Jaws Analysis

For my final project, I choose to watch Jaws directed by Steven Spielberg, 1975. Jaws is set on Amity Island known as a popular summer tourist destination. As the town prepares for its annual Fourth of July parade, a shark lurks in the waters threating the town’s main source of summer income. After multiple shark attacks, three men take it upon themselves to catch the great white shark that has plans on ruining the summer.
At the opening shot we find a group of kids siting on the beach with a bomb fire going. As a girl and guy break away from the group they begin to run down the beach and find a spot that they can take a swim along. She ventures into the water and after a few shots we see her body jolt. Spielberg provides our first suspenseful
As the town’s people are complaining about this decision, Mr. Quint is introduced into the dynamics of the film. Quint is a rough around the edges, not hold barred, and say it like it is fisherman. Quint’s solution to the problem is to hunt down the shark. His fee would be ten thousand dollars. After some conversation with the townspeople, the Mayor decides that fee is too high and offers a smaller reward for anyone who catches the shark. Alex’s death and the newly announced rewards serves as the rising action element of the narrative.
As we see the droves of fisherman descending upon the docks to catch the most wanted shark, we meet Hooper from the Oceanographic Institute. He has come due to Chief Brody’s request to examine the first victim. During his examination of what is left of the first victim, Hooper says it is clearly a shark attack. Hooper and Chief Brody leave the examine area and see a group of fisherman on the dock with what they say is the
All of a sudden the man’s boat is tipped over, as well as Michaels, and the shark comes up slowly and grabs him and pulls him under. There is a close-up shot of Michaels face with the expression of fear and shock. The sound of the man’s screaming is heard and then we see Jaws head coming out of the water to grab the man and his leg fall to the bottom of the pond. Already an hour into the two hour film; this is the first time that the director has given us a view of what Jaws looks like. Such suspense has been placed on what this creature looks like and Spielberg delivers it in this shocking scene by not using the non-diegetic sound that we have so far associated with the shark attacks.
As Michael floats in the water, the next shot is perceived to be from the shark’s point of view as it moves toward Michael and then veers away. Michael is retrieved from the water and Chief Brody stares out into the blue sea. Chief Brody and his family are now at the hospital while Michael is getting check. He see that Mayor and makes him sign a voucher so they can contract Quint to get this this killer. This is the films climax. The shark has personally affected Chief Brody and now he is on a mission to hunt it down once and for