Mise en Scene

Mise en Scene from lydiag2

Definitions of Micro and Macro Analysis

http://www.slideshare.net/hasnmedia/conventions-micro-and-macro

Its important to ensure your micro analysis supports your macro analysis, take consideration to focus on technical and symbolic codes such as lighting, costume, props, camera angles and movement, character performance, set and sound. This will help us build up a conclusion of the wider picture the text is trying to present and lead us to our macro analysis, which is likely to focus on themes such as, narratives, audiences, genre and representation. 

This links to codes and conventions because codes are often in symbolic form through micro aspects, which create meaning, and the meaning of the micro aspects builds up to the macro which relates to the widely accepted or recognised way of doing something. Conventions will often help you recognise a genre or typical narrative, codes however are more likely to be individual to the media text your analysing. 

Predict what you expect to see in the horror genre in terms of these “micro” aspects

What typical horror conventions appear in the opening of 'Jaws'...

Jaw clip- Crissies Last Swim

Ill base the codes and conventions based on whats shown in this slideshare:
http://www.slideshare.net/kbamediastudies/codes-and-conventions-in-horror-films

This Jaws clip is the perfect example that conforms to many codes and conventions of a horror film. To begin with the scene is set by a dark night...a stormy night is usually the cliche however I'd say the dark, moonlit sky gives off the same spooky atmosphere, especially the luminously back lit clouds which look eerie and storm-like and helps foreshadow something bad will happen. Not only that, they're also in a secluded location, an empty beach, this is shown by the tracking shot that shows the vast land in the background and no sight of housing, people or life. The fence on the beach its self provides a danger, with two drunk kids weaving in and out of them they could easily fall and injure themselves especially due to there drunk state. As they're running to the beach, clothes are coming off which re-inforces their reckless, out of mind behavior and suggests nothing good is going to come out of this. It builds up to 'the fall'  as one of the kids tumbles down the hill, which seems not enough to discourage him going near the danger but could be refered to as a 'fake scare'. The girl dives into the sea and swims off, getting further into the middle  of the ocean, reinforcing the secluded location and fact that no one is around to help. The boy talking to himself in a drunk slur builds up tension, it pulls the focus away from the girl however creates enigma, in wonderment of whats happening to her.

The non-diegteic music of the girl elegantly swimming implies something is about to tear up the peace. The water is glimmering ans the girl is throwing her head smiling, until something jerks her head, dragging her under water. A diegetic sound of spluttering is made to portray her surprise and her faster paced breathing as she begins the panic...then comes the terrified screams. This pulls all our focus to the girl and the audience feels engaged and tense. 

Last but not least, a death occurs within the first 5 minute of the film, which prepares the audience for the rest of the movie, with expectations to be filled with death, dread and fears, this is enough to hopefully keep the audience engaged and watching. 

Definitions

Typography

The process of design, printing with type; appearance of a printed text 

These things need to be considered:

Tag Line

A catchword or phrase that's identified and associated with something particular person,group or product, often clarifies a point

Technical codes
Things created by equitment or in the process making of the film.

TECHNICAL CODES includes

• Sound – diagetic and non diegetic
• Any ambient noise
• Voicover
• Music
• Shots – range of shots and why they’re used – wide shots? Close ups? High/low angle shots?
• Any camera movement
• Editing – the way scenes change from one to the next
• The pace of the text – fast? slow? why?
• Lighting
• Mise en Scene – what’s in the shot.

Symbolic Codes

VISUAL CODES includes:

• Clothing and physical appearance
• Gesture and body language
• Facial Expressions
• Settings
• Use of colour
• Any use of graphics

Iconography
This is the use of symbolic codes and images to portray a genre or something to fit the criteria of what we might expect to see. 

Intertextuality
The influence media texts have on each other, they might reference each other or have a direct cross- reference.The films borrow sequences, sound and ideas from each other and for the audience this intertextuality makes recognisable references such as the camera angles, mise en scene, sound and editing.

Levi-Strauss- Theory of Binary Opposites

                   "The contrast between two things"

Common Binary Opposites: 

Roland Barthe
- Theory of good vs evil
- Narrative theory of enigma 

Refers to any element of the story that's not fully explained and therefore is a mystery to the reader. This keeps the audience engaged and interested, some times the enigma is revealed in the final scene however sometimes closure is not achieved but this is what keeps the audience keen and involved. 


