How terrorism is portrayed?
Key scenes:
Ahmed Shoots MI5 agent Butterfly:
Here the terrorist are portrayed as extremely threatening and this is obvious from the costume as one of them is wearing a black balaclava and gloves and the other one holds a gun. Ahmed shoots without thinking twice which shows that they have no sympathy for their enemy. Here terrorist are portrayed as very powerful with the authority to shoot as and when they like. They do not give people a second chance. This scene also shows the cunning ways of the terrorist who gives money to the agent before taking it away and shooting him.
When Danny and Fiona are held hostage:
Here the Terrorists are portrayed as great patriots of their own country but revengeful towards others, especially Britain. Again the terrorist is shown to be cunning whilst momentarily pretending to co-operate. He then aggressively handles Fiona whilst placing her in front of the camera, whilst the other terrorist gets out a knife on Danny. Here they are conveyed to be extremely frightening and dangerous, capable of committing any crime. Their violent nature is evident through the dialogue when Ahmed says ‘or I will cut his throat’ and ‘burned alive’.
Ahmed shoots Danny:
The evil amongst the terrorist is portrayed through this scene where Adam is forced to choose who should be killed, his wife or colleague making all three innocent characters suffer. It is emphasised by Danny short speech where he is portrayed to be an almost divine character which Ahmed then shoots. This shows the terrorists to be full of anger and unsympathetic.
Ahmed is represented in a negative way, Fiona and Danny positively. How are binary opposites conveyed to the audience?
The binary opposite of good versus evil is portrayed through the different characters, action and dialogue. From the start we can see that whilst Fiona and Danny are sitting down, handcuffed to the chair, the terrorists surrounding are always standing up, ready to trigger their guns. Here we see the vulnerability of the MI5 agents as opposed to the threatening and intimidating terrorists. Danny and Fiona are both made to seem victims of the criminal and we can see this from the sweat and blood of their face as the terrorists act aggressively towards them. Their dialogue also emphasises the difference between the terrorists and agents as whilst Ahmed is often heard saying evil things such as ‘when you’re son is older he’ll be able to watch images on you on the internet burning’, Danny on the other hand says ‘Acts of hatred also produce acts of love’
What role does camerawork and editing play in underlining these representations? What techniques are used to engage the audience?
From the beginning the camera and editing make the audience suspicious and Ahmed and Khatera as it uses CUs of Khatera putting an ear piece in her ear revealing very little about them. On the other hand there are mainly MSs of Fiona and Adam to so we are able to see that they are two ordinary people living in a normal house doing normal things. Here, cross cutting is used to highlight the two situations as linked but quite opposite.
After Fiona and Danny get captured there is a high angle LS of the room to put things into perspective for the audience so they are aware of where Fiona and Danny are sitting as the victims in relation to Ahmed and the other terrorists that stand surrounding them. The camera then uses mainly CUs to show the expressions on the characters faces so we are able to see that whilst Ahmed always speaks with confidence, Fiona gulps and looks away and Danny sighs. The camera distances help us feel much closer victims and empathize with their situation. There are also pan shots of Ahmed as he walks around the room asserting authority. The camera is always moving to make things seem realistic to the audience as if they are present in the scene. Handheld camera is also used during the violent scenes so the audience can in a way experience the violence rather than just watch it as an observer, again involving them.
The editing is generally medium paced but at times seems to be quite quick in order to get the audience on edge. The camera is constantly cutting from Ahmed to Fiona to Danny as they speak or react. The camera rarely shows us the three of them in one frame communicating but uses a sequence of lots of CUs instead. There are some really quick cuts for a harsher effect for example when Ahmed places the photo of Agent Butterfly on the table, there’s CU shot almost immediately followed by an ECU shot of the photo which comes as a shock to the audience. It emphasises the aggressiveness of the terrorists. During violent scenes the camera also cuts to CUs for effect for example when Danny punches one of the guards, the quick cuts showing the detail engages the audience with the violence. The quick cuts make the scenes seem really action packed for example when Danny and Fiona are running out of the building, the audience is deceived into thinking a lot more is going on due to the quick cuts from a CU of the door handle, to a CU of their feet to a CU of the phone dropping etc.
Shot reverse shot is used when Ahmed holds a gun at Fiona’s head to show his cruelty and Danny’s panicked expression. This continuous cross-cutting for a few seconds get the audience anxious as to what will happen next. Will Ahmed shoot Fiona? Will Danny continue to run away? Will they suddenly be saved? Here the editing, which although is quick, gives the audience a chance to become curious and start to question things engaging them with the situation.
After Danny is killed, there is a LS of Fiona in the room alone made to look vulnerable and weak and the audience really sympathise with her character as a victim.
What view of terrorism emerges from these scenes?
