- The viewers perception of a film is heavily influence by the perception of its stars, and that publicity materials and reviews determine the way that audiences experience the film.
- The terms "pop star" and "pop performer" have become interchangeable.
- The study of stars as media texts of media texts demands that the distinction be made between those who are simply known for performing pop music and those who are known for being pop stars, who have an identity or persona which is not restricted solely to their musicianship.
Showing posts with label Filipe Da Silva. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Filipe Da Silva. Show all posts
A-Level Dyer
Richard Dyers Star Theory
This theory can be split into three areas:
The star as a construction
The star as a commodity
The star as an ideology
Richard Dyer also proposed the 'paradox of the star'
The star as a construction:
- Richard dyer states that the star is a construction and not a real person.
-This star is constructed through music videos, magazines, advertising etc.
-For example, Miley Cyrus has become famous for her twerking and riding on a wrecking ball naked however she wouldn't do any of this stuff in the privacy of her own home meaning that the person Miley Cyrus and the star are two different people.
The star as a commodity:
-Stars are produced to create a profit off of related merchandise e.g. t-shirts, posters and the like.
-Record labels will created similar stars as they know certain patterns and trends will work to generate money.
-This is why we get so many boy bands who are very similar e.g. One Direction and The Wanted.
The Star as an Ideology:
-Stars will represent certain social groups and views and will therefore create certain ideologies.
-As a result fans of the star will often copy their styler and will share the same views as them.
- Many fans of Beyonce will share her views on women and how they are independent and shouldn't be controlled by men.
Paradox of the star:
Richard Dyer explains that there is a paradox of the 'star'. The paradox is as follows:
-The star must be both ordinary and extraordinary.
-The star must be both present and absent
The star must be both ordinary and extraordinary:
-This part of the theory means that the star needs to be ordinary to allow the audience to relate to the audience but posses an extraordinary talent or quality which will make them idolised by the public.
-For example, Adele is an ordinary woman from London who speaks and acts like most people, however she has an amazing voice which people will idolise. This allows her to be the star that she is.
The star must be both present and absent:
-The second half of the theory explains that the star must be present in our lives whether it is through their merchandise, social media or involved in chat between friends but also absent in the fact that they are not actually there or "out of reach"
-This is shown by Harry Styles, he is a key part to most teenage and young girls lives, they may have his poster or other merchandise however he is not obtainable to them allowing him to be present and absent at the same time.
The star as a construction
The star as a commodity
The star as an ideology
Richard Dyer also proposed the 'paradox of the star'
The star as a construction:
- Richard dyer states that the star is a construction and not a real person.
-This star is constructed through music videos, magazines, advertising etc.
-For example, Miley Cyrus has become famous for her twerking and riding on a wrecking ball naked however she wouldn't do any of this stuff in the privacy of her own home meaning that the person Miley Cyrus and the star are two different people.
The star as a commodity:
-Stars are produced to create a profit off of related merchandise e.g. t-shirts, posters and the like.
-Record labels will created similar stars as they know certain patterns and trends will work to generate money.
-This is why we get so many boy bands who are very similar e.g. One Direction and The Wanted.
The Star as an Ideology:
-Stars will represent certain social groups and views and will therefore create certain ideologies.
-As a result fans of the star will often copy their styler and will share the same views as them.
- Many fans of Beyonce will share her views on women and how they are independent and shouldn't be controlled by men.
Paradox of the star:
Richard Dyer explains that there is a paradox of the 'star'. The paradox is as follows:
-The star must be both ordinary and extraordinary.
-The star must be both present and absent
The star must be both ordinary and extraordinary:
-This part of the theory means that the star needs to be ordinary to allow the audience to relate to the audience but posses an extraordinary talent or quality which will make them idolised by the public.
-For example, Adele is an ordinary woman from London who speaks and acts like most people, however she has an amazing voice which people will idolise. This allows her to be the star that she is.
The star must be both present and absent:
-The second half of the theory explains that the star must be present in our lives whether it is through their merchandise, social media or involved in chat between friends but also absent in the fact that they are not actually there or "out of reach"
-This is shown by Harry Styles, he is a key part to most teenage and young girls lives, they may have his poster or other merchandise however he is not obtainable to them allowing him to be present and absent at the same time.
Music Video: messages and structures by Deborah H. Holdstein notes
"Bands must take performance into account nowadays when they present themselves to the public"
Now that music video has pulled the record business from its worst slump in years, a stars video image could be the crucial difference between a mediocre and exciting music video --- a mediocre and exciting career.
