Textual analysis of A Nightmare on Elm Street opening scene.

Textual analysis of A Nightmare on Elm Street opening scene.

In the opening scene of A Nightmare on Elm Street representation is shown through the villain. This is seen in the scene where the villain is making a weapon using tools from the abandoned workplace in order to kill the female blonde victim. This has been done in order for the representation of the villain to be shown, this has been shown through the use of the villain making a weapon which he will wear on his hand in order for the killing of the female blonde victim. There is also the representation of the female blonde victim. This is shown in the scene where the blonde is running away from the villain and can't find a way to escape. She is then eventually caught by the villain and wakes up from her nightmare. This makes her a dumb blonde as she couldn't find a way to escape or call for help. She is represented as this in the scene so that the audience can expect a lot of trouble to arise from the blondes lack of intelligence. This makes a horror film which will attract, excite and keep the masses interested for those that are interested in horror films.

Furthermore there is the use of mine-en-scene in the clip as there are the uses of tools, knives, glasses, boots, pipes, gloves, clothing such as - a sweater, trouser, dress and pyjamas. There is also the use of a bed, a Jesus piece, the abandoned workplace and the female blonde victims bedroom.  This is all shown in the opening scene to A Nightmare on Elm Street. This has been done to wide variety of weapons the villain could have at his disposal, to show how much danger the victim is in and to show the danger of the wide and larger area compared to the smaller area for the film specifically.

Moreover there has been the use of camera shots in the opening scene to the horror film. One of the types of camera shots used was a close up. This was used in the scene where the villain was making his weapon to kill the victim. This was shown in order to allow for the audience to know there will be danger or death that will be coming up in the film. This allows for a horror film to be made and allows for the attraction of as many people as possible to see the film as they will be interested in a scary film. There is also a close up on the females face while she is screaming. This is shown near the end of the clip where the female is stuck in a alleyway. This was shown to show the facial expression of the female to allow the audience to know how much trouble the female was in.

In addition to this information there is a long shot which is used in the horror clip. This is used to show the female blonde victim running through a alleyway to find her way, this is shown in the horror clip near the start of the clip. This has been used to show the that the victim is lost. This allows the audience to know that the victim is lost and needs to find out where to go, this will show the audience that there is a possibility of danger for the victim as she could run into the villain who has already been shown in the clip to be inside of the same abandoned workplace.

Alongside this information there has been the use of an over the shoulder shot. This has been used in the horror clip to show the female blonde victim and her surroundings. This allows the audience to know where exactly she is, this can also allow the audience to know that there could be danger as the villain could sneak up behind her.

As well as having this information there is the use of editing in the horror clip. This is shown in the horror clip as the use of jump cuts, many jump cuts were used in the horror clip for the effect of tension. An example of one to be used would be when the female blonde victim is in the alleyway and there is a jump cut from a medium shot of her to another medium shot but in the second shot where the villain appears who is just about to kill her. The jump cut has been used here to create tension, this works especially well as the female blonde victim is inside of an alleyway. The alleyway is a small confined space where if someone is caught by a villain it can be extremely bad for that person the jump cut builds tension and the alleyway helps to increase this tension.

There is also the use of another piece of editing being used in the horror clip. This is the use of a tracking shot. This is used in the horror clip when the female blonde victim runs into the alleyway and the camera tracks her to the alleyway. This is used to show where the female blonde victim went, it also shows that the female blonde victim is in trouble.

Furthermore there is the use of technical and symbolic codes. The technical codes used here would be the use of dark lighting, props, fire and a large area. This has all been used to show danger for the female blonde victim. This has been used to allow the audience to know that there is a lot of danger for the female blonde victim. Another technical code to be used which doesn't relate to the previous would be the use of the small room for the female blonde victim. This has been used in the horror clip at the end of the horror clip. The room is meant to show peace as the room has no villain or weapons indie of it, the room actually has a Jesus piece. The room is then visited by a woman and a man (presumably the mother and father of the female blonde). The visitors are very peaceful and one even offers advice to the female blonde victim. This shows a peaceful atmosphere with no danger whatsoever.

Moreover there is the use of symbolic codes. One of the symbolic codes used would be the use of ripped clothing. This is shown in the horror clip at the end. This is meant to show that the female blonde victims danger is not over. There is also the use of the female blonde victims dream, the dream is shown throughout the horror clip until she wakes up from her dream. This could have been done to show a psychological horror film to take place with a lot of mental effect aspects to it. The audience will be able to realise this from the symbolic code used and will be able to prepare themselves for the film.

