Annotated Catalouge

How the representation of football hooligans has changed since films based in 1970s.

Focus Films

Item 1:  Awaydays - Pat Holden (2009)

Primary Source.
This film is appropriate for my research as it displays a perspective on football violence and football hooligans from a writer in 2009 basing the film in 1979, The film shows the football gang in general but also shows that members are in fact individuals with own individual problems and views. The film connects to single characters not only the main subject of the violence for example the character "Carty" is dying to get involved with "The Pack" and has to work his way he and you also see interesting parts of his relationships with members of "The Pack" and his Family. Another interesting example is of the character "Elvis" who has everything that "Carty" dreams of but he is not happy with his life and to some extent seems "dark" which he cannot get out of. This films genre and subjects raised within the film allows it to be connected to my other primary sources.

Item 2: The Firm - Nick Love (2009)

This film is beneficial to my project as it is another perspective on the same subject and similar characters but based in a different decade. It’s a good example of individual characters, gangs and society within that time period. The film itself is set in the late 1980's, based around a young character called "Dom" who pushes to get involved in a football gang run by top boy "Bex", "Dom" is accepted into the gang and becomes one of the boys, he realises that the fighting is becoming out of hand and to some extent based on "Bex's" personal issues and hatred.

Item 3: Green Street – Lexi Alexander (2005)

This film shows the representation from another era it was set in the time it was made (2005) which is only 5 years ago, so this shows a modern view on the subject. The film follows yet again another character called Matt getting involved in the scene. But this time instead of attempting to get into the gang, he accidently “falls” into it.

Websites

Item 4: The Guardian (Film Section) (06/10/10)

http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2009/aug/30/football-hooliganism-the-firm

Provides information on the main football violence films, some of which are my main sources. It also gives info on ideas behind the films and the subjects presented in them- such as power and a sense of belonging.

Item 5: IMDb (06/10/10)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1137436/

Information about the actors and in general the film “Awaydays”, it also has information about the decade and era the film was set in.

Item 6: Sky movies website (06/10/10)

http://movies.sky.com/football-hooligan-movies

Gives a good description and insight into a number of football violence movies (including the ones my focus films) and the plots, main characters etc. There are summaries in which it describes the time periods which is what my question is based upon

Item 7: Politics.co.uk (06/10/10)

http://www.politics.co.uk/briefings-guides/issue-briefs/policing-and-crime/football-hooliganism-$366570.htm  

A website that describes what “football hooliganism” is which will be helpful in understanding background and additional information to the films, the website also includes statistics, history (which is part of the focus question and other helpful information.

Item 8: BBC news website (06/10/10)

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4789954.stm

Shows the history of football violence and is displayed and organised into sub categories of eras which is particularly helpful.

Books

Item 9: Football Hooliganism – Steve Frosdick & Peter Marsh
Willan (1 July 2005)

Shows different approaches and reasons for football violence and a political overview of I, which helps in understanding to background and additional information of the films.

Item 10: Hooligan Wars: Causes and effects of football violence – Ed Perryman & Mark Perryman
Mainstream Publishing (3 October 2002)

Gives information on the history and the government’s views on football violence and also information from the police and other authorities.

Presentation Draft.

Presentation Script
“How the representation of football hooligans has changed since films based in the 1970’s. “

PROJECTOR:  Opening slide, shows images of the three main films- Awaydays, The Firm and Green street.

Presenter:  In recent times the football violence scene within films has became very popular and has itself has became a sort of subgenre itself. Many of the films their selves have been created within the past decade, but between each film have been set in different time eras and present very different images of the culture itself. For my research project this year I have chosen to base it upon the subgenre and to find out how the representation of football hooligans has changed in the different genres and from films based in the 1970’s.

(Next Slide)

PROJECTOR:  Text showing the following.

Presenter: In the presentation I will cover:

How the attitude towards violence has change in the films?
In what way the characters dress has changed?
In what way the characters lifestyle has changed?

(Next Slide)

PROJECTOR: Images of the characters in each film with a caption displaying which one is what.