Films linked to this theory: 
American Beauty- opening 3 minutes, a teenager states she wants her father killed, mystery to the audience is to why she would want him dead= enigma. Little detail about his death therefore left to own assumptions


5 Established Codes
1) Enigma Code, element of the narrative which isnt explained
2) Action Code, refers to an action which leads to a further action, audience question what it might be
3) Semantic Code, connotations that give additional meaning to the narrative
4) Symbolic Code, meanings bought together on a broader level
5) Cultural Code, refering to historical, religious or scientific knowledge for instance





Mise en Scene

Independent Learning

Independent learning is taking my learning into my own hands and control, I'll have to motivate myself to achieve my target grade. I'll need to be hardworking, productive and determined to get my work completed on my deadlines and to my best ability. I can ask my teacher for advice or help, to point me in the right direction but at the end of the day, I need to be able to make my own decisions. 


Click here ; TO SEE MY AIM FOR THE END OF THIS COURSE

Key Terminology

After reading through this website (http://media-studies.tki.org.nz/Teaching-media-studies/Media-concepts), I feel I have a thorough understanding of these key terms:

1) Codes and Conventions

Codes are symbols which create meaning, they can be symbolic, which often presents feeling and emotion or technical codes, shown through the use of equipment to present the story in a specific way. Conventions, on the other hand, are the accepted ways of doing something, so within a genre it can have certain conventions what the audience would expect the film to conform too. 

2) Genre in film Genres are often used to categorize arts/literature's on their themes. For instance, on Netflix, a programme on the internet allowing you to watch films and TV series, covers nearly all types of genres, I've taken a screen grab to show the wide variety:

FACT: The word Genre is originated from a French word which means 'type' or 'class'

Certain genres are often associated with strong stereotypes or idealology which makes it easy to tell them apart. Tell tale signs of a genre are shown through technical and symbolic codes and typical narratives associated with the genre. The genre could be really obvious or it could be more subtle however by the end of the film, your likely to know. Audiences have certain expectations and stereotypes that they expect certain genres to live up too and some people have a preference of genres which helps attract a niche audience in film making, which means a small group of people with a specific, unique interest e.g I enjoy Crime Films, so might edge towards that genre when looking for a film to watch.

Despite this, genres may try and challenge or mix up certain aspects the genre to engage and pull in the audience, furthermore genre's are constantly developing over time which means new ideology's and audience expectations are created. As genres change they might develop sub genres, for instance a sub genre of horror might be action horror (Dawn of the Dead), body horror (Cabin Fever/ Teeth) or comedy horror, often known as spoofs (scary movie)!

3) Codes and conventions of a Horror

Horror films are designed to unsettle the viewer and make them afraid, they target hidden fears and maybe spur on and uncover new fears. 

A slideshare online, says these are the most typical fears reinforced by the horror genre:

After doing more research, I have been lead to believe these are the most popular fears followed in the narrative and they can be influenced majorly by these things below to enhance or exaggerate the storyline.

Locations often seem to be isolated and abandoned to create eerie atmospheres and spookiness, props are often weapons. They often also quite closely follow Propps character types in horror narratives, including having; the villan, the helper, the dispatcher, the princess or 'prize', a false hero, the hero, the doner and the father. 

4) Idealology

An ideology is thought to be the accepted beliefs and values which an individual/group/society believes to be true; there often shared beliefs.

Dominant ideology's are often beliefs and values which are so accepted and we don't question them. Often referred to as natural common sense. Media texts almost always reflect certain ideology's. 

Upcoming Year.....

I'm excited for the upcoming tasks and challenges involved in the second year of the Media course, making a film trailer is an exciting prospect which will be stimulating and enjoyable to plan and produce.

As I do photography a-level I feel like this will be useful because I'm aware how technical codes such as lighting and camera angles and symbolic codes such as body language, facial expressions, dress codes and props can create such an impact and exaggerate certain atmospheres or stereotypes. For example in a thriller genre trailer, you might want harsh, high key lighting for a bold, dramatic effect, with lots of shadows and highlights to create an intense atmosphere.

Lots of research will be a necessity to explore audience needs and expectations of the genre, and also it'll be important to portray a clear genre, through codes and conventions.