Tinchy Stryder Music Video 'Number One' Analysis

Media Forms:

The extract meets the codes and conventions of a music video as whilst the music video is playing, the singers and the other background dancers are dancing which is a typical code and convention of a music video as this allows the audience to be able to also enjoy the music video whereas if there were no background singers or singers dancing, the music would be unusual and not follow the codes and conventions of a music video. Another code and convention which the music video follows is that the background dancers are females. This is a code and convention which is found in mostly all music videos and is typical to be seen as usually females are used for background dancers which attracts the male audience more as there is something about the video that then appeals to males. This is commonly found as males are hardly seen as background dancers which shows that this video is following the codes and conventions.

Media Audience:

The music video appeals to a teen audience which is likely to be males and females. This is shown through both males and females being shown in the video.

Spooks Opening Sequence

In this essay, I will be looking at the opening sequence of 'Spooks' and looking at the audience, institution, media forms and representation of the opening sequence. I will be looking at these below.

Media Audiences:

The opening sequence of Spooks uses a variety of techniques to appeal to a weekday mainstream audience. One of the techniques which the opening sequence is using is by using children and adults within the opening sequence. This allows the audience to be much wider as the opening sequence does not only target adults but also targets young children. Also, as the opening sequence begins with a young child skipping which shows that the audience also involves young children due to them being shown. This shows that 'Spooks' is attracting a mass audience due to having both adults and young children within the opening sequence. The opening sequence of 'Spooks' also connotes that the audience may be both male and female. This is because throughout the opening sequence both male and female are shown which means that both genders are able to watch the programme as it may relate to females and males.

Media Institutions:

The opening sequence of 'Spooks' does not tell us as much about the media institution involved in the programme. This is becuase at the beginning of the opening sequence, it briefly shows the institution which is BBC. This is shown at the beginning and allows the audience to know that this programme's institution is BBC. This allows the audience to decide if they would like to watch this programme or not as the institution is BBC. Also, as the BBC is known to educate and inform their audience, the audience will be aware that the programme will be educating the audience in some way. For example, the BBC is known to educate about crime, relationships and many more. This also allows the audience to know that this programme will be an appropriate programme to watch as it the institution is BBC which means that the programme is focusing on informing and educating the audience on certain things to ensure that the audience is being taught something.

Media Forms:

The opening sequence of 'Spooks' follows the codes and coventions of a typical opening sequence. This is shown as at the beginning of the opening sequence, a young girl is seen skipping with intense non-diegetic music being played. This allows suspense to be created within the opening sequence as in the opening sequence it is not made clear as to who this young girl is. This also creates enigma codes as the audience is left to think who is this young girl? what is she doing? why is she not involved in the rest of the opening sequence? which shows that the opening sequence is following the codes and conventions of typical opening sequences as it focuses on creating suspense in the audiences mind and create questions in their mind which they will not have an answer to until they watch the whole programme. This connotes that the opening sequence of 'Spooks' is being persuasive and allowing the audience to watch an episode to understand what is happening in the opening sequence. Another code and convention which the opening sequence is following is by introducing two characters who are always seen to be in the car which also creates suspense in the audiences mind as to what these characters are doing? who are they spying on? what is their purpose of being there? This shows that the opening sequence of 'Spooks' is following typical codes and conventions of opening sequences to allow the audience to be persuaded to watch the whole programme and find out more.

Media Representation:

The opening sequence of 'Spooks' represents the people within the trailer as careless and in to their own world. This is shown as the characters which are shown in the opening sequence seem to not know what is going on around them. For example, this is shown as the female is being spied on from outside her house and she does not have an idea of what is going on outside which connotes that females are represented as in to their own world and quite careless. However, in this opening sequence males are represented to be spies and in control as the males in the car are spying on the female and seem to be in control as they have an insight in to the females world without her knowing. This shows that males are represented in this opening sequence as controlling and taking control in females lifes without them having an idea about it. However, the other male shown in the opening sequence is shown as loving and caring as he seems to be loving around his partner and seems to be showing her love. This shows that males are represented in different ways within the opening sequence of 'Spooks'. Also, the place which is shown in the opening sequence seems to be a quiet place which shows that there is a less chance of trouble arising in the area.

How are people and places represented in this opening sequence?

Adulthood Analysis (2 Mins)

I will be analysing a two minute sequence of the film 'Adulthood'. I will be looking at Part 1 of the film from the timing 2.10 minutess - 3.25.