This "sense of performance" distinguishes the more successful music videos from others --- in terms of composition, lighting, mise-en-scene, and the need to use or reject the songs narrative as the foundation for the films visual backdrop.
Most important, however, artists with any amount of creative control over the content and "look" of their videos become responsible for helping to create the video artwork instead of mere taped performance. They also become their own screen persona --- a powerful influential person with genre-specific and political implications.
So, too, have the music stars featured in more carefully constructed videos begun to create screen and, by extension, music personalities.
The video image is quicker and more potent. Rather than waiting for documentaries and concert performances to record and reveal Mick Jagger's 'demonic' persona, the immediacy of television brings the chosen visual personae of Michael Jackson, Donna Summer, David Bowie and endless other stars and would-be stars through our cable and commercial channels.
For artists successful enough to assume at least some creative input --- we can assume this with Jackson, Summer and Bowie, for example --- these images telescope the mythmaking process. The video images leave us with interesting implications about the stars "image" that go beyond the powers of publicists and the usual star making system.
The visual and content goals of these videos seem to divide into two categories: those with explicit "political" themes, and those which revive traditional U.S. film musical and represent its newest incarnation.
Many others fall into still another category: the fantasy video, based entirely
Now that music video has pulled the record business from its worst slump in years, a stars video image could be the crucial difference between a mediocre and exciting music video --- a mediocre and exciting career.
This "sense of performance" distinguishes the more successful music videos from others --- in terms of composition, lighting, mise-en-scene, and the need to use or reject the songs narrative as the foundation for the films visual backdrop.
Most important, however, artists with any amount of creative control over the content and "look" of their videos become responsible for helping to create the video artwork instead of mere taped performance. They also become their own screen persona --- a powerful influential person with genre-specific and political implications.
So, too, have the music stars featured in more carefully constructed videos begun to create screen and, by extension, music personalities.
The video image is quicker and more potent. Rather than waiting for documentaries and concert performances to record and reveal Mick Jagger's 'demonic' persona, the immediacy of television brings the chosen visual personae of Michael Jackson, Donna Summer, David Bowie and endless other stars and would-be stars through our cable and commercial channels.
For artists successful enough to assume at least some creative input --- we can assume this with Jackson, Summer and Bowie, for example --- these images telescope the mythmaking process. The video images leave us with interesting implications about the stars "image" that go beyond the powers of publicists and the usual star making system.
The visual and content goals of these videos seem to divide into two categories: those with explicit "political" themes, and those which revive traditional U.S. film musical and represent its newest incarnation.
Many others fall into still another category: the fantasy video, based entirely
Andrew Goodwin applied to Castle of Glass- Linkin Park
"The 4th wall is almost always broken as it is as if the artist is singing to and addressing us"
(2:07 of the music video) Chester Bennington, the lead singer, is looking directly into the camera while singing. He is singing/addressing the audience.
"Looking allows the label to promote a set image which helps the target audience empathise with them"
(1:30 of the music video) As the kid smashes the vase we see a Mike Shinoda, the other lead singer, standing in the hall watching the kid, this leads us to believe that Shinoda is the kids father watching over him as a ghost after his death in the army and he is the one singing this song. This helps us empathise with them because he has lost his life and now he has to watch his family cope with the news of him dying. We empathise with both the dad and the kid.
"Intertextual references, refer to other forms of media, most commonly film but can also be television and other music videos"
(2:38 of the music video) Since this song was made for the game Medal of Honor: Warfighter there are clips from the game put into the video. This is an intertextual reference to the game. This also leads us to believe that the kid in this is one of the characters (Mother) kids who dies in the game and the two men who come to help the family are also from the game (Mothers comrades: Voodoo and Preacher).
"There is a succinct relationship between music and visual"
Lyrics from the song are "Take me down to the river bend. Take me down till the fighting end. Wash the poison from off my skin. And show me how to be whole again." This is highlighted through the boys emotions as he has lost his father and doesn't feel whole anymore.
"Cause I'm only a crack in this castle of glass". This is the chorus of the song and every time it is said we see shots of the band performing while shards of glass are floating around them and Bennington even grabs one of the shards.
"The record label usually have demands on the artist, the artist usually has a visual style which is reoccurring whether that be in music video or on a read carpet"
A reoccurring style that Linkin Park has in their music video is in many of their music videos, including Castle of Glass, they will have a part of it when the story stops and we see the band performing to the audience and looking directly at the camera.