In addition to this information meaning is conveyed in the horror clip. This is done through the settings of the horror clip. The abandoned workplace with lots of tools/weapons and fire shows danger for the female blonde victim while the female blonde victims room shows peace. This has been done to show how the different settings have an affect on the outcome of the female blonde victim.

In conclusion the story in the clip shows the female blonde victim trying to escape. This is shown throughout the clip. This has been done to show the level of safety for the female blonde victim. The female blonde then wakes up from her nightmare at the end of the clip and has ripped clothing, this could show that the danger is not over for the female blonde victim. This can allow for the audience to know that there is more to the story and that the female blonde victim is still in danger.

Textual analysis of The Woman In Black opening scene.

Textual analysis of The Woman In Black opening scene.

In the opening scene of The Woman In Black representation is shown in the tea party that the three small girls are having. The tea party is suppose to represent a bright, light and playful mood to start the story off with. This gives off the idea that there is nothing going wrong in the start. The dolls in the tea party from the story are meant to represent human beings enjoying tea. In the clip we see light from the window to the left side of the girls who were having a doll tea party. The light is normally suppose to represent playful, good, lighter and kinder side of the story. This can relate as the window shows the view and leads to the outside world which we can normally see as innocent as there are normally innocent people going about with their daily lives. The light from the widow in this story can also have the representation of heaven. This can be shown as the girls come to their fate once they jump out of the window, they went from the darkness to the light. The innocence of the girls can show the representation of heaven through the light filled window as only the innocent go to heaven.

Further to the right side of the girls having a doll tea party we see the darker side of the room that they're in. The darkness normally represents evil, mystery and fear which we see in the story. At the end of the clip we see a woman dressed in black this woman is suppose to represent the dark, mysterious and immoral part of the clip which we can associate as the villain.

Moreover in the opening clip there is the use of mise-en-scene. This can be shown in the opening clip. There are the use of props such as teacups, small tables and furniture. This gives off the olden day setting of the clip with all of the props having an old design. There is also the use of olden day clothing. This is shown in the clip as we see the girls wearing this type of clothing. The girls have been given this clothing as they are set in the olden times. There is the use of bright and dark lighting in the clip. I have explained the use of these above already where I state the light has been used to show goodness while the darkness has been used to show evil.

In addition to this information there are the use of camera shots these range from close ups, medium shots, medium 2 shots and long shots. The close ups show what is happening this includes the tea cps being used, the dolls being used and one of the girls faces. This may have been done to show the old features of the props as well as to let the audience know in detail one of the characters faces. The medium shot used was to show the girls and the tea party that they were having, that is it. This may have been done to show the girls enjoying their tea party. This may have been done to build suspense as the music gives off a eerie feeling, the audience are only left to suspect that something is about to happen.

Alongside this information there is also a medium two shot which shows two of the girls with a bright expression on their face. This may have been done to show the happiness of the girls while they were enjoying their tea party before they were possessed. There is a long shot. This shows the girls and their tea party items. This also shows the girls faces expression once they look behind them and see something presumably the woman in black. This may have been done to show all of the girls seeing something before they are possessed which leads to them jumping out of the window.













As well as having this information there is the use of editing. This includes the use of jump cuts, a zoom and a zoom backwards. These have been used to determine meaning in a film. The jump cuts have been used for the effect of jumping forward in time. The jump cuts allow for the story to progress which leads to a terrible ending for the girls. As the jump cuts are put in place they allow for the suspension of the story to play its part, allowing for the audience to enjoy the story. There are numerous jump cuts within the clip showing the girls enjoying their tea party as well as showing the girls being possessed and reaching their terrible fate. This may have been done to show the contrasts within the story of good, lighter side against the dark, evil side.

There is the use of a zoom in the clip. This is done in the clip to zoom in on the window. This may have been done to show the fate of the girls after they have looked at something in the darkness (presumably the woman in black). The girls then look to the window where there is a zoom at this point. This will give the audience an idea of the terrible thing that's about to happen which makes a horror story.

Furthermore there is the use of zooming backwards. This has been used in the clip when the three girls are walking towards the window and when we are shown the woman in black at the end. This may have been done to show the dark and evil progression within the movie.

Moreover there are the use of technical and symbolic codes. One of the technical codes used here is the use of a zoom to show the window where the three girls jump to reach their death. The use of the zoom is what I have explained above. The zoom has been used to give the audience knowledge on the fate of the three girls, the girls come to a terrible fate. There is also the use of a zoom backwards. I have also explained this above. The use of a zoom backwards shows the three girls going towards the window as well as the scenery around them and some of the scenery behind them. This may have been done to show where the girls were going leading to their death as well as to show the faces of the girls to let the audience know that they were possessed.

