House of Cards

Synopsis 

Genre conventions of a Thriller: The intensity of emotions they create particularly those of apprehension and exhilaration, of excitement and breathlessness, all designed to generate that all-important thrill. By definition, if a thriller doesn't thrill, it's not doing its job.

Narrative Techniques of a Thriller

• Plot twists and turns
• Flashbacks
• Misdirections
• Making the audience work

Characters

President elect Garrick Walker,
Linda Vasquez Chief of staff, woman, latino tuff as a 2 dollar cheque
Frank/Francis Underwood -House majority whip – keep the sludge moving.
Clair (Frans wide)- shady, direct, cold, ruthless, own ambitions and for her husband
Washington Herald: Zoe Barnes- willing to go against the law, very ambitious 
Recently elected  secretary of state   Michael Kern –
Peter  Rousseau - drink driver,solicitation, use of controlled substances.
Christina Gallagher assistant

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Conventions of Drama

Exhibits real life situations with realistic characters, settings and stories

Portrays journeys of character development

Intense social interaction

Purpose of a dramatic story line is to move the audience

Heart of drama is the conflict

Conflicts include inner/outer realistic struggles depicting hardships, difficulty and pain 

Audience can relate to the characters
Structured with climaxes and anti climaxes to keep the audience emotionally attached and the tension ongoing
A form realisation at the end/happily

Conventions of Political Drama

• Corruption in politics and congress
• Realistic
• Power struggle

House of Cards do conform to these conventions such as the corruption in congress as Frank was falsely promised senator and also when Frank blackmails Peter to work for him.

There is a power struggle with Frank as he is trying to reach the top.

This offers a sense of realism 

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Task 7

Write a 500 word synopsis of House of cards

You are expected to decode the narrative from watching the film

At least three narrative (strands) exists, describe theme as part of the synopsis.

Describe the Genre of the film

Identify the main characters and their character role hero/anti hero, protagonist/antagonist

   Frank Underwood is an ambitious democratic congressman and the House Majority Whip.

The show starts by introducing Frank Underwood who is the main protagonist and it shows an injured dog and how Frank gives a dark metaphor about pain whilst strangling the dog. This shows Frank is willing to do anything when needed.

The story moves on to the successful election of President Garret Walker, Frank then introduces other main characters throughout the party. Whilst still having a direct mode of address with the audience.

 Frank helped and ensured the election of President Garret Walker, who falsely promised to promote Underwood to Secretary of State. However Walker and Chief of Staff Linda Vasquez, a Latino woman, go against that promise and instead appoints Senator Michael Kern. Frank angered with the decision and infuriated with the betrayal of Walker and Vasquez. This is due to the amount of help and effort Underwood gave the two and they went against him. With this feeling of betrayal and regret Underwood as this is a stab in the back for Underwood so he and his wife Claire, a ruthless CEO of an environmental company, make a pact to destroy Kern and for Frank to become president.

Frank needed to gather his own team to do anything he wants with no questions asked.

Whilst this was occurring, ambitious reporter for the Washington Herald, Zoe Barnes comes into play as she makes her resources available she becomes one of their pawns. Zoe Barnes is looking for her big break and thought she had found it with Frank.

Another pawn for Frank and Claire is Peter Russo who is an unfaithful solicitation