This episode obviously portrays a very negative view of Terrorism. It is seen to an act of cruelty towards people who are innocent as well as those who work for the betterment of society. Terrorism is viewed as an act of revenge and a war between two countries and two religions as Ahmed says ‘They’ve destroyed our world. Now we’re ready to destroy theirs’.
Danny sums up what terrorism represents when he says that they are those who have ‘lost their humanity and now have no kindness or pity left’ and this view is highlighted throughout the episode.
What do you understand by Arab, Islamic, Muslim and Middle-Eastern?
Although all these terms are linked an Arab or Middle-Eastern is describing what part of the world a person originates from, whilst Islamic or Muslim represents their religious identity and beliefs. People from Saudi Arabia or the Middle-East generally tend to follow the religion of Islam.
What are the same categories for describing British people?
It is hard to categorize British people as Britain is so multicultural. The main terms used are probably English, Scottish or Welsh. You can also get British Americans and British Asians.
What do you know about Al Qaeda?
Al Qaeda is an international Islamic extremist group which I have really only been aware of since the 9/11 attacks on the Twin Towers. They are involved in many terrorist activities which sometimes involve suicide bombers and usually target Western countries.
Look at the representation of Ahmed and Khatera. How far does the drama position audiences to equate ‘Muslim’ with terrorism?
The drama does not directly equate ‘Muslim’ with terrorism however indirectly they have made many links between the two. For example, the terrorists, Ahmed and Khatera are Muslim themselves, which is obvious from their names. They are from Iraq which is an Islamic country. The ‘Al Qaeda’ are mentioned which is an Islamic terrorist group although Fiona herself, as a British person, says ‘I am being held by a group of fighters’. Therefore the religion itself is not mentioned. Khatera also mentions how she is part of this because her family was killed by the British and therefore it’s not a form of religious practice but an act of revenge. The story had to be presented extremely carefully so that it wouldn’t offend anyone in the Muslim community and therefore religion cannot really be mentioned.
Think of the other characters from British ethnic minorities in the drama. What is their significance?
I think the other characters are extremely significant especially Zafar’s character who is an Asian himself, as this portrays a more positive view of Asians as to the image given by Ahmed. In this episode he is extremely helpful and friendly which shows that the drama does not intend to represent Asians as ‘evil’, but just the terrorists. I would say the Hero of this episode is definitely Danny, who is not the typical white English man, but instead a black man. This is extremely significant as they have also presented a positive image of black people by portraying Danny as brave, likable, and extremely humane. Here the drama shows that being British does not symbolize a white community but a multicultural one where people from different backgrounds have different virtues and qualities that add to the betterment of society.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Monday, March 16, 2009
Connect! Connect!
Body language
Edie-
In this episode Edie’s body language really reflects the two personalities that make up her character. She has just found out that Dave had been previously married and immediately rings her friends to share her ‘tragic’ story.
-She cries hysterically and whilst on the phone and uses big hand gestures to express herself. This reflects how she likes to exaggerate things in her life and is quite the drama queen. She calls over all the housewives for a good old gossip which shows how she likes to get noticed by others and likes to be centre of attention. She does not like it when Susan gets all the attention from the housewives and this is obvious when she widens her mouth and eyes. She doesn’t just stop there…
- When Susan comes to see her, Edie catwalks away which shows her arrogance. It also again shows how she over reacts. She does impressions of Susan which shows her confidence to speak up and how she thinks she is always right and therefore has the right to put others straight.
-She often stands with her hands on hips which reflects her over powering and authoritative personality. This is also reflected when she points her finger at Susan and says ‘no talking’ which is something a mother say do to her child. When she sits down she has quite a manly posture which fits in with her strong dominating nature. Her facial expression is usually serious or sarcastic but she sniggers whilst criticizing Susan which shows that she is quite harsh, blunt and open about the way she feels. When the two of them get locked in the garage, Edie shouts ‘Somebody help me’. Here although there are two of them, the word ‘me’ implies she is self-centred and doesn’t really care about others.
-On the other hand, when Edie is talking about her sad childhood and collection of horses, she has a childlike smile and stares into the distance as if she is fantasising about the past. This makes the audience sympathise with her character and like her much more. It reflects how although she tries to act hard, she has a very soft side deep within her. When Susan realises this side to her however, Edie quickly tries to cover it up by slapping her round the face in order to return to her overpowering image. This again reflects how she reacts to situations in an extreme and unnecessary manner. It also reflects her trouble-making personality and how she doesn’t like to get too close to anyone.
- In the end however, we get another glimpse of Edie’s genuine side when she is asking Dave to come back. Her sincerity can really be seen in her eyes which directly address Dave’s eyes as she speaks, showing that she really means what she says. She also looks down at times as opposed to her normal widened eyes full of anger which portrays her more emotional rather than dominant side.
