Semiotics revision

50 cent on the album cover:

• The signifier is the cap which signifies his urban edge moreover reinforced by the text of "g unit".
• low camera angle makes him look more masculine and intimidating. 
• the lighting is used in order to make his chest and stomach look even more masculine.
• slashes drawn over his arms are used to connote anger and violence.
• the text at the bottom says "parental advisory explicit contents" which connotes the violent language or the lyrics however the cross presents binary opposition.
• The dark look of 50 cent, dressed in black and white has binary opposition against the white background with a pattern around the edge.
• The combination of his attire and fighting gloves connotes he's "ready to fight"

How is 50 cent represented?

Within the image of 50 cent, he is stood with a low angle shot to connote intimidation. Moreover emphasised by the lighting to enhance his masculinity.Furthermore the artistic slashes within his muscles are used to reinforce his size. His urban image is connoted through his attire; the hat signifies his urban edge, which is reinforced through the text "g unit. Moreover 50 cent is wearing fighting gloves, which suggests his urban, gangster, "ready to fight" attitude. The use of the "parental advisory explicit contents" connotes the violent nature of his lyrics which is in binary opposition tof the cross chain worn around his neck, as it is a signifier of morals and religion. 

Audience Theory

Media texts are aimed at a target audience which can depend on:

• age
• gender
• race/ ethnicity/ cultural background
• interests/ hobbies
• experiences
• class
• regional identity
• disability

1. the effect model or hypodermic syringe
2. the uses and gratification model
3. reception theory

these 3 theories are applied to help us have a better understanding between text and audience.

Primary- actually engaging with the media consciously, for example putting on the radio and listening. Primary is the same as an active audience.

secondary- also doing something else for example having the radio on while going about doing chores.

tertiary- engaged in the media yet on a subconscious level, you would know that its there but you don't take any notice. Also known as a passive audience.

The effect model

The effects model is an idea within media to present the consumption of media texts:

• Imitation- is the idea that the audience passively take in what the media texts are presenting and therefore copying what they see as they see it as the 'norm'.
• Desensitisation- The media texts no longer have the desired effect that they should as the audience have become used to what they are seeing- for example on screen violence.
• Catharsis- watching media as an escape. Often audiences use catharsis to watch programmes such as Eastenders in order to make themselves feel better and have an escape from their life problems. 

Media signs around the school

In our lesson we were told to look around the school to look at the signs. From doing this, I have taken into consideration all the posters and "media" that I subliminally take in without realising. The signs around the school are going to be aimed at teachers therefore they need to be short and to the point as well as relevant:

• tidy litter
• racism
• bullying
• smoking
• equality
• vandalism 
• "coughs and sneezes spread diseases"
• respect our school

All this media is used to try and improve the school environment. As the audience I was aware of the sort of things that signs would say but hadn't noticed them particularly- which is therefore suggesting the subliminal effect signs have. 

How concepts fit together?

All we have learnt within media is relevant to one another. All these concepts are linker to make a bigger picture, which ultimately is Media. Firstly we focused on genre which as a whole is the overview of Media which links to all films and TV programmes to question whether genre exist as it has evolved to such an extent over time. However everything within Media is a RE presentation of that we see in the real world; for example characters, story lines, emotions, stereotypes etc. All this factors which are relevant to make a media text are all used from representations and what we associate with what. Therefore throughout the things we are learning with media for example, narrative theory, these are all still a reflection of the representations.

SHIELD trailer analysis

Establishing shot:
Looking down upon the city

camera angles:

• High angle shot upon the government, connoting they're not a strong as they are perceived.
• close up on faces of the characters, tells alot about them, their emotions and what characters they will play within the film.
• low angle shot: used with the heroic characters- foreshadows their role.

