Media A2

Saussure’s semiotic codes like writing codes ie writing in blood on a wall is used to create a theme and to show the meaning. Barthes then added to this by having a literal meaning – denotation and a suggested meaning – connotation. The denotation being the blood writing on the wall whereas the connotations can be the meaning for example blood can be shown as life. Written codes can be used to move on the plot or theme. However due to desensitisation the audience ignores the meaning as it has been repeated. If we want the audience to be scared the trailer has to be more than conventions. I will be evaluating how the different codes can be used in other theories and how they can be applied to my groups trailer idea. Our trailer idea will be using symbolic codes like weaponry. This is shown as the antagonist has claws and sharp teeth that connotates that the weapons are phallic imagery as they penetrate the victim, showing power through violence. This signifies that the monster holds mas

The product that I will be analyzing is a trailer made by last years students – Terror House. I believe the theme of the trailer is the loss of innocence, due to the transformation of the young girl. The trailer shows the change and its effects as well as what she looks like before as a way of comparison to show that it is a supernatural. The trailer shows Todorovs theory when applied to a horror trailer. It shows that the film would have a linear structure but only uses the area of disequilibrium in an out of order montage this is due to the fact that equilibrium and resolution are not shown in horror movie trailers or they show the ending.in their trailer the montage is spliced with one scene of the antagonist along with a rising not to create tension before a jump cut – to a jump scare. The disruption is shown to be the possession of a teenage girl. Todorovs theory is relevant as when we can see the linear structure we can then break it for the trailer using only pieces from diseq

In this essay im going to be applying audience theory. I’m going to be analysing is jawsplitters trailer from last year using examples from their work to evaluate. One of the main points is what age the audience is, in this trailer the aim was at fifteen year olds this is shown through the fact that there is very little violence and only one scene showing any blood. Audiences consume the horror genre for escape as well as an emotional release. However, these are what is referred to as active audience as the audience interacts and uses the content whereas a passive audience only consumes the content at face value. Gebners theory of cultivation states that repeated instances in the media can distort the consumers sense of reality. The trailer shows this as the blood scene at the end of the trailer was stereotypical, it also implies that we are likely to believe that this type of scene due to its regularity in horror. this signifies a change in the audience as they are no longer concerne

In this essay, I will be assessing how genre applies to last years trailer (Terror House Production). The genre of the trailer is supernatural horror. Chandler States that genre types must be recognizable /familiar and have characteristics that show conventions in terror house productions they use mis-en-cne such as props make-up and setting along with low key lighting to make it recognizable as a horror trailer and/ product. The use of low key light connotates death in horror. Other conventions that make this recognizable as a horror trailer is the use of sound along with physical effects/movement to make the antagonist seem more alien. This connotates the idea of abnormality. And the idea that the mind of the victim is converted one with a broken psyche. It also signifies that the more parallel to human a monster/spirit is the more it is a threat. Mitel’s theory says that ‘genre allows audiences to make decisions’ to be able to do this the trailer most convey a specific sub genre.

I will be talking about the representation of patriarchy and misogyny in horror due to the rise in female protagonists and how their behaviour is stereotypical or subverted. I will be linking this to the five theories and explaining their use, by using The Collector trailer from last years students (jumpscare) to provide examples and reasoning. Mulveys theory states that audiences are forced to view cinematic text via the male gaze. It is largely shown in the victim shots of this trailer. In this trailer, we see this as the first victim is a young teenage girl laying across the cell floor sleeping. We can say this is the heterosexual male gaze as she is shown as an object in the viewers eye, as something to be watched. This shows that the girls purpose is stereotypical and links to the idea that men are better at physically helping themselves – which is misogynistic. However, as the genre is a slasher this subverts the idea as she is likely the ‘final girl’. This signifies a change in