Gothic Text Presentation Card

The Addams Family

Text Introduction
The Addams Family is an American supernatural black comedy film. Addams family
tells the tale of an unusual family, who enjoy blowing things up and trying to poison
one another. Directed by Barry Sonnenfeld in 1991 and based on the characters from
the cartoon of Addams family that created by Charles Addams.
Summary Plot
When a man claiming to be fester, the missing brother of Gomez Addams, arrives at
the Addams' home, the family is thrilled. However, Morticia begins to suspect the man
is a fraud, since he cannot recall details of Fester's life. With the help of lawyer Tully
Alford, Fester manages to get the Addams clan evicted from their home. Gomez
realizes the two men are conspiring to swindle the Addams fortune and that he must
challenge Fester.
Character(s)
The character Morticia Addams is the matriarch of the Addams
family and she is similar to gothic characters because of the way
she dresses and her eyes. HerThis character is clearly informed
by some existing stereotype, and most prevalent of all of these
influence to createfits the archetype of the uncanny.
This is seen from the black dress and her eyes makeup. From
her eyes makeup this suggest that she has domination power in
the family. Commented [AF1]: Explain why it suggests this.

In particular, the black dress also symbolizes of darkness and

it’s remind me of a female character in the vampire story. Commented [AF2]: Why? What does it remind you
of?

In the sceneT
The director may have been use camera
shotscamera angle, camera shotangles ares are
used to demonstrate different aspects of a film’s
characterposition the viewer so that the audience
can understand the relationships between the
characters, for example like close up camera
shotlow angle shot, the close up camera shots are used to see reaction on the
actor/actress face. This is the shot that shows the most emotion from the characters.
It is also used to capture the detail in an important scene. The example for this camera
shot is when Morticia waking up.low angle shots can make a character look stronger
Commented [AF3]: You need to use a specific shot to
dominant and authoritative. talk about here rather than just general details
 Lighting is an integral part of cinematography,
and it is one of the few areas of filmmaking that
has infinite arrangement of set-ups. This film
use a lot of lighting one of the example is as you
can see when Morticia is wakinge up. The
director useThis character also uses Low-key
lighting over her eyes, low key lighting is a light
effect that uses a hard light source to enhance
shadow in the scene. This lighting can make the
audience feel spooky, mysterious and threatening feelings.
The director also may have been influenced by gothic fashionVampire gothic style that
have been around since 1800’s. And this character is similar to the characters that Commented [AF4]: What fashion items are you
found in vampire story. referring to?

Setting(s)
The first setting is the mansion of the Addams
Family, this setting is the main setting in the film.
Theiris mansion is similar to gothic because of
this mansion has has the dark underground
tunnel. This is a gothic setting because it has the
director want to create an atmosphere of
suspense and mystery.
The other setting is the garden. This setting is Commented [AF5]: Why is this a gothic setting?
similar to gothic settings because it has cemetery
on it. For the audience this setting develops the
mood of unease and fear.
In particular, this setting is shown by the
cinematography techniques like camera shot,
camera shots are used to demonstrate different
aspects of setting, themes and characters. For
example like extrelong shot that have been using to take the mansion sceneme close
up, in this scene the long shotextreme close up is used to allow the audience to see
the environment around the Addams family mansion.
enter the character’s intimate space, revealing Commented [AF6]: What is there an extreme close up
certain characteristics and emotions that would of?

unnoticed from afar and a crane shots, camera

angles also has effect the feeling of the audience
when watching a movie like low angles,
lightingLighting also is an integral part of
cinematography, and it is one of the few areas of filmmaking that has infinite
arrangement of set-ups. On the first setting there are a different contrast of lighting
that has been used between the two scenes setting of the Addams family mansion.
This picture is when the director use lighting
The second setting is used the low level lighting to create a creepy mysterious
atmosphere.

, and a camera movement. This could mean that all the

cinematography techniques really important in this film.
, and have similar to the settings that found in the outsider
by H.P Lovecraft.The setting first and second setting on Commented [AF7]: What similar settings are there?
the Addams Family films is looks similar like the setting on the Outsider short story by You need to be far more specific and use specific
examples to support your ideas.
H.P Lovecraft. H.P Lovecraft use an old castle and a garden that surrounded by
cemetetry.