Poster Analysis
Poster AnalysisUsing posters we research to inform ideas about
genre and narrative. Evaluating and analysing posters for semantic
and syntactic content.
Video guide basic poster analysis
BORDWELL & THOMPSON
"The term plot is used to describe everything visible and
audibly present in the film before us" (Bordwell and Thompson)
"The set of all the events in a narrative, both the ones
explicitly presented and those the viewer infers, composes the
story" (Bordwell and Thompson)
In other words, the story is the combination of the entire
sequence of events that is shown as well as everything that we
conclude has happened but is not shown.
Plot & Story...
In summaryPlot:The explicit presentation of narrative (story)
events along with additional non-diegetic material (credits, score,
etc.)Story:All the events - both those that are visually
represented and those that are inferred by the audience from the
plot.
Plot & Story...
Definitions
Explicit: Expressing all details in a clear and obvious way
leaving no doubt as to the intended meaning So, what the audience
actually see and hear in the film.
Infer: To conclude something on the basis of evidence or
reasoning So, what the audience presumes has happened based on what
they see and hear in the film.Plot & Story...
Narrative. . .Narrative, therefore, is. . .
The way the story is communicated to the audience through
semantic and syntactic codes.Does this mean a still image, such as
a poster, can be said to have a narrative?
Narrative. . .Narrative, therefore, is. . .
The way the story is communicated to the audience through
semantic and syntactic codes.Does this mean a still image, such as
a poster, can be said to have a narrative?The answer is yes, but we
need another theory to help us describe this:
Action Codes: Images or sequences which work as a form of a
Visual Shorthand making complex Ideas immediately apparent and
carrying the story forward.Enigma Codes: Images/sequences which
control how much we know in the story, engaging and holding
audience interest. They present puzzles which demand to be
solved.
And The Action/Enigma CodesRoland Barthes
More on the Enigma CodeRoland BarthesAn enigma code works to
keep setting up little puzzles to be solved (and not only at the
beginning of a story), to delay the storys ending pleasurably: e.g.
how will Cary Grant get out of this predicament?
Enigma codes can be described as minor or major.
Film posters operate on this basis as they convey the basic
information, but leave the audience guessing.
Apply his ideas to the example textRoland BarthesWhat elements
of the North By Northwest poster act as enigma codes (or clues)
that leave the audience with questions or puzzles to solve?
Draw and fill in the table below:
What are the codes (or clues)?What questions do they leave the
audience with?
Composition and narrativeThe following our the basic composition
techniques used in both photography and cinematography. You might
have learned these at GCSE.The point of going over them is to
consider how the technique can have an impact on the audiences
grasp of the narrative.
12
Read through the sheets!
13Read through the sheets!
14Read through the sheets!
15Read through the sheets!
16Read through the sheets!
17
How does the use of thirds affect our ideas about the
narrative?How does it affect our view of the characters
situation/feelings? What other composition techniques have been
used?BONUS how does the composition reveal the genre?
Other Semantic elementsSo far, we have looked at how syntactic
elements are embedded in a media text, but we also need to think
about the semantic:Shot type/camera angle (see sheet)Dominant
coloursMise-en-sceneLighting designIn groups, take an element each
and explore the ideas in the poster. Try to link semantic codes
to:MeaningNarrativeGenre codes and conventions
Homework due on blogs 21st SeptemberWrite up your ideas about
North By Northwest as your first piece of poster analysis. Refer to
enigma and at least one genre theory. Focus on exploring the
narrative of the poster and identifying genre conventions,
alongside a discussion of basic meaning. You will need to discuss
the marketing/organisational aspects of the poster (as seen in the
video), as well as the image.Keep things clear and simple, aiming
for max. 400 words/2 hours work.
