Theory- Meaning

Kelly Rodgers

Snake

• DenotationA Reptile creature with Scaly skin and no legs that grow up to long lengths and wriggle.

• ConnotationCan’t be trusted because of it’s slyness and sneaking around. It is known as an unfriendly creature which is always associated with the dark side.

Flag

• DenotationA flag is a piece of cloth with represents a certain place or thing. They tend to be put at the top of a pole to assure that people can see it from a distance.

• ConnotationIt’s known as a way of showing territory and possession or can be a way of warning others. It usually blows in the wind and is always put higher up so it can be seen.

Gun

• DenotationA gun is a weapon in which a bullet is fired from the end and has the capability to kill someone. It is controlled by a trigger which the person holding it can pull.

• ConnotationIt was designed to kill or injure other people. They are used in dangerous situations or in wars. They are also seen in some action or adventure movies.

The movie poster I am going to analyse is Pirates Of The Caribbean, a Disney movie featuring Johnny Depp. Since the movie is featuring a popular celebrity/actor it could show that the movie is going to be popular and fantastic film. The use of colour in this movie poster is dull and misty. The colours used on the background are dark which could signify that the film features some scary scenes. The props used in the poster give away a bigger clue as to what the movie is about. For example there is a ship in the background which could show that the movie is an adventure movie and is set out at sea. The guns that are on the characters costume may show that there is some action in the movie and the gun is involved. The background also shows some mermaids sat on a rock which could mean the movie is also a fantasy film and includes mermaids.

The fact that the poster only has one character on the front could mean that this character is the main character and plays a big part in the movie. The costume that this character is wearing is fairly raggy and uncared-for, this could show the time period that the film is supposed to be set in. The poster also gives us the impression that the film includes an island, this could also add to the genre of adventure and action. The lighting used in the poster is quite dark which shows that the film may have some scary scenes or negative themes.

The title of this movie is ‘The Fault In Our Stars’ and it is based on a number one best selling novel by John Green. The poster includes the two main characters. The way they are laid on the grass together shows that they could possibly be in love. Both characters are in their teenage years which could mean the film is aimed at a younger audience because they will be able to relate to the characters. They are both smiling so we know that this film is going to be uplifting and happy. The clothing that the characters are wearing are normal everyday clothes, this could mean that the film is set in a modern day time period. The girl in the poster is wearing a tube from her nose around her ears and down her chest, this could give us the idea that she is unwell and living with an illness. Could this mean that the film is an romance and drama film. The font used for the title of the film is made to look like had been written with chalk and has a white and blue colour theme. The title of the film ‘The Fault In Our Stars’ doesn’t give away much of a clue as to what the film is going to be about. Could ‘The Fault’ be the girls illness and could ‘Our Stars’ be their relationship?

The lighting used in the poster is bright and colourful, this could give us the impression that the film is going to be positive and happy. The poster has focused on the faces of the actors and actresses so we can see their emotions and facial expression more clearly.

This movie poster is for the film ‘Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone’. The poster also includes a slogan for the film which is ‘Journey Beyond Your Imagination’ which could mean that the film involves an adventure of fantasy and unexpected features. The props in the poster could show that the film I based on magic and this that are out of the ordinary. For example there is a dark castle in the background and a snowy owl. There is also a train in the bottom corner of the poster which could be a magical train or have an important part in the film. The characters in the poster are very different from each other but seem to be real people rather than cartoon or fantasy characters. The costumes they are wearing and the personalities they bring across show that they could be wizards. They are wearing things like wizard hats and cloaks. The background also include blue cloudy sky’s and dark colours. This adds the affect of mystery and curiosity.

The font used for the title looks like it is glowing which makes it stand out from the colours that are behind. The younger characters on the poster are wearing what looks like a school uniform, could this school be unordinary? The young boy in the centre of the poster is bigger than the rest of the characters, could he be the main character, Harry Potter. The overall poster is quite dark and misty and is likely to fill the viewers with loads of curiosity.

