Film Language

Editing 

Speed: The duration of the scene. 

Sound: This is where the meaning is created and the tone is established, for example if there's a sneaky scene you're most likely to hear the tip toe music, creating the tension. As well for example the film 'Jaws' due to it including sharks, you will hear the dun dun dun theme tune, commonly linked with sharks. 

Style

straight cut - is when the camera cuts out into a black background

Fade - is where the camera fades into a black background then fades into the next scene 

Dissolve - is when one image replaces another

Horror Codes 

- technical codes 

- Editing 

- Camera

     -C.U (close up)

   -E.C.U (extreme close up)

Graphic Match

A graphic match creates a cut between two shots that juxtapose their graphically similar images. The successive shots have compositional elements that match (shapes, colours, movements, linear); therefore, the cut can establish a link between the shots graphically and metaphorically

Further into the horror cycle and the impact of social and psychological forces

Today in media, we learnt about The Horror Cycle and the impact of social and psychological forces.

Starting off in 1930's this was when the Monsters,Werewolves and Frankenstein like characters were introduced, which had a major effect on the audience in that time, due to them never have seen a so called 'Horror' they were soon introduced to them. This was the start of the horrors. For example, the film Nosferatu which was released in 1922 which was slightly earlier, however its a great representation of the beginning of Horrors. Taking this iconic scene from the film, of Count Orlok climbing up the stair case. This is significant due to the fact that you dont physically see his body, you only get to see his shadow. As well as this the film is set in a house at this particular time, so this would have scared the audience even more, due to the realisation that these so called monsters and vampires can intrude into your home you  look at as a safety barrier. Even to this day, many would agree that once you close your front door, that closure acts as a comfort, making you think that none of them monsters or any creature can harm you. As well as children hiding under their duvets, expecting that to act as a barrier. However after this film, many people begun to question this.




Moving onto the 1940/1950's this was when the commonly known 'Dracula' was introduced, which was fairly similar to the film i mentioned above. Dracula put the message across to the audience to not trust everyone you meet, they may come across kind however many have a nasty streak in them. Moving onto the 1950's this was when sci-fi/ horror came together (Hybridisation). This included UFO's which would of made the audience question the planet, and what it really in tells. As well as this it would of made the film makers produce this image of what Aliens look like.

1960's was the 'Sycho' Era, this film was also another film that has made the audience question the amount of safety that there homes produce. Due to a scene being filmed in the bathroom, whilst shes having a shower, this is seen as many peoples 'alone time' and relaxation time, however after this film this relax time was forever intruded.

The 1970's was the Slasher films, such as Driller Killer, Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Hitcher. They were called 'Slashers' due to them being a sub genre of thriller and horror film, typically involving a psychopathic killer stalking and murdering a sequence of victims in a graphically violent manner. 

Moving into the psychological films, that when produced made the audience feel very on edge and especially The Nightmare On Elm St, this frightened many viewers, as well as this many couldn't sleep days after, this was clear the film makers the psychological affect it had on the audience.

Lastly was the Teen Horrors in 1990's  such as scream, this included comedy aswell as the horror/thriller aspects. However the film Prom Night had many aspects in it, including a stalker, gore and many more aspects you would see in a Horror Film.


From all of this i have learnt the way in which the horror cycle has evolved over many years.

Mise en scene

French term - what is put into a scene or frame.

Mise En Scene

- communicates essential information to the audience
- Made up of six elements
   -setting and props
  -costumes hair and makeup
  -Facial expressions and body language
  -Lighting
  -Colour
  -Positioning of characters and objects with the frame

Setting and Props -
 - Setting/locations play an important role in films and aren't just backgrounds
 - Sets are either built from scratch or a great deal of time is spent finding a setting that already exists but for the audiences familiarity.

Costumes, make up and Hair :
- Tells us whether the film is set in the present such as if its subtle make up or over dramatic which could also present their character.
-   Can show wealth
- Act as an indicator of a characters personality job and status.