"Music video promotes a song in three ways: illustrate, amplify and disjuncture"
This music video promotes the song with amplification. It amplifies the emotions of a family broken by the death of the father. Both the mother and child are distraught. The music video mostly focuses on the boy as he now feels broken and unwhole. The visuals amplify the boys emotions which are signified though song. As the song says "I'm only a crack in this castle of glass" the house starts to shatter and fall apart, this further connotes the boys emotions and hoe he feels that the world around him is falling apart.
(2:07 of the music video) Chester Bennington, the lead singer, is looking directly into the camera while singing. He is singing/addressing the audience.
"Looking allows the label to promote a set image which helps the target audience empathise with them"
(1:30 of the music video) As the kid smashes the vase we see a Mike Shinoda, the other lead singer, standing in the hall watching the kid, this leads us to believe that Shinoda is the kids father watching over him as a ghost after his death in the army and he is the one singing this song. This helps us empathise with them because he has lost his life and now he has to watch his family cope with the news of him dying. We empathise with both the dad and the kid.
"Intertextual references, refer to other forms of media, most commonly film but can also be television and other music videos"
(2:38 of the music video) Since this song was made for the game Medal of Honor: Warfighter there are clips from the game put into the video. This is an intertextual reference to the game. This also leads us to believe that the kid in this is one of the characters (Mother) kids who dies in the game and the two men who come to help the family are also from the game (Mothers comrades: Voodoo and Preacher).
"There is a succinct relationship between music and visual"
Lyrics from the song are "Take me down to the river bend. Take me down till the fighting end. Wash the poison from off my skin. And show me how to be whole again." This is highlighted through the boys emotions as he has lost his father and doesn't feel whole anymore.
"Cause I'm only a crack in this castle of glass". This is the chorus of the song and every time it is said we see shots of the band performing while shards of glass are floating around them and Bennington even grabs one of the shards.
"The record label usually have demands on the artist, the artist usually has a visual style which is reoccurring whether that be in music video or on a read carpet"
A reoccurring style that Linkin Park has in their music video is in many of their music videos, including Castle of Glass, they will have a part of it when the story stops and we see the band performing to the audience and looking directly at the camera.
"Music video promotes a song in three ways: illustrate, amplify and disjuncture"
This music video promotes the song with amplification. It amplifies the emotions of a family broken by the death of the father. Both the mother and child are distraught. The music video mostly focuses on the boy as he now feels broken and unwhole. The visuals amplify the boys emotions which are signified though song. As the song says "I'm only a crack in this castle of glass" the house starts to shatter and fall apart, this further connotes the boys emotions and hoe he feels that the world around him is falling apart.
Music Video Research
Music Video: Messages and Structures by Deborah H. Holdstein
"The words of the song, while sympathetic with the visual imagery, are secondary to the story telling visuals of the video. It doesn't need words, really. It has faces, gestures, emphasis, and a narrative one could easily follow without 'Beat It' on the soundtrack." --- Music video doesn't need the music, you can see what the video is about without it.
"To the line 'theres fire in their eyes, and their words are really clear! So beat it, just beat it'- we've just witnessed WEST SIDE STORY revisited." --- includes an intertextual reference.
"The words of the song, while sympathetic with the visual imagery, are secondary to the story telling visuals of the video. It doesn't need words, really. It has faces, gestures, emphasis, and a narrative one could easily follow without 'Beat It' on the soundtrack." --- Music video doesn't need the music, you can see what the video is about without it.
"To the line 'theres fire in their eyes, and their words are really clear! So beat it, just beat it'- we've just witnessed WEST SIDE STORY revisited." --- includes an intertextual reference.
The Last of Us- Or the First of a New Generation of Games? Or the First of a New Generation? (Written by Darren Meitiner-Harvey)
"the most riveting, emotionally resonant story-driven epic of this generation"- This is unusual language for an action adventure survival horror video game.
"gamers were treated to a teaser trailer"- it was a treat for the audience to see the trailer and it made people excited for more trailers and the game itself.
"Would change the gaming landscape forever" - different from everything else in these genres. Not what people are used to but will become what people expect in the future.
"Cinematic feel, the rich 3D environment, and the characters wowed viewers, and immediately set the internet alight with the rumours and the trailer reviews"- The teaser was so good that people were reviewing it, even though it was just a teaser for something they had never seen before. People were making speculations and were already falling in love with the world and characters.
"The most interesting aspect of the reveal was the focus on narrative, character, and the tease of the haunting soundtrack, produced by Gustavo Santaolla"- people were finding things like the soundtrack from a teaser trailer interesting. Also added "An academy award-winning composer"which shows that Naughty Dog has hired a professional who has been awarded for having amazing music.
"It all felt very much like a campaign for a blockbuster film"-The game is very cinematic and has qualities of a big hollywood blockbuster film.
