Media Studies
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Number 019
Analysing Film in AS Media: The Use of Media Language The aims of this Factsheet are to • Highlight the importance of the ability to identify media language choices in films • Focus on the links between media language choices and the creation of genre • Focus on the links between media language choices and the creation of narrative
Exam Hint:- Examiners often comment on the fact that lower grade answers tend to be descriptive rather than analytical. In any exam response avoid describing the plot of the film as this type of answer cannot receive good marks. When watching films you should get into the habit of identifying the specific techniques that have been used by the film maker. It’s a good idea to learn the terms that are used to describe the most commonly used media language choices so you can use them in your exam responses.
Analysing Media Language in Film Media language is the combination of elements that are used in the construction of a media text. For example, newspapers use combinations of words, pictures and design elements such as columns to convey meanings to its readers. Films have their own media language system which includes the use of: 1. Camera – the way the camera is positioned, angled and how/if it moves 2. Editing – the way one camera shot moves into the next: techniques include a straight cut, a fade to black or white, a dissolve from one image to another 3. Mise en scene – the way sets, props characters are designed and arranged within the camera’s frame 4. Lighting – the way light is used in the: e.g. high contrast (low-key) lighting and coloured lighting create different effects 5. Sound – diegetic sound is the sound within the film and non-diegetic sound is placed over the image An analysis of the media language in a film is simply a study of the way film directors have used these five elements to create what we see on the screen. When analysing a film it is always necessary to start with the media language.
Media Language Choices Make Meaning Every media language choice within a film has been chosen specifically to create an effect. Different combinations of media language make different meanings. Look at the shots below. They are similar as they are both closeups of a character’s eyes but they communicate different information. The image on the left is taken from The Descent (Marshall, 2005) and portrays a pair of eyes in close-up. The make-up and lighting makes the eyes stand out, especially as the actress has been directed to open them as wide as possible. In the image on the right, taken from The Good, The Bad and The Ugly (Leone, 1966), the lighting creates a natural effect which means that the man’s eyes are shaded by the brim of his hat and are hidden.
(http://blogs.suntimes.com/scanners/2006/ (http://blogs.suntimes.com/scanners/2006/07/ 08 the_descent_the_deeper_ending.html) opening_shots_the_good_the_bad.html)
The image on the left conveys a sense of terror whereas the image on the right conveys a sense of menace. We are able to arrive at this conclusion by understanding the connotations of the non verbal communication we are shown. We associate wide open eyes with panic and terror whilst we associate the stony gaze of the man on the right with confidence and menace.
Look at the two descriptions the opening scene in The Day After Tomorrow (Emmerich, 2004)
( h t t p : / / w w w. t e c h n o f i l e . c o m / i m a g e s / day_after_tomorrow.jpg)
A The establishing shot presents a large field of ice and then a drilling station. The wide angled long shot which tracks over the ice emphasises the vastness of the location and makes the drilling station seem small and vulnerable. There is an edit to a close-up of the American flag which identifies the nationality of the characters we see and implies that American values will be important in this film. The ice cracks and it is shown in another long tracking shot which reinforces the danger to the scientists. • •
Through connotations we can see that similar shots can have extremely different meanings. The camera’s position is the same but there are many contrasting uses of film language in the two images:
B Three American scientists drill into the ice in Antarctica and are almost killed when a huge crack forms in the ice.
A is using film language terminology and identifies the way the scene has been constructed. Even if you haven’t seen the film, you should be able to visualise the scene’s presentation. B is simply retelling the plot of the film and does not show any evidence that it is a film that is being discussed. It could easily be discussing the plot of a novel.
The Descent
The Good, The Bad and The Ugly
Camera Shot
Close up
Close up
Mise en scene
No background, strong make-up to create a dirty, bloodied image.
A desert background, old scars on the face, a hat.
Low-key, emphasising contrast of light and dark.
Bright high key natural light but washing the background out and causing a shadow to be cast over the man’s eyes.
Lighting
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Media Studies
019 Analysing Film in AS Media: The Use of Media Language
www.curriculum-press.co.uk
• • •
Activity What type of music would be best accompanying each image to help reinforce the meanings the director wishes to achieve? • Modern rock music? • Slow, mournful jazz music? • A pop ballad? • Triumphant classical music? • Rap music?
Songs and dance routines Chorus and solo numbers Stars who do not necessarily have a known background in singing or dance Historical locations such as Paris in the 1890s, Chicago in the prohibition era or Broadway in the 1950s. Romantic sub-plots A theatrical setting of some sort
• • •
The financial success of Moulin Rouge enabled film-makers to identify a formula that was popular with audiences. This formula was then repeated, with slight variations, in subsequent films using similar media language choices. Audiences seek these identifiable patterns in genre films because they find them pleasurable – these patterns are called conventions.
You may feel that none of these suggestions works particularly well with these images. Clearly each type of music creates a specific meaning and so music is carefully chosen to support the intended meanings within the film. Exam Hint:- Another way to fall into the trap of being over descriptive is to list the media language you have observed. In any exam response consider why the choice has been made. Try to identify the effects created by the media language choices made – always discuss why that choice was made and what meanings do the media language choices create?
When a specific media language choice has a strong connection with a genre it has become a convention.
Media Language Creating Genre Any sign that can be specifically linked to a genre is called an icon. The signs identified in the two images are part of the film’s iconography. http://www.cinema.com/articles/407/ moulin-rouge-production-notes.phtml)
Iconographies and their connotations can also help identify the genre of a text. The image from The Descent portrays a woman who looks terrified. This combined with the other media language choices suggests a specific genre. The presentation of the non verbal communication, the blood and wide open eyes connote horror.
http://www.rottentomatoes.com/ vine/showthread.php?t=192437)
The first image is of Satine from Moulin Rouge, played by Nicole Kidman and the second, Roxie from Chicago, played by Renee Zellwegger. They show a specific visual convention of the musical. Both use the image of a slim woman with one arm outstretched wearing a glittering outfit and performing on a stage raised above the audience. The convention communicates the genre to the audience so that the audience can form appropriate expectations. However, genre films will also seek to do something slightly different with the convention so that the film does not become too predictable.