Analysing the body language in this episode has really helped me understand Edie’s character much better. Before I wasn’t such a fan and I found her character quite annoying but I have come to like her very much now as although she comes across as rude and intimidating, she is really a softie at heart. I always assumed that she as a character had had quite a comfortable upbringing and was maybe quite a spoilt brat, but hearing her emotional story made me sympathise with her character.
Edie-
In this episode Edie’s body language really reflects the two personalities that make up her character. She has just found out that Dave had been previously married and immediately rings her friends to share her ‘tragic’ story.
-She cries hysterically and whilst on the phone and uses big hand gestures to express herself. This reflects how she likes to exaggerate things in her life and is quite the drama queen. She calls over all the housewives for a good old gossip which shows how she likes to get noticed by others and likes to be centre of attention. She does not like it when Susan gets all the attention from the housewives and this is obvious when she widens her mouth and eyes. She doesn’t just stop there…
- When Susan comes to see her, Edie catwalks away which shows her arrogance. It also again shows how she over reacts. She does impressions of Susan which shows her confidence to speak up and how she thinks she is always right and therefore has the right to put others straight.
-She often stands with her hands on hips which reflects her over powering and authoritative personality. This is also reflected when she points her finger at Susan and says ‘no talking’ which is something a mother say do to her child. When she sits down she has quite a manly posture which fits in with her strong dominating nature. Her facial expression is usually serious or sarcastic but she sniggers whilst criticizing Susan which shows that she is quite harsh, blunt and open about the way she feels. When the two of them get locked in the garage, Edie shouts ‘Somebody help me’. Here although there are two of them, the word ‘me’ implies she is self-centred and doesn’t really care about others.
-On the other hand, when Edie is talking about her sad childhood and collection of horses, she has a childlike smile and stares into the distance as if she is fantasising about the past. This makes the audience sympathise with her character and like her much more. It reflects how although she tries to act hard, she has a very soft side deep within her. When Susan realises this side to her however, Edie quickly tries to cover it up by slapping her round the face in order to return to her overpowering image. This again reflects how she reacts to situations in an extreme and unnecessary manner. It also reflects her trouble-making personality and how she doesn’t like to get too close to anyone.
- In the end however, we get another glimpse of Edie’s genuine side when she is asking Dave to come back. Her sincerity can really be seen in her eyes which directly address Dave’s eyes as she speaks, showing that she really means what she says. She also looks down at times as opposed to her normal widened eyes full of anger which portrays her more emotional rather than dominant side.
Analysing the body language in this episode has really helped me understand Edie’s character much better. Before I wasn’t such a fan and I found her character quite annoying but I have come to like her very much now as although she comes across as rude and intimidating, she is really a softie at heart. I always assumed that she as a character had had quite a comfortable upbringing and was maybe quite a spoilt brat, but hearing her emotional story made me sympathise with her character.
Friday, March 13, 2009
Home Is The Place
Sound
In Desperate Housewives, whilst onscreen diegetic sound is used to create a sense of realism, non-diegetic sound is also used almost continuously throughout an episode to create a certain mood which would have a certain effect on the audience.
Here, I have picked out a few scenes in where I thought the music was effective in reflecting a certain mood.
The First scene (0.58secs)
The scene begins with mostly diegetic sound being the dialogue between the two mother in-laws having a conversation. Just as Alex’s mum says ‘I call Christmas’ however, the non-diegetic orchestral music seems to appear in the background. The slow paced plucking of strings adds to the awkwardness of the situation and emphasises on how Malina brings a smooth conversation to a halt. The pace of the music seems to increase as things get more tense between the two women showing how the conversation changes into an argument as Bree says ‘Malina this is childish’. The staccato melody, with short and rigid notes, gives the audience a sense of uneasiness between the two characters and adds to the meaning of the dialogue. The minor key also indicates the seriousness of the situation. In between, the music pauses for a second or two of awkward silence. It then becomes more melodious when the two sons return which shows how the women try to cover-up the awkward situation.
The Second Scene (9.53)
This scene again begins with a conversation between Lynette, Tom and their son, Porter’s lawyer, but ends on a harsh note which is reinforced by the solemn music. It first appears when the lawyer says ‘just find him’ as if to emphasise his abruptness and anger. The strings appear to be playing soft lengthened notes in a minor key to reflect the disheartened and emotional parents who are desperate to find their son. The effect of this on the audience would be to empathise with the parents as the music helps us feel their sadness. The music then slowly fades out with the fade down to black to indicate a change of scenes.