Presenter:  In all of the films there is a general image of the characters being part of a gang and all three display an outsider trying to work into the gang, and they follow the story of the outsider integrating with the lifestyle and the way in which the characters behave. Although all the films have a similar basis and situation the storylines alter greatly- with different outcomes.

(Next Slide)

PROJECTOR:  The movie poster for Awaydays.

Presenter:  Awaydays is a film that shows the representation of football hooligans from a writer in 2009 basing the film in 1979, The film shows the football gang in general but also shows that members are in fact individuals with own individual problems and views. The film connects to single characters not only the main subject of the violence for example the character "Carty" is dying to get involved with "The Pack" and has to work his way he and you also see interesting parts of his relationships with members of "The Pack" and his Family. Another interesting example is of the character "Elvis" who has everything that "Carty" dreams of but he is not happy with his life and to some extent seems "dark" which he cannot get out of.  The violence within the film is not glorified but is shown to be as the main purpose and what the characters enjoy.

(Next Slide)

PROJECTOR:  The movie poster for The Firm.

Presenter: The film itself is set in the late 1980's, based around a young character called "Dom" who pushes to get involved in a football gang run by top boy "Bex", "Dom" is accepted into the gang and becomes one of the boys, he realises that the fighting is becoming out of hand and to some extent based on "Bex's" personal issues and hatred. This itself is another era and another

(Next Slide)

"How the representation of football hooligans has changed since films based in the 1970s."

Within film there has been many films based upon football violence and the culture surrounding it, it has become a sort of "sub-genre" in itself and being based and made in different eras the films, storyline and characters alter greatly.

The representation of a "football hooligan" is represented in very different manners, for example in the film "Green Street" the characters in the film are shown to worship football and they base their whole lives upon going to and planning to go to the film, they are never shown within their jobs or social life and the scenes of violence in the film is to some extent glorified with all sorts of special effects etc.

Where as in the films "Awaydays" and "The Firm" the characters have other things to do within their lives: they have jobs, family's and other things to attend to even though this falls apart at certain points of the film due to football violence. Also in the film "The Firm" the scenes of violence are not added any effect and appear to be more realistic the scenes are over within a matter of seconds, and are just as effective as scenes from "Green Street".

I think the fact the violence in the film "Green Street" could be due to the fact that it is based within the time period of the 2000's and aimed at the people within this era, where as the other films were released in the same time period but set within the other times.

Another thing that changes greatly within the representation of football hooligans from time period is the the costume, clothing and the general way the characters look- In the film "Awaydays" the characters dress in brands such as Fred Perry and wear in a smart fashion, this is because the issues that surrounded the culture in that time period, where they didn't want to be seen and detected as actual "football hooligans" but to go unnoticed but police etc. Where as in films such as "The Firm" the characters dress in sportswear which became a part of the football hooligan image and was also part of the fashion in the time it was set in.

A Prophet Essay

Essay: Compare the treatment of power, poverty and conflict in 'A Prophet' with one other film studied for this module.


The themes of power, poverty and conflict are strongly displayed within both the films"A Prophet" (2009) and "City of God" (2002), both of the films follow the live of a young a fairly insignificant member of society through their life and the route into crime- which is also part of the power presented within the environments. 


In both of the films poverty is clearly presented- especially within the film "City of God" and perhaps more obvious. The film itself is set within the violent streets Rio de Janeiro- even without previous knowledge the environment that they live in is clearly shown as a poor place. There are no roads, only dirt and sand, the buildings look poorly constructed. Although its not so obvious in "A prophet" but still a strong part of the film, the main character: Malik is clearly affected by poverty- we are not aware of his situation or reasoning for assaulting the police officer (which is the reason he ended up in prison) the character his self throughout the film makes us understand that he doesnt actually have any parents or family, He cannot read or write, and when he comes into prison in the first place, he has very little possessions, which includes a very small amount of money and tatty clothes. Although poverty is clearly shown in both of the films the way it is shown in "City of God" is more direct and the town and cities there self are full of poverty, and are to some extent slums. Where as in the film "A Prophet" the poverty shown is to the one individual character which has affected his life and maybe even being the main reason he has winded up in prision.


