ENE 13.05I
Vol. 1 Issue 1 December 2021
GRP 4
I AM LEGEND An ENE 13.05i Major Task 2: Collaborative Project Analysing Text and Language • Uncovering the Text's Ideologies Commenting on Problematic Areas in the Ideology • Reworking the Chosen Narrative
I AM LEGEND
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
I AM LEGEND 01
Analysis of Text & Ideology Identifying the ideologies Compelling narratives in relation to Science Tobia's Masterplot
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Problematic Areas in the Ideology Problematic Ideologies Real World Connections Masterplots & Grand Narratives
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Reworking the Narrative Original Narrative Proposed Revisions to the Text
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I AM LEGEND
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GOD DIDN'T DO THIS. WE DID! ROBERT NEVILLE
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I AM LEGEND
PART 1: ANALYSIS OF TEXT & IDEOLOGY
Identifying Ideologies What seems to be the ideology that the text expresses?
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The Ideology presented in the text depicts an image of Science as being both good and bad in general. At the beginning of the movie, it showcased an example of how Science can positively affect humans by projecting a scene where a doctor (Dr. Alic Kripplin) was featured for having found the cure for cancer. She explained that she could cultivate a good virus that makes it work for the body rather than against it, and it was relatable given the fact that cancer was most talked about when the movie was released. However, a deadly epidemic has spread as screened in the latter parts of the movie because of the same substance used in the clinical trials and has affected the whole area. The cruelty of the infected persons (called "dark seekers") in the movie exhausted the extent to which Science's adverse effects might bring to people. In showing this, they screened the insanity of the "zombies" and images of broken and disorganized buildings that resemble chaos. Another and most important one is the relevance of vaccines, as this is the movie's main point because it saved humanity—this showed another positivity of what Science can bring. Because of vaccines, a lot of lives were saved from deadly epidemics and slowly serve as a remedy for the ongoing crisis today (COVID19). ENE 13.05I GROUP 4 | 01
I AM LEGEND
PART 1: ANALYSIS OF TEXT & IDEOLOGY
SUPPORT IN THE VIEW OF SCIENCE D
GRAND NARRATIVE OF SCIENCE TO THE MOVIE
A
espite being the lone survivor
experiments in hopes of procuring a vaccine to the
seeks ways to help other potential
virus that turned humans into mutated zombie-like
survivors, like broadcasting radio
pursuing
a
and
creatures. He was shown to have conducted multiple
constantly
vaccine
midst a desolate New York City, US Army
Virologist, Dr Robert Neville, continues to run
in New York City, Dr. Neville
transmissions
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laboratory tests, collected data, and created videos
through
of his analysis and conclusions; all of which he uses
numerous trials. The laboratory’s
to further his studies. With this, it can be said that
design and complete equipment
the film agrees with the grand narrative of science.
may indicate that he was not one to cut corners in creating the vaccine
and
relied
on
making
sound decisions through scientific deductions.
Furthermore,
Dr.
Neville is already immune to the virus; hence, a vaccine may not be necessary for his survival. Thus, it can
be
inferred
that
his
willingness to reach out to other survivors and fervor to create a vaccine would not only be for his own benefit, but it begs in mind other survivors as well. In the end, he was not even able to witness the fruit of his hardwork as he sacrificed his own life so that Anna may escape safely with the
OTHER COMPELLING NARRATIVES PRESENTED IN THE MOVIE IN RELATION WITH THE GRAND NARRATIVE OF SCIENCE
A
nother compelling narrative presented in the film would be Dr. Neville’s
vaccine. Such a narrative can be
emotional bond with Sam. He was initially presented as an individual who
seen as a means for moral and
was able to somewhat cope despite the lack of human interaction, especially
social progress for humankind.
since his dog was there to accompany him. However, once Sam died, Dr. Neville became heavily disoriented and even had a breakdown in the music store as it had finally sunk in that he was then truly alone. Even so, when Sam was also bitten and infected, he prioritized rational thinking over emotional attachment. He chose to kill Sam for his survival (and possibly the continuity of his vaccine trials) even if her loss would result in his loneliness. This story arc would complement the grand narrative of science which relied on rational thinking and social progress.
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I AM LEGEND
PART 1: ANALYSIS OF TEXT & IDEOLOGY
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Tobias’ masterplots in the compelling narratives The narratives listed above are able to fit the mold and resonate with three of Tobias’ masterplots. These plots are namely those of descension, quest and sacrifice. The plot of descension can be seen through how Dr. Neville reacts after his dog gets infected by the virus. After remaining focused and acting rationally for the majority of the film, he gives in to his emotions of grief and rage and decides to actively draw and attack infected humans. This shows how he succumbed to his baser desires for revenge and an outlet for his grief in spite of the danger that would put him and his mission of finding a cure in. Jumping off of that, the main task that we see Dr. Nevile doing is conducting research on a possible cure to the virus that has ravaged humanity by turning them into zombies. This is in line with the sort of masterplot that a quest describes as we see the protagonist searching for and trying to find something as his main goal in the narrative. Finally, the masterplot of sacrifice can also be seen towards the film’s climax due to how Dr. Neville, after realizing that his cure is effective, sacrificing himself in order to kill the infected humans attacking his lab and allow Anna to escape with the vaccine. This is an example of how the protagonist ends his journey with a grand sacrifice in order to ensure the fulfillment of the overall goal of the group
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PART 2: PROBLEMATIC AREAS IN IDEOLOGY
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PROBLEMATIC
IDEOLOGIES Are there any problematic areas in the ideology presented in I Am Legend, that is, does it include and exclude groups of people? Or is it complicit in unfair or unequal ways of thinking? Is it excluding ways of thinking of the issue that might be better?