Soundtrack

• Clip 1The first audio clip sounds as if something bad is about to happen because it builds tension. It makes it sound like the people in the picture aren’t going to be happy after what’s about to happen. The music is quite loud and low pitched which adds a dramatic feel to it and could mean that there is something wrong with the computer that the two people are using.

• Clip 2The second audio clip is more upbeat and happier. It could be showing a romantic connection between the two people in the picture. It also makes it sound like there is something good about to happen. This clip fits better with the picture because the picture looks positive as well as the audio clip being positive.

Shining• The background music that has been chosen for the trailer is more up-beat and happy. This makes the

viewers believe that the film is also going to be up-beat and happy therefore it makes it sound as if it is a romantic comedy.

• The trailer is edited so that it has a large collection of scene’s from the movie and it flicks through each scene fast which will make the movie seem like a comedy. If the trailer showed less scene for longer it would build up tension like a horror movie does.

• Each scene chosen to be put into the trailer are the funny scenes and the ones that would stand out the most in the movie, this shows that the movie is a comedy.

• The voice over for the trailer also shows that the movie is a romantic comedy because the voice chosen is a normal and jolly voice which brings a happy feel to the trailer. If the voice chosen talked slower and had a deeper voice it would give the viewers more of a scarier approach

• The characters also seen in the trailer are happy and always smiling, two of the characters are female and male which could show that it’s a romance because of the way they treat each other in the trailer.

Scary Mary• This trailer doesn’t have a voice over at all, it makes it look like a horror movie by using scary sound effects

and music. • In the trailer there is title telling the person a brief overview of what the film is about but the text used

builds up the tension by using things like ‘…’. • The colours edited for the backgrounds behind the text are black this gives a negative feel to the film and

makes it come across as a horror movie. • The music used in the trailer is low pitched and slow, this builds up the tension through out the trailer and

makes it sound as if there is something bad about to happen.• The trailer shows less scenes from the movie which also adds to the tension created in the trailer and it

also makes to viewer curious as to what is going to happen in the movie.

Stereotypes

MenPositive:• Men are known to know more about mechanical

and engineering things. • More men are know to play more sports and

video games than woman do.Negative:• Men are not as tidy as woman.• Men aren’t as good as cooking and baking than

woman.• Men are supposed to go out and earn the money

for the family while the wife stays at home with the children.

• Men are told to be better at jobs which include more talking or hands on work.

WomenPositive: • Woman are better at cooking and cleaning than

men.• Woman are told to be more academic than men

are. • Woman do the cleaner jobs such as teaching,

cleaning, cooking etc. etc. Negative:• Woman are more likely to get stressed than men.• Woman are know to have to stay at home with

the children rather than going out to earn money. • Some woman are known to be less important

than the men are.

Stereotypes

Upper ClassPositive:• Upper class people are known to have better jobs

and a better lifestyle than the lower class.• Upper class are supposed to be able to afford the

best of everything. • Upper class people are supposed to have more of

a political view.Negative:• Upper class are known to be more sophisticated

and professional than the lower class. • People expect more from the people in upper

class because of the wealth. • People in the upper class are said to be posh and

snobby.

Working ClassPositive:• The people in working class are supposed to be

more grateful and nicer• people in this class have to more traditional jobs

such as cleaning, mining, building etc. etc. Negative:• Working class people are known to have a less

amount of money than the people in the upper class.

• The sometimes have to work for other people and earn less money

• Their jobs are dirtier and harder work to do • The children in this class also go to normal

schools.

Stereotypes

Old PeoplePositive: • Older people are supposed to be more

knowledgeable and experienced than younger people.

• Older people have more story's to tell and no more about the past and experiences.

Negative: • Old people are known to be grumpier and boring.• Older people are not as healthy and don’t go out

as much as older people. • Older people can be more clumsy, forgetful or

vulnerable. • Older people do less active things than younger

people, they aren’t as capable.