The Third scene (29.00)
In this scene the music is used to enhance the mysterious conversation that Dave seems to be having with himself in a way that makes it seem extremely spooky. From the moment Edie gets out of her bed, the slow paced strings create a horror film effect as she walks down the stairs with curiosity. The lengthened music also causes the audience to be suspicious as to who is whispering downstairs, drawing them in to the scene itself. It suddenly gets louder as Edie screams causing the audience to jump. Again the lengthened string notes create a creepy atmosphere making Dave seem very suspicious. At the end of the scene, Edie’s shocked reaction is emphasised by the orchestral drums which heighten the audiences’ fear of Dave on her behalf.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Narrative in TV Drama
Spooks
Adam and Fiona wake up and go downstairs for Breakfast. The couple do
not realise they are being watched by terrorists, and leave for work. Fiona along with Danny another MI5 officer is on a mission when suddenly they both get taken hostage by Muslim terrorists who want the Government to withdraw from Iraq. Meanwhile Khatera, a suicide bomber, abducts Adam who can help her get into the Prime Minister’s dinner event that evening as he is the real target. Once Adam realises this he manages to turn things around at the last minute rescuing his wife and saving the Prime Minister. Unfortunately Danny is shot for his bravery.
Standard Narrative Conventions
Todorov’s Theory
This episode of Spooks presents a Classic Narrative Pattern invented by Todorov. It beings with equilibrium as the couple wake up on a perfectly normal day, have breakfast and leave for work as usual. There is then a disruption when the two officers held hostage by terrorists. Finally Adam finds a resolution by convincing Khatera to help him and a new equilibrium is reached where order is restored but one officer has been killed. Here we can see a clear beginning middle and end.
Levi-Strauss
The Narrative also follows Levi-Strauss’s Theory of Binary opposites as is evident from the themes of good versus evil and love versus hatred. The characters also present binary opposites as whilst the MI5 officers work for the safety of the country, the terrorist work to destroy the country.
Propps Theory
There were also elements of Propps’ narrative theory with distinctive character types such as the ‘Hero’ who in this episode is Adam or even Danny. There is also Fiona as ‘Princess’ character, who is captured on her Birthday and needs to be rescued.
Barthes’ Theory
This episode also has evidence of the enigma code where questions are raised that demand an explanation. An example is at the beginning we see the two spies in the car listening in to Adam and Fiona’s conversation. This would raise question such as ‘Who are they?’ ‘What do they want?’, ‘Why Adam and Fiona?’ All these questions exist as enigma until the answers are slowly revealed.
The end is largely happy because Fiona is saved just in time and is reunited with Adam.
Why do most stories have happy endings?
Most stories have a happy ending because audiences often watch TV as a form of escapism from their normal stressful lives and therefore like to be left feeling relaxed after watching a programme. With happy endings part of the audience expectations is that you are guaranteed to feel happy and content by the end of the story. Audiences also enjoy programmes where their hero, or an aspirational character succeeds and progresses as this gives them a feeling of satisfaction.
Therefore a happy ending may also be used to convey a positive message to the audience where good wins over evil and justice is always done.
Spooks S3 E10.
This feels like the beginning of a narrative. Why?
It starts as an ordinary, everyday morning, therefore establishing the norm. This portrays the equilibrium in narrative which needs to be established at the beginning of a story before the disruption occurs making it feel like the beginning. It allows the audience to ease in to the story rather than be taken by surprise and helps them understand it better. It also leaves you anticipating what it is that will ruin such an ordinary day, and so you wish to watch on.
Audience involvement through the danger that is set up. We are automatically being encouraged to take sides due to the use of Binary Opposites where good is portrayed by the MI5 officers whilst bad is portrayed by the Muslim terrorists. Here the audience is bound to take the side of the good characters who are put in danger when working for the safety of their country as opposed to the terrorists who are made to seem evil as they hurt and threaten to kill Danny and Fiona. We would also take Adam and Fiona’s side as we can most relate to their lives.
Other Binary Opposites include:
Fiona/Adam vs. Khatera and Ahmed
British vs. Iraqi
The Ordinary vs. Terrorism
Love vs. Hate
Exploring Narrative Structures
Single drama/film: Margaret
Two-Nighter: Trail & Retribution
Soap (continuing drama): EastEnders
Serial: Bleak House
Adam and Fiona wake up and go downstairs for Breakfast. The couple do
not realise they are being watched by terrorists, and leave for work. Fiona along with Danny another MI5 officer is on a mission when suddenly they both get taken hostage by Muslim terrorists who want the Government to withdraw from Iraq. Meanwhile Khatera, a suicide bomber, abducts Adam who can help her get into the Prime Minister’s dinner event that evening as he is the real target. Once Adam realises this he manages to turn things around at the last minute rescuing his wife and saving the Prime Minister. Unfortunately Danny is shot for his bravery.Standard Narrative Conventions
Todorov’s Theory
This episode of Spooks presents a Classic Narrative Pattern invented by Todorov. It beings with equilibrium as the couple wake up on a perfectly normal day, have breakfast and leave for work as usual. There is then a disruption when the two officers held hostage by terrorists. Finally Adam finds a resolution by convincing Khatera to help him and a new equilibrium is reached where order is restored but one officer has been killed. Here we can see a clear beginning middle and end.
