eleni christofi evaluation question 1

7/31/2019 Eleni Christofi Evaluation Question 1

1/5

AS Foundation Portfolio

Eleni Christofi

2075


2/5

1.In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions

of real media products

The chosen genre for our media product is psychological thriller, but it

also holds conventions of the crime genre in the narrative. In this sense,

our opening sequence is a hybrid, as we have incorporated the typical

conventions that conform to both the genres of our product.

One of the ways that we have developed the conventions of the sub-genre

is the use of an extreme close up of a characters mouth, while he is

talking on the phone. The purpose of this is to create a sense of ambiguity

and mysteriousness about the character. By only revealing parts of his

face, it raises the sense of enigma and therefore the viewer is intrigued as

to who the character is.

Our opening sequence has the basic elements of Propps 8 character

theory. The delay of showing the characters whole face implies that this

character will fit into the role of the villain in the narrative, but the

viewers expectation is challenged as the character actually turns out to

be the hero later on in the narrative.

Our sequence starts with the wheel of a wheelchair spinning slowly. An

enigma is created again, as the extreme close up makes it hard for the

viewer to tell what the object actually is. The diegetic sound of the slow

clicking noise of the wheel is eerie, and it evokes feelings of tension and

suspense within the audience. This shot contrasts the rest of the

sequence, as we have used fast paced editing, cutting quickly to differentshots and scenes, which also builds the tension and creates an unsettling

atmosphere for the viewer.


3/5

Another major generic convention is the use of uncomfortable and

tense atmospheres, which we had created in the office scene when

Toby is talking on the phone to the nurse. The reaction of his

colleagues to his behaviour causes the viewer to react in the same

way as the characters do.

We have taken the inspiration of the shower curtain in HitchcocksPsycho, and used it in our product as a prop for the birth scene inthe hospital room. However, we have used the pulling back of thecurtain as a false shock for the viewer. The enigma and suspense

causes the viewer to expect to see something shocking, but thecharacter that is revealed is giving birth, so it does not match theaudiences expectations. But the shock again heightens as the vieweris unsettled by the characters agony.

Our product also challenges the conventions of both the thriller and

crime genre. Many films of the sub-genre tend to use dark lighting;an example of this would be Sin City, which is filmed in black andwhite to create an eerie atmosphere. However, we have used a lot ofnatural and bright lighting to create a realistic setting, increasing theverisimilitude of the scenes in our sequence. This is an effective wayof intriguing an audience, as it promotes the feeling of normality andsomething that the viewer can relate to.


4/5


5/5

We have represented the main female character as

innocent and pure, as she is wearing white clothing and is

covered in a white blanket. We have done this to imply that

she is a good character, or a hero (applying Propps 8 stock

characters theory). We have covered her in a red blanketwhen she is in the wheelchair to connote that she is being

led to danger. The last shot of the sequence, which is a long

shot of Belle holding her baby, we have tracked out to

emphasise her loneliness, therefore causing the audience

to sympathise her. This makes her look like a victim,

contrasting with the villain type, an example of LeviStrauss Binary Oppositions.

The main male character in our media product is quite slim

and looks like a regular, young man. This character has a

powerful and aggressive personality and we havechallenged the stereotypical representation of men in this

particular genre. Powerful men are usually thought of as

strong and masculine, however we have chosen the

opposite physical appearance for our actor. This does lose

the effect of his power and dominance over women, but

we are implying that anyone can be a threat, creating moreuneasiness in the audience.

eleni christofi evaluation question 1

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