Peter Benchleys Novel Jaws Essay Example

conditions. The "Jaws" theme tune also plays during this shot, conditioning the audience to associate the music and point of view shots with the shark. The white font of the title was deliberately chosen to conceal the shark's evilness to some extent, while still adding a sense of mystery. The first attack scene features a long tracking shot of teenagers at a beach party, with the sea in the background, further emphasizing the evil connotations of nighttime in fiction.

The audience, already aware of the theme of the film being about sharks, now anticipates a shark attack in this scene. They ponder who will be the target of the attack as the tracking shot moves across the group and settles on an individual who looks away. The audience assumes it will be this person due to the significance placed on them with the shot stopping. However, it becomes clear that the individual is actually focused on a girl named Christie. As the girl is sitting away from the group and is framed off center, she becomes the presumed target of the attack in the audience's eyes. This framing technique is a typical media convention that generates tension in viewers, as humans tend to prefer symmetrical compositions.

Steven Spielberg has chosen Susan Backlinie, who portrays Chrissie, to represent human innocence and freedom. Chrissie is described as a beautiful blonde girl, with blue eyes. This physical depiction helps the audience feel a connection with her due to her attractive appearance. The director strategically uses mise en scene in a high-angle shot to present Chrissie as the lone individual outside of the group at the party. The teenagers are seated

in a circle around a fire, symbolizing warmth and safety. However, there is a noticeable gap in this circle where Chrissie was supposed to be positioned. This gap signifies how sharks, similar to their hunting patterns, target their prey as the vulnerable one outside of safety. This particular camera shot also introduces the dark surface of the nearby water, accompanied by the contrasting sounds of waves crashing on the beach. Chrissie and a man both flee together toward the waterline, with his pursuit resembling that of a predator chasing its prey. This foreshadows the upcoming actions of the shark.

The audience develops a stronger connection with Chrissie when we are introduced to her name and hear her speak in an innocent, angelic tone. Despite the man being visibly intoxicated and unable to swim, Chrissie bravely ventures into the water, following a tradition in horror films where the victim willingly puts themselves in harm's way. Spielberg effectively conveys the passage of time by using a wide-angle shot to reveal that dawn has arrived, a strategic decision as most shark attacks on humans occur at this time of day. Additionally, this shot highlights Chrissie's vulnerability as she appears small amidst the vast expanse of the sea's surface. Spielberg deviates from convention by utilizing low-angled shots to depict the shark's perspective, contrasting with the typical portrayal of more powerful beings looking down upon weaker individuals. This creates dramatic irony as the audience is aware of the shark's presence while the characters remain oblivious, intensifying tension and fear as the shark steadily approaches its prey from beneath the water's surface.

In order to convey the imminent shark attack, Spielberg incorporates

the iconic "Jaws" music. The melody grows increasingly intense as a medium-close up captures Chrissie's fear-stricken and bewildered expression. In this moment, an unseen force unexpectedly collides with her, revealing the sheer might of the shark. The audience is enveloped by the realism and terror as Chrissie is violently tossed around. Spielberg heightens the sensation by exclusively presenting the diegetic sounds of her screams and splashes. Despite briefly grasping onto a buoy, Chrissie is mercilessly torn away and submerged into a haunting silence, further exemplifying the shark's overwhelming power.

The director gradually develops suspense, tension, and fear through the attacks, with each one becoming more gruesome and revealing the shark's size and power. Emotions such as fear and relief, as well as media devices like music, are used to increase tension and anxiety within the audience. In the second attack scene, a new character named Alex is introduced. This scene is the first time we see people playing in the water after Chrissie's initial attack.

The scene begins with Alex emerging from the sea in a small boat, despite his mother's initial resistance. This action reflects the tradition of willingly facing danger. Concurrently, Chief Brody displays extreme anxiety. The entire scene is captured in a single continuous tracking shot, accompanied by the heightened sounds of both the sea and beach goers. The depiction of the actual attack primarily revolves around the introduction of blood. As Alex is devoured, blood fountains up, catching the audience off guard and evoking a feeling of shock. This attack scene also differs from the initial one, which lacked any sight of blood or the shark itself.

During this attack scene, the shark

itself is not visible to the audience. However, they are shown blood and the intense rage of the shark, further emphasizing its brutality. Each attack becomes increasingly gruesome and provides more insight into the size and power of the shark. The third attack scene stands out from the others because it introduces a feeling of relief. The build-up to the attack, with low-angled point of view shots and zooms, creates anticipation that is ultimately deflated when it is revealed to be a hoax. A distressed woman expresses concern that the shark may be in the river estuary, which instantly induces anxiety in the audience as it is where Brody's son was sent for safety in case the shark entered open water.

The presence of the Jaws music in the scene signifies a real attack, distinguishing it from the initial panic which was later revealed to be a hoax. By demonstrating the shark's power, Spielberg showcases its brutality as it overturns a small boat and devours its occupant in front of the audience. This attack holds great significance in the film as it marks the first sighting of the shark throughout the entire movie. With each subsequent attack, the scenes become increasingly gruesome, shedding light on the immense power and size of the shark. Spielberg adds a personal touch to each victim by giving them names or endearing characteristics like Chrissie, Alex (an innocent child), a kind boater aiding children, and ultimately Quint (a brave main character). This personalized approach allows the audience to build an emotional connection with the victims and intensifies feelings of suspense, making manipulation easier to achieve.

Throughout the film, the director utilized various

media devices to generate suspense, tension, and fear among the audience. The use of specialized camera shots, such as tracking, panning, and different angles, allowed for attacks to be shown from multiple perspectives, gradually building apprehension through visual details conveyed by the mise en scene. The Jaws theme music and shark point of view shots were strategically employed to give advance warning of the shark's presence. Editing played a crucial role as well; quick-fire cuts were employed to instill panic, while slower cuts served to challenge the audience's disbelief. Each attack in the film introduced a new element, with the first attack providing a foundation for subsequent ones. The second attack added blood, the third offered a clear view of the shark's enormous head, and the climax of the movie came with Quint's death alongside that of the shark.