Levi-Strauss
The Narrative also follows Levi-Strauss’s Theory of Binary opposites as is evident from the themes of good versus evil and love versus hatred. The characters also present binary opposites as whilst the MI5 officers work for the safety of the country, the terrorist work to destroy the country.
Propps Theory
There were also elements of Propps’ narrative theory with distinctive character types such as the ‘Hero’ who in this episode is Adam or even Danny. There is also Fiona as ‘Princess’ character, who is captured on her Birthday and needs to be rescued.
Barthes’ Theory
This episode also has evidence of the enigma code where questions are raised that demand an explanation. An example is at the beginning we see the two spies in the car listening in to Adam and Fiona’s conversation. This would raise question such as ‘Who are they?’ ‘What do they want?’, ‘Why Adam and Fiona?’ All these questions exist as enigma until the answers are slowly revealed.
The end is largely happy because Fiona is saved just in time and is reunited with Adam.
Why do most stories have happy endings?
Most stories have a happy ending because audiences often watch TV as a form of escapism from their normal stressful lives and therefore like to be left feeling relaxed after watching a programme. With happy endings part of the audience expectations is that you are guaranteed to feel happy and content by the end of the story. Audiences also enjoy programmes where their hero, or an aspirational character succeeds and progresses as this gives them a feeling of satisfaction.
Therefore a happy ending may also be used to convey a positive message to the audience where good wins over evil and justice is always done.
Spooks S3 E10.
This feels like the beginning of a narrative. Why?
It starts as an ordinary, everyday morning, therefore establishing the norm. This portrays the equilibrium in narrative which needs to be established at the beginning of a story before the disruption occurs making it feel like the beginning. It allows the audience to ease in to the story rather than be taken by surprise and helps them understand it better. It also leaves you anticipating what it is that will ruin such an ordinary day, and so you wish to watch on.
Audience involvement through the danger that is set up. We are automatically being encouraged to take sides due to the use of Binary Opposites where good is portrayed by the MI5 officers whilst bad is portrayed by the Muslim terrorists. Here the audience is bound to take the side of the good characters who are put in danger when working for the safety of their country as opposed to the terrorists who are made to seem evil as they hurt and threaten to kill Danny and Fiona. We would also take Adam and Fiona’s side as we can most relate to their lives.
Other Binary Opposites include:
Fiona/Adam vs. Khatera and Ahmed
British vs. Iraqi
The Ordinary vs. Terrorism
Love vs. Hate
Exploring Narrative Structures
Single drama/film: Margaret
Two-Nighter: Trail & Retribution
Soap (continuing drama): EastEnders
Serial: Bleak House
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Costume
When watching Desperate Housewives last week, I found that in this particular episode ‘A Visions Just a Vision’, the costume was something that helped the audience identify with the characteristics of particular actors and highlighted their differences. I chose to focus my costume analysis on Bree and Edie.
Bree
All of Bree’s outfits reflect her mature and perfectionist personality as she is always well groomed.
When watching Desperate Housewives last week, I found that in this particular episode ‘A Visions Just a Vision’, the costume was something that helped the audience identify with the characteristics of particular actors and highlighted their differences. I chose to focus my costume analysis on Bree and Edie.
Bree
All of Bree’s outfits reflect her mature and perfectionist personality as she is always well groomed.
We first see Bree wearing a dark grey top and a smart navy cardigan. She is quite formally dressed, which reflects how she likes everything to be very proper. She also looks very neat, signifying that she likes things to be tidy and as we have seen previously she is known for her cleaning obsessions. The dark solemn colours reflect the seriousness of the situation when she is talking to her son about her concerns.
We then see her at Carlos’s party dressed in black trousers and a violet polo-neck jumper, which shows how she is quite sensible. The colour purple signifies her femininity and elegance yet at the same time, the soft colour reflects her maturity. She wears a subtle amount of make-up, which shows that she really does care about her looks, but at the same time, she is aware of her age and role as a mother of a grown-up son.
When introduced to her son’s gay partner, Bree’s red top and plain black skirt reflects her sophistication and formalities. This could signify her upbringing and her upper-class background. Her clothes are generally plain which show that she is straightforward, to the point, and blunt. Her hair is combed back, always out of her face as opposed to a funky haircut again reflecting her neatness and maturity. It also shows her motherly character, as it seems that she only ties her hair back in order to assert the role of a mother in-law or a respected elder of the house. This shows how she is always trying to be the perfect wife and mother.
These are a few examples from the episode, which reflect Bree’s personality as a whole.
Edie
Edie on the other-hand reflects a very different personality.
She first appears in her leopard-print low-cut swimsuit, summer hat and shades in her front driveway. This reflects her confident, overt personality as opposed to Bree’s subtle and serious one. Her clothes look quite expensive which could suggest that she was quite spoilt as when she was younger, and she has not matured much since. She is quite the rebel and likes to be different.
