In todays lesson we have explored the way in which people, events and ideas are presented (representation). Representation is divided up into 7 categories, Disabilities, Regional, Class, Age, Gender, Ethnicity and sexuality.
Todays task involves uploading a film opening/ poster in which clearly represents one of the 7 categories of representation. With this we are going to analyse the opening/poster using What, Who, Where and why.
Malibu's most wanted film opening is a clear representation of class, ethnicity and regional. The use of the actors in this are clearly reflecting a contrast to the stereotypical life and background of rich white Americans and the stereotypical image of gangs in the back streets of America. This film opening is representing the rough life of America and gangs in a soft light by representing little violence. The quick change from shoot outs to littering is representing the variation in crimes, with this the images of gang violence and the holiday like Malibu is representing how the typical high life mage of Malibu is not to be overlooked, with pockets of gangs creating problems in the city. Therefore this stereotypical image of Malibu is a regional and class stereotype.
examples of film logos are the 20th century fox, Pixar and universal, a large budget film will usually cost around £150 million, where as a low budget film can cost no more that £50 million.
1) the main film going audience are mainly mainstream film industries like the 'big 6' (Sony, universal).
2) cinemas are a multiplex business that distributes mainstream films, however cinemas make most of there income through the food and refreshments sector.
3) a distributor is a company that ensures a mainstream film is equally shown across areas of countries.
During this task we were asked to choose a film poster of our choice and analyse
the poster adding connotations and denotations to the image.
Connotations:
This film poster of 'Fast and Furious' is clearly showing us a variety of clues towards the type of
genres we can see in this film. The poster is showing a foreground focus onto a shotgun and military soldier,
this signifies violence and power. Also there is a clear view of multicultural people with the
caption 'all roads lead to this' showing how all the characters are like family. Also the font used for the title of the poster is showing a metallic appearance with a clear focus, this suggests that the film will contain physical factors that have a strong representation a feature in the film
Denotations:
From this film poster from 'fast and furious' we can see multiple different people standing in powerful stances together. As well as this we can clearly see each individual character is in either casual, military or business clothing. This film poster is showing a foreground image of characters of a physical presence with weapons in the hand of two of them, finally this image shows in the background a large city and a caption of 'all roads lead to this', giving reference to roads leading to the city and friends. As well as this the contrast of foreground and background colour is revealing how the violence (dark) will eventually reveal a brighter outcome that brings the group together.
We was assigned a task to capture images that reveal specific genres, the following images we captured are related to our given genres of romance, high school drama and family. Also as an additional task we have been required to upload and analyse film openings using the genre analyses technique 'DISTINCT'.
This photo is showing a theme of high school drama, the use of the lockers and corridor is showing a clear relation to a school environment as well as the changing in light, focus and off going paths creating the sense unknown and therefore links to the drama genre.
This image is we captured is to show the genre of romance, the focus of the flower in the foreground is focusing the image towards the bright and vibrant flower to symbolise a romantic gesture of giving a flower.
These photos are related to our genre of family, the focus in both images are bright and vibrant colours that symbolise a child friendly environment. Also we have met the genre of family by the image of a family book.
In todays task we have been asked to analyse the camera, mise en scene and editing of the opening scene from 'boyz in the hood'. We have been asked to consider the symbols, denotation and connotation, narrative, representation and audience, the analysis will involve using the acronyms FAM, CLAMPS, MC DOVED and STOPS. Also as an extension we are going to answer, what is the clip saying about race, how? - what have these children seen that you wouldn't expect them to have seen at their age? - How does the shot go from street to classroom? - what are the pictures on the wall?, this is to further our analyse of film language.
Camera (FAM):
Frame- through out the opening scene of 'boyz in the hood' there is a continuous variation in the frame of the camera shots, this variation includes multiple different shots of either extreme close up, close up, and long shots. However these variations follow a pattern during the opening scene, this pattern is shown with extreme close ups and close up shots only being used to show key emotions on the actors faces and key violent scenes (gun shots/ stop sign). The use of this change in frame due to violence could symbolise and foreshadow how however small the violence will always be a key in these children's lives.
