Scarface.

I will be focusing on the iconographic conventions within the gangster genre in Scarface and not any other conventions. This is because my group and I will be producing a trailer, which would be short and arresting. Therefore we must ensure that every shot that is used within the trailer will be recognized and eye-catching. Iconography is very important as it helps tell the story and it tells the audience their personality traits. I’m particularly interested with iconographic conventions and sound in trailers as I personally think they are the factors to make the target audience decide whether the film will be successful or simply just a failure.

Scarface is directed by Howard Hawks.

Audiences have/expect specific conventions when they watch a certain genre i.e. the film Scream always has a killer with a weapon (knife). The conventions are usually known and recognised by the audience and if the film follows their expectations, they would be satisfyingly confirmed.

According to McArthur, in terms iconography in the gangster genre, these pleasures are caused by patterns of imagery that are put into three categories, those surrounding the physical presence, attributes and the dress of the actors and the characters they play. Therefore, by drawing focus on these three categories, a successful gangster film will be made.

The main gangsters in films are important to the gangster genre narrative structure to show their success through crime and due to the production code their deaths stating crime does pay.

The way in which the gangsters dress is the most vital part when it comes to iconography within the gangster genre as the appearance is what we see and judge when we first see someone we do not know. For example in Scarface, Tony is boasting about his new wardrobe to poppy (who is portrayed as just a sex object, who is either at home, doing leisure, or at work even if its gangster work), saying that he has shirts in different colours and that he only wears each one once. To the audience, they would perceive him as a typical arrogant and rich gangster. The gangsters’ clothing is a vital statement that shows he has achieved ‘the American Dream’.

The gangster’s weapon (i.e. machine gun) is important to what is called ‘patterns of visual imagery’. The guns are how the gangsters take the law into their own hands, it goes against the law which is why it is not surprising why the gangsters stand by their guns. The machine gun becomes an object of veneration in Scarface. An example of this is when Tony gets his first gun he reacts with joy because the gun decides who gives the orders.

Surprisingly, the telephone could also be seen as a weapon. It is used to carry out business calls or to threaten those who oppose them. The telephone has on occasions, been used as a weapon in gangster films because they are usually used to intimidate the weak. Technology represents modernity, which is one of the steps to achieve ‘the American Dream’. This is compounded by the humour of the consumption scenes in Scarface, which offer an excessive version of the iconography of gangster consumption, going beyond just buying a sharp suit.

The gangster’s car also acts like a weapon. Just like the gun, the gangsters worship its automobile as well. In Scarface the gangster gets around in a Ford. The car enables the gangster to do business doing illegal things or even to run over an enemy. The car is significant to the gangster genre’s iconography as it shows the problematic status in society. I think it is one of the major icons in the gangster film as it used almost like their clothes.

Not only are the clothes and accessories they use important, but also the use of time and space. There is an example in Scarface because during the 1930’s was the time of the great depression where poverty was a serious problem in the USA, the audience will understand to an extent as to why the gangsters in the film act the way they do.

In conclusion to what I have written above, I feel that by using these visual images in my group’s coursework and mine, it would be very successful but evidently we would have to put a lot of effort and time into it.