Oral Research Part 1- Genre and Audience

1. What tradition or genre is it in?
     Top Gun, directed by Tony Scott, has the genres of action, drama, and romance.

2. What are the features determining genre?
     In the movie Top Gun, "action" is the core feature that propels the story forward. When exploring the genre of action, we understand that there are climactic elements that exclaim themselves from the plot. These elements can consist of explosion, fight scenes or in this case: Dog fights. Dog fights, for those who don't know, are battles between fighter pilots until the the victor takes down its enemy. Top Gun is packed with action because we see several demonstration of dog fights. For example, Viper and Jester are the instructors that test the abilities of Maverick in order to bring out his natural skill inherited from his father.
     In the movie, Mavericks father is somewhat of a mystery to the audience. This dramatic element of uncertainty depicts a key feature of a "drama"tic movie. Drama's revolve around an in depth development of the character that deals with emotional themes. Throughout the plot, Maverick is constantly getting grief about the reputation of his father and how it might translate to his ability to perform in flight. Iceman constantly questions Mavericks ability's whether he is on "our side or theirs." Tony Scott's intentions when creating this ambiguity was to force the audience to feel sympathy towards Maverick in order to keep the audience engaged to the plot. After all, he is the main character.
     The last pice of genre in the movie, but that also highlights the sub plot to the narrative, is romance. Tom Cruise, at the beginning of the movie, develops (almost instantly) a romantic affiliation with a woman at a bar. Little to his knowledge, they share a similar passion for aviation. This is discovered during a briefing on the MIG fighter jet where she ends up being his superior. Romance in film is described as a love story that focuses on the affectionate involvement of  the main characters and the journey that fortifies and enforces their love for each other. Kelly McGillis who plays Charlie (Mavericks superior) does not "usually date her students." Her professionalism proves futile when it comes to the flyboy Mavericks seduction after he serenades her with the song "Loving Feeling."

3. What other work might it be connected to?
     This work of Top Gun, could be connected to the movie Pearl Harbor. The same characteristics of action is incorporated in these two films with the use of aerial warfare. The use of airplanes to conduct peacekeeping missions or simple to "return the favor" to an enemy of the country, both movies follow the story of several pilots and there aspirations to becoming the best pilots they can be. Maverick (Top Gun) and Raff (Pearl Harbor) both are cocky and end up being the savior of the battle. Another aspect for comparison is the romance in Pearl Harbor. Raff also falls in love with an authoritative figure, a nurse named Evelyn. Like Charlie in Top Gun, Evelyn has an ability to persuade Raff to motivate him to fly again and do what he loves.

4. Who made this? Why?
     Tony Scott was the director of Top Gun, he was accompanied by Jim Cash and Jack Epps Jr. in writing the script. These writers came together after Tony was inspired by naval aviators when he read the article "Top Guns" by Ehud Yonay. The aerial photography allowed him to envision what he wanted and Tony was the first director to take on such a challenge.

5. What can we tell about its creators?
   We can deduce that the creators are enthusiasts of exploring different aspects of solving problems. They can dream about a future breed of warrior and respect and do justice to the proud technologies we have during that time period. The creators try to bring attention to the masses of what technologies we have and to help us understand their purpose so that we know that most technologies we have are not useless.

6. How does it fit within the directors other work? Significant narratives, visual/ technical elements?
     This movie relates to Tony Scotts other work in film. Deja Vu shares a few similar aspects in narrative and and technical elements. First, when exploring the two plots of these movies, they share the dramatic element where the main charactes Maverick (Top Gun) and Special Agent Douglass (Deja Vu) both try to uncover the truth behind an individuals hidden aspect of their lives. Maverick wants to redeem his father through the real truth of his reputation while the special agent wants to know the truth about how the ship in the beginning of the narrative exploded (by exploring the point of view of a single character that would be key in solving the mystery).
     A strong passion for high tech pieces of machinery is predominant in both plots. Top Gun obiosly uses its F-14 Tom Cats to handle its enemy directly while Deja Vu has a time machine incorporated into a computer system. There roles in the plot help to solve the issues in both movies. Due to their degree of efficiency, these hardwares are highlighted as the true heroes of their movies.

7. What is the films theme?
     The theme of the movie Top Gun is to never leave a wingman behind. In other words, you should always be there to back up someone who truly needs the support especially if it is a friend who is calling out for help.

8. What is the target audience? How is the audience addressed?
   I believe that target audience for Top Gun are aviator enthusiasts and more specifically those who are interested in naval aviation. Speaking for myself, I who am one of these entusiasts, I am addressed with the opener where the Tom Cats were being launched off the flight deck of the aircraft carrier.