Angle- the regular angle used in the opening scene of 'boyz in the hood' is level/eye line. The continuing use of this camera angle is representing how the violence and day to day events that occur are a regular sighting and appear to be a way of normality in the lives of these children.
Movement- the camera movement in the opening scene is very limited, the camera movement is mainly very focused on key characters and items. However when there is camera movement it is greatly focused around panning, this focused movement can symbolise how the violence in the area is going to have a great effect on the focused character.
Todays lesson consisted of us learning about the variation of narrative theories, these theories were 'Barthes', 'Aristotle', 'Todorov' and 'Props' theory. Using these theories we was given the task of analysing 'the prestige' opening scene and suggesting how certain characters/events relate to the theories.
Barthes' codes theory: Bathers theory consists of him using signs to show us something has multiple meanings, His theory of how text 'is like a galaxy of signifiers, not a structure of signified', is reflecting how text is like a ball of threads that needs to broken down to be understood. Furthermore he says that text can be open or closed, this means text can either be unravelled in many ways (open) or can only have one obvious meanings (closed).
Aristotle theory: Aristotles theory involved that every narrative has a beginnings, middle and end. This is the simplest but one of the most key theories.
Todorov theory: Todorovs theory was that every narrative has 5 stages, these were an equilibrium (state of normality), disruption of equilibrium (character or event that effects the equilibrium), the main protagonist (recognises the disturbance of equilibrium), restoration of equilibrium (protagonist attempts to restore equilibrium) and new equilibrium (equilibrium is restored but changed).
Propps theory: Propps theory suggests that all narratives have a common structure, his theory also suggests how each narrative has 8 types of characters (hero, villain, donor, dispatcher, false hero, helper, princess and her father) and 31 situations that revolve around these 8 characters.
Levi-Strauss: Levi-Strauss came up with the theory that we as people come to make sense of the world by using binary opposites (e.g. good and evil), with this his theory suggests that all narratives are organised around the conflict of those binary opposites. examples of these binary opposites are good/evil, old/young, black/white, masculine/feminine, wealthy/poor and heterosexual/homosexual.
Barthes codes theory: during the opening scene of prestige we can apply Barthes theory in many ways. Firstly the use of the 'ordinary' bird and man seems to appear normal but hold many meanings that need complete focus to unravel the hidden insights/meanings. We can also apply the Barthes codes theory with the use of the cage cover and the lightning, using Barthes theory these aspects of the acts can seem extraordinary but yet are to divert your attention from the real meaning, therefore acting as a 'open' text. Aristotle: Aristotles theory can be clearly applied to the opening of prestige with there being a clear beginning, middle and end. The theory is clearly shown in the stages of picking the bird/helper or the ordinary, before it is shown to develop to an extraordinary or distracting event that progresses into the final result of the narrative (disappearance). Todorov: Todorovs theory is the theory that most effectively relates to the opening scene of 'the prestige'. The 5 stages of his theory are represented clearly with the equilibrium being shown with the ordinary bird/man, before being disturbed by the factors of a cage, lightning and cover to remove the equilibrium, the restoration is then performed by the two men with them attempting to remove the ordinary from the disturbance (bird from the cage and man from the lightning), finally the result of the restoration is the bird reappearing and the man disappearing causing a new equilibrium that is different from the original. Propps theory: Propps theory is vaguely reflecting with the variation of characters in each act (bird, two men and girl). Propps theory if shown with the acts of magic both revolving and being created by each man, as well as this the girl and the volunteer are acting as a part of theory.
The opening of this film begins with a showing of a boat party with a backing of a fast tempo soundtrack, from this opening we can already see that the film is going to contain partying (reflection of the high life). This film is aimed to a adult audience with adult humour and comedy following throughout the film, the opening shots of the film immediately draws the attention of its audience with the backing music contrasting with the bright and expensive city, giving a viewing of the comedy and action in the film.
