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Necrology

Name: Necrology
Director: Standish Lawder
Released: 1970
Duration: 12 min

Representation Score

5.9/10

Fair

1970

Director

Standish Lawder

Runtime

12 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

Necrology focuses on the semiotics of a crowd rather than individual character arcs. Its minimalist approach strips away personal ability to act, highlighting the mechanical nature of modern existence. The film's strength lies in its critique of Western industrial capitalism and the dehumanizing effects of urban life. It also disrupts traditional gender hierarchies by removing individual ability to act and heroic clichés. However, the focus on a homogenous, tired mass prevents the exploration of diverse lived experiences, including LGBTQ+ identities or disability.

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Category Breakdown

Does Necrology have LGBTQ+ representation?

Limited

The film does not depict sexual orientation or gender identity explicitly. The observational style keeps individual identities anonymous, focusing instead on the crowd as a whole.

How does Necrology portray gender?

Fair

The film presents commuters as a single, mechanical entity, avoiding traditional gender hierarchies and heroic roles. However, it lacks detailed characterization to actively challenge specific gender roles.

How racially and ethnically diverse is Necrology?

Fair

The 1970s New York setting implies a likely multi-ethnic urban population. However, there is no indication of intentional characters who reflect more than one aspect of diversity or specific progressive casting choices.

How does Necrology represent religion and culture?

Good

The film sharply critiques Western industrial capitalism, framing the urban rush as dehumanizing. It challenges the perceived vitality of modern professional life.

Does Necrology include disability representation?

Limited

There is no exploration of neurodivergence or physical disabilities. Subjects are shown as a homogenous, tired mass, reducing individual experiences to a functional state.

Present on Screen

Provides a powerful critique of Western industrial capitalism and systemic alienation.
Challenges traditional gender hierarchies by removing individual ability to act and heroic roles.
Highlights the dehumanizing effects of urban life through a minimalist approach.

Limited or Absent

Does not explore LGBTQ+ identities or queer narratives.
Does not give ability to act or visibility to neurodivergent or physically disabled individuals.
Reduces diverse human experiences to a singular, mechanical, and homogenous mass.

Official Synopsis

The faces of a 5:00 PM crowd descending via the Pan Am building escalators in one continuous shot. In old-fashioned black and white, these faces stare into the empty space, in the 5:00 PM tiredness and mechanical impersonality, like faces from the grave.

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