Pan’s Labyrinth Analysis Task (Zair Ahmed)

Resource Description

How does the use of multiple genres challenge our assumptions of our world? Pan’s Labyrinth is a genre hybrid which allows for different readings (differential coding) according to the emphasis placed by the audience. Discuss. INTRO: The synthesis of several genres within Guillermo Del Toro’s 2006 film Pan’s Labyrinth enables a subversive exploration of universal ideas and the challenging of preconceptions. Del Toro highlights the frail and deteriorating nature of innocence, especially within children, through the postmodern pastiche of his film in amalgamating the genres of traditional fairy tales and historical war fiction. He exposes the violent, corrupting nature of war and power through his employment of several genres with varying tones, perpetuating his critique of war and senseless violence.