Characterisation

Goffman's Character Theory

Erving Goffman's character theory suggests that there are four main types of broad character in a media text or production;

1. The protagonist (leading character)
2. The deuteragonist (secondary character)
3. The bit player (minor character whose specific background the audience is not aware of)
4. The fool (a character that uses humor to convey messages)

Goffman's Theory is an excellent way of looking at character because the types are very exact. There is always one of each of these types in every movie and some of them are usually doubled up to add to genre.

I feel like Goofman's Character Theory is very accurate in most movies and that in most cases, one of the roles is emphasised or there is many charatcers under one role in order to broadcast the genre further. For example, I think that in comedy, we encounter many 'fools' and because their role is to convey a message using humour, therefore we see them to add to the genre.


Film: Happy Gilmore (2003)
Genre: Comedy/Sport
Other Info: Adam Sandler, 12

The introduction to the character, Happy Gilmore, is set out with the character doing a voice over some old childhood videos explaining his life so far and telling the audience him ambition. The introduction to the character is also the opening to the film, this shows that he is the main character and it starts off the narrative of the film.

The opening line to the introduction is "My name is Happy Gilmore." and is said as soon as the first childhood clip is shown by the main character himself. The second line is then " As soon as I learnt to skate, I loved hockey, but I wasn't really the greatest skater." This line opens the narrative of the film as it introduces the main characters hobby. This line just reinforces the fact that the opening to the character is there to explain his story and provide some vital information about him.

When the opening is being played, it is a small rectangle at the right of the screen as if you were watching it on small camera bringing back the memories. However, as the introduction is playing, the opening credits sneak in to the left of the screen. I say sneak as the audiences attention is on the clips playing to the right, and not a lot of attention is payed to the credits.

Next in the introduction, Happy talks about his Dad's love for hockey, saying that his mum got so fed up that she moved away from the family and saying that his Dad used to bring him to see their favourite player every time he played. Happy describes that this player "fears nobody, just like me". This gives us an insight to his behaviour, maybe describing that he can put up a fight. Meanwhile in the footage, there is a clip of his Dad filming him watching a hockey game, but then all attention is turned to the game where one of the players hits the puck at Happy's Dad and kills him. It then tells us how after his Dad's funeral he was sent to live with his Grandma, who he never really met before.

Happy then goes on to tell us a big list of previous jobs and show us clips from each job of him performing an inappropriate act with different objects related to that job. The list includes jobs as a road worker, a janitor, a security guard and a plumber. As he has had many jobs, this could suggest that he can't stick to anything and gives/messes up easily. The opening sequence then ends with Happy saying "I was put on this planet for one reason, to play hockey." showing that he is very dedicated.

In this introduction to the character of Happy Gilmore, he is portrayed as a bit of a nasty guy but he clearly loves his family. We find this out due to dialogue of him explaining him and his Dad's love for hockey and his Grandma taking him in. Camerawork in the sequence is all handheld home videos of Happy growing up and playing hockey. The music through the entire sequence is just one song that goes along with the narrative and fits the mood and tone of Happy's voice over.

Overall, Happy is put across mainly by the voice over by his character. He explains his life story and his ambition and shows to the audience that he is very dedicated. The narrative is explained well with the voice over and home videos put together as the voice simply narrates the clips being shown.

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