Textual Comparisons for Sex and the City 2

Q&A for textual comparison for Sex and the City 2

1. Analyse the two film posters commenting on:

>Visual codes

>Layout and design

>Genre conventions

Sex and the City 2

Straight away when looking at the poster of Sex and the City 2 we can instantly tell this is going to be one for the girls. This is because of the image of the girls on the front cover who seem to be very conscientious of what they are wearing, which seems to be the top fashion items and newly cut hairstyles to make them appear glamorous.
We can also see that the font seems to be written in gold which can symbolise money, or wealth. Along with the number 2 which seems to be shinning and in a diamond style – once again showing that this film will be about glamour, fashion and most probably shopping which is stereotyped as every girls favourite leisure activity. The girls on here represent the stereotypical view of females, being more concerned with their image and beauty to attract males.
The stances they are each in could show power that they have or status, whether its in their heads or who they are in the film, along with the line up they are in.
Their facial expressions show joy, and confidence which could help to attract girls because they could be curious as to what has made them happy. The title even though it says "Sex" doesn’t relate much to the girls who are posing in the background. Considering we instantly would think about girls in a more seductive pose compared to how they are on here.
The background seems to be a plain blue sky background, with what seems like sand underneath; nonetheless it is the simplicity of this that helps to make the girls attract the eye first.

This cover of Sex and the City 2 shows the girls as the main image of the poster. This could be to make them seem the main feature of the film. Then near their feet is the title, which in my opinion doesn’t show up as much as they do because of the golden colour it is written in which is placed over her dress which also contains elements of gold in along with the sand in the background. The actor’s names at the top seem to stand out more to me than the title would, which can be a good thing because fans of those actors may be more attracted into watching this film just by reading their names on the top.

(b) Using either of the film posters explain how the main audience for the film has been targeted

　

The main target audience for this film would be those you enjoy a good chick flick type of film. The way they have used everything in the poster advertises to this audience by making it seem quite girly, and fun (their smiles). The clothes they are wearing and top quality fashion dresses, the title being all glamorous, and the beauty on them shows that it is going to be for girls as girls are the ones who stereotypically are obsessed with their appearance.  Those who like chick flicks – mainly girls- like to see things like fashion, love, beauty, a little comedy, etc which is exactly what the front cover of this poster shows.  Another target audience within this would be gay men who are also fashion fased.  Quite often they gay men are just as interested as females into their fashion and so they may be interested in watching this film as the cover here shows a lot to do with light coloured fashion.

(c) What different uses are available to a range of audiences from different media texts? Refer to your own detailed examples.

　

One would be the latest fashion from magazines that show what women are wearing. By using editing software’s to make them appear even more glamorous, both men and women will be interested in what the latest fashion is so that they will know what to wear to "keep up with the latest trend" otherwise they may feel left out to the rest of society. It is magazines like these that create the "perfect image" of how a woman or man should look. This is obviously false as no one can look as perfect without the use of so much makeup and editing skills. That is why now in some magazines they’ll say that the picture has been edited or the model has enhanced features. It is magazines like Cosmopolitan that show this, or Men’s Health.  It also gives the readers something to discuss as they can discuss with each other if they can relate to anything and share opinions.

3.With reference to your own detailed examples, explore the different representations of gender in the media today.

To represent something in the media is to show how something looks, behaves or acts.
Within the media there are a lot of different types of representation of gender.  Some showing what the typical view of a man and woman are, for example the James Bond girls or the A Team, and some that show what they actually are - Little Britain's Vicky Pollard or The Inbetweeners  However, these representations are always changing just as our society is. Alot of the time arguements have been made where readers or the audience have complained that the text represents a false image of something.  An example of that would be in womens magazines like Cosmopolitan where they show women with perfectly imaculate skin, all made beautiful and attractive. They have now had to put on either the inside cover or on the front that the picture has entended extensions or has been edited by someone to try and settle the arguements and lower the fuss about the representation of that model. 
Quite often enough women in the media have been made to represent as the females that are slim, elegant, blonde, big chested with child-bearing hips.  This is so they will become more attractive to males and be seen as eye candy for them.  An example of this would be when we watch the television series of "The only way is Essex".  The girls are almost obsessed with how they are looking and never leave their homes without having the best fashion assessories or make up on. It is representations like this that can give the viewers two emotions - jealousy, this is because they maybe can't afford the same items but want to be as glamorous as them, or are not in reach of the items or the other which is admiration, this would be to those from the target audience who look up to these girls on how they dress and behave because they want to be like them, or like how they are.  This would represent David Gauntlett's Pick and Mix theory where the readers or audience use the media text to satisfy their own needs.  They do this for programmes like The Only Way Is Essex by trying to immitate their clothes and behaviour.  
The view of women has changed in the last few years however because women are now considered to be equals to men now.  Such things like the Tomb Raider games where Lara Croft is the main character who fights against all different types of beasts. Firing pistols and shotguns whilst driving super bikes and climbing around in caves. This shows that women can now be seen as the "nitty-gritty" type of characters just like men. 
The media will attract genders in different ways because of what surveys have realised they enjoy more.  It could also be because of the way they digest such media information.  An example of this would be television soaps like Eastenders or Coronation Street which is most likely to be watched by late women aged in the twenties onwards because they experience more relationship and domestic narratives they can then empathize with characters in multiple situations, nonetheless some men enjoy these programmes too. 

As for the representation of men in the media, they are considered to be the strong, muscle-built, tough, ladies man.  Which most men in Britain anyway, are not like these representations so much.  Films like James Bond that show James to be popular with all the ladies, but still sophistacated.