"The iconography conjured up images from 28 Days Later, I Am Legend, The Road and War of the Worlds"- Takes inspiration from well known films of similar genres but makes it unique and turns it into its own thing.
"Naughty Dog have clearly taken a hollywood genre that was becoming tired and created something original- a cross platform hybridisation"- They have used a genre that has become boring and overused and renounced it into something interesting again.
"The focus on both characters and their personalities highlighted that this games target market was both male and female"- Game is appealing to both genders using only two main characters.
"Gamers are asked questions that test the morals and imply that there will be an element of choice"- Players will have to make the same tough choices as the characters to survive and then deal with the consequences. This also adds another layer of interactivity.
"The DLC was critically acclaimed for its substance and focus on a very human story of companionship and love"- game deals with real life everyday situations but in a different world and setting and shows that even though these people have to struggle everyday to survive they still have basic human needs such as love and companionship like we do.
"The Last of Us has taken complex characters grounded in reality and crafted a world around them"- the characters are central to the story and world around them. Also, the characters don't just follow stereotypes and expectations.
"Her fear becomes the gamers fear as they scramble through the opening sequence"- when playing we become the characters, we see, hear and feel as they do and this builds a connection between gamer and character.
"This game is a cynical representation of society facing a catastrophe"- This game is blunt and cuts straight to the point to show what happens during a world-wide catastrophe
"In this opening sequence alone, gamers have probably spent more time as a female character then they have throughout their whole gaming life" - very rare for games to have you play as female. This makes The Last of Us different from other games. Also, although the majority of the game is played as Joel there are two instances were you play as a female character and during the DLC you also play as a female. Not only is it just a male character you play as or just a female character you play as, you play as both genders through the game and both are very similar in their skills (not biased towards any gender).
"gamers were treated to a teaser trailer"- it was a treat for the audience to see the trailer and it made people excited for more trailers and the game itself.
"Would change the gaming landscape forever" - different from everything else in these genres. Not what people are used to but will become what people expect in the future.
"Cinematic feel, the rich 3D environment, and the characters wowed viewers, and immediately set the internet alight with the rumours and the trailer reviews"- The teaser was so good that people were reviewing it, even though it was just a teaser for something they had never seen before. People were making speculations and were already falling in love with the world and characters.
"The most interesting aspect of the reveal was the focus on narrative, character, and the tease of the haunting soundtrack, produced by Gustavo Santaolla"- people were finding things like the soundtrack from a teaser trailer interesting. Also added "An academy award-winning composer"which shows that Naughty Dog has hired a professional who has been awarded for having amazing music.
"It all felt very much like a campaign for a blockbuster film"-The game is very cinematic and has qualities of a big hollywood blockbuster film.
"The iconography conjured up images from 28 Days Later, I Am Legend, The Road and War of the Worlds"- Takes inspiration from well known films of similar genres but makes it unique and turns it into its own thing.
"Naughty Dog have clearly taken a hollywood genre that was becoming tired and created something original- a cross platform hybridisation"- They have used a genre that has become boring and overused and renounced it into something interesting again.
"The focus on both characters and their personalities highlighted that this games target market was both male and female"- Game is appealing to both genders using only two main characters.
"Gamers are asked questions that test the morals and imply that there will be an element of choice"- Players will have to make the same tough choices as the characters to survive and then deal with the consequences. This also adds another layer of interactivity.
"The DLC was critically acclaimed for its substance and focus on a very human story of companionship and love"- game deals with real life everyday situations but in a different world and setting and shows that even though these people have to struggle everyday to survive they still have basic human needs such as love and companionship like we do.
"The Last of Us has taken complex characters grounded in reality and crafted a world around them"- the characters are central to the story and world around them. Also, the characters don't just follow stereotypes and expectations.
"Her fear becomes the gamers fear as they scramble through the opening sequence"- when playing we become the characters, we see, hear and feel as they do and this builds a connection between gamer and character.
"This game is a cynical representation of society facing a catastrophe"- This game is blunt and cuts straight to the point to show what happens during a world-wide catastrophe
"In this opening sequence alone, gamers have probably spent more time as a female character then they have throughout their whole gaming life" - very rare for games to have you play as female. This makes The Last of Us different from other games. Also, although the majority of the game is played as Joel there are two instances were you play as a female character and during the DLC you also play as a female. Not only is it just a male character you play as or just a female character you play as, you play as both genders through the game and both are very similar in their skills (not biased towards any gender).
