What We Do in the Shadows analysis

WHAT WE DO IN THE SHADOWS (2019)

I have watched a portion of What We Do in the Shadows and have analysed the first pilot episode based on two concepts that we learnt in media studies, which are the Binary opposite theory by Levi Strauss, and the 5 Narrative codes by Roland Barthes. These are my findings.

BINARY OPPOSITES

Human vs. Vampire

The film consisted of vampires, and the so-called familiars, or humans that serve the vampires. The vampires in the film are pretty much stronger than the humans and are able to do anything as they wish. 

Monogamy vs. Infidelity

In the pilot episode, the female vampire sees a male human who she believes is a reincarnation of her past lover. She then lusts and even approaches the alleged past lover, only to realise the gravity of the situation; she is possibly committing infidelity against her current spouse.

5 NARRATIVE CODES

Hermeneutic

In film starts with strange banging sounds coming from a coffin. This is attracts the audience in to thinking and asking themselves, what could possibly be inside the coffin?

Proairetic

When the vampires received a letter from the mysterious baron, when the female vampire suddenly murders a random passer-by in cold blood, or when they invited random virgins into their mansion, these events further attracts audiences by making them guess the possible outcomes of them.

Semantic

Other than the fact that they are vampires, their peculiar behaviour can be attributed to their immigrant status in the USA, being from Europe, thus unfamiliar with local traditions and lifestyle.

Symbolic

Their vampire-like behaviour can be traced back to centuries of how vampires act.