The character from The Good, The Bad and The Ugly is presented in a desert background. Combined with his clothing and his demeanour, these media language choices suggest that the film will be a Western. Genre is a formula or pattern that enables producers and audiences to categorise film texts by their similarities. When a genre of film is successful, producers are usually keen to repeat the film’s formula to bring the audience’s back to the cinema again. Moulin Rouge (Luhrmann, 2001) provided film-makers with a new formula for a genre that had previously gone out of fashion. This proved highly successful and was followed very soon after with Chicago (Marshall, 2002) and The Producers (Stroman, 2005). These films make use of the similar conventions, including:
Exam Hint:- When discussing how you have identified the genre of a film, you must make sure you identify specific examples of the media language from the films you are using as examples. Do not make generalisations about a genre, be specific and show the examiner you understand how media language choices have been selected to help the audience identify the film’s genre.
Activity • Complete the table below either identifying the genre from the iconographies given, or suggesting iconographies for the given genre • Add as many iconographies as you can for all of the genres in the table Iconographies
Genre
Wide eyes, blood and dirt, extreme close-up on fearful expression…
Horror Film Noir
Desert setting, a broad brimmed hat, a menacing demeanour… Aliens, space travel, futuristic setting, technology… Explosions, car chases, guns, macho male hero, contemporary (often urban) setting…
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Western
Media Studies
019 Analysing Film in AS Media: The Use of Media Language
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Media Language Creating Narrative
Darth Vader - Villain
Luke Skywalker - Hero (http://blog.seattlepi.nwsource.com/ tv/library133946__skywalker_l.jpg)
(scifi.about.com/.../ starwars887.htm)
In Star Wars (Lucas, 1977), the audience are introduced to the villain very early on in the film. Some films prefer to hide the identity of the villain and in these cases the narrative will be based on mystery and suspense as the audience will be kept guessing thoughout the film. In Star Wars however, the audience are introduced to the villain and the media language choices make it clear he is a powerful and evil character. In contrast Luke Skywalker is depicted as being small, weak and is, at first, a simple farm boy. Tension is created in the film as the audience are left wondering how an insignificant boy can defeat Darth Vader. This narrative information is supported in the media language choices made in the representations of Vader and Luke.
Setting
The smoke in the air and the presence of dead bodies on the floor informs the audience that a battle has just taken place. This introduces the audience to the conflict which will drive the narrative forward. It also introduces the audience to the binary opposites of the conflict - the Empire represented by Darth Vader and his storm troopers and the rebels.
Luke comes originally from a rural farming community. This setting can be seen behind him. The countryside has connotations of purity and wholesomeness – an important part of Luke’s heroic character.
Costume
The colour black has cultural connotations of ‘evil’ and power and so Darth Vader’s costume immediately identifies his role as that of the villain. His mechanical appearance makes him very powerful but it also makes him seem less human so the audience has less sympathy for him. The mask also acts to make him seem less human and, in addition, makes him easily identifiable.
The colour white connotes purity and ‘good’. This identifies Luke as the hero and places Luke and Darth in direct opposition which is played out in the battles within the film. His clothing is made of natural materials and in combination with his blonde hair his overall appearance suggests innocence. This allows the audience to fear for Luke’s safety and support his goals.
Physicality
Darth Vader’s power and authority is also communicated through his height. He towers above the soldiers under his command.
Luke is an unusual male action hero as he has a slim, non muscular build. This reinforces his youth and makes him appear vulnerable when battling with Vader. Even though the body language in this image could be interpreted as being associated with power, the facial expression combined with the costume and the setting shows a thoughtful rather than aggressive character.
The ‘helpers’ It is ironic that the storm troopers are in white because of the associations this colour has with purity and goodness. Their guns provide narrative information as they hint at the fighting to come and the storm troopers are masked like Darth Vader which shows that they are his helpers. Their mechanical appearance means that the audience has no pity for them as they are killed later in the battles. Luke’s ‘gang’, however, is a collection of diverse individuals (Princess Leia, Chewbacca, Han Solo, R2D2, C3PO) rather than a faceless mass which again allows the audience to identify more with the hero and his helpers. As the idea of ‘hero’ and ‘villain’ is being constructed, the narrative problems within the film are also being identified. Narratives are usually structured around the conflicts created between binary oppositions and the media language choices made in these representations help create simple expectations in the way the film will progress. In addition, depicting Luke as a young and powerless character adds to the excitement felt by the audience as Luke seems poorly suited to be the one to challenge Vader.
Activity Complete the table below by identifying which media language choices help provide the narrative information in the image from Spiderman II (Raimi, 2004)? Media Language Choices Narrative Information Spiderman is the hero Spiderman is about to rescue Mary Jane Spiderman has special powers Mary Jane is being held hostage Mary Jane’s life is in danger There is the potential for romance between Spiderman and Mary Jane
(http://www.sacticket.com/static/movies/news/ images/250x186_spiderman2.jpg)
Conclusion
Acknowledgements: This Media Studies Factsheet was researched and written by Steph Hendry and Kev. McMenamin
Media language is the starting point for all film analysis – choices are made in the way the film is presented to its audience that contain specific meaning. Once you have identified the way the director has made choices in the way s/he uses cameras, lighting and sound to present the mise en scene and how the shots have been edited together, this information should lead to further analyses of the way these choices have been used to allow the audience to recognise the genre and to understand the narrative.
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