Assignment 10 –Analysing OTSJAKE EWEN

We firstly looked at 15 different opening title sequences and did some analysis of each one.

After watching the 15 OTS in class, we made the following observations

1. Contradictive music is used in many of the OTSs 2. Nearly all created narrative enigmas 3. 8/15 were symbolic 4. Only 2 were just linear 5. Only a few established a character 6. Music is important when establishing a feel to the OTS 7. All establish the genre clearly 8. Still shots proved very effective 9. Mise en scene is not important in all 10. Only a few use clear conventions

We were really inspired by the following OTSs

1. Dexter

2. The walking dead

3. Dawn of the dead

4. The last of us

5. The conjuring

6. True blood

Analysis

In our group we all set out to analyse one of the 15 OTSs

I will be analysing Dexter

It’s a symbolic and linear OTS:

To show how behind to the world he is a normal man

Symbolising through the use images of blood and murder that behind the scenes he is a murderer.

To symbolise themes: death, murder,

The OTS prepares for the series by:

Showing the idea behind the series (A man living a secret life of a murderer)

Sets the tone for how gory the series will be with gruesome perspectives of everyday life shown

Establishes the themes

Establishes main character

Creates Narrative enigmas?

Who is this man?

Why is everything in his life different/ gruesome?

Why are there symbols relating to blood and death?

It mostly challenges forms and/or conventions of this genre

The symbols of death and murder being hidden is not conventional of this genre

The upbeat tone in the music also relates to conventions being broken

However does reinforce conventions such as blood and gore.

Characters representation and why they are represented in this way

Middle class, middle age male

This over emphasises that he is portraying himself as a “normal” guy

Aggressive in his daily morning routine

This shows that he has almost a sadistic side to even his morning routine suggesting that there is something he is hiding

Present credits and the main title by

All are red representing the characters fascination with blood

More emphasis is on the name with it being consistently larger than the role

What I enjoyed…

The suggestiveness of all the parts of his routine

This links very well to the plot of the story creating good narrative enigmas

I also liked how the music covered up the brutality being suggested by the images, again suggesting the idea of hiding in plain sight linking to the plot further.

The title shows the importance of blood and how it is very influential to the character in the series.

This is important due to his character being a killer obsessed with blood.

Again blood is emphasised in almost every scene creating an uncertainty about the protagonist, Dexter, as it suggests almost a fascination.

Here imagery of cutting up and therefore murder is created through the use of breakfast. This order of blood and then cutting up resembles his process in the series of killing the victim and then cutting them up. This creates a narrative enigma as the audience are intrigued to find out why this person is murdering and whether he is even a murderer.

Further murder and sadistic imagery is shown through the use of floss where it represents strangling. This cut also highlights the rush of blood to the surface of the skin linking to the previous parts of the OTS.

This becomes more noticeable in the next clip with the shoe laces.

The last item that is relatable to the plot is the t-shirt shown below. Not only does it reinforce the sadistic theme through the suggestion of suffocation, but it also represents the theme of hiding. This is a key theme in the series as Dexter, the protagonist, is hiding his true sadistic nature.

The final clip shows Dexter walking out of his apartment. This represents how behind all the sadistic things that happened before, to another person he seems completely normal, which is how he is represented throughout the series.