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.

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.

Examples of where ethnicity is represented in the media:

The Mummy
Sherlock Holmes A Game of Shadows
James Bond

Pain With Gain
Grand Theft Auto San Andreas
Eastenders

Assassins Creed 3
Slumdog Millionaire
Forest Gump

Captain America
Four Lions
50 Cent

Flo Rida
Mary Poppins
My Big Fat Greek Wedding

BOOKS:
Of Mice and Men
Audicity of Hope
I'd Rather We got Casino's

Pocahontas
Mulan
Princess and the Frog

Barack Obama