1. FM2 – Section C
Comparative Analysis of TWO
US films from the same genre

2. Starter Task
Write down a definition
for the following terms:
Allegory
Post 9/11 Cinema
Note down your own
definition of:
‘ideologies’
‘iconography’

3. Learning Objectives
Consider the use of
iconography and ideology
in War of the Worlds
Analyse key scenes from
the film and identify the
ways the can be
considered allegorical
Evaluate the use of icons
and key themes in War of
the Worlds

4. War of the Worlds
As we have already seen War of the Worlds has been used as
an allegory ever since it was first published
For our exam we must be able to analyse the
film as a work of art (micro elements)
We must also demonstrate that we understand
the allegorical nature of the films we will study
Watch the following clips from 9/11 and note
down the ways the events seen have
influenced, or been transferred in to War of the
Worlds (2005)

5. War of the Worlds
The key themes we identified as common to all
adaptations of War of the Worlds are:
• Paranoia
• Fear of Annihilation
• Threats from outsides or ‘Others’
Create a list of scenes from the film that contain or
reinforce these themes

6. Ideologies
What are the ideologies of the Alien attackers?
What is their goal?
The Aliens are intent on exterminating
human life and replacing it with their
own
They see humans as inferior and
unworthy beings that should be
destroyed
They are different in appearance,
practice an alien way of life and follow
a challenging ideology – they are
positioned perfectly to represent
Americas view on terrorists post 9/11

7. Iconography
In film ‘icons’ are visual signifiers used
to transmit information about a
character or location to the audience
Did you spot any ‘iconography’ from
9/11 in War of the Worlds?
Is that the
Audiences recognise icons of 9/11 in
Terrorists?
the film and a link is made between
the two events
This is the goal of the film and
contributes to War of the Worlds
status as a ‘Post 9/11’ film

8. War of the Worlds –
Key Scenes
Watch the following scene and make notes on the
following:
How is fear of annihilation portrayed in the scene?
How is this scene visually reminiscent of 9/11?
What other themes / ideas / comments or
references to 9/11 can you identify?

9. War of the Worlds –
Throughout this scene a lot of low angle shots are Key Scenes
used – these shots serve several purposes
• Create an eye line match
• Most footage from 9/11 was shot from people
on the ground – most of our memories and
iconic images from the events are low angle
camera shots
• The grey dust the people turn in to is visually
reminiscent of the dust clouds that swarmed
New York after the collapse of the Twin Towers
• The track towards and close up of the video
camera – we see the events via a video camera
– the same method most images from 9/11
were recorded and then broadcast around the
world

10. War of the Worlds –
Key Scenes
Film is ‘un-reality’ – as a result our brains
attempt to view film in a context we understand
The visual references employed by Spielberg are
familiar to the audience and we are reminded of
the 9/11 attacks when we watch the film
We are constantly connecting actions seen on
screen to the real world in order to make sense
of them

12. What fear?
Create a list of reasons why people felt a
heightened sense of fear and paranoia in the
aftermath of 9/11
Given the nature of the 9/11 attacks, people feared
another surprise attack on America
"Paranoia is what happens
when you're afraid that
News programs fed theis coming fear by
something feelings of at you
repeatedly re-running the attacks and stories about
right around the corner, but it
terrorists in the USA
never materializes," he told
the Los Angeles Times during
The government introduced ‘terror"Our levels’
production, adding, threat
and would constantly remind people that the terror
story starts with paranoia,
level was HIGH or move very to the red ‘SEVERE’
which is it up quickly
box – leading to increased feelings of paranoia and
realised."
fear of future attacks

13. Using our own analysis and information from the previous
slides complete the following:
In what ways does War of the Worlds reflect the 9/11 terror
attacks?
You must include:
Analysis of Mise-en-scene
Discussion of themes
References to real life events that are portrayed and can be
seen in the film

14. War of the Worlds –
Key Scenes
Watch the following scene and make notes on the
following:
How is this scene visually reminiscent of the events
and ‘iconography’ of 9/11?
Why do you think Speilberg included the media in
this scene?
Why did he represent them in this way?

15. War of the Worlds –
Key Scenes
The first image we see outside the home is a
downed passenger plane – an icon of 9/11 that is
now closely linked to the iconography of
terrorism
The reporter replays events and parts of the
attack Ray has not seen – the same way we saw
the 9/11 attacks; on a TV screen repeated again
and again
The aliens are referred to as ‘them’ –
distinguishing them as others

16. Using our own analysis and information from the previous
slides complete the following:
In what ways does War of the Worlds comment upon post
9/11 society?
You must include:
Analysis of Mise-en-scene
Discussion of themes
References to real life events that are portrayed and can be
seen in the film

17. War of the Worlds –
Key Scenes
Watch the following scene and make notes on the
following:
How is the theme of ‘Paranoia’ used throughout this
scene?
How does it add tension to the scene?
What else can we saw about the character of
Ogilvy?

18. War of the Worlds –
Key Scenes
Ogilvy is reminiscent of a conspiracy theorist –
he claims the Aliens have been here all along
without our knowledge
He is referring to ‘sleeper-cells’ – enemies hidden
in our midst waiting for the right time to attack
His paranoia begins to control him and his
actions become more erratic and dangerous to
those around him
He is also living up in a basement, the
stereotypical habitat of conspiracy theorists

19. War of the Worlds
War of the Worlds uses Iconography of the 9/11 Terror
attacks to create links between the events seen in the film,
and real life
By doing this Spielberg is drawing comparisons between the
real and ‘un-real’
He sets the film in a post 9/11 world – this places the film in a
context – a scenario very similar to our own
The themes of fear, paranoia etc are feelings felt by society
and the film taps in to those feelings and manipulates them –
subconsious links between the causes of the real fear and the
fear generated in the film are made

20. Log on to the network and write an essay
answer to the following question:
How useful have your wider contextual
studies been in understanding similarities
and differences in the American films you
have studied for this topic?
Use the following labels:
Your name
War of the Worlds essay question 1

21. ID Three scenes and then analyse them
First – tripod attack
video camera
grey smoke
extermination
terrorist and aliens share an ideology
2nd – plane crash outside home
plane as an icon
video replay of attacks via media
3rd Oligvy
Paranoia / conspiracy theories
4th – return home – mise-en-scene of families torn apart /
re-united by disaster