Wednesday, 4 January 2017
Analyse how the production techniques have been used to create specific meaning in a media product you have studied for a particular audience
Inception uses a variety of production techniques to create meaning for their target audience - 12-35 year old males. They do this by using conventions and egeneric elements of genres that would interest their audience.
Editing techniques are used, especially in action sequences, to connote meaning to the audience, and as the targetted demographics are more likely to be interested in action as a genre, this is very effective. For example, action matches are used frequnetly during the corridor fight scene, transitioning between the compound assualt and the car chase seemlessly, which connotes to the audience that all scenarios are equally in danger, creating an emotional attachment to all characters involved for the audience. Barry Keith Grant (1995) says in his theory that all genres have subgenres that can be identified by generic elements, which is supported by this scenario as action matches are typical of the action genre, which Inception has as a subgenre.
In addition, Patrick Philips (1996) states that genre offers comfortable reassurance for the audience, which this scene achieves by featuring confusing angles and movements such as canted angles and handheld shots in the corridor fight scene, which is a common trope used by both the Sci Fi and Action genre to confuse the audience, putting them in a similar state to the protaginists, making them relate to them more. As the shot changes easily between high and low angle, it connotes to the audience that no one is in control, which having one continual take with few cuts also achieves. This is especially evident when there is a shot-reverse shot looking at the protaginist, then the gun in the scene, before cutting back to the protaginiost, showing the audience that he is now going to win the fight using the gun, by using editing and angles.
Sound is used in the corridor fight scene, compound assualt and the car chase scene to transition from one to the other easily, using loud, tense music layered over the top of the diegetic sound in the scene to show that all scenarios are equally dangerous, as they all have the same music - ie using a sound bridge to connote meaning to the audience. Working well with editing techniques, Incidental music is used simulteneously on all layers of dream state as important events happen at the same time in each scenario, again connoting to the audience that all parts are linked and are important.
Rick Altman (1999) says that films give the audience Intellectual Puzzles which are used in the narrative of the film, which can be seen in Inception as the audience trying to easily identify and differentiate between different dream states. Mise-en-scene, specifically lighting and colouring, is used effectively by the film to help aid in these puzzles, as all dream states have easily identifiable colour schemes etc. For example, the hotel uses warm brownss and yellows, while harsh white and blacks are used in the compund level, helping the audience easily adjust to the scenario, which reinforces the visceral pleasures (Rick Altman) that are used in the film, such as explosions and action sequences.
Editing techniques are used, especially in action sequences, to connote meaning to the audience, and as the targetted demographics are more likely to be interested in action as a genre, this is very effective. For example, action matches are used frequnetly during the corridor fight scene, transitioning between the compound assualt and the car chase seemlessly, which connotes to the audience that all scenarios are equally in danger, creating an emotional attachment to all characters involved for the audience. Barry Keith Grant (1995) says in his theory that all genres have subgenres that can be identified by generic elements, which is supported by this scenario as action matches are typical of the action genre, which Inception has as a subgenre.
In addition, Patrick Philips (1996) states that genre offers comfortable reassurance for the audience, which this scene achieves by featuring confusing angles and movements such as canted angles and handheld shots in the corridor fight scene, which is a common trope used by both the Sci Fi and Action genre to confuse the audience, putting them in a similar state to the protaginists, making them relate to them more. As the shot changes easily between high and low angle, it connotes to the audience that no one is in control, which having one continual take with few cuts also achieves. This is especially evident when there is a shot-reverse shot looking at the protaginist, then the gun in the scene, before cutting back to the protaginiost, showing the audience that he is now going to win the fight using the gun, by using editing and angles.
Sound is used in the corridor fight scene, compound assualt and the car chase scene to transition from one to the other easily, using loud, tense music layered over the top of the diegetic sound in the scene to show that all scenarios are equally dangerous, as they all have the same music - ie using a sound bridge to connote meaning to the audience. Working well with editing techniques, Incidental music is used simulteneously on all layers of dream state as important events happen at the same time in each scenario, again connoting to the audience that all parts are linked and are important.
Rick Altman (1999) says that films give the audience Intellectual Puzzles which are used in the narrative of the film, which can be seen in Inception as the audience trying to easily identify and differentiate between different dream states. Mise-en-scene, specifically lighting and colouring, is used effectively by the film to help aid in these puzzles, as all dream states have easily identifiable colour schemes etc. For example, the hotel uses warm brownss and yellows, while harsh white and blacks are used in the compund level, helping the audience easily adjust to the scenario, which reinforces the visceral pleasures (Rick Altman) that are used in the film, such as explosions and action sequences.
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