Facial expressions and body language -
- Clear indicator of how someone is feeling
- How a character feels towards another character such as if there is eye contact may suggest passion and many other feelings.

Positioning of character/ objects within a frame -
- Can draw attention to the main character or any character.
- reveal feelings between characters

Lighting and Colour -
- Make characters come across as sly or mysterious by covering certain parts of the body.
- highlight important characters
-reflect a characters mental emotions.


Low key lighting
   - created using key and back lights
  -  contrast of light and dark areas

High key lighting
 - More filler lights are used
 - More natural to the eye
 - light lit sets

Generic evolution

The Horror Cycle generic evolution

The difference between style and taste is never easy to define, but style tends to be centered on the social, and taste upon the i individual. Style then works along axes of similarity to identify group membership, to relate to the social order; taste works within style to differentiate and construct the individual. Style speaks about social factors such as class, age, and other more flexible, less definable social formations; taste talks of the individual inflection of the social- John Fiske 

 I agree with this quote from John Fiske due to the fact that it is hard to define style and taste, as in the taste is the audience and what you expect to see when going to watch a film. For example if you went to see a horror film, you'd commonly find that there will be music in the back ground to create the suspense. As well as this the style is what you, as a director and maker of the film have to include in it. The iconography which is what the audience will expect to see, the typical aspects of that genre will have to be included. 'style speaks about social factors such as class, age and other more flexible, less definable social formations' I also agree with this because there needs to be an aim in which the film is heading, defining it by the age group or class. 

Binary Opposition

Binary opposition is a pair of related terms or concepts that are opposite in meaning. Binary opposition is the system by which, in language and thought, two theoretical opposites are strictly defined and set off against one another.


 Binary Opposition is very common in  majority of films, possibly showing the wealthy and poor in two different images.

Examples of Binary Opposition

Semiotics

Semiotics


Mediation - the process where Media institutions are the go between. They select an organise material for the audience.

Representation - The way people groups, cultures and ideas are shown by the media.

 

 

Denote is the literal meaning of the 'sign'. Using the example above, the denote would be the image of the red car.

 

Connote is the interpretation of the meaning of the sign.

 

POLYSEMIC

 

Iconic - resemblance

 

Symbolic - Learned

 

Indexical - Casual link

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Genre

The last couple of lessons of media, we've touched upon genre. I have learnt about it's importance within the television industry and films. Before media, I just saw genre as classifying films into groups such as the inbetweeners being a comedy and so on. However media has opened up a whole new perspective of genre, finding different ways to classify genre. For example many characters play similar roles in films due to audiences noticing them for that particular role, as well as this, the character can be seen as not fitted to any other role, such as Cameron Diaz is usually found playing the sexy blonde bimbo regularly found in RomComs. Where as the memorable Robin Williams was a very diverse character by playing many different roles throughout his acting career such as Mrs Doubt-fire and the genie in Aladdin. Even though they are both children's film/programme both characters that he plays are very different in many ways.

In addition genre can be classified by the setting and use of props throughout the film. For example your typical western film will include guns, tumble weed, cow boys and remote areas. The genre helps the director gain influence when approaching the story, for example a horror film will have to include creepy music to create the atmosphere, dark scenes to reinforce the genre and ghosts.

As well as this, I have also learnt that series of films is all well and good however there needs to be new twists, this will keep the audience hooked on to the film and stopping it becoming predictable. The twist will be what makes the film different comparing to films within the same genre. Such as 'Toy Story 3' and 'The Chronicles Of Narnia' they are both so different but also very similar due to them being both an adventure. This is because Toy Story 3 is specifically aimed at younger children ages 4/5 upwards And 'The Chronicles Of Narnia' is aimed at older children due to it exploring the world of fantasy and mythical creatures. Where as 'Toy Story' focuses more on real life, showing things that young children will likely recognise.