To deconstruct my A2 music video production I will now analyse the micro areas by utilising media language

If we were to utilise Roland Barthes theory on Denotive analysis  on one particular micro area ‘ Editing’ Barthe looks how the audience will interpret meaning from a particular media text two examples of this would be Peram’s group utilised a denotation of a  mono contrast ( black and white), the connotation  could  represent  the couple  in the first stages of love whereas;  Leila’s production also utilised Barthes theory as well as Levi  Strauss binary opposition light and dark , good vs. evil . The denotation of this represents darkness this connatates Nia’s attitude and the dark outcome at the end it also creates an awe of suspense and tension which is commonly found in other real media texts of this particular genre Hip-Hop.

Ferdinand de Saussure coined that “the sign or symbol we see does not make sense without the actual object and the meaning it creates”.  If we applied Saussure theory to both our music productions ‘mise en scene’. In reference to Peram’s text  the signifier  would be a couple holding hands in a park in broad day light on the swings the signified semiotic for this would be that the couple are deeply in love showing affection to each other.  Leila’s text in reference to Saussure the signifier would be Nia smoking a cigarette in an alleyway the signified view of this would show an addiction or she is stressed this also may represent a stereotypical archetype that Nia is seen as a bad person.    

Opening Sequence. Media Language Analysis

     Our opening sequence begins with the main character involved in a drug deal- with another character whose face is hidden from the audience. The way we interpreted this to our target audience is by using certain denotations. For example the wide shot, this connotes the drug deal happening so that both characters are recognised and the audience can see exactly what is taking place. It takes place down a dark alleyway, with natural low lighting- this implies that they do not want to be seen and a connotation of something bad occuring.    

Media Language

Within our AS opening sequence we have expressed many different types of connotations by applying various denotations. Rowland Barthes argues that the denotation is what you see and the connotation is the meaning through the audience’s knowledge. One example of a denotation from our sequence is the long shot of the red car, this connotes the aggression and death that is commonly associated with the colour red. It also relates to Ferdinand de Saussure, he argues that there are two levels of meaning; the signifier is what we can see in front of us, and the signified is what we associate with the signifier. Another example of this signifier is one of the last scenes within our sequence. When editing we created an eerie and dim atmosphere, showing a man staring at news paper articles, when looking closer at these we can see the images of young teenage girls. This leaves our audience questioning who he is and what reference he has to these girls.

Media Language - Denotation

Our AS opening sequence begins with an establishing shot, this cannotes the recognition of the characters and location to our target audience, incorporated within this is the written symbolic codes which signifies the title of the film. The written codes used can be refered to Fernidads theory of the Signifier and the Signified, the title 'Tormented' being the signifier, allows the audience to relate the title to the film genre, which is the signifier. Other technical codes, for instance the sound effects used later in the production, according to bathes theory of denotation and connatation connotes death, which may suggest to the audience what will be revealed within the production. Throughout the production we used a wide variety of camera angles were used, one being a low angle shot. Within the media industry a low angle shot often connotes vulnerability and/or fear, again, creating meaning through the semiotics used.

Paired Activity - Henley and Jemma

For our AS production, we created the opening sequence for a horror film. We focused mainly on the mise-en-scene micro element in order successfully to portray our genre. We also looked at several technical codes including sound, camerawork and editing. According to Roland Barthes there are two levels of meaning, this is known as the connotation and the denotation. Denotation refers to the objects placed within the media text and the connotation is how the audience and individuals interpret the text. For example, in our opening sequence we showed a teenage girl walking into a forest with a wooden gate slamming shut behind her. This was constructed through a medium shot showing her walk through the gate into the forest. This suggested a connotation for the audience, that something bad was going to happen. The micro element of sound also contributed to this denotation as spooky music stopped when the gate slammed shut creating an eerie atmosphere.