Black suits vs casual

• Black suits show the weaker characters
• casual dress her the "superheros"

this subverts against our expectations of the reflection of their attire against their roles within society. We would expect the characters dressing in the smart black suits to be the slick, heroic characters yet in this case the audience is seeing more "normal" people becoming the heros.

mise en scene

• A lot of technology and machinery which could connote to the audience that the film will be sci-fi and superhero.
• The way the government is dressed in the dark suits with their "sleek" look, shows their sinister nature and influences the audience to feel dislike. 

How far do you agree with the comment that mass audiences are still passive recipients of media texts?

Passive thought within media is the mass audience subliminally/ unconsciously taking on the opinions and beliefs that the media inject. Censorship is used within media to prevent the mass audience being exposed to explicit contents. The Hays Code was introduced in the 1920s as they recognised their responsibility to mass audience to prevent explicit contents as media could inject audiences with thoughts that go against society and traditional views. For example it was unacceptable for Media to show such things as; white slavery, ridicule of the clergy, misusing the American flag and misusing words such a Christ, Lord or God in a rude way. Although we are not faced with same views that are unacceptable, our mass audience are still given restrictions on what we can watch- for example certain music videos are given an age restriction. As well as this "Watershed" within television is the time in which adult contents can be broadcasted; in the UK it is 9pm as this a time in which we expect children will be asleep. The reason why children are restricted to see this contents is because the Media are aware that they can subconsciously influence the audience to believe what is acceptable. Moreover we have been injected with the Media's perception of positive and negative stereotypes; genders views are different as mass audience has been told what is right and wrong for each gender.

I agree that mass audiences are still passive recipients of media text, to an extent because we are still given guidelines of what we should and shouldn't watch due to the influence it can have over a person subliminally. Moreover we have been desensitized as a mass audience to certain things which, if the Media did not show we wouldn't- for example violence.

Discuss the ways in which Cameron has used Binary Opposition to create meaning in Titanic

 In this extract from titanic, Cameron uses binary opposition from the start in order to show the division of class through the use of colours within the ship, the establishing shot is a view of the titanic. The ship is black on the bottom and white on the top, we see the lower class escorted onto the bottom of the boat which is symbolic of their class. Whereas, the upper-class are put onto the white of the boat which is symbolic of cleanliness, better facilities and being more important than the lower deck. Moreover Cameron’s use of colours to distinguish between classes is apparent through their clothing colour, Rose is entering the boat wearing white and purple; purple symbolising royalty and importance. Jack however is wearing dirty, scruffy clothing. This contrast and the use of iconography here is important to connote class; by Jack wearing a flat cap we assume him to be of the working class.

Binary opposites are used through Rose and Jack’s arrival onto the boat; Rose enters the scene in a gold plated car with her while gloves on which symbolises elegance and wealth, as well as being helped out of her car along with her family. Straight after this shot the camera jump cuts into a scene of a window panning into the bar where jack is, the window could show a division from Rose and Jack as their lives juxtapose one another. The camera zooms into a bar where you see Jack playing a gambling game around a table to win the tickets to the Titanic last minute. Jack is dressed in rags with a rolled up cigarette in his mouth which further represents his class. Jack is sat around in a bar with people of the same class as him which suggests the idea that the classes wouldn’t mix. When Jack wins the tickets he is running through the crowd, dodging people to get the boat in time which is binary opposite to Rose as the crowd move out of the way for her, the audience is made to realise the importance of class, emphasising the division of Rose and Jack.

When Jack and his friend enter the boat he is asked if he had been “checked” which signifies the lack of trust, symbolic of their class. Conversely when Rose and her family enter the boat they are allowed on without questioning moreover, allowing their pets on without checks; this emphasises the treatment of the lower class and highlights the binary opposition between Jack and Rose’s class. The non-diegetic music used within the establishing shot of the Titanic is heroic and emotional as though the Titanic was seen as a miracle, which is used in order to help to audience emphasise with the characters excitement. The introduction to Rose and her family is slow, classic music which could symbolise the purity and moralistic nature of their family. Contrastingly to Rose, Jack is introduced with Irish folk music which symbolic of drinking and bars therefore reinforcing the stereotypical expectations of the lower class.