CCR Question 1 Research

 How does your product use or challenge conventions and how does it represent social groups or issues?

The main genre present within They Lay in a Pool of Blood That is Not Their Own! is coming of age, while there are some conventions relating to the drama and psychological drama world as well.

Coming-of-age films are universally known for revolving around a teenage protagonist and cherishing the beauty of growing up, including the hardships that come with it, as they eventually lead to the main character being a more mature, wholistic person. 

We are essentially on the road to following this aspect, then popping a complete U-ey (making a U-turn), as we essentially leave the opposite message. At the end of the film, Belle is lost. She has developed a fueling resentment towards Christianity and anything associated with it, her father, and anyone she has ever known. She feels lost and betrayed as she feels her dad forced her into a life of being bullied and oppressed by her peers, and she associates all of her anger back to the religion she now feels she was forced into. As a result of maturing, Belle's life has worsened, and her reality has been destroyed to the point where she can't be a functioning member of society and decides to burn down the village her father moved them to.

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Some conventions we have followed, however, are within the psychological drama world, as some key conventions are the occurrence of a traumatic event early into the film, setting the tone for what's to come, and themes of isolation and descent into madness. Christopher burning the picture of his wife is deeply traumatic towards Belle, as it serves as a turning point where she truly realizes how alone she is in trying to remain attached to her deceased mom, reflecting themes of isolation.

Additionally, a further convention of dramas at large is the crucial role of the soundtrack. In our opening, Diffie Bosman's "Sleepless" will be heard throughout, and will be crucial in furthering our solemn, bleak tone.

Our film tackles the social issue of Christianity, as well as the ethical issues it brings about. The Christian "getaway" is a representation of the dedication select groups have towards the religion that is prioritized above all else.

The Christian community is represented in a variety of ways in our film, as to Belle, it is eventually resented, as we have discussed. In this way, the film may even be understood as a means of othering Christians as immoral and detached from ethical standards.

However, to Christopher, it is the only way he saw possible of escaping the darkness he was trapped in after losing his beloved wife. Christianity was quite literally his escape. Without it, it is impossible to know where he would have ended up. In this way, Christianity is cherished as a means of escaping the horrors of everyday life, and to Christians, it brings them closer to their God as well. Clearly, Christianity is represented in a dualistic way that is heavily open to the interpretation of our audience.

PLEASE understand that in no way, shape, or form is this film an attack on Christianity. AT ALL. In fact, neither me nor JD consider ourselves to be religious to any extent. It is simply an extrapolation of observations we have made and ideas of ours. An assessment and exploration of the lengths those who follow God will go to stay as close to him as they perceive to be possible, even if it means abandoning the memories of those they love.