Analysing Genre Conventions in Severance
Here I have inserted my worksheet analysing the conventions of the TV show Severance.
In class we watched Episode 1, Season 1 of the Severance. This show is classified as a thriller and follows the narrative of a man named Mark, who works at a company where employees undergo a procedure called “severance”, separating their work memories from their personal lives. As the episode progresses, the audience begins to question the company’s motives and the reality of the world the characters are trapped in.
In this episode we see key thriller conventions such as mystery, isolation, psychological tension, and surveillance. These are shown through the underground office setting, the sterile and repetitive mise en scène, unsettling lighting, and the lack of outside knowledge given to the characters. The use of long corridors, minimal sound, and restricted information creates suspense and discomfort for the audience, which are common conventions within the thriller genre.
In our coursework we will have the option of producing a thriller film opening, therefore researching this genre helps us understand how micro elements such as camera work, sound, lighting, and editing can be used to create tension and engage an audience.