:: Reception theory

Reception Theory: Blog task

1) What is the preferred reading of a media text?

The interpretation that the producer wants you to think.

              

- The meaning the producers intend to communicate. This builds on the idea that                        producers can position the audience in a certain way and influence their reading so                  they accept the intended message by using recognised codes and conventions (such                as stereotypes).

2) What is the oppositional reading of a media text?

The opposite of what the producer wants you to think. Normally negative connotations.

-The oppositional reading goes against the meaning the producers are trying to create. The       audience reject the intended message and construct an opposite reading instead. This can     be  due to their own social, political or moral beliefs and values. 

3) How does the Adolescence clip position the audience to respond to the teenage character in the scene?

When the teenage character lashes out at the lady, it could leave the audience believing all teenagers are violent and aggressive. They could end up thinking teenagers have no respect for adults and don't know how to behave when talking to a kind, caring person or someone in authority.

4) Why might young people reject this reading and construct an oppositional reading of the trailer?

Other teenagers may think that this is a normal response and behaviour, due to the fact he's under so much pressure and has gone through a lot the past few days. They may think that he's overreacting but they would understand how he feels and feel empathy towards him. They would probably justify his behaviour.

5) Exam-Style Q: Explain how representations of young people are constructed in this clip. Answer with reference to Stuart Hall's reception theory. (Preferred/Oppositional Readings)

:: Blog feedback & Learner response!

THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK 

MISE-EN-SCENE:

Lighting - 

Normally in shows two characters that have links to the colours red and blue never get along, a character that is linked to the colour red is normally more powerful and dangerous. A character that is more blue is usually a more intelligent but has a more sad backstory or has been through alot :( . The fact they both hold lightsabers in these colours in the dark symbolises a blind fight between good and evil. What I mean by blind fight is, the darkness could signify the unknown and the fear of it or maybe even evil. This may be the case as the dark side is fully on the left which may be hinting that he's pure evil. On the other side is orange which could connote fear and nervousness, but also enthusiasm and hope, showing us which side is good and which side is bad.

Costumes -   

MINORITY REPORT

At 1:05 to 1:09, the camera tracks from a high angle, making the man at the bottom feel small, trapped and vulnerable in the dark alley. It makes him appear like he has a lack of control and suggests the situation is dangerous and chaotic. 

This scene, which takes place at 1:28, is a low angle shot. This has the exact opposite effect of the high angle shot, making the people seem more powerful and intimidating. This could maybe foreshadow how the man is going to take back control of the situation and escape and/or fight the ones who were chasing him.

During the fight scene, starting from 2:10, they tend to use fast pace editing to create tension and suspense for the audience. The quick changes between shots makes the scene feel way more intense which could keep the audience more invested and interested in the movie.

At 0:47, I'm not exactly sure what this is called, but the fact that they continously switched between the characters proves that they really wanted to create tension here. The audience would feel as if they shouldn't be trusting on or the other which could be confusing and keep them watching for longer to find out what'll happen between the two.

At exactly 1 minute in, the camera tracks and pans, following the man who was running away, avoiding what's going on behind him. This could be nerve-wracking because the audience wouldn't know whether he's still being chased, or has gotten away. By his facial expressions, we can tell he's still very nervous which could suggest they could still be very close and about to capture him, but the audience has no way of knowing which makes the situation even more tense.

At 2:51, the camera zooms into the mans face while he's hanging from a ladder really high up off the ground. This zoom can create suspense and pressure as he could fall and hit the ground any moment and get detained. 

At 2:59, the camera falls straight down, showing what a high drop it is for them. This could made the audience feel extremely uneasy as the motion blur shows has fast and high up the fall is. As the camera tilts, it creates a sense of urgency for the audience.

 

 

★ CAMERAWORK BLOG TASK ★ 

★ The close up shot of the lady communicates to the audience how distraught she was when sacrificing but confident and strong she was being. This has a sympathetic effect on the viewer as all they can do is sit and watch the lady sacrifice herself for the world.

★ This over the shoulder shot shows how big, stressful and complicated this mission is, with all the buttons and bright lights. Its also a low angle shot which also emphasizes the severity of the situation, making us feel small and almost insignificant and unhelpful to the task.

★ This close-up shot forces the audience to focus on her facial expressions, which are very concerned and worried. Because the camera is behind the computer, the audience may be confused or maybe intrigued by the mystery.

★ This high angle shot shows how tedious and overwhelming the mission is. By looking down at him, it makes it seem like high-stake task. It also makes him seem small compared and unhelpful.

★ The split-screen shows the characters working as a team, which brings hope. The dark lighting and worried faces show fear and danger. The rusted metal and blue wires make the screen look secret and hidden, showing how bad the situation is.

★ EXTENSION TASK:: STRANGER THINGS 

★ This scene uses a low-angle medium shot to make the kids look brave and heroic. By filming low down, the audience looks right into their bright headlights, the camera highlights their courage against the scary, almost nerve-wracking darkness around them. 

🎬 mise-en-scene

:: Mise-en-scene: Stranger Things analysis

Costume: The character at the start is wearing a white lab coat, this suggests to the audience he is a scientist or works in a laboratory. He's also wearing a lanyard which could suggest there's more scientists that work along with him. The white lab coat connotes science and professionalism, but may also suggest he does secret experiments.

Lighting: The lighting is dark and has a blue(ish?), green(ish???) tint. This creates a mysterious and creepy atmosphere, making the audience feel uneasy. The shadows connote danger and secrets suggesting something strange could be happening.

Setting: The character is standing in a narrow, enclosed facility with boring, plain walls. This suggests that he is in a laboratory. The narrow setting connotes the man is trapped or isolated, making the audience curious about whats going on.

Body language:

The man looks frightened and panicked after running into the lift to escape from whatever was chasing him. This suggests he is in danger and is desperate to survive. His scared expression creates tension and makes the audience feel worried for him. It also builds suspense because the audience wants to know whats chasing him.

:: Introduction to photoshop ★

 

:: Introduction to photoshop!

★ From the list of words for a colour palette, i chose fruity. The reason i chose the image i did it because of  how colourful and tropical it is, it really matched the prompt and it actually reminded me of the colours of a parrot. I chose the colours for the same reason, they were tropical and colourful and really matched the prompt.

★ The task was so fun and i really enjoyed it! I found the task somewhat easy, there were a few parts that i struggled with, like opening the parrot image and working out how to switch between images to colour it but used the task instructions on macguffin blog to find out what to do.

★ If i were to do anything different i would choose a different, more unique colour palette and colour my parrot not so traditionally. Maybe id try to convey something rather than just colouring it like any other parrot.

 - CONNOTATIONS OF AN ADVERT!

Pink Dove soap-

1) The dove print advert communicates meaning to an audience through the use of symbolic media code. The use of the colour pink could connote femininity, romance and softness, which helps create a gentle mood. The woman is shown holding the pink dove product while wearing a large pink bow, which emphasizes the feminine theme. The phrase "tickled pink" suggests that she is very happy with the product. The advert's message is that Pink Dove is a luxurious and enjoyable product, encouraging the audience to buy it! 

Sunnies x Monchhichi toy-

2) The sunnies x Monchhici advert communicates meaning to an audience through the use of symbolic media codes. The use of pink and cream colours could connote cuteness, warmth and childhood. The Monchhichi toy has large eyes and soft fur, which makes it comforting and could appeal to a younger audience. The words "limited edition" create a sense of exclusivity, encouraging the audience ti get the product before its gone. The advert also mentions a gift box, suggesting that the product is special enough to be given as a present. The message is to make the collection seem cute, collectible and nostalgic, encouraging the audience to buy it!!!