Textual Comparisons A Team

Q&A for textual comparison for the A Team:

1. Analyse the two film posters commenting on:

>Visual codes

>Layout and design

>Genre conventions

The A Team

This poster represents the rough and tough kind of man, or stereotypically what a "man" should be like. Knowing this, we can be sure that this film will attract the male audience to view it, which is who it seems to be aimed at by what the picture shows.

The font for the title is bold and army-like with bullet holes through it. This could be to represent the army or toughness of the military. It shows us what type of film this is going to be easily.The caption at the top saying "There is no plan B" means that they cannot let this plan fail, or they have no other option – giving them an ultimatum; it’s this or nothing.

The characters are also holding different types of guns and wearing clothes to show off their muscles or that are covered in dirt. By using this we can tell that it is going to be an action film, with violence that could be described as the "gritty kind" – meaning gunshots and probably fist fights or fights in the dirt etc.

How the characters are stood in this poster can symbolise many things; power or leadership by how the guy with the gun over his shoulder, planning or slyness by the guy on the far right, the guy on the right can show strength by his fist and muscles, and determination from his face, the other guy then with the hat shows a normal laid back behaviour.

The clothes they are wearing are quite modern, and seem to be typical of what men would wear today; jeans and a normal top, with a simple jacket and boots, even the suit that the one guy wears. The way they are covered in dirt as well shows that they have had a rough time or could have been involved in action in dirt.

The genre for an action must have some type of evidence that proves it is an action film. This film shows guns, muscles, and the stereotypical view of a man being tough, strong and in charge.
The guys show a few signs of the genre along with the rest of the cover. The military style fonts that can represent the army or teams, their clothes to represent not only the different types of men but the dirt on them and the guns, the land their on showing dirt or dry earth – could be the reason for the dirt on their clothes.

2. (a) Choose one of the film posters. Suggest two different audiences for this film. Give brief reasons for your choice.

The A Team

　

The first audience for this film would be the mainstream action lovers. They can clearly see by the guns, dirt and title font that this film will be for the action fans and want to watch it. I have chosen this as an optional target audience because there are many people who enjoy an action film – me being one of them. This target audience group can come in any age, gender or ethnicity. I believe action lovers would enjoy this because although it doesn’t give too much away it can still leave you guessing and you can clearly see what some of the film is going to contain.

　

The second target audience for this film would be men or male adolescence between the ages of 18 to early thirties. This is because of the look of the males on the front; they look mid twenties and show the stereotypical view of a male. It doesn’t necessarily show anything that would attract girls to watch it – although I’m not saying that girls wouldn’t be interested in it, like me they may well be.

(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.  They also allow the audience to discuss what is inside them, and about them.

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