The ideology presented in the film would be science as a double-edged sword; with the ability to produce either beneficial or harmful byproducts. It could be argued that groups of people who do not believe in artificially or manmade cures are excluded from supporting this initial premise of science being both the solution and answer to the problems. This is due to science being the root of the problem in the film, which may help fuel their distrust in the discipline's ability to create something that can act as a solution. Artificial creations and cures may be seen as inferior or more harmful as opposed to letting nature resume its course and prevail over artificial creation. Paratextually, anti-vaccine sentiments have arisen upon the initial rollout of the Covid-19 vaccines, with some citing I Am Legend’s plot as their basis. Anti-vaxxers raised ludicrous ideas such as the possibility of Covid jabs turning humans into zombies (similar to the movie), thus discouraging others from taking the vaccine. The film’s screenwriters have clarified that their work is fictional and asserted that it was the virus that turned humans into zombies and not the vaccine. However, since more screen time featured the adverse effects of the re-engineered virus, it frames artificial cures, and by extension, science, as an entity that does more harm than it does good.
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PART 2: PROBLEMATIC AREAS IN THE IDEOLOGY
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Real World Connections What real-world problems does I Am Legends narratives point to or comment on? How is Science shown to contribute to and/or solve the problem? I Am Legend's various narratives showed the relevance of Vaccines in this time of the pandemic. In connection with the main character, his actions and motives reflect what vaccine formulators do to prevent the widespread epidemic, just like COVID-19 today. It also addresses the issue of vaccine hesitancy by showing how the world would end up if there weren't any vaccines to prevent the spread of the viruses—and there Dr. Neville, being the only immune human left alone in a city, while others were turned into zombies. In this way, Science sides with the positive, making all these possible, saving lives.
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PART 2: PROBLEMATIC AREAS IN THE IDEOLOGY
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I AM LEGEND: MASTERPLOTS & GRAND NARRATIVES How effective are these masterplots in either supporting or countering the grand narrative of science?
The grand narrative of Science is to prove that the effects of its works are helpful to the well-being of humanity. As mentioned above, the plots resonate with three of Tobias' master plots. Recalling the descension plot, where Dr. Neville fit a rage after his dog got infected, it showed how life would be without the help of Science. Just like in the old times, people have suffered losses of their loved ones out of deaths brought by Poliovirus. On the other hand, these people will not have to suffer the same consequence if raised in this generation where there is a vaccine to prevent that. The second one is the quest to secure a vaccine to prevent the adverse effect of the virus. Science is not just a one-shot procedure in accumulating an object or a phenomenon to improve human life. In fact, Scientists and Physicians do their best to provide something that could help provide for the community's well-being. Going back to Dr. Neville's hard work and perseverance, he has set an example of those Scientists who work hard for the betterment of humanity. In relation to that, it is common that these Scientists and Science-related workers would sacrifice a piece of them to contribute to Science (for example, doctors sacrificing their family time for overtime duties). In this case, Science is not there to supplement passion for the self, but it is an actual contribution to the development of human life; for Dr. Neville, it is to save humanity through vaccines. In this way, Science never failed to show the importance of vaccines. Hence, the vitality of Science in anything related to health.
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PART 3:RE-WORKING OF THE NARRATIVE
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RE-WORKING OF THE NARRATIVE
Original Main Narrative
The main narrative of I am Legend has Dr. Robert Neville, a former United States Army Virologist, as the seemingly last man alive who is immune to the virus. This saw his main objective be to try and find a cure for the virus that has ravaged the world. This narrative while showing that science can be used to fix a problem also portrays the potential dangers of the use of science to innovate with a potential cure that was made for cancer being the cause of the virus that the movie revolved around.
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I AM LEGEND
PART 3:RE-WORKING OF THE NARRATIVE
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RE-WORKING OF THE NARRATIVE
Proposed Revisions to the Text
Looking at the present narrative of I am Legend, what can be done to make it more equitable and positive for all audiences would be to build people's trust in science and specifically man-made medicine in order to have people who might be against the use of man-made medicine or skeptical of science also be appealed to. Possible revisions to the movie's plot could show and emphasize the responsible use of science such as proper precautions when adapting this new cure that Dr. Neville was conducting experiments for. The anomaly that caused the virus to spread due to an alleged cure to cancer could also be stated to be an extreme outlier as any man-made medicine would first have to go through proper screening for assurance of its safe use on humans before being administered. These are to ensure that the movie will help cater to even those who might have reservations about vaccines or medicine made through science. ENE 13.05I GROUP 4 | 08
I AM LEGEND Major Task 2: Collaborative Project
Joannah Adao Patrick Capili Gail Ocampo ENE 13.05i - 2021