media language theory essay 1

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 masculine power. However, the script says that the character is female showing that the monster is women in this scenario as she kills all but two of the teenagers this shows a change in feminism in horror from Dobbs which allows for women to be on the same level of aggression in horror but not as the final girl. The technical codes camera angles will be used to show the antagonist and protagonist as weak or strong. We will do this by taking a low angle shot up at the monster to make them appear bigger and more ‘buildable’. The protagonist will be shown from a high angle making them look weak and like prey. This is an example of levi – strauss’ binary opposition by way of using the camera to show them as different. Another way it can be connected to strauss is by the framing of the angles and what they focus on. The antagonist will have close up shots on its ‘weapons’ and the protagonist will have imagery surrounding the emotions on their faces and the softness of their skin. This is a binary opposite as well as the claws are hard and the skin is soft. The written codes will be put into the trailer via the text of the title. This creates the theme as the text is the first thing you see in the film. For this to be successful it should connect to the trailer. A way this can be done is by using a texture from the film that is reoccurring to create the theme and then using it again in the magazines or poster magazine covers. The text can also show the type of subgenre i.e. blood writing with a knife in the I’s would indicate a slasher film The audio is 50% of the film this is as jump scares without sounds quickly become fast movements. Without the loud ‘BANG’ the is no emphasis on the moment this denotes that the sound has to be present for the moment to be effective. It can also link to the genre like in my teams’ trailer idea the monster shrieks into the distance this can be either to show distress or rage. Iconic audio includes a girl screaming this is a well-known convention within slashers which shows feminity as it is a cry for help. Men in films do not do this they instead yell in rage as they are the predators. This shows a gendered hierarchy but the films allow for men to be fearful along with the final girl Clover refers to this in the final girl.