TV Genre- Documentary
Some examples of TV Documentaries are:
- Making a Murderer
- An Idiot Abroad
- Ghost Hunters
- Top Gear
- Earth Story
- American Greed
- How Its Made
- The Crocodile Hunter
- Paranormal Witness
- 24 Hours in A&E
TV Documentaries are shown in a series. They have many episodes and sometimes many seasons. TV Documentaries are usually scheduled to be broadcast at different times depending on what type of genre it is. TV Docs like Top Gear, Ghost Hunters and An Idiot Abroad which appeal to a more mature audience will be broadcast later in the day, usually at night. TV Docs like The Crocodile Hunter and Earth Story which appeal to any age of audience will usually be broadcast through the day or in the morning. Usually in TV Docs there is not story to unfold as it goes on nor does it move closer to a resolution. TV Docs give information to the audience on the subject it is about. For example, The Crocodile Hunter will give the audience information on crocodiles and their habitats and Top Gear will give the audience information on cars and car parts. No stories are unfolded really, it is just a series of information given to you based on the subject.
TV Documentaries will appeal to the self-actualisation part of the Uses & Gratifications graph because it is the acceptance of facts. This is the least needed need in the Uses & Gratifications theory so it isn't as important to the audience as the other Uses & Gratifications. Another appeal to TV Docs is that they are unconventional. They do not follow a narrative and don't have any characters. They have real people doing real things and teach you about the subject the show is about. Another appeal to TV Docs is the people. There are usually famous people in TV Docs which will appeal to the audience. For example, Jeremy Clarkson on Top Gear would be an appeal. Also Ricky Gervais and Steven Merchant would be an appeal to An Idiot Abroad. Another appeal to TV Docs is the places shown in them. In the majority of TV Docs the audience will be shown another location that is different to their own, the TV Doc will allow them to se other countries they've never seen or maybe heard of and see how their lives are similar or different.
The typical target audience for TV Documentaries are the
Celebrity Represtation
Text 1: Ariana Grande Ari Perfume
The encoders have chosen to put Ariana in the middle of the article which shows she is the main focus and that it is about her. This represents her as someone of big importance. They have also chosen to include multiple pictures of Ariana throughout her career as an actor and singer, this represents her as someone who is very talented and can do more than one thing. They have also chosen to put some copy next to the main image saying "My mom thought I might grow up to be a serial killer" which represents her as someone who might of had a troubled past or someone with a sense of humour which will appeal to an audience and will make them want to read the article to find out why.
This is an advert for Ariana Grande's perfume "Ari". Grande is represented through her facial language. She is winking and pouting her lips which makes her look flirty, this will appeal to a male audience as they will feel as if she is flirting with them. She is making eye contact with the camera so she is making direct eye contact with the audience, this is helpful because it will draw in some customers. She is also represented through her body language as Ariana's body is very revealing as she is exenchuating her hips to make her bum more appealing which will appeal to a male audience and make them more likely to buy it for their girlfriends. The pose she is using is how many girls pose in pictures all over social media which will appeal to them as they take the same kind of pictures and will make them think that she is just like them. Ariana is also holding three Dalmatians by their leads. This represents her as an animal lover which will appeal to a very large audience because it shows she cares.
The encoders have represented her by taking a very long shot so that you can see her whole body and the pose she is using. She is also in the middle of the page which shows she is main focus as it is her perfume. Some people could see this representation as if she is self centred and selfish as she is taking up most the room. The encoders also made the decision to have her in a hallway. The hallway is pink which represents her as a girly girl as she loves pink and dogs.
The decoders preferred reading is that Ariana Grande is new and up to date with social trends and fashion which will make the decoders think that her perfume will be up to date and very good. Girls who like pink and dogs will also like this as Ariana is just like them and they will think that they are similar.
Text 2: Ariana Grande Album Cover
.jpg)
In this album cover Ariana is represented as a sexual object, she has long legs exposed and in view of the audience. She is sexualised and represented as an object of sexual fantasy and desirability of males and females. She has represented herself as a sexual icon through her choice of clothing she is wearing a very skimpy outfit, her knee high socks as a symbol of sexual images of what men want in a young female. Also, the playful way she is holding her hair reinforces the sexualised image of her.
The encoders of this album cover have made is so that Ariana is the only one in frame and she is shot at a long shot so we able to see her whole body and long legs which seem to be her main feature. The organisation of this album cover is that the copy is at the bottom right and it is white so that it is easy to read on the album but it is also the same colour as her knee high socks and shoes. The brick wall is contrasted to the sexual icon that she is perceiving and reinforces that she is a sexual icon.