In addition to this information there are the use of symbolic codes. One of the symbolic codes used was the tea party. This is shown in the clip as the three girls have a tea party with their dolls. This is meant to show the innocence of the girls as well as showing the lighter side of the story at the start in order for there to be a build up to the darker side of the story as something terrible is meant to happen. There is the use of dark lighting in the clip. This is shown to the right side of the girls where the woman in black who is not seen until near the end of the clip is standing. This is meant to show the lack of hope for the girls as they come to their ending fate. The room they are in has no one inside it except for them and the woman in black who then posses the three girls to jump out of the window to their death.

Alongside this information there is the knowledge in how meaning is conveyed. This is shown in the tea party. The clip shows the girls having a tea party with their dolls. This shows the innocence of the three young girls. The darkness shows evil is lurking. The darkness is shown to the right side of the three girls in the clip. This shows that there is evil lurking around the corner. The woman at the end is shown as a symbolic code. This is seen near the end of the clip. The woman is dressed in black who we can presume to be the villain. Non-diegetic sound is used as a symbolic code. Creepy music is played throughout the clip. This is used to show future outcomes.

Finally in conclusion evil is shown in the dark areas of the clip. Lighter areas show the goodness of everyday life e.g the window for the view of the outside world. The horror film is based on possession.

Textual analysis of Lights Outs opening scene.

Textual analysis of Lights Out opening scene.

In the opening scene of the film lights out (2016) there is a lot of popular horror movie conventions shown within the beginning, which help set the scene and helps convey meaning to the audience.

The theme of fear is clearly represented in the scene in many different ways. The darkness being the main factor. The film is based on a strange woman hiding in the shadows so the majority of the film is filmed in the dark, which in horror films is highly representative of fear due to people being afraid of the dark. The darkness is there to create a sense of fear towards the audience. There is also a great sense of representation in the woman in the shadows as she is unknown for the majority of the film, which creates fear to the audience, as it is fearful, as the characters don't know what is attacking them.

The technical codes used help create great fear and help with making jump scares. The non-diegetic sounds used within the scene are fearful to the audience as they make them jump and make it have a more eerie feel.

There is a wide variation in the shots used in the scene. Many establishing shots to help set the scene and give us a sense of how the character would feel in that setting. Many close ups used to help us read the characters emotions which help us understand how fearful the character is. Wide/medium close ups are used to show us the look of the character and their body language which also show emotions.

The symbolic codes are shown within the darkness. The symbolism is shown as in the darkness you are able to see the woman in the shadows whereas in the light you cannot, this is juxtaposition as you are usually able to see everything in the light than the dark. This is symbolic due to it showing us that there are things hidden in the dark that we as an audience are unaware about, causing the emotion of fear.

In conclusion, all of these terms are helpful in a film to create a sense of fear to the audience, using technical/ symbolic codes, the way it is represented, the camera shots and editing all help create a good horror film that scares however also intrigues the audience.

Textual analysis of Scream opening scene.

Textual analysis of Scream opening scene.

In the opening scene from Scream there is the representation of the blonde girl to be seen as a dumb blonde girl. This is shown in the scene from Scream as we get a close up of shots from the girl acting dumb. Examples will be that the girl doesn’t phone the police, goes along with the games of the villain and in the end lets herself be killed by the villain. In a normal situation the police will be called and will arrive at the scene of the crime about to take place. There will also be the avoidance of playing with the games of the villain. There would be the action taken to find the best way to escape the bad situation that the person is in. 

Furthermore, there is the use of Mise-En-Scene in the Scream scene. There was showing of the house, the kitchen, the garden, the lower floor in the house and the windows. These are shown as a variety of shots, for example the garden was shown as a long shot. These are used to show the arrangement of scenery and stage properties in the scene, as well as showing the surroundings in the scene.

Moreover there are a variety of camera shots used in the Scream scene. These varied from close ups, long shots, medium shots and medium 2 shots. For example there was a medium 2 shot of the protagonist and antagonist. The shots were used to convey the different aspects of the scenes characters, themes and film’s setting. The camera shots are important in moulding meaning in the Scream scene.

In addition to this information there are the use of editing. This was used in the ‘Scream’ clip to display one long take, jump cuts and zooming in and out. This was done in the ‘Scream’ clip to add effect to the clip by allowing for the audience to be able to have a realistic experience of the clip. This is meant to make the audience scared, the whole point of the clip. The editing is also used to allow for the clip to go through the entire clip to be watched without the clip being too long.

