Moving Image Analysis: Media Language

1. Desperate Housewives

One main signifier in this opening sequence is the apple, which is shown at the beginning and at the end. When it is shown at the beginning of the sequence we see a naked lady holding one from the tree who is obviously Eve and she is in the Garden of Eden. This straight away tells us that there is some sort of temptation and rebellion. We then see the apple again at the end of the sequence when four women are standing under a tree full of snakes and all holding an apple each. This tells us that they could either be the temptations or the tempters.  We also see a lady wearing all black eating a banana and then tossing it over her shoulder onto the floor where a maid sweeps it into the corner, where there are multiple bits of other rubbish. This could show that the problems that appear throughout the TV Drama just get pushed aside and not dealt with, but can always cause harm. An elderly couple is also shown and a younger women pushes the older lady out of the way and the man then smiles with the new younger lady. This shows there could be jealously and unfaithfulness in the TV Drama as well. A pop art women is also shown punching a man, this shows women power and may suggest a strong female cast/lead role.

The sequence tell us that the TV Drama could be about social class, secrecy, jealousy etc. I would expect to see a female lead and more women aspirating to be her or her best-friend. Many love triangles could also be involved, through marriages and single people. I suspect each women will have a secret which comes up at one point, as it was never fully dealt with the first time, and causing trouble when it does.

The target audience of this drama is possibly female teenagers and women in their early 20s. I can guess this because it has only shown female characters in the opening sequence, which tells me that the main story line is probably going to follow a women and therefore could be more attractive to a female audience. I can guess this age group because they are younger than the women shown in the sequence and could aspire to be like them.

2. Sex & The City

The sequence starts with a view of a busy street which later become clear that it is New York and we can then guess that it is also set in New York City.  Sarah Jessica Parker is the only person in the opening sequence which shows that she is the main character. She is also the only person wearing bright coloured clothing, everyone else in the background is wearing dull colours. This again shows that she is the main character but could also link to a theme of fashion in the TV Drama. There are also many building of New York shown and this could show us that the drama has something to do with working and trying to reach the top as the building shown are all shown to us from a low camera angle, making the building seem extra intimidating. She also gets splashed by a bus going through a puddle, and this could almost be seen as a hit of reality.

The sequence tell us that the drama is probably going to be based around the theme of fashion and as she seems so out of place in the opening sequence the audience could maybe guess that she is new to the city and has come to achieve her lifelong dreams.

The audience for this TV Drama would again be female teenager and women in their early 20s, however it may also interest anyone who is into fashion due to the fashion theme. Again I can guess this age group because living in New York and being in fashion would be a dream for many young girls so watching this programme would defiantly appeal.

3. Mad Man

The main character in the opening sequence has no face and is in all black, this could tell us that the main character is invisible, trying hard but never noticed. The main signifier is the man falling downwards past building throughout the whole opening sequence, this again shows that he is low down at his job or that he’s fallen from a higher status. In the background, whilst the man is falling, the building has pictures of slightly seductive women and pictures of families. This might suggest a trouble with family life and an affair for affection from another women.

The sequence doesn’t tell us a lot about the TV Drama, other than the fact it is probably based around an office scenery or work environment because of the starting image of the man in an office. Due to the images of women in the background, I can guess he either has a child but isn’t married or has a family but is cheating with another women and both get in the way of his work.

The audience for this drama might be of a slightly older age bracket 17-27 and both male and female viewers. I think this about they age because of the work environment scenery which I believe would appeal to older ages. I think both female and male viewers because it doesn’t have typical gender subject/theme and therefore would be easy to relate to for both genders.


4. Six Feet Under


A main signifier in this opening sequence is the two feet shown, with a tag hanging of the big toe. This tag tells us that the feet belong to a dead body and also hints at the story line for the rest of the TV Drama. We are then shown a hospital bed which reinforces the idea of a theme of death. Whilst we are being shown the hospital bed, we can see a black silhouette of a man in the background who slowly disappears as the bed gets closer to the camera. This tells us that the deceased is leaving people behind, maybe a relative or close friend. We later are shown the body, from a bird’s eye view, which now has clothes on. This now tells us that the drama might have something to do with a funeral company, as they receive a body then dress it up ready for the funeral. We can also see in the opening sequence and funeral car boot opening with a casket in it, this strengthens the idea of a funeral theme throughout the drama. At the beginning and the end we are shown a single tree in a field, when this is shown at the beginning it is a very simple image. However, when it is shown again at the end of the sequence, the title ‘Six Feet Under’ sprouts from the roots of the tree into the ground. This implies that the TV Drama might involve secrecy and the title is shown under the surface. But it is also shown under the surface because the drama is called ‘Six Feet Under’.