• In this part of the film, the sound which is being used in the music in the background which is showing that the males are in a club. Also, the males are also talking which gives an idea to the audience about the personalities of the males as they are swearing and behaving immaturely. The dialogue of the males conveys meaning as it allows the audience to be aware of the characters personality and also introduces to the audience the way these characters behave.
• The denotations of this part of the film is that the characters are basically hanging around outside of a club and are acting all superior. However, the connotations of this part of the film would be that the characters are basically looking for a fight as when the man parks his car opposite the club the young males are looking for trouble. This also connotes that these males basically enjoy starting trouble and getting in to fights as it makes them think they are superior.
• This part of the film creates an assumption that the audience is more likely to be males. This is because in this sequence you can see a group of males and one female which connotes that the main characters in the film are males. Also, as the group of males seem to be in a gang this creates an assumption that the audience is more likely to attract male gangs and just simply males. The audience is likely to be males from the age of 15 to people from their early twenties. The audience would react to the text by being intimidated by the film and also may relate to it as males usually go to clubs and spend their time with females.
• In this part of the film, males are being represented as there is a group of males shown. This sequence shows that males are represented as rowdy and always having a negative attitude as they are looking for trouble. The male characters are being represented in this way as typical male teenagers are always on the look out for trouble and believe themselves to be superior than other people. This shows that the film is meeting male teenagers stereotypes as males are usually represented and stereotyped like this. However, I believe that the stereotype is not fair as not all males are actually like that and also by males being stereotyped like this it is allowing males to believe that it is acceptable for them to behave like this.

Analysing a Text

I will be analysing the text which is 'Hit man' the games poster.

In this poster, the main image is of a female who is not completely dressed and is also on a red bed. The female also has blood on her forehead.

The connotations of this text is that it connotes that females are sexual objects as the poster focuses on a image of a female who is not dressed fully. However, the denotation would be that the poster is basically showing a female who has dies as she has blood on her forehead. Also, the mise en scene also creates an atmosphere of love and romance as the female is lying on a red bed and is also wearing red. This suggests that the mise-en scene is creating different thoughts in the audiences mind as the female is not dressed completely and she has also blood on her forehead which connotes two different things.

The assumptions which are made about the audience is that the audience is more likely to be male. The reason for this would be is because the poster focuses only on a female who is also not fully dressed which would attract males to the poster. Also, the audience will also have to be 18+ as the image shown on the poster connotes that the game is not suitable for people under 18 which is clearly shown on the poster. The audience may react to this text in a positive way as it will attract males to want to get the game and also be part of it. The ways in which this text appeals to its audience is by having a large image of a female as by this males would be attracted.

The genre of this text is violence. This is shown as the female who is shown on the poster relates to the genre as the game seems to be about violence as the female has blood on her forehead which connotes violence. In this text, females are being represented which is shown as there is a female on the poster. The female is being represented as a sexual object due to her pose and also the way she is dressed. The reason why the female may have been represented in this way is to attract the target audience of the game who are males. The representation is reinforcing stereotypes as the female is being represented as a sexual object only which reinforces stereotypes of females. However, the representation which is being created in the text is not fair as females should not be represented in that way which allows the representation to be unfair to females.

The major ideologies, values and assumptions behind the text is that it creates an ideology of sexuality as the female is not dressed fully and also by her pose. Also, another ideology behind the text is love as the poster is mainly red which represents love. However, this can also create a binary opposition as the red could also represent violence due to the female having blood on her forehead. Lastly, the poster is also patriarchal due to the female being portrayed as a sexual object.

The institution affects the text as PlayStation is a largely successful institution and is well known for their games. This would attract people who regularly buy games which are from PlayStation. This will also allow the game to be sold more and more successful.

Representation of Beyonce's Video 'Halo'

In this video the people who are being represented is both Beyonce and the other male in the video.

The way in which Beyonce is being represented is the ways in which females are usually represented. Beyonce is being represented as a female which is sort of paranoid about finding the right person to be with. Also, in the video Beyonce seems to be with the male who is shown and it is shown that she is able to trust this male and is removing the wall that is stopping her from trusting him. This representation of Beyonce is sort of reinforcing stereotypes of females as females are seen as paranoid and worried about meeting some one and being able to trust them.

However, the way in which the male is being represented is challenging the stereotypes of males. This is done as males are usually stereotyped as not staying with one girl whereas in this video he is seen as the perfect one as he is being represented as an angel. This shows that the stereotypes are being challenged.

The representations in this music video is fair as the way in which Beyonce is represented, that is the way in which most females feel and go through so its allowing females to open up more rather than hold back and not trust any males. Also, the way in which that the male is being represented is different than what males are usually represented as in music videos which allows females to see that there are some different people. This why I believe that the representations is fair.

Bullet Boy - Trailer

Bullet Boy - Codes & Conventions

Superbad Analysis

Superbad is a teenage American film which is based mainly in a high school and has a genre of Comedy.

Representation/Characters:

Through the three minute extract it is clear that teenage males are represented as in to girls and sex and not bothered about their education. This is shown when the male character goes to his friend and says he bought alcohol for a girl to try and get her drunk which is meeting the stereotypes of males. This shows that the director of this film is reinforcing stereotypes of males in high schools and showing they are not as much interested in their school but are more interested in girls and sex.

Audience:

The extract clearly shows that this film is aimed at teenagers. This is because in the film there are mainly teenagers. Also, as the the director of the film is reinforcing the stereotypes on male teenagers, male teenagers will be interested in watching this film as the film may appeal to them. According to the Uses and Gratifications theory, males would be interested in watching this film as they will be able to watch it for survelliance and escapism and the film may also be able to relate to them as it shows young male teenagers going through meeting new girls, school, fights etc.