Social Context Study: Moral Panic

Moral Panics

Current fears in society:

• Terrorism - ISIS Shootings in Tunisia, June 2015
• Immigration - Operation Stack, June 2015
• Theme Park Accidents - Alton Towers, June 2015
• Prisons and Police Violence - Sandra Bland Suicide, July 2015
• Homosexuality - The legalisation of gay marriage in the US, June 2015
• School sex crimes - more than 5,500 crimes in past 3 years, August 2015
• Rioting - Baltimore Riots, April 2015
• Advancing technology - Bulletproof skin (genetic engineering), January 2012

 

Possible film ideas:

1. Advancing technology - genetically engineering armies of humans to go into war. Could be an action thriller film with inspiration from superhero films i.e. Captain America being genetically modified. Could end in a dystopian world or the making of a dangerous society.

2. Prisons and Police Violence - a film focusing on different prisoners and their experiences before, during and after arrest. Could focus on the actions taken by prison staff and the police force.

Advancing Technology Film Idea

Scientists have found a way to use spider silk to create bulletproof skin. Spider silk is four times stronger than Kevlar which is used in bulletproof vests.

·         The silk making gene is taken from a spider

·         The gene is placed into the udder cells of a goat

·         The goat produces milk infused with spider silk - up to 2300m per day

·         Silk is genetically put into skin

Existing Film Influences

 

Captain America

 

It is set in 1940's when Steve Rogers joins the army. Due to his slim figure, the army general does not deem him fit to be in the forces, but signs him up to the Special-Soldier programme - an experimental project. The serum used leaves Rogers with super strength, agility and intelligence and leaves the scientist wanting to test it on other human beings.

 

This could be an inspiration for a similar film idea, as it is relevant to the recent social issue of genetically modifying humans and whether it is morally right. Genetic modification is explored in this film by questioning whether modifying soldiers in the army to be able to fight more efficiently is a good enough reason to make it more accessible.

Due to the constant technological advances, eventually our world may become the same.
 

In Time

In Time is a film set in the future, when time is used instead of money. When your time runs out you die. This is another film with the influence of our changing society and beliefs around money. Nowadays, there are many influences about the way we should see money i.e. music videos and video games, which make us believe the more money we have, the happier we will be.

The film explores that having money/time may not make you happy, which could be a good inspiration for our film trailer considering the current economy and moral panics over money and debt.