Wednesday 16 September 2015

Reading an image


Denotation: It is an RBK advert of 50 Cent with a quote alongside.

Connotation: The image of fingerprints which show his criminal activity as well as camouflage on his cap could suggest to the viewer that rbk products are what would be used in a world with tough times. The scar on his shoulder As well as the serious expression on his face showing a form of determination towards the consumer.  

Colour: The colour scheme is monochrome giving the photo that gritty look as well as supporting that serious tone to highlight his facial features of confidence to the viewer. The colour scheme also makes a sort of serious tone to support the picture of 50 Cent.

Pose: The position that 50 Cent is in shows power as he is facing towards the audience as well as having his scarred shoulder being slightly presented to show a form of power. His stance also portrays power as he is slightly tilted giving a little form of direct address towards the audience.

Framing: 50 Cent is placed to the side with the quote taking the other half of the screen with fingerprints which could show two different sides of 50 Cent's life. Towards the left side, we see 50 Cent but opposite that there's a quote with fingerprints to show that his criminal behaviour was a big part in his life. the logo is also placed onto the quote side which could show that 50 Cent is more popular than Reebok or is at least far more significant.

Composition: The overall build of the advert makes it look like a sort of motivational piece with the quote and the celebrity that Reebok fans would be interested in or aspire to be so they have loyalty towards 50 Cent. The photo of 50 Cent looks to support that dedication that Reebok fans would want from someone like 50 Cent.

Size: The size is pretty big which could show 50 Cent's significance if any celebrity was on an advert as they would be more recognisable so that people might stop to check out the advert and what 50 Cent is promoting.

Type of shot: The shot used here is of a close up on 50 Cent's upper body which allows for the scar to be shown a little but is a minor little feature that fans might understand. There are close ups of fingerprints to show that relation between 50 Cent and crime.

Subject of matter: Since 50 Cent is on front, he would be the selling point for Reebok as his stories might interest youths who are interested in 50 Cent. This could also mean that Reebok would think that 50 Cent has a large audience who would be interested.

Setting: The setting looks to be with 50 Cent who is talking about his experiences which tailor towards crime and what to appreciate compared to what 50 Cent had to go through. This advert also looks to be based around crime from it's dark atmosphere that it is based on.

Lighting: The lighting looks to be centralised on to 50 Cent as he is more recognisable person compared to Reebok so they would have his facial features lit towards him so that then people can see his determined face  that supports the quote.

Dominant/Preferred Reading: Reebok may want their customers to feel empowered when they use their products as he refers to there being no plan b then this could suggest that they would be stronger or have a boost when they have Reebok products equipped. The use of 50 Cent could suggest that Reebok assumes that a majority of their target customers would have an interest in him. The image of 50 Cent and the fingerprint background is split roughly in half which could show a form of importance between his criminal background and his image as a whole. 

Oppositional Reading: On the contrary, people might assume that this could be a bad influence towards their customers as the faint scars on his shoulder connote that the promotional material isn't suited as it would influence people into a theme of crime. Another aspect of the advert that presents an element of criminal activity is the fingerprints. This could show to the customers a criminal identity that they may peruse if they decide to purchase products from Reebok. 

 

Denotation: It is of a costumed protagonist with different characters surrounding him.

Connotation: It shows the protagonist's people that he has met and trusted throughout his journey of becoming Ant-Man. The helicopters in the background could show that sort of fugitive story in this film as well as the Golden Gate Bridge signifying it's location in America.

Colour: The colour is of this light blue which gives it a sort of comic look as it makes the protagonist contrast and stand-out as well as giving this character a relaxed personality.

Pose: The pose of the hero hows a form of confidence against whatever may go in his way. Comparing this to the others, he shows a more prominent role for this film. Also the lighting behind him is showing his significance as a character as well as showing that he is a hero.

Framing: The frame mainly consists of the protagonist being put towards the centre as being the main focus compared to the others that show as a supporting character. Also the mentor character and secret identity are pushed on top compared to the other characters to show that they serve a major role in the plot of the story.

Composition: This advert was made to make the protagonist stand-out as the costume contrast and make it more eye-catchy. The light that illuminates around him also shows that he is a hero in this movie with it being lit more towards the mentor than his secret identity.

Size: The size of the advert looks pretty normal for a standard poster that would be promoting a high end movie. The size of the title and release date could present that these are important pieces of information for the viewer that is keen on watching this film.

Type of Shot: It looks to be a medium shot which has most of the protagonist's costume present to view so that people can finally see the cinematic reveal of Ant-Man's costume for fans to see.   

Subject of matter: Since Ant-Man is in front , it is mainly there to promote the movie so that more people could see the promotional material for people to be intrigued about.