Conflict is clearly shown in both films, through violence, verbal abuse and in both films there are seperations either through race, religion or gangs. In the film "City of God" as it gets into the film, there are conflicts between the law enforcers and the civillians their selves but as it progresses through the film, there becomes conflict and violence between individuals and gangs are formed sending nearly the whole down into conflict. Where as yet again in the film "A Prophet" the conflict is still shown but on a smaller scale, and it is displayed through class and culture in the prision itself, but viloence and conflict in the film seems to be orders and given less of a reason.


Power is also displayed within both films, in the film "A Prophet" there is a gang of Corsicans who run the prision and even have links with security guards and other members of the prison authority. Although we are not shown or told they have a clear leader of the gang who decides all the issues and what is going to happen through out the film. Where as the main character in the film"City of God" bases his whole life around wanting to be the top hood in the city, and the whole film is based around power and who runs the town- there is also power from law in this film but the hoods and gangs take over and are displayed to have more power then them anyway. 


In conclusion in both of the films it shows that all of the themes are linked to one another. The characters theirselves are in poverty and turn to crime to gain money or feel they have no other choice, and also it is shown that power is gained through crime- they earn respect and become well known. The fact that crime is linked to earning of money rises them out of the issue of poverty and they become more powerful, it shows that crime is shown to be the only option out of poverty and possibly the reason so many people in the film "City of God" relate to it.

Annotated Catalouge Draft.

How the representation of football hooligans has changed since films based in 1970s.

Focus Films

Awaydays - Pat Holden (2009)

Primary Source.
This film is appropriate for my research as it displays a perspective on football violence and football hooligans from a writer in 2009 basing the film in 1979, The film shows the football gang in general but also shows that members are in fact individuals with own individual problems and views. The film connects to single characters not only the main subject of the violence for example the character "Carty" is dying to get involved with "The Pack" and has to work his way he and you also see interesting parts of his relationships with members of "The Pack" and his Family. Another interesting example is of the character "Elvis" who has everything that "Carty" dreams of but he is not happy with his life and to some extent seems "dark" which he cannot get out of. This films genre and subjects raised within the film allows it to be connected to my other primary sources.

The Firm - Nick Love (2009)

This film is beneficial to my project as it is another perspective on the same subject and similar characters but based in a different decade. It’s a good example of individual characters, gangs and society within that time period. The film itself is set in the late 1980's, based around a young character called "Dom" who pushes to get involved in a football gang run by top boy "Bex", "Dom" is accepted into the gang and becomes one of the boys, he relises that the fighting is becoming out of hand and to some extent based on "Bex's" personal issues and hatred.

Green Street – Lexi Alexander (2005)

This film shows the representation from another era it was set in the time it was made (2005) which is only 5 years ago, so this shows a modern view on the subject. The film follows yet again another character called Matt getting involved in the scene. But this time instead of attempting to get into the gang, he accidently “falls” into it.

Websites

The Guardian (Film Section) (06/10/10)

http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2009/aug/30/football-hooliganism-the-firm

Provides information on the main football violence films, some of which are my main sources. It also gives info on ideas behind the films and the subjects presented in them- such as power and a sense of belonging.

IMDb (06/10/10)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1137436/

Information about the actors and in general the film “Awaydays”

Sky movies website (06/10/10)

http://movies.sky.com/football-hooligan-movies

Gives a good description and insight into a number of football violence movies and the plots, main characters etc.

Politics.co.uk (06/10/10)

http://www.politics.co.uk/briefings-guides/issue-briefs/policing-and-crime/football-hooliganism-$366570.htm  

A website that describes what “football hooliganism” is, and statistics , history etc.

BBC news website (06/10/10)

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4789954.stm

Shows the history of football violence and is displayed and organised into sub categories of eras which is particularly helpful.

Books

Football Hooliganism – Steve Frosdick & Peter Marsh
Willan (1 July 2005)

Shows different approaches and reasons for football violence and a political overview of it.

Hooligan Wars: Causes and effects of football violence – Ed Perryman & Mark Perryman
Mainstream Publishing (3 October 2002)

Gives information on the history and the governments views on football violence and also information from the police and other authorities.