AS G321 Media Studies Coursework Task 1
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AS MEDIA RESEARCH LESSON 3 – THRILLER POSTERS
Transcript of AS G321 Media Studies Coursework Task 1
AS MEDIA RESEARCHLESSON 3 – THRILLER POSTERS
THE FUNCTION OF A FILM POSTER• ADVERTISES A PRODUCT• ESTABLISHES GENRE, NARRATIVE, REPRESENTATION• ENTERTAINS AN AUDIENCE• GETS THEM TALKING THROUGH MARKETING FEATURES (E.G.
QR CODES, WEB ADDRESSES)• PROMOTES THE BRAND IDENTITY OF THE PRODUCER• PROMOTES THE STARS OR FILM-MAKERS
More on the Enigma Code
AN ENIGMA CODE WORKS TO KEEP SETTING UP LITTLE PUZZLES TO BE SOLVED (AND NOT ONLY AT THE BEGINNING OF A STORY), TO DELAY THE STORY’S ENDING PLEASURABLY: E.G. ON THE POSTER FOR SHUTTER ISLAND, WHY IS LEONARDO DICAPRIO SHROUDED IN SHADOW? WHAT’S HIDING?
ENIGMA CODES CAN BE DESCRIBED AS MINOR OR MAJOR.
FILM POSTERS OPERATE ON THIS BASIS AS THEY CONVEY THE BASIC INFORMATION, BUT LEAVE THE AUDIENCE GUESSING.
Apply his ideas to the example textWhat elements of the Shutter Island poster act as
enigma codes (or clues) that leave the audience with questions or puzzles to solve? Draw and fill in the table below:What are visual elements? What questions about the film do
they leave the audience asking?
COMPOSITION AND NARRATIVEThe following our the basic composition techniques used in both photography and cinematography. You might have learned these at GCSE, or for the as photography course.The point of going over them is to consider how the technique can have an impact on the audience’s grasp of the narrative.
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Read through
the sheets!
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Read through
the sheets!
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Read through
the sheets!
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Read through
the sheets!
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Read through
the sheets!
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How does the use of
thirds affect our
ideas about the
narrative?How does it
affect our view of the
character’s situation/feelin
gs? What other composition techniques have been
used?
BONUS – how does the
composition reveal the
genre?
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Just to test 3rds is a convention of thriller posters!
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Just to test 3rds is a convention of thriller posters!
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Just to test 3rds is a convention of thriller posters!
OTHER SEMANTIC ELEMENTSSo far, we have looked at how syntactic elements are embedded in a media text, but we also need to think about the semantic:Shot type/camera angle (see sheet)Dominant coloursMise-en-sceneLighting designIn groups, take an element each and explore the ideas in the poster. Try to link semantic codes to:MeaningNarrativeGenre codes and conventions
More ideas Star name in top third attracts audience who are familiar with the star. Sans-serif, wide-spaced letters and white colours connote purity and innocence
Title and marketing features in bottom third as title enigmatic and less likely to draw audience. Emboldening the word ‘BOX’ emphasises the importance of this object in the narrative.
Red slash in centre vertical third both connotes blood and is a leading line to the box itself and the man holding it. This suggests the narrative focuses on the titular box and the fact it is delivered by a possible antagonist. The character’s clothing and shadowed face connotes he is a negative figure and creates enigma. These semantic elements create iconography by which the genre can be identified (Buscombe)
A single central image of the character is conventional of mystery thrillers. The character looks off to the side, connoting mystery and fear, or that she is guilty of something, conventional syntactic elements of thrilllers.
The lack of colour and heavy shadowing connote negativity and fear.
The character’s ordinary hair and clothing suggest she is an ‘everyman’ character, again conventional of thrillers.
Applying Neale’s genre model, the poster is using repetition of conventions without much difference apart from the fact the protagonist is female.
HOMEWORK – DUE ON BLOGS SEPTEMBERStart your three thriller poster analysis pieces, on films that emerged from your research into the genre.Refer to enigma and at least one genre theory. Focus on exploring the narrative of the poster and identifying genre conventions, alongside a discussion of basic meaning. You will need to discuss the marketing/organisational aspects of the poster (see guide sheet), as well as the image.Keep things clear and simple, aiming for 300-400 words (60-90 minutes work) on each one.First due on blogs this Friday, 30th September. Second and third by Monday 10th October
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