As well as having this information there is the knowledge on technical/symbolic codes.  The technical codes used were weapons such as the knife. This was used in order to show danger in the ‘Scream’ clip.  The knife was used for the killing of the blonde. There was a rope that was also used. This was used for the killing and display of the blonde. The blonde was made sure to be dead by the blonde being hung by the rope.

Furthermore, there was the chair and sellotape used by the masked killer. This was used to hold the boyfriend of the blonde in place. The boy was later killed by the masked killer with the help of the chair and sellotape.

In addition to this information, there is the use of symbolic codes. The symbolic codes used here  are that the woman lives in a house far away from civilisation, she is in a rural area. The space around the house shows this. This has been done by the director in order to show the audience that the girl is vulnerable and is likely to be in trouble.

Alongside this information there is the reasoning into how meaning is conveyed. Meaning is conveyed by there being the blonde. The blonde is displayed as dumb, this is the stereotypical view of blondes. This then shows that there will be problems to arise as the blonde is dumb. Meaning is conveyed through the phone calls. This happens as the villain constantly calls the victim. This is done to show that there is tension and there is a problem.

In conclusion the director has made all of these features for a reason. This has been done in the clip with the use of representation, the use of Mise-En-Scene, technical and symbolic codes and how meaning is conveyed. This has been used to show the audience that there is a need to stay away from trouble, to stay away from bad areas and bad timings.

Textual analysis of Halloween opening scene.

Textual analysis of Halloween opening scene.

Representation is shown as there is the medium 2 shot scene of two white people, one boy and one girl playing around and having with each other. This gives off a light enjoyable feeling for the audience. This is shown in the scene where the boy and the girl are having fun with each other. The director might have put this there to show us the lighter side of the clip first in order to build suspense.

Furthermore, there was the use of Mise-En-Scene with the use of furniture, the placement of the knives and the flight of stairs to the girl’s bedroom. In the clip we get an example of this with a close up of the boy taking a knife from the draw in order to hurt the girl. The director has done this in a house as knives are more common there.

Moreover, in the movie there are a range of camera shots to give the audience a real experience from watching the clip. This is seen from there being a medium shot of the killer with the male gender being shown at the end. This gives the audience an identity of the boy so that people know who committed the murder.

As well as having this information there is the knowledge on editing that takes place. The editing takes place as one long take. This is seen in the ‘Halloween’ clip from the start till the end.

Alongside this information there are technical/symbolic codes used during the clip. This can be seen as the use of knives, the house, the bushes and the mask. These were used in order for the audience to know there was going to be a murder. The knife shows that danger is lurking around the corner.

In addition to this information there is the knowledge that meaning is conveyed. This is shown in the ‘Halloween’ clip through the use of binary opposition. This was used to allow for the use of light and darkness to come into play. This was used as the light means nothing is happening and everything is going on the way it should be. Light is used to show normal things is taking place, light is also used to build suspense about what is about to happen. The darkness shows the audience that danger is around the corner, there would be a possible killing about to take place. The knife was used for this in the ‘Halloween’ clip. This was how meaning was conveyed in the ‘Halloween’ clip.

In conclusion the darkness and ‘Halloween’ timing of the situation is used. This is shown on the outside of the house during the early and late stages of the ‘Halloween’ clip, where darkness is shown during night time to represent evil and the pumpkins are used to represent Halloween. The message that’s being conveyed is to stay away from bad areas and bad timings or else something bad things are going to take place.

Welcome to my blog.

Welcome to my blog

Hello my name is Daniel Okwuokenye and welcome to my AS Media Studies coursework blog. In this AS Media Studies coursework blog I will be completing my coursework task as assigned by my teacher. I will be using the research that I have found out to make my AS Media Studies coursework
blog for the completion of the task. I will then go into a conclusion at the end making a summary of my AS Media Studies coursework blog.In this AS Media Studies coursework blog I aim to achieve a high grade through the use of the research that I would have undertaken, which will then be input into the main task of the creation of the blog. I have worked with classmates to create a video project. I have very little experience in the past when it comes to making videos, the only experience  I have has been when it has come to taking videos, with the video recorder in school for two projects, as well as using my phone to take videos of different things. I have also taken other videos for posts on social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter to help me with inspiration into Horror movies. I have moreover had some experience in the process for film planning where I have planned for four different films, in class where two have been filmed and the other two haven't been filmed in the AS Media Studies coursework, although whist working in this AS Media Studies coursework blog I was able to take part in all of this to be able to create a blog which was a lot of fun creating.