This document discusses themes in superhero films that will be covered in GCSE Film Studies classes. It explains that themes are subjects or issues addressed in films, which may be explicitly or implicitly linked to the narrative. Themes are divided into private themes, which affect characters, and public themes, which impact the wider world. Examples of private themes include motivations, revenge, and relationships, while public themes include discrimination, social class, and society. Students are tasked with recognizing themes in film clips and creating an acronym to categorize the private and public themes.

1. Themes
GCSE Films

2. Recap
• What does
Superman's Tights
Can Produce
Nasty Smells
stand for….?
Answers on postits

3. This week
What are
they
Todays Aim: Be able to
list ALL the themes and
remember them
Superhero
Themes
What do
they
mean
How to
recognise
Thursdays Aim: To be
able to spot the themes
in clips and discuss their
impact

4. Themes
• Themes are subjects or issues that the film
brings up
• They may or may not be linked explicitly with
the narrative
• They are sometimes linked to myths and
legends, or sometimes to things happening in
society

5. • Themes are split
into two
categories –
PUBLIC &
PRIVATE
i.e. things that
happen to and
affect key
characters in the
film and things
that affect the
wider world
What do you think they might be?

6. PRIVATE
• Motivations
• Revenge
• Truth, Justice (and
American way)
• Self-preservation &
sacrifice
• Redemption
• Relationships
• Morals
• Choices
PUBLIC
• Right & wrong
• Discrimination
• Social Class
• Science & technology
• Society
Task: Come up with an acronym for the two
areas (either separate or together)
We will vote on the best one and make it
official

7. Homework (Monday)
• Bring a list of all Superhero Films you watched
so far including the year they were made,
directors and key actors
We will make a chart on the wall on AG1
• Catch up on any missed half term homework
• Buy the book!!!

8. Thursday’s lesson
• Each read at least one area from the book
under the themes section
• Your job is to then teach that area to the other
students
• You can use the whiteboard and show clips if
you want (YouTube)
• You have 25 minutes to prepare and 5 minutes
to teach

9. Task
• Using the grid provided, identify the themes
and make sure you discuss the micro and
macro that helped you get there
• HW: using another copy of the grid identify 3
more scenes