The decoders preferred reading is that she is a sexual icon to be desired and fantasised about, also the fact that she is someone to be admired and adored giving the indication that she is a sexual icon for men and women.
Text 3: Ariana Grande Teen Vogue Magazine Cover
This is a magazine cover for Teen Vogue which has Ariana Grande on it. She looks really young which represents her youth and innocence. She isn't wearing any revealing clothing like in the other two texts which shows she doesn't just want to be a sexual icon. She has a bandana in her hair which makes her looks simple and elegant and not trying to try too hard on how she looks which also represents her innocence and youth too. She is making direct eye contact with the audience which will catch their eye and make them more interested in the reading the magazine.
The encoders have chosen to make the image of Ariana Grande take up the whole page which shows her importance and that she is main focus of this magazine. The copy on this cover is mostly all about her and is complimenting her. It says things like "fresh spring style" which represents her as someone who is big on fashion and someone who people should look up to on their fashion choices. The colours chosen are very youthful and girly which represents her as someone who likes girl colours and is very youthful, this will appeal to the target audience of the magazine as it is targeted at teen girls.
The decoders preferred reading is that she is youthful and innocent because of the clothing she is wearing and colours chosen. They will also she her as represented as someone who is up to date on fashion and she should be an icon for teen girls.
Text 4: Ariana Grande Magazine Article
In the main image of Ariana she has chosen to represent herself as dominant and strong, the hand on her hip signifies that she is feminine and assertive. The outfit she is wearing is small and skimpy once again reinforcing the idea that she is a sexual object to be desired and looked at. The medium long shot of her is framed so that the audience are looking up at her and that she is looking down at is (low angle shot) this signifies that she is dominant and powerful. This image is placed in the middle of the double page spread showing she is the main focus and that we should focus on her. In contrast to this image we see 4 other images on the bottom right of the double page spread of her doing varied things such as: interacting with fans on stage, singing on stage, staring in a hit children's TV show and walking along a street. these indicate that she is not always this dominant individual and that she does enjoy talking to fans and having down time. this suggest her alter ego and that fame has not got to her and she is a normal girl that enjoys doing everyday things. Overall it gives the impression that at times she is dominant but she also enjoys being herself and doing what she loves: being with friends, singing etc...
The decoders preferred reading is that she is someone who is interesting and has an exciting life. She is seen as dominant on the main image but she is also a regular person being herself and experiencing fame as it comes and not taking anything for granted.
Magazine cover analysis
1. Masthead & Strapline
The masthead 'Empire' is bold, sharp, authoritative and in capital letters. The name has connotations of wealth and power. The font used makes it an iconic name and brand. It is covered by the main image which give the image more importance over the masthead. The white colour makes it stand out against the background. The strapline is "the worlds biggest movie magazine" which shows it see's its self as important and better than the other magazines. The strapline is also a lot smaller than the Masthead which shows that it isn't as important as the Masthead because 'Empire' is the brand name.
2. Main Image
The main image is of Robert Downey Jr from the film Iron Man 3. The shot used is a medium shot to show that he wearing the suit from the film but you don't need to see the whole thing because people will already know what it is from what we can see. It also uses direct mode of address because RDJ is looking directly at the viewer which shows that the magazine is intended for 'you'. Robert Downey Jr has been used because the main story is about the most recent film in the Iron Man franchise, Iron Man 3, and RDJ is the main star of the film and is well known for playing Tony Stark/Iron Man.
3. Layout and Mise-en-scene
The layout that has been used is to show the main image is the most important thing on there as it is in the centre of the page, it is the biggest thing there and it is covering the name of the magazine. The star is wearing a costume from Iron Man 3 which will be used to draw in audiences who enjoy superhero films and the Iron Man franchise. The next biggest thing on the cover (other than the masthead) is the copy that is talking about the main image. It is covering the main image of Robert Downey Jr to show that it is talking about. All the other copy is at the side of the image, behind the image or at the bottom of the image in a smaller font size. All of the copy used on the cover stands out from the main image because they red and white, two bold and eye catching colours. This appears to be a theme with this cover because all the copy is either red or white, except the copy at the top which is in gold which makes it appear more important and eye catching than the others.
4. Interpellation
Something the magazine is using to draw people in is direct mode of address. Robert Downey Jr is looking directly at the camera so that it looks like he is looking at the reader which creates a link between the reader and the magazine. Also, the Iron Man helmet is looking directly at the audience which makes a connection between the suit and the reader.
5. Target Audience
The target audience for this magazine is the mainstreamer. They would read this magazine to stay up to date on all the films that are coming out so they can go and see them with their friends and families.
