PRIMAVERA ANALYSIS

ADVERT IMPROVEMENTS AND TRIALS

This is my improved version of Primavera, my first fragrance advertisement. I changed the title font and size, the bottle and the slogan font and size:

 

This is my first attempt at an advert for a sporty men's cologne 'Sportif' but it is only my initial ideas so I may change it:

 

 



FIRST ATTEMPT AND IDEA FOR ADVERT

This is my first and unfinished idea for my second advert. I experimented a little on Photoshop with an effect. I am still trying to decide on which image to use (please see my initial ideas for second advert post) and what to call my new fragrance.

INITIAL IDEAS FOR SECOND ADVERT

For my second advert I thought I would do a men's cologne, perhaps with a sporty theme. These are some shots I could use:

 

I thought these poses looked casual and cool but with a hint of sportiness from the ball.

I also took these photos:

QUESTION 3 STEREOTYPES

I don't know how well I did in my question 3 yet so I don't know which bits I got right and which bits I got wrong. Therefore, I will write down some new things I learned in todays media lesson and that way I won't repeat any of my real answer.

"Talk about representations in the extract. You could talk about:
-gender
-race and nationality
-spies
-love, marriage and family"

Gregorio and Ingrid's wedding is an anti-stereotype of most modern marriages for several reasons. First, Ingrid is not wearing white but instead a golden cream colour, already suggesting this wedding is slightly different from more traditional weddings. Secondly, the guests at first glance seem normal but are in fact wearing sun glasses and very clean cut suits. They look like spies as well, and this is confirmed when they are ready at an instant to produce parachutes to save Ingrid and Gregorio from the helicopter attack. Most weddings do not have secret agents waiting to spring into action at a moments notice for the bride and groom. This leads me on to my third reason this wedding is not typical which is that there is a helicopter attack just as they say their vows, forcing the newly married couple to run and parachute over the cliff edge before being speed boated away to safety. These events are completely unlike the usual calm sophistication of most weddings.

Ingrid is a stereotypical mother because she is loving and caring to her children. For example, she checks they have brushed their teeth, showing she cares that they are clean and healthy. She also tells them a bedtime story; a cosy, happy scene typically known in many households with young children. However Ingrid breaks the stereotype of a typical mother because she hides the fact she is really a highly skilled, notorious secret agent from them. This type of secret is of course not typical of most families.

SPY KIDS EXTRACT QUESTION ONE

In what ways do the narrative (characters and events) in the extract fit the AA genre?

This is a typical spy action and adventure film for children. It includes narrative conventions which fit the action and adventure genre, such as spectacle. This is shown when Ingrid opens the ring box up the Eiffel Tower and fireworks go off. The scene is spectacular because they are at the top of the Eiffel Tower with a beautiful view of Paris, the city of love, connoting passion. The fireworks look beautiful and spectacular from the incredible view. The moment is very romantic, a grand gesture of proposal in an amazing setting which creates the spectacle. Another convention in the extract is combat and conflict, for example when the helicopters gate-crash the wedding. They are shown as the antagonistic, evil force because they break up the wedding and force the protagonists Gregorio and Ingrid to run. The scene denotes combat and conflict because there is a clear 'good vs. evil' and the protagonists need to fight or run to evade the attack.

The characters also fit the action and adventure genre because, as mentioned above, there is a clear antagonist and protagonist. The story is told from the mother (Ingrid's) point of view which automatically positions the reader as sympathetic to her. This means she is positioned as the heroic protagonist, a typical character in action and adventure films. At first, Gregorio is shown as the antagonist as Ingrid's mission is to 'take him out' suggesting he is the enemy. However he changes sides when he refuses to kill Ingrid and instead joins her team, becoming a protagonist. Having an antagonist is a typical convention of the action and adventure genre, as is the idea of the protagonists fighting the antagonists.

