofstudies.org/courses/english/ext1/2001_EE1_N_CF_Satire_Hound_Purple.pdf

As part of every assessment, you're always required to talk about the conventions of the crime fiction genre. Red herrings, mystery as it's central focus, the femme fatale, false leads, etc.

 

[abdooooo!!!]

thanks Huy... this might be a stupid question but what is the femme fatale?

 

[Huy]

Originally posted by abdooooo!!!
thanks Huy... this might be a stupid question but what is the femme fatale?

The simple answer?
Femme fatale = seductive woman who (tries to, unsuccessfully or successfully) mislead the detective on a case, be it a whodunit, murder-mystery, clue-puzzle, crime etc.

The longer answer?
The femme fatale is a woman who seduces the private detective, leading him onto false leads and following false clues. She has a lot of charm and tempts the (often hard-boiled) private detective or investigator in solving the crime.

Examples of the femme fatale include Vivian Rutledge from The Big Sleep (1946) and Brigid O'Shaunessy from The Maltese Falcon (1941).

She is a "fallen woman", one who is very alluring and full of charm and often mystery. Basically, your femme fatale seduces (or attempts to seduce) the private investigator, sometimes being successful (as is the case in The Big Sleep), however if the private detective is hard-boiled and uncompromising (even 'rejecting' the femme fatale's charm and glamourous looks/beauty), then he will walk into traps, compromising and dangerous situations for himself - but ultimately he wil not be seduced by the femme fatale and justice will prevail (as is the case in The Maltese Falcon).

 

[abdooooo!!!]

thanks again Huy

femme fatale sounds cool... haven't actually done any of the texts that you used as example... so never came across this idea yet . but why does justice have to prevail? is it because its a hard-boiled crime fiction?

 

[Huy]

Originally posted by abdooooo!!!
thanks again Huy

femme fatale sounds cool... haven't actually done any of the texts that you used as example... so never came across this idea yet . but why does justice have to prevail? is it because its a hard-boiled crime fiction?

Sure no problem.

Well, you should at least know which elective you are doing (Crime Fiction) - the core work (Genre) and your teacher should have gone through the texts that you will be doing, as well as any other related and supplementary texts.

We did:

The Big Sleep - Raymond Chandler
The Real Inspector Hound - Tom Stoppard
Snow Falling on Cedars - David Guterson

The Maltese Falcon - John Houston
Gosford Park - Robert Altman

And we had to choose a few of our own related texts.

I did Blue Heelers (TV show) and Insomnia (film).

Others did their own related texts.

When you do the course, you will meet the conventions of the genre and have it discussed, and you should also do your own research into the conventions of the genre.

Why does justice have to prevail?
It's just one of the societal values (something else you will come across: values).

Since it is a hard-boiled, crime-fiction (murder-mystery, whodunit, clue-puzzle) detective film, then naturally justice will be served.

That is what we value.

Redemption is another value in TBS.

You will find most of your questions can be answered by reading the sticky in this forum, by McLake.

And also, you should download and read notes from the BOS, find your own (and make your own) notes.

 

[abdooooo!!!]

oh yea i know texts that we'll be doing: The Big Sleep, and The Real Inspector Hound. only read The Skull Beneath the Skin so far.

i'll have to find some supplementary material. im thinking of doing Law and Order.

i KNOW what you mean by societal values. but from what i understood, after reading The Skull Beneath the Skin, justice does not always prevail. one of the criminals in the book, Ambrose, escapes without being punished. so good does not always overcome evil. by this, the values of society is ultimately abandoned and a less than perfect world that we live in is painted... if you know what i mean

hey can you give me some tips on making English notes... would it be better to have a summary in dotpoints or a thesis like essay?

 

[Huy]

but from what i understood, after reading The Skull Beneath the Skin, justice does not always prevail. one of the criminals in the book, Ambrose, escapes without being punished. so good does not always overcome evil. by this, the values of society is ultimately abandoned and a less than perfect world that we live in is painted... if you know what i mean

I never did PD James' Skull Beneath The Skin, so I wouldn't know

hey can you give me some tips on making English notes... would it be better to have a summary in dotpoints or a thesis like essay?

Both.

"Summary dotpoints" (as you call them) = Class notes, other bits and pieces from handouts and websites, your own research

"Thesis like an essay" = Proper structured essays, so you can use these for your trial, half yearly and HSC revision, combining both your "summary dotpoints" into this "thesis".

Or, if you haven't worked out your own unique style, get your teacher to help you out.

I can't really help you in terms of tips, because I did my own thing and it worked fine.

Class notes in class, made bullet points and headings, grouped texts together and had "piles" for each text.

Did my own research and wrote out my own notes, used handouts that were given out in class and wrote my own "proper" summary notes and essays from there - to revise for the trial and HSC.

Do what works for you, really.

 

[juggernaut]

i had to do an assessment on the crime fiction genre regarding 3 poe books, talking of what contributes to these stories being categorised as this specific genre etc.

i talked of things like; conventions, setting, detective characteristics and solving methods - deducing if they were typical to the genre, and hence what contributed to this story being crime fiction (or further sub-genres of it)
and ofcourse contextual influence

this really doesnt help you at all ay, i dont know why im telling you this

i think what i was meant to say was that Poes first Auguste Dupin story was responsible for the literary birth of the conventions that define crime fiction... make sure u talk about this, and how these conventions have been established and changed through time due to contextual influence... perhaps compare the conventions of say classic crime fiction to modern crime fiction

basically, just refer to the 1st pdf file huy posted.. it has everything (i think)

 

[abdooooo!!!]

i did the assessment...

couldn't finish in the given time. i had a one line conclusion. my speed sucks.

on the bright side, my teacher said i had a lot flair in my writing or something... if only i can manage time better i could've scored a better mark.

thanks for the help, im really starting to enjoy crime fiction.