Her clothes also suggest that she likes to attract attention and is extremely self-assured and arrogant. This is emphasized when she says ‘you know someone else my age with a body like this?’ This signifies how despite her age, she is constantly trying to look younger and sexier. She later wears a very low cut halter-neck. She is generally very revealing and therefore possesses the sex appeal. Her clothes reflect her flirty nature, which explains why she has been in so many relationships.
She does not make many appearances in this episode however from the few times she appears on screen, the audience is immediately able to recognize her characteristics and see the great differences between her character, and other housewives such as Bree.
We then see her at Carlos’s party dressed in black trousers and a violet polo-neck jumper, which shows how she is quite sensible. The colour purple signifies her femininity and elegance yet at the same time, the soft colour reflects her maturity. She wears a subtle amount of make-up, which shows that she really does care about her looks, but at the same time, she is aware of her age and role as a mother of a grown-up son.
When introduced to her son’s gay partner, Bree’s red top and plain black skirt reflects her sophistication and formalities. This could signify her upbringing and her upper-class background. Her clothes are generally plain which show that she is straightforward, to the point, and blunt. Her hair is combed back, always out of her face as opposed to a funky haircut again reflecting her neatness and maturity. It also shows her motherly character, as it seems that she only ties her hair back in order to assert the role of a mother in-law or a respected elder of the house. This shows how she is always trying to be the perfect wife and mother.
These are a few examples from the episode, which reflect Bree’s personality as a whole.
Edie
Edie on the other-hand reflects a very different personality.
She first appears in her leopard-print low-cut swimsuit, summer hat and shades in her front driveway. This reflects her confident, overt personality as opposed to Bree’s subtle and serious one. Her clothes look quite expensive which could suggest that she was quite spoilt as when she was younger, and she has not matured much since. She is quite the rebel and likes to be different.
Her clothes also suggest that she likes to attract attention and is extremely self-assured and arrogant. This is emphasized when she says ‘you know someone else my age with a body like this?’ This signifies how despite her age, she is constantly trying to look younger and sexier. She later wears a very low cut halter-neck. She is generally very revealing and therefore possesses the sex appeal. Her clothes reflect her flirty nature, which explains why she has been in so many relationships.
She does not make many appearances in this episode however from the few times she appears on screen, the audience is immediately able to recognize her characteristics and see the great differences between her character, and other housewives such as Bree.
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Desperate HousewivesI have chosen to follow Desperate Housewives as it is one of my favourite TV dramas. It is both funny and interesting and each episode ends with an interesting message and leaves you curious to know what will happen next.
Brief Background
Created By: Marc Cherry
Produced By: ABC Studios and Cherry Productions
Desperate Housewives is an American comedy drama based on the lives of a circle of girlfriends who live on Wisteria Lane. Each of these young women portray very different characters and their lives full of different struggles within the home and the neighbourhood.
The drama does however present a contemporary take on ‘happily ever after’ as things are usually resolved during a series. TV drama however, as we know, does not always return to equilibrium by the end of ach episode, so it is the type of drama that needs to be followed as sometimes an episode may end with an arising problem.
The story is narrated to the audience by the dead neighbour, Mary Alice Young, who lets the audience in on all the secrets of the neighbourhood and therefore it naturally appeals to females filling them in on the gossip.
The drama does however present a contemporary take on ‘happily ever after’ as things are usually resolved during a series. TV drama however, as we know, does not always return to equilibrium by the end of ach episode, so it is the type of drama that needs to be followed as sometimes an episode may end with an arising problem.
The story is narrated to the audience by the dead neighbour, Mary Alice Young, who lets the audience in on all the secrets of the neighbourhood and therefore it naturally appeals to females filling them in on the gossip.