GLADIATOR EXTRACT

This is what I have done so far on the Gladiator extract, in Friday's lesson and for homework. I will be doing more and adding to the answers over half term:

NOTES:

1.      Events combat and conflict fighting archers cavalry good v evil typical of AA

Characters heroic protagonist inspires troops gives orders leads army brave

Villainous antagonists brutal throw head of soldier at the army headless rider

2.      Soundtrack strings elegy death of soldiers to come

        Strings crescendos for suspense

Percussion drums suspense

Diegetic sound war cries and clink of armour

Editing special FX headless rider gruesome shocking brings home reality of war

 

Mise en scene dark grey bleak forest

Costumes armour shows they’re going to war, show period of fight

Camera work shots of admiring looks of king shots from below

Low angle shots of king to show him as powerful

3.      Gender stereotype archetypal alpha male strong brave fearless

Race and nationality Romans look clean presentable distinguished villains rugged covered in hair and fur hidden threatening evil

ANSWERS:

1.      Gladiator is a classic action and adventure film. It is typical of the AA genre because the narrative includes conventions such as combat and conflict. There is about to be a war between the Romans and the barbarians. This is shown by all the soldiers lined up in regiment, charging at each other across the forest. It is also shown by all the Roman soldiers preparing for war by getting their weapons and armour ready. Another typical convention of AA films in spectacle, which this extract includes. For instance when the headless rider comes back and it is revealed that the rider has been decapitated it is shocking and so creates spectacle.

Another way the extract is typical of the AA genre is through the characters. There is a heroic protagonist, the Roman king. He is shown as the protagonist because he gives orders to the troops and leads the army. He is clearly respected and of high authority from the way the other soldiers look admiringly at him, and from the way he makes decisions for example about the cavalry’s position. There is also a villainous antagonist (the barbarians) which is a further typical feature of AA films. They are shown as the villains because they kill decapitate one of the protagonist’s army and come to fight them.

2.      The soundtrack of the extract includes non-diegetic sound such as the string music which plays at the start of the extract. The strings sound melancholy, sad and elegiac which indicates to the viewer that there will be death soon. There is also diegetic sound such as the metallic sounds of the armour and weapons. This shows that there will be a war and makes the battle feel realistic and like the viewer is really there.

The editing in the extract includes the headless rider and the decapitated head. They look gruesome and lifelike, and emphasise to the viewer the brutality of the barbarians. Special effects are also used after the scene with the man walking through the corn field to fade back to the king with his eyes closed. This fade in shows the viewer that the scene before was a dream or a thought of his, and so reveals something about the character (in this case his hopes for his life after the war).
NB: I am not sure if the highlighted point counts as SFX but I couldn’t find another example
Mise en scene is used to create the bleak atmosphere of the battle by setting it in a dark, grey, dismal forest after sunset. This sets the tone of the scene: sad, scary, where many will die. Mise en scene is also used through the costumes of the soldiers, which are very traditional Roman armour, to show the period the battle is set in and also to indicate that there will be a war very soon. Additionally, the armour makes the Roman army easily distinguishable from the enemy who wear thick, dark furs.
Camera work in the extract is used to stress the power of the king. For example, the point of view shot of the soldier’s faces as he walks along shows their admiring looks and how they look up to and respect him. This shows the king’s authority.
There are also some high angle shots from above to show the size of the Roman army. It looks huge and so makes the battle appear more important and spectacular.

3.      In terms of gender stereotypes the Roman soldiers are the archetypal alpha males, for example the king. He is brave, fearless and strong, unafraid to go and fight a battle he knows he may die in. In this way he and his army fit this stereotype.
The protagonist’s soldiers also fit a stereotype of looking very typically Roman. They have strong armour, helmets and shields and wear colours like red, silver and gold. In comparison the barbarians are rugged, covered in hair and fur. They do not look as distinguished as the Roman army and instead appear threatening and evil because we cannot see their faces and they hide, camouflaging with the woods.
The Roman soldiers are also shown as fearless and brave because for example the king and his army appear calm under pressure and do not break down even when one of their men comes back decapitated. This portrays them as fearless compared to the barbarians who are cowardly and mean and hide in the forest, never completely revealing themselves. Whereas, the Roman army stands their ground proudly and bravely showing them to be the true heroes in this text.