This sequence tells us that the drama is going to involve death, loss, secrets and much more. Although we only see one deceased body in the opening sequence, I think the programme will involve many deaths and not just one. I can expect there not to be a main character but a group of main characters as there wasn’t a focus on a specific person in the opening sequence.

The audience for this TV Drama could be of a very wide age bracket from about 15-35. I think this because the theme isn’t a harsh or brutal theme and therefore would be suitable for the younger ages but it also looks like it carries a detailed and interesting story line and so could appeal to the older and more mature audience. I can also guess that this drama will attract both female and male audiences because again like ‘Mad Man’ it doesn’t hold a typical subject and therefore both genders could relate and understand the drama.

5. Dexter

The main signifier in this opening sequence are all the things which are made to look like blood. Starting with the squashed mosquito on his arm, then the cut on his neck whilst shaving, then the ketchup being carelessly splattered onto his plate and ending with the cutting of the blood orange. These all give a clear image of death and maybe even murder because of the brutality and carelessness which is shown throughout the opening sequence. We are also shown a knife cutting into meat, this helps intensify the possible theme of murder in the TV Drama. At the end of the sequence we see a man walking out of an apartment into a sunny day. This is the complete opposite to what we saw inside the apartment and suggests that he might have this secret identity which the outside world doesn’t know about.

The sequence tells us the theme of the TV Drama is mostly likely going to be death/murder and obviously having a male lead. I expect that the main character doesn’t have many friends but still comes across as a normal person in his day to day life and no one has any suspicions of him being a secret murderer.

The audience of this TV Drama could also appeal to a wide age bracket from around 17-40 years old. I think this age bracket will be attract to the programme despite the harsh theme because many young and older people love the murder mystery theme. Regardless of the male lead, I don’t believe it will be a male dominant audience, I think that both males and females would be attracted to this TV Drama because of the interesting and gripping theme.

Textual Analysis

 

Analysis must explore the effect of specific feature on the audience. You can't just feature spot.

Facial Expression =
- The women's eyes show fear, this makes the audience feel a sense of panic; will she get away quick enough?
-The doctor's face is more determined and steady, this tells us that he has more experience in this situation and knows what to do.

Positioning in Frame =
-Both characters are in the center of the frame, this tells us, the audience, that they are the main characters,

Lighting =
-The lighting highlights the importance of the two main characters, and show the dark parts as scary and dangerous.

Setting =
-Two characters escaping from danger, this situation will excite the audience as it is thrilling

Costume =
-The women is wearing a tight fitted jacket which extenuates her figure; is she the love interest of the doctor? She is also wearing a leather jacket, this reinstates the rebellious theme. Her short hair gives an edgy feel again relating to the rebellious theme.
-The doctor is wearing a blazer which shows intelligence and professionalism. Linking to his facial expression which shows experience, we can see he has experience because he is wearing unsuitable clothing yet is still copying with the situation.

Film openings

1. Trainspotting

       

Junkies running from shopping mall security in a public place. the camera angle is a low shot giving the security guards the authority in the shot. When the to boys talk we can tell that they are uneducated as they have limited vocabulary and swear a lot. Freeze frames are also shown to introduce each character during the opening sequence. 

2. The Third Man

String are being plucked in the background draw interest to the soundtrack of the film, which is also played all the way through the opening. The soundtrack is a happy and upbeat tune which contradicts the dialogue and images shown. Flashes and scenes of historical footage is shown, which give a sense of reality to the viewers. 

3. Blue Velvet 

Uses the music 'Blue Velvet' by Bobby Vinton which changes when the hose pipe becomes blocked. It is also a typical American life soundtrack relating well with the opening blue skies and white picket fence. It all then takes a turn and the camera moves underground passing through bugs and beetles going 'under the surface' which contrasts with the perfect opening scene,  

4. This is England

The whole introduction is very long and uses an upbeat piece of music with juxtaposing images and lyrics against the happy tune. The titles had  'prison like'  numbers under the names of each actor/actress, which hints at the theme of the film.