Cast
The ensemble cast consists of:
Teri Hatcher as Susan Mayer-
- teacher’s assistant at her son’s school
- extremely clumsy
- a neighbourhood gossip
Felicity Huffman as Lynette Scavo
- Usually busy being a housewife and raising her four children
- Often gets frustrated but quite the toughie
- Determined and hardworking
Marcia Cross as Bree Hodge
- a perfectionist and very obsessive
- She tries to be a perfect wife and mother but is not always successful
- She is known for her cooking cleaning, ironing, and gardening
Eva Longoria Parker as Gabrielle Solis
- Used to be a model
- She is upset about having lost her good looks and figure after having children
- She is however very protective over both daughters and has become more mature
Brenda Strong as Mary Alice Young
- The mysterious narrator
Nicolette Sheridan Edie Williams
- the troublemaker in the neighbourhood
- had many relationships
Dana Delany as Katherine Mayfair
- sarcastic personality but serious sometimes
- secretive
- she has only been accepted as one of the ‘housewives’ during season 5
Others
Ricardo Antonio Chavira as Carlos Solis
James Denton as Mike Delfino
Kyle MacLachlan as Orson Hodge
The ensemble cast consists of:
Teri Hatcher as Susan Mayer-
- teacher’s assistant at her son’s school
- extremely clumsy
- a neighbourhood gossip
Felicity Huffman as Lynette Scavo
- Usually busy being a housewife and raising her four children
- Often gets frustrated but quite the toughie
- Determined and hardworking
Marcia Cross as Bree Hodge
- a perfectionist and very obsessive
- She tries to be a perfect wife and mother but is not always successful
- She is known for her cooking cleaning, ironing, and gardening
Eva Longoria Parker as Gabrielle Solis
- Used to be a model
- She is upset about having lost her good looks and figure after having children
- She is however very protective over both daughters and has become more mature
Brenda Strong as Mary Alice Young
- The mysterious narrator
Nicolette Sheridan Edie Williams
- the troublemaker in the neighbourhood
- had many relationships
Dana Delany as Katherine Mayfair
- sarcastic personality but serious sometimes
- secretive
- she has only been accepted as one of the ‘housewives’ during season 5
Others
Ricardo Antonio Chavira as Carlos Solis
James Denton as Mike Delfino
Kyle MacLachlan as Orson Hodge
As we can see there is a very diverse cast and therefore the storylines too are varied making ‘Desperate Housewives’ a great drama to watch. It has definitely gained much popularity since being premiered in 2004, and in 2007, it was said to be the most popular show with an audience of approximately 115 to 119 million viewers worldwide!
Sunday, February 8, 2009
The Hovis Advert – Representation
This Hovis ad follows an iconic thirteen-year-old boy with his loaf of bread through 12 decades of British history. The audience is able to identify the changing times through the ads use of references to different costumes, events, music, dialogue and props. Here is my summary of the different years and signifiers:
Begins in the late 1800s-
- Represents the Victorian times
- Boys costume- brown hat and jacket
- Area: somewhere up north and we can tell this from the way the baker says ‘Here you go lad’
- The baker is wear a white apron and a white puffy hat
- Wooden shelves in the background on which the bread is kept
- Horse and cart as a means of transport- no cars
1900s-
- He goes through a gate and his old-fashioned hat is off now
- We are aware that is now the early 1900s because of the Titanic poster
- The suffragette movement- evident from the banners saying ‘Votes for women’
- Women’s old-fashioned dresses and hats- well dressed- middle/upper class
- Men wearing top hats
- Posh houses in the background
- Action: rioting- a police trying to stop a protesting woman
- We can hear sounds of a crowd of people protesting
1910s-
- The boy enters the years of WW1
- Soldiers dressed in the old-fashioned uniforms
- Rifles
- Soldiers looking young- makes you proud of the British- ready to fight for our country
- People supporting them in the background
- The girls running in their white dresses and hats
1920/30s
- The boy passes an old-fashioned motor car
- Costume changes from brown trousers to grey shorts
1940s
- We then enter the years of WW2
- Bombed and burnt downs houses- very tragic and emotional time
- People moving out of their homes with their belongings –heartbreaking
-Clothes are dark colours reflecting their sorrow
- Sound bridge- we hear Winston Churchill ‘We shall fight in the fields and in the streets… We shall never surrender’ – again makes you proud of being British – courageous
- The old-fashioned radio
- Warplane flies over
- The music stops as if paying its respects to tragedies of the war and those that gave their lives for our country- solemn
1950s
- Music becomes more upbeat and jolly
- Celebrating the queen’s coronation
- Children dressed up in different costumes enjoying a party (boy dressed as a pirate)
- We can hear lots of laughter and chatter reflecting the happiness and joy in th
e air
- Streets decorated with British flags
- a CU of orange squash- party food and drink
1960s
- Complete change in music- electric guitars- upbeat- swing
- Costumes of the girls change-more modern mini skirts, red boots and the old-fashioned bob hairstyle
- Boy is now wearing a blue t-shirt
- Terraced houses in the background- typical British street
- a bunch of lads drive past in their car shouting ‘champion’- represents how Britain won the 1966 World Cup- signifies victory, excitement, feeling of national pride
1970s
- Boys clothes change again- chequered shirt, stripy jumper and brown jacket
- The 1973 Racial Act passed- represented through two Asians walking passed
- TV shop- shows TVs were becoming more popular- advancement in technology
- more modern yellow car drives passed
1980s
- Boys costume- now a blue jumper
- Miner’s Strike- we can tell from the banners and placards
- Crowd wearing more modern jumpers and jeans
- Police men opposite ready to take action
- ‘Ay lad ain’t it passed your bed time?’- Dialogue shows how he is still up north
- Music stops again to show the seriousness of the incident
2000
- Represents the millennium through the celebratory fireworks
- Music is increasing in volume and tempo- sounds festive and electrifying
- Boy is running- signifies his excitement
- His facial expression shows how he is overwhelmed
Finally, we reach the modern day…
- ‘Is that you love?’ says his mum- shows he has returned home with the loaf of bread
- The house has a very family environment
- Very ordinary modern kitchen- relatable- not too tidy
- The wooden furniture and plant could represent how Hovis uses natural ingredients to make bread that is suitable for the whole family
- The boy’s voice is much deeper when he replies ‘yeah’ as if he has grown and matured over time
I think that Hovis has represented the different times in British history fantastically paying such close detail to the different aspects of mi-en-scene, dialogue and music, so that the audience is able recognize the different events almost immediately, and therefore understand the message they are trying to convey. Overall, it is a very effective advert and I have learnt a lot about how to represent different times, classes, characters, professions and people in a different ways.