Young PeoplePositive:• Younger people are known to be healthier and

more up-beat than older people• They are better with modern day technology.• Their better at sports and video games than the

older people. Negative: • Younger people are known to be less experienced

and knowledgeable than older people. • Younger people come across as easier to amuse

and are more annoying. • Younger people also have a more immature sense

of humour than older people. • Younger people are associated with youths and

chavs.

Iconography- Western• We expect Western movies to be set in an area where there is drought, sand or deserts.• They include characters like cowboys and American’s.• It include weapons like guns or whips and most of the characters ride on horses or trains. • Most Western movies are set in the time period of 1860-1910.• The characters would wear old cloths that are covered in sand and dust.• There is mostly some action involved in this genre of movie.• Most western movies are set in western parts of America and include the outdoors and nature. • The most common story lines for western movies are things such as revenge, gun men, territory and

wealth. • There is always a traditional western hero that saves the day in these types of movies. • The characters would have things like brown leather boots, hats, rope, horses, a flask of watert and a gun.

Iconography- Sci-Fi• Sci-Fi films are films in which it would include fantasy characters that don’t exist in real life. Most of the

characters are based around the idea of Aliens.• The weapons used in Sci-Fi movies are also made up and would have a special talent which would make

them stand out.• The story lines for most Sci-Fi movies usually are about Alien attacks and trying to survive.• Some Sci-Fi films are set in places such as deserted areas, space of even in fantasy space ships. • Most common things included in this genre of films are things like time travel, life on other planets and

futuristic science. • Most Sci-Fi films made are set in the time period it is being made, so present time or the future. Sci-Fi

movies leave and open space for huge imaginations. • Each Sci-Fi movie is different but Sci-Fi is a genre in which it can be easily mixed with other genres as well.

For example to film ‘Paul’ comes under the genre’s comedy and Sci-Fi.

Iconography- Fantasy• Fantasy films include characters or things that are out of the ordinary and aren’t real. • They usually include a villain and a hero and have a story line that involves an adventure.• The most common story line for this genre of movie is that there is someone who needs help and the hero

has to face a difficult task or set of on a long journey. The hero will have to do this because of something the villain has done. The hero is usually younger than the villain and the person in trouble is the same age as the hero.

• In most Fantasy films there is some comedy and romance as well and the hero never looses. • Some fantasy films also come under the category of animation and cartoon, this makes them aimed at a

younger generation of viewers.• Some fantasy films are also for family's, Disney films are commonly known as fantasy films. • The sounds and music used in movie that are in the fantasy genre are up-beat and happy and all fantasy

films have a happy ending and make the viewers choose sides with the hero to keep the interested.

Narrative

• Narrative DefinitionA narrative is a story in which someone would tell. It is usually only includes the important details of the story being told.

• Linear Narrative DefinitionLinear narratives are story's which are told in the order from beginning to end and shows you what happens fro, step to step.

• Linear Narrative Film ExampleCinderella, beauty and the beast, frozen, Rapunzel

• Non-Linear Narrative DefinitionNon-Linear narrative story’s are the ones which include flashbacks or tells you the story from back to front.

• Non-Linear Narrative Film ExampleGone Girl, American Gun, The Grudge, Speed Racer

Clip AnalysisThe characters in the clip are different, for example there is I girl who takes control of the situation and saves he mans life and there is another girl who isn’t very nice. The girl who takes control makes he other male look weaker and less important. The men in the clip are dressed in cloths that are raggy and dirty and the girls have cleaner and better outfit which defeats the object of the men being higher up. The lighting in the clip is quite light because there are outside in midday. The clip has been set in an area in the woods where there is a rope ladder and zip wire, these props are used in the clip as an escape route.

In the clip there is camera angles such as close ups and long shots which shows clearly what each of the different characters are doing. Because of the setting and the time of day the clip was filmed the colour and lighting is really bright and stands out. In the clip there is a saber tooth tiger which has been editing in using effects, the quality of the effects show that it has been done well. From the way the different characters are talking to each other you can tell that the dialogue is supposed to be made so it sounds as if they are stressed and are in a situation they are struggling to get out of. It does sound like the characters are on the same team to try a survive from the problems around them.