Analysis of Genre
The film The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey is typical of the Fantasy and Adventure genres. This is the first film in the Hobbit trilogy so the trailer relies on showing the genres but it is also the 4th entry to the Middle Earth franchise so it will need to keep the same style as the other films.
You can tell that this film is Fantasy because of the mise-en-scene. Characters can be seen wearing robes and armor which are typical conventions of the Fantasy genre, also characters carry weapons such as bows and swords which are seen as weapons that would be used in a Fantasy world. These conventions are seen as Fantasy because they're not things we'd associate with being normal and they are things people would use thousands of years ago, such as swords. They have been outdated for hundreds of years and have been replaced by guns so seeing people walking around with swords like its normal is very Fantasy-like. Another way I can tell that this film is Fantasy from the mise-en-scene is the makeup/costume/special effects used on characters. The characters are made to look like they are different races- Hobbits, Humans, Dwarfs and Elves- this is because mythical races like this are used a lot in Fantasy genres, even in Star Wars there are other races in it but they are classed as aliens.
The setting is in an unfamiliar world that is not similar to our world. This is common in the Fantasy genre because it something we have to imagine but it is also a convention of the Adventure genre because it is an unknown world that we get to explore with the characters as most of the world is unknown to them too. We see many different places in the trailer such as a quiet little village, a destroyed castle and a forest. This is a convention of the Adventure genre because we see a lot of an unknown world and we get to see what it is like. It is also a convention of the Fantasy genre because it has lots of places that we are unfamiliar with.
The music that is used is very orchestral. This is typical of the Fantasy genre because they usually have big scores to go along side of their big settings and their characters. About half way through the trailer the music changes to a diegetic song from the film the the Dwarfs are singing, this song is very low pitched and slow to show their misery. This is typical of the Adventure genre because we get to see the Dwarfs adventures and see why they're doing what they're doing.
A few stars seen in the trailer, such as Ian Mckellen, Hugo Weaving and Kate Blanchett, are from other films in the Middle Earth franchise so seeing them in the trailer for this film as the same characters shows that this is going to to be a Fantasy film just like the Lord of the Rings films. The Director of this film, Peter Jackson, is also known for directing the Lord of the Rings trilogy. This will make people see that the Hobbit is a Fantasy/Adventure film, if they have seen Lord of the Rings, because they have seen him make three other films in the franchise and they will kind of know what to expect from him.
The story line shown in the trailer seems to be a Wizard, Gandalf played by Ian Mckellen, and a dozen Dwarfs led by Thorin, Richard Armitage, looking for a new person to join their expedition across Middle Earth. This is typical of the Adventure genre because it shows a group of people travelling across the world to achieve a common goal that will benefit all of Middle Earth.
Some iconography used in the trailer are typical of the Fantasy genre, such as swords and other races. They are icons for the Fantasy genre due to them being used a lot in other Fantasy films, such as Star Wars and Harry Potter. Furthermore there is some iconography of the Adventure genre too, such as places that are seen and characters being seen travelling a lot. This is iconography because in Adventure films many different places are shown and you see characters travelling a lot, going on an adventure.
Media Diary Week 5: Uses and Gratifications
A media text that I have consumed this week was The Flash. A reason this TV show appeals to me is because of the social interaction. Every week a new episode is released and I have a few friends and a brother who also watch it so when we have seen the new episode we talk about what happened and what we thought was good about it and whether it was better than the last or not. Another reason I watch The Flash is for escapism. Ever since I was younger I have always loved media texts with superheroes in and I was always fascinated by the idea of people having super powers and I always wanted one. Watching media texts like The Flash is probably the closest thing to being a superhero I will ever be, it also appeals to me because of nostalgia, since I watched TV shows like that as a child it reminds me of when I was younger.
Another media text that I consumed this week was the video game Uncharted 2: Among Thieves. This text appeals to me because of Escapism. The world this games takes place in is very much like ours but with many legends that were true and with lots of hidden and forgotten treasure to be found. The main character Nathan Drake goes on adventures to find these treasures which always lead to him saving the world from someone who would use the legends for evil. These are the kind of things that appeal to me and I would like to go on an adventure like this. Another reason Uncharted 2 appeals to me is because of Personal Identity. All the way through this game Nathan Drake goes through life risking events that make me connect with him and it makes me enjoy the game and story a lot more. This also appeals to me because of nostalgia. The first time I played this game was when I was 13 and I recently bought the remastered version of this game which means I got to play it again but with updated graphics, resolution and frame rate which means it was almost a new game that I got to play again for the second time.