This Hovis ad follows an iconic thirteen-year-old boy with his loaf of bread through 12 decades of British history. The audience is able to identify the changing times through the ads use of references to different costumes, events, music, dialogue and props. Here is my summary of the different years and signifiers:
Begins in the late 1800s-
- Represents the Victorian times
- Boys costume- brown hat and jacket
- Area: somewhere up north and we can tell this from the way the baker says ‘Here you go lad’
- The baker is wear a white apron and a white puffy hat
- Wooden shelves in the background on which the bread is kept
- Horse and cart as a means of transport- no cars
1900s-
- He goes through a gate and his old-fashioned hat is off now
- We are aware that is now the early 1900s because of the Titanic poster
- The suffragette movement- evident from the banners saying ‘Votes for women’
- Women’s old-fashioned dresses and hats- well dressed- middle/upper class
- Men wearing top hats
- Posh houses in the background
- Action: rioting- a police trying to stop a protesting woman
- We can hear sounds of a crowd of people protesting
1910s-
- The boy enters the years of WW1
- Soldiers dressed in the old-fashioned uniforms
- Rifles
- Soldiers looking young- makes you proud of the British- ready to fight for our country
- People supporting them in the background
- The girls running in their white dresses and hats
1920/30s
- The boy passes an old-fashioned motor car
- Costume changes from brown trousers to grey shorts
1940s
- We then enter the years of WW2
- Bombed and burnt downs houses- very tragic and emotional time
- People moving out of their homes with their belongings –heartbreaking
-Clothes are dark colours reflecting their sorrow
- Sound bridge- we hear Winston Churchill ‘We shall fight in the fields and in the streets… We shall never surrender’ – again makes you proud of being British – courageous
- The old-fashioned radio
- Warplane flies over
- The music stops as if paying its respects to tragedies of the war and those that gave their lives for our country- solemn
1950s
- Music becomes more upbeat and jolly
- Celebrating the queen’s coronation
- Children dressed up in different costumes enjoying a party (boy dressed as a pirate)
- We can hear lots of laughter and chatter reflecting the happiness and joy in th
e air- Streets decorated with British flags
- a CU of orange squash- party food and drink
1960s
- Complete change in music- electric guitars- upbeat- swing
- Costumes of the girls change-more modern mini skirts, red boots and the old-fashioned bob hairstyle
- Boy is now wearing a blue t-shirt
- Terraced houses in the background- typical British street
- a bunch of lads drive past in their car shouting ‘champion’- represents how Britain won the 1966 World Cup- signifies victory, excitement, feeling of national pride
1970s
- Boys clothes change again- chequered shirt, stripy jumper and brown jacket
- The 1973 Racial Act passed- represented through two Asians walking passed
- TV shop- shows TVs were becoming more popular- advancement in technology
- more modern yellow car drives passed
1980s
- Boys costume- now a blue jumper
- Miner’s Strike- we can tell from the banners and placards
- Crowd wearing more modern jumpers and jeans
- Police men opposite ready to take action
- ‘Ay lad ain’t it passed your bed time?’- Dialogue shows how he is still up north
- Music stops again to show the seriousness of the incident
2000
- Represents the millennium through the celebratory fireworks
- Music is increasing in volume and tempo- sounds festive and electrifying
- Boy is running- signifies his excitement
- His facial expression shows how he is overwhelmed
Finally, we reach the modern day…
- ‘Is that you love?’ says his mum- shows he has returned home with the loaf of bread
- The house has a very family environment
- Very ordinary modern kitchen- relatable- not too tidy
- The wooden furniture and plant could represent how Hovis uses natural ingredients to make bread that is suitable for the whole family
- The boy’s voice is much deeper when he replies ‘yeah’ as if he has grown and matured over time
I think that Hovis has represented the different times in British history fantastically paying such close detail to the different aspects of mi-en-scene, dialogue and music, so that the audience is able recognize the different events almost immediately, and therefore understand the message they are trying to convey. Overall, it is a very effective advert and I have learnt a lot about how to represent different times, classes, characters, professions and people in a different ways.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)