analyzing visuals

Analyzing Visuals

Horror Movie PostersGSW 1100-106L/306L

October 2013

What do you notice in this poster?

Features of a movie poster

• Colors• Viewpoint/perspective• People/characters• Style of art• Tone• Text (font, placement, content)• Cultural, historical, or social information that you need to

know to understand the meaning• What is the argument that the poster is making? Who is the

audience for the movie? What is your reaction to the poster? What do you think the movie is about?

Intertexuality

The Original The Sequel

The ParodyA parody relies on your knowledge of the “original” version, and then changes elements to mock that image and create a new message.

This is a type of intertextuality: the original text gives meaning to the new text.

How are these images making different arguments?

1970s Original Movie 2007

What do you see?• Color• People• Perspective• Frame• Text• Context

What do you see?• Color• People• Perspective• Frame• Text• Context

What do you see?• Color• People• Perspective• Frame• Text• Context

Ethos

Pathos

Logos

Consider how the positioning of bodies makes an argument.

Questions to ask in your analysis

• What is the argument that the poster is making?

• Who is the audience for the movie? • What is your reaction to the poster? • What do you think the movie is about?

Enjoy finding your own movie poster to analyze!