TASK 1
What
visual codes are at work in the analysis of Grand theft auto?
- · How does Barthes semantic code apply in the analysis of the masculine and feminine figures?
- · What connotations do the visual codes have?
The female - GTA
Highly sexualised, she has her tongue sticking out whilst licking a lollipop this is seen as a seductive expression. The female body's language is almost swayed and standing in a feminine position. The female is wearing red which has connotations with lust and love but is also strongly linked with prostitution.
The girl is seen playing with her hair this suggests that she's not that intelligent and also suggests that she is a confused character.
She is also licking a lollipop very suggestively which promotes the idea that she is a playful character and maybe enjoys a bot of mischief and attention.
The male- GTA
The male has a scruffy stubbled beard which suggests that he is tough man and has maybe been in prison also links to the idea that he doesn't care about his appearance.
The man is seen wearing gloves so that it could mean he is ready to fight and get his hands dirty.
The man is looking very aggressively at the camera which highly suggests that he is ready to confront anyone over anything.
House of Cards:
Chapter 1
House of Cards uses a number
of different media techniques in order to portray different representations of
the main characters, location and politics.
The mise-en-scene of Chapter
1, gives a strong representation of the main character, location and politics.
The main character Frank Underwood is seen as a quite sinister character and
through mise-en-scene this is further proven with the low-key lighting
throughout the whole episode. This represents a sense of mystery and suspense
which all conform to the conventions of a thriller. Frank Underwood is always
dressed smart and slick this accentuates how politicians are dressed and are
portrayed. Frank Underwood is also looking for revenge and is a power hungry
character, this is represented through setting as most of the plotting and
scheming occur late evening/night this represents a sinister atmosphere as well
conforming to a political thriller conventions it also shows how sinister
Frank’s character is. An example of this would be when Frank shatters the
plates in his house this can represent the power struggle Frank is going
through as he was cheated from being State Senator. Another example of
corruption is when Frank blackmails Peter to work for him with no questions
asked.
In, HoC, there is a use of
dull and muted colours and with low-key lighting. The dull muted colour offers
a sense of realism towards the audience as HoC portrays the corruption and
power struggles within Washington, which is unknown to the public/audience. The
low-key lighting conforms to the genres of a thriller and in HoC case the genre
hybridity of a drama/thriller.
Also mise-en-scene has a
part to play in the character of Zoe Barnes, who is an ambitious reporter
working for the Washington Herald. Zoe’s
life has a vast contrast from Frank/Claire’s life. She lives in a messy
apartment with paper and work scattered everywhere this suggests that she
doesn’t care about her appearance. When Zoe first meets Frank she was wearing a
revealing V-neck to try and sway Frank. This suggests that Zoe will do whatever
it takes to get where she needs to be.
Peter Russo is a corrupt
solicitation, who is involved in dark matters such as drugs and adultery. Peter
becomes one of Frank’s pawns when he gets arrested for drink driving. Through
mise-en-scene it showed Peter’s situation through dull/muted colours also when
Peter was arrested it was set in the night, which gives it a more sinister
feeling.
Another significant part of
Chapter 1 is the sound used throughout the episode; there is a use of diegetic
and non-diegetic sound within the episode. More significantly diegetic sound is
more predominant, this usually occurs from Frank when he is narrating what’s
happening within the episode and what he is planning. Frank looks directly at
the camera almost if it’s a conversion between Frank and the audience. Despite
this there is still non-diegetic sound in the episode, which is mainly the
background music, this is more mysterious and it adds to the tension of the
episode, it also gets your blood pumping and heart racing through the music.
With the background music it conforms House of Cards to a political thriller.
During the presidential elect winning party, there was a lot of patriotic music
but Frank’s voice was more noticeable. During the episode the characters voices
override the background music.
The editing of the show gives us a strong representation of the character, Frank Underwood. The pace of the editing varies from scene to scene however it all adds up to paint this character, Frank, as a vicious and vengeful character. In an argument between Frank and his wife Claire, there is the use of shot reverse shot. The cuts and changes are very quick to suggest that this argument is heated and this shows the tension in the scene. This represents not only Franks but also Claire as characters that will not back down and will fight until they get their own way. There is also a very similar example that shows Zoe Barnes as and ambitious and arrogant character. In the scene where she is handing in the Education Bill, she is constantly interrupting her co-workers and there for the shot pace is very fast as the camera goes to the co-workers then is instantly back on her as she always has something to say. This shows that her character will make sure that her voice is heard as she want to make it to the top. In the title sequence of the show, there is a series of sped up establishing shots of the city of Washington DC. This represents the setting of the show as a very fast paced and busy establishment. This also sets the tone for the show itself
Moreover, the camera work also does a good job in the representing of characters in the show. There are many close-up shots on peoples faces in order to show emotion. Peter Russo is portrayed, through the use of camerawork, as an untrustworthy character. In the scene where his meeting is interrupted but his secretary posing as the president elect there are close up shots to his face and we can see that, even though we know he is lying, he keeps a strong, straight face. This immediately show the audience he is manipulative and not to be trusted. This is also reinforced in the scene where he lies to his secretary saying that he was alone the night before. This is a heated scene which uses the shot reverse shot at a fast pace. This shows that he wont crumble under pressure also. It also show that Christina, his assistant is quite a doubting character and is sceptical of his actions. When Russo is finally caught and called out by Frank he becomes worried and paranoid and agrees to everything Frank says. This shows him to be a pushover character being easily controlled by Frank. In the scene where Frank is told that he will not be made Secretary of State there is a close up shot, which shows his slight change is emotion. The change is enough for the audience to know he is hurt by the decision however it also shows him go from neutral to hurt to angry in a matter in a second showing he is ready to fight for his position.
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Discuss the similarities and differences of UK Soaps and US Long form dramas
UK Soaps are shorter in length
UK soaps are lower in budget
US dramas have a formal attitude whereas UK Soaps are quite urban
