ESSAYS:
Analysing a Movie poster:
Gone with the Wind
In this essay, I will be identifying key signifiers from the poster, exploring the connotative and denotative levels of meaning, using semiotics to elucidate what the poster is trying to communicate to their audience, and more.
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When the audience first looks at the poster, the first thing that they are most likely to be aware of is the main focal point of the picture- the man and the woman positioned together right in the middle of the poster. The composition of these two characters is a strong signifier that these will be the two main characters involved in the film, or in other words, the protagonists. This technique is extremely common in a typical movie poster format, as it is easy and effortless for the audience to recognise the main character(s) of that particular film immediately.
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The iconography of this film poster includes an image of a man and a woman, as well as a red and orange colour scheme, both evocative of the romance/drama genre. Typically, we associate the colour red with passion, love, danger, romance, desire, war, anger, etc. In different cultures, the colour red might be representative of something completely different. For example, in China, red embodies prosperity, happiness, and good luck; whereas in the Middle East, the colour red symbolises danger and evil. For this particular film, considering that it was intended for an American audience, the producers’ preferred meaning was likely for red to be a signifier for passion, love, and perhaps even a little danger. In addition, the orange surrounding the main image almost seems as if in imitation of bright flames, which connotes danger and peril and suggests that the two main characters might be involved in some sort of conflict or trouble.
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On a denotative level, we see the two characters in the centre of the poster positioned so that the man is carrying the woman with both arms and leaning in protectively over her body, while the woman is lying helplessly in his arms and facing upwards towards him. This is a stereotypical representation of the woman as the ‘damsel in distress’ and the man as her saviour and the dominant figure in the relationship. This allows the audience to connote that the man will be the woman’s ‘knight in shining armour’ and save her from trouble. The man’s facial expression and positioning of his body suggests that he cares deeply for the woman and is most likely romantically involved with her.
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In the image, we can denote that the man is wearing a white un-buttoned shirt and that the woman’s attire is simply a red dress. On a connotative level, we might assume that unbuttoned white shirt worn by the man manipulates the audience to think of the man as more desirable and masculine, whereas the same case is applied to the woman with the dress slipping off her shoulders to show off more skin and appear more feminine. In western cultures, the colour white is often associated with purity and innocence, implying that the man is a protagonist of the film. The red dress worn by the woman signifies femininity, romance and sex appeal.
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Moreover, the fonts, graphics, and images that are illustrated in the poster are huge signifiers that it is a historical film set in the nineteenth century, and that the movie itself was produced back in the 1900’s. We can easily deduce that all signs point to the historical genre of film-from the wooden carriage wagon; the articles of clothing worn by the characters; to the soldier in uniform on his horse.
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BASIC SHOT TYPES:
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Establishing Shot
This is an establishing shot. It's purpose is to establish the location and setting of a scene
Over the Shoulder Shot
The over-the-shouldr shot contains of the camera angle being positioned behind a person and the shoulder in view.
Canted Angle Shot
This is a Canted angle, it is a shot where the horizon line is not parallel to the bottom of the camera frame.
Bird's Eye View
This is a Bird's eye view, it was shot straight down from an elevated platform.
Medium Shot
This is a mid shot because this photographer capture the waist up of the model.
Worm's Eye View
This is a worms eye view because it’s angle is like what a worm would see from that position.
Long Shot
This is a Long shot because it captures the whole of the person’s body.
High Angle Shot
A high angle shot is where the camera looks down on the subject from a high angle.
Extreme Close Up
An extreme close up, also known as a Personal shot, contains one part of a character’s face or other object. This technique is used in film to enter the character’s intimate space.
Close Up
A close up shot focuses on and tightly frames a person’s face or an object.
Medium Long Shot
A medium long shot is a three-quarters shot which focuses which frames the subject from the knees up. Also known as the intermediate between a long shot and a medium shot.
Two Shot
A two shot is a type of shot in which the frame encompasses a view of two people.
Medium Close Up
The medium closeup is half way between a mid shot and a close up. This shot shows the face more clearly, without getting uncomfortably close.
Low Angle Shot
A shot taken with the camera placed in a position below and pointing upward at the subject.Low angles help give a sense of confusion to a viewer, of powerlessness within the action of a scene.