As a sequel, how does Jurassic World use repetition? Discuss Jurassic World in light of the concept of imitation (copying, past hits or sequels)...

The argument can be made that Jurassic World plays almost entirely as a remake (as opposed to a sequel). Closely mimicking the plot of Jurassic Park (1993), Jurassic World (2015) also utilizes very similar character types and establishes nearly identify relationships between characters as depicted in the original.

An identical problematic/narrative ethos animates both films. 

"The message is that the proper role of the scientist is not to dominate and manipulate nature but to learn how people can better fit into the ecosystem."

Beyond this, there are so many repetitions and hold-overs that Jurassic World can best be seen as a remake instead of as a sequel, reinventing the characters, conflicts, surprise heroes and even some of the disappointing casting elements of the original film. 

Similarities:

• The overseer of the park is related to the children who are imperiled in the park.


• Raptors are a focal element of the film, discussed while off screen and shown on screen substantially.


• The business of science is shown to be fraught with ethical problems.


• The male protagonist is a shining example of practical dinosaur know-how, ethical behavior and compassionate wisdom.


• The female protagonist is a capable professional but still needs to be rescued.


• All the main characters are white and, of the principal cast, only the Caucasian characters survive.


• The problem “fixes itself.” The most deadly dinosaur eliminates the dinosaur that threatens the protagonists. With help from an aquatic dinosaur, raptors save the day and there is a T-Rex chase (where in the original the chase depicted a T-Rex running at many miles an hour behind a speeding jeep, Jurassic World depicts a chase featuring a woman in high heels who incredibly manages to outrun the same dinosaur).

The most obvious hold-over from the first film, however, is the music. This film uses a very memorable score. This particular element is not “repetition” as the above elements are. The music is a standard aspect of the franchise, helping to situate the audience in the particular atmosphere of the first film and its proper sequels.

The use of a recognizable score is a standard method of establishing continuity of atmosphere from one film to another, evoking remembered feelings. The repetition of narrative and character elements in the film would seem to be governed by a slightly different strategy.

Released twenty-two years after the original, the filmmakers may have wanted to establish a “new original” to “re-boot” the Jurassic Park franchise, employing the identical story elements in a not-so-subtle homage to the original-original and similarly creating a set of characters that might return for another set of sequels.

In fact a sequel to Jurassic World is in the works and may even be called Jurassic World 2, further suggesting that the 2015 movie was more of a re-boot than it was a sequel and so intended to revive the franchise by actually remaking the original.

Generally speaking, the use of repeated devices can be seen as a way to (1) orient an audience in a fictional world, (2) deepen an audience relationship and investment in a film franchise by increasing familiarity and (3) “brand” a film series.

Turning film franchises into branded products is not new. George Lucas created an empire (excuse the pun) out of Star Wars in the 1970s, with marketing partnerships across the corporate landscape, with action figures and dolls, and with costumes, etc. The success of branded film franchises has been an increasing reliance on serial films. 

This trend has been reported and commented on widely. The not-surprising yet still kind of stunning decisions to turn The Hobbit into a trilogy and to split the final episodes of The Hunger Games and Harry Potter into two films demonstrates the depth of this serializing strategy. 

The budget for "tent pole" films like these leans heavily toward marketing. In this area, we can see a simple strategy at work. The marketing that goes into the first film in a series is capitalized on when the second film is released. There is a compounding effect as the films become more and more recognizable as products.

Perpetuating certain elements within the films themselves seems to be a natural echo of this commercial strategy of steadily increasing market saturation.