Evaluation Question 2 Anna Hester

Representation …When we look at media texts we will consider the way in which individuals, groups and ideas are presented by the mass media. Attitudes and beliefs might be reinforced or challenged by representations. The mass media have a powerful influence on the way a society thinks about particular groups or issues because they present over and over again certain images and assumptions while excluding others.

Why is representation important ? …Its all the about decoding different layers of truth, function etc. For which the audience gets to decode from the signs and semiotics that the producers have encoded in there work. This is Bathes – semiotics.

Photographer : Opening Sequence

The Photographer is female and sets up shoots for people, but when the photographer looks through the lens they can see the models future or their fate.

From this description I believe that the audience would expect the photographer to be very mysterious and someone of odd quality's.

We have represented this character through cinematography by having extreme close ups, helping to hide there identity. Creating an great sense of mystery. We have represented this character through Mise en Scene by creating a rugged, messy look. Highlighting the fact that the character doesn’t care much about there appearance.

They way in which present this character was challenged by the Thriller genre. Firstly, the main character is female. Usually the male has the leading role. Secondly, the females in thriller are the more vulnerable. Whereas here it’s the public.

Hand : Se7en

I have chosen to choose other characters from other Thriller films as it will allow me to compare them to the characters in our opening sequence.

The character in the sequence has plastered fingertips because he slices the skin off. This suggests the character is hiding a dark secret as well as obviously his identity through fingerprints. The fact they are doing this suggests they are an antagonist of the film.The character’s hands are darkly marked and stained and look rough. The rough look to their hands suggests he is violent and dangerous. The character’s marked hands suggest he is very hardworking in what they desire to achieve-currently a mystery to the audience.

As and audience member my self I believe that the character is mysterious and dangerous from looking at the violent things he does to himself. And from the dark marked hands it shows they are hard working , but what towards we don’t know ? Creating more of a sense of mystery.

I don’t believe that they have challenged the genre as its all very typical. The creation of suspense, mystery, violence and so on.

Similarities Differences

• Appearances – Both seem rough and bare with not much care or dedication in to how they look.

• Same ethnicity.• Both hide there identities• Both take great dedication in what they

are trying to achieve. • Unknown ages.

• Different genders.• Different sub genres. • Different roles.

Hand (Se7en)

Girl (Model) : Opening Sequence

This girl/model is featured in our opening and is an example of what happens when photographed by the photographer. The top screenshot shows her posing in front of the camera, whereas the second screenshot shows her being strangled. This being what the photographer views through the camera.

I believe that the audience would expect the girl to be vulnerable, being stereotypical. But they would not expect to see what the future has in store for her.

We have represented this character through cinematography by having close ups, medium shots. Allowing the viewer to see all of what is going on in the scene. We have used editing here to show the differences between what the photographer visualise in the future and what is happening in the present time. Creating the feeling of suspense.

We have not challenged the expectations and conventions of genre. Firstly, female characters are more vulnerable e.g. ‘Pshyco’. Secondly, its typical for something bad to happen to someone in a thriller.

Iris : Taxi Driver

I have chosen to choose other characters from other Thriller films as it will allow me to compare them to the characters in our opening sequence.

Iris Steensma is a girl who lacks control over her own fate. A 12 ½ year old prostitute. She ran away from her home in Pittsburgh to live in New York, where she does drugs and turns tricks in the custody of her pimp, Sport. She is in love with Sport, and he succeeds in talking her out of leaving him. Travis eventually saves Iris from her corrupt life when he kills the men around her.

As an audience member myself I would expect this character to be very confident, young and vulnerable. Taking into consideration of her description. But I think that its not typical to find a character like this in a Thriller movie.

I believe that the movie has challenged the Thriller genre through this character because its not typical. Most genres are dark and mysterious, also having male as one of the main characters. Whereas here its not to dark, mysterious etc. But quiet the opposite.

Similarities Differences

• Around the same Age• Both vulnerable • We find out about there future in the

end • Same ethnicity• Leading roles • Same Gender

• Different culture English/American• Different personality• Different styles especially clothing –

Eras different

Iris (Taxi Driver)

To conclude …

I believe that representation is important to media as it helps the audience to identify the characters. There personality, states, style, culture, social groups, gender etc. Even though the ways in showing this may be stereotypical, different genres of film show it in different ways.