Setting: It looks to be based at America judging by the Golden Gate Bridge that is behind the protagonist.

Lighting: The lighting is fairly bright to display the protagonist and characters to see. It is quite bright which could suggest that this film may not have a dark tone behind it.

Dominant/Preferred Reading: The contrast of colour scheme with the protagonist and the background could suggest that they're trying to highlight this costume since it is the first time that fans of Ant-Man get to see a live action version of their favourite hero. Also the tagline that is with the date is a form of irony that only fans would understand so therefore this promotional material would make sense for an expert in Marvel's history or gallery of heroes. 

Oppositional Reading: Those who are familiar with the action genre wouldn't understand as much so they would have the impression that it would be generic due to the injured face shown at the right hand side of the protagonist. Also the use of helicopters with searchlights would also make the film seem more like a fugitive based story which may not intrigue as many viewers of this advert as Marvel would want to.




Tuesday 15 September 2015

Media Consumption Audit

Newspapers
I don't really read newspapers however I do tend to read stories that appear on the front page that intrigue me online via BBC such as crime stories on the news. Besides that, I don't really read many newspapers.


Magazines
I don't buy magazines but I do have an interest in Empire as it has stories about the film industry which I'm keen on. I normally don't read much about celebrities as they don't really have much of an affect into my life or relate to me but the sections I'm interested in are the mainly about the film that is featured in the recent issue if I consider reading the Empire.

Television
Approximately how many hours a week do you spend watching television?
8-9 hours
What times of day do you usually watch television?
6-8 m
What programmes do you like best and why?
The programmes I like best would be Sherlock due to its more modern setting to the detective and The Flash as it brings one of my favourite characters onto live action however I do tend to hate the boring love triangle cliché that occurs in almost every drama I've attempted to watch.
Do you watch alone or with others? If you watch with others, who decides what you will watch?
I watch with my brother most of the time but I mainly tend to take control of what to watch next.
Do you watch 'live' TV or on-demand/catch-up? Do you use any other devices to watch TV (such as laptop of tablet?)
I don't really watch catch-up as I'm a patient person but if I really feel like I miss out then I'll probably use services like BBC iPlayer.

Radio
I don't listen to radio as much as I used to in the past.

Cinema
What films have you seen in the cinema in the last month?
Haven't seen any film in cinema over the past month.
What films have you seen in other places – for example, through rental, satellite film 
channels (free or otherwise) or through video-on-demand?
Satellite film channels such as film 4 when I had recently seen Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief and I don't always watch films on demand. 
Who else watched the films with you?
My brother always tends to watch TV with me most of the time.
Who decided what films to watch?
It would mostly be me however if my brother finds a decent film to watch then we might watch that instead of what we were planning to watch.
What devices do you typically use to watch films: TV, laptop, tablet, phone etc.?
Most of the tome it would be TV as its more enjoyable on a big screen compared to mobile devices.

Online
How often do you access the internet?
At least everyday.
Where do you access the internet?  At home, at college or school, or at work?
Mainly at home.
What are the main sites that you access?
Most of the time it would be on YouTube as there are lots of content that is ready to watch for me.
What are the main reasons for accessing these sites – for example, for information, to make purchases, communicate with friends or for entertainment?
It would mainly be for entertainment but there would be the off chance where I would need it for information when I'm either studying or completing coursework.
What other activities (if any) do you do whilst accessing the internet?
Not really much.
What different devices do you use to access the internet? What is your primary device for accessing the internet?
Primary would be the computer but I would use an iPhone or iPad on a rare occasion.
What social networks do you use regularly (e.g. Twitter, Instagram)? Why do you belong to these networks in particular?
I don't regularly use social networks but my most used network would have to be Facebook as there is more things that relate to me.

Thursday 10 September 2015

Introduction to A-Level Media

1. Why did you choose A-Level Media?
I chose it because I am interested in the theories that are used in media and how they would show a different interpretation for movies. Also I'm interested in how the media represents certain topics.

2. Why is A-Level Media essential to you?
It is important to me because I'd like to have a career tailored towards the media industry.

3. What do you want to gain out of A-Level Media?
I'd like to learn different theories and other editing techniques to enhance my understanding and creativity of the media.

4. What media formats or types are you interested in?
I'm really interested in action films such as Marvel films due to the way they make childhood heroes turned into films that people of a majority of ages would like. Also, I'm into TV shows such as The Flash which share similar aspects but on a smaller scale.

5. Do you have any experience Adobe software or other editing tools?
I've had practical media experience with the music video last year as well as the film poster and some random occasions where I would mess around with Photoshop.

6. Any other subjects you're taking along side Media?
Applied Business.