The Walking Dead - Reception Theory
The Walking Dead Reception Theory
The Walking Dead is a TV Series following a group of people who are trying to survive in the zombie apocalypse and how they adjust to their new world. The target audience for The Walking Dead is older teens and adults. Probably mostly men because there is a lot of gore. The Walking Dead would appeal to the Explorer because it is challenging and requires discovery.
The encoders of this TV series wants the audience to relate to characters and sympathise with them as they try to survive in the new hard world they live in. They want the show to appeal to people who love gore, action, drama and zombies. Some ideologies that are encoded are that if you stick together then you can accomplish anything. Also, that when people need to, they can ignore peoples race, ethnicity and who they were in the past and can work together to complete their goals because we all share the same goal. Another ideology is karma, usually when a character does something wrong or makes the wrong choice that character will probably die later on because of karma. The text celebrates that even in the worst times, people can make a good life for themselves and still find love and make friends no matter how bad the situation they are in is. An underlying message of The Walking Dead is that people have to work together so that they accomplish common goals, if not you could die. The text tells us that life is short, precious and that you should cherish every moment of life because one day you will die and it could be really painful and painful to those around you. Also, to get to be happy and keep the ones you love safe you will need to do some things that make you uncomfortable and question your morals.
Some ideologies that are rejected by this TV show is that not all characters get what they deserve. Sometimes a character doing the right thing will get killed off or a character that does wrong survives and gets away with whatever they did. People who don't like gore won't find this show appealing. They might have been raised that violence and murder is wrong so they stay way from this kind of show. Another ideology that can be rejected is with the message if working together to accomplish goals, someone might disagree with that and feel that it is better to work alone. They might have grown up shy or grown to dislike other people so they prefer to work alone. Another ideology that gets rejected is that who you are and where you're from doesn't matter, some people think that it does matter and wouldn't like to work with or be around someone who isn't from the same background as them. They might feel this because of how they were brought up, maybe it was their parents or their friends that convinced them that they shouldn't work with people from somewhere else.
A situation where the audience might take a negotiated reading of this text is they don't have a lot of free time and they need something that is short and without continuous stories so they can pick it up wherever. This is because The Walking Dead has long episodes and there are many episodes in one season which means they wouldn't be able to watch them all, also there are a lot of episodes were nothing happens so the person watching could get bored easily and start watching something else. Another situation is you might be at home with a younger brother or sister and you wouldn't be able to watch it as much because they're too young and it would scare them, so then they would have to try and watch it when they're not there like when they go to bed or when they're in school.
The audience that is targeted using the Uses and Gratifications model are people who would watch it for social interaction. They could watch it because their friends are watching it and feel left out of conversations or whenever they see the weekly episode they want to talk to their friends about what happened. Another type of audience targeted using the Uses and Gratification model is people who watch it for entertainment, all though many episodes are boring with not much going on in them there are many episodes were a lot does happen and it is very interesting and you'll want to know what is going to happen next. Another audience that is targeted by the Uses and Gratifications model is people who want to watch it for personal identity because there are many different types of people on the show form all different backgrounds so they might appeal to people who are from the same background.
Media Diary Week 4
A media text that has changed my life is Attack on Titan. It has changed my opinion of anime because before I watched it I wasn't interested in Anime but since I watched it I have branched out in my media consuming and have started watching other anime like Death Note and Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood. It didn't make me cry but it made me feel sad for the characters.
Media Diary Week 3
The Martian.
An audience that The Martian targets is the Mainstream. I think this because it is a big blockbuster with a well known cast. Another Audience I think The Martian targets is the Aspirer, I think this because many people will want to see it so the Aspirers will watch it so they can be up to date with everyone and they know what everyone is talking about.
Media Diary week 2.
Name of Text: Thor 2 Dark World
Date/Time: Friday 25th Sep. About 9pm(ish)
Where did I find it: Netflix
Genre: Superhero, action
What is the purpose: To tell a story about Thor and to make money.
Institution producing the text: Marvel Studios
Target Audience: Superhero/comic fans
My reaction: It was alright. Better than the first film.
Why would people consume the text: For entertainment
Could someone react differently?: Yes, some people might not like it.
Date/Time: Friday 25th Sep. About 9pm(ish)
Where did I find it: Netflix
Genre: Superhero, action
What is the purpose: To tell a story about Thor and to make money.
Institution producing the text: Marvel Studios
Target Audience: Superhero/comic fans
My reaction: It was alright. Better than the first film.
Why would people consume the text: For entertainment
Could someone react differently?: Yes, some people might not like it.
Photographic Composition
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)