Codes and conventions of Jaws

Above is the extract form Jaws that i have been looking into and establishing the codes and conventions of a horror genre that have been used. 

Codes and conventions that have been met:

• Isolated/secluded location- Beach
• Someone is killed in the first 5 minutes
• Narrative strands- a quick death and the seclusion of the characters from society and a party taking place
• Warning goes unheeded- swimming in the sea at night
• Low key lighting- dark tones and shadows cause atmosphere
• Care free teenagers (one being vulnerable female and the other being extremely drunk)
• Non-diagetic music - sets tone/atmosphere of danger and intensity
• No means of communication i.e. no phone and no group with her
• The screams of panic and distress of the female after the attack

Camera shots:

• Shots from below- suggests the angle of the danger 
• Long shots establish the mise-en-scene: the isolated beach
• Point of view shot establishes the evil, in this case a shark

The extract shows it's first convention of a horror film as the protagonists are represented in a isolated mise-en-scene of the beach and the fact that it is at night means it is therefore not clear visibility for both the audience and the characters creating tension. Also the use of low-key lighting during the extract by the beach causes an atmosphere of fear and uncertainty, typically found in horror films. 

Another typical convention of the horror genre is a damsel in destress and this is met by the use of a drunk boy not being able to help her and also, the camera angles, shots and movement are predominately directed towards the vulnerable female. The extract also meets the conventions of a typical horror narrative as within 5 minutes the female is killed, further the convention of the characters forgetting about threat is shown as the female carelessly swims out at sea when she knows it is dangerous as she assumes she will be okay but the audience knows she will not be as she has excluded herself from any help and also she ignores being told that it is a bad idea to go into the sea.  The use of non-diagetic music leading up to the death is a typical code as it creates meaning an tension as the audience already knows what to expect.