mediastudies 1 Alice

Right…first post in a long,long time, hopefully this poster analysis in more successful than the last.

1.       The genre of the text is physiological horror.

 

This assumption is developed as the eye travels down the poster. Starting with the tagline, the words rape and ultra-violence immediately pop out to the viewer. This suggests elements of the horror genre, both having connotations of a horrid nature. Rape, for many people brings to mind images of terror and shock, thus creating a mood of horror. This is furthered by “Ultra-violence” reinforcing the images of terror and shock. However it is then confused with the mention of Beethoven as the other primary interest of, who can only be assumed to be the protagonist. This adds the element of physiological to the genre as it upsets the balance of stereotypical horror as the idea of the famous composer, class, art and high brow does not fit in with the ideas of the dark and terrifying world of the horror genre.

 

As you travel further down the poster, the next thing you see it is at the heart of the poster, drawing the eye to it as it is the only bit of colour on the page, surrounded by a vast, blank whiteness. This adds to the idea of physiological horror as a main convention of genre is not knowing what is around the next corner.

 

The knife is the most prominent image in the poster, in the foreground. It connotes violence, blood and gore as well as fear.

 

2.       The purpose of the text is to inform and persuade

 

It informs the viewer by giving, most prominently, the director’s name, informing obviously of his name, but also of the style of the film, the way it will be shot and the style it will follow, especially as Stanley Kubrick is a well known director, therefore there will be a general understanding of how his films look.

The rating is also encompassed, restricted. This shows that it now is reaching a limited audience. Down at the very bottom of the poster are the names of the starring actors, obviously not as important as the film maker.

 

It persuades the viewer by the large and bold name of the director, Stanley Kubrick. This appeals to his fan base, keen on his style.

The design of the poster is eye catching. It draws the eye in with the concentric triangles, therefore attracting a large body of people even if they have not heard of the book or director the design can be enough to persuade some viewers.

The age restriction could be seen as a constraint, however given the eye catching nature of the poster, it could work to its strength with youths determined to rebel against authority and see it.

 

3.

The man in the poster appears to be peeking out from the dark ,connoting that he is hiding something or hiding from the audience, which shows that his character in the film  is often in dark places, hiding in crevices and thus enforcing that this is indeed a horror film.

 

The appearance of the man is similar to the stereotypical appearance to Jack the ripper, something specially a British audience will relate to. His black hat and out stretched hand holding a knife are included in basically every drawing of Jack the ripper. His reputation as a predator, terrorising the streets of white chapel will then be associated with the man on the poster, creating an idea of his character and the plotline of the story.

 

The dismembered eye ball on the sleeve of the man connotes that he is always watching. The fact that it is on his sleeve resonates with the saying “wears his heart on his sleeve” someone is very open about their emotions, replace heart with an eye and the meaning can be read as he is always watching and that it is the only thing he lets people see him doing considering the rest of him is in darkness.

 

The background of white tiles represents a sterile environment, perhaps one in which to commit this “ultra-violence”. Coupled with the prominent image of the knife it congers images of blood splashing against the tiles and images of surgery. This again resonates with jack the ripper as he would mutilate and dissect the corpses of his victims.

 

The title “a clockwork orange” is in white out lined by black. This connotes that it quite a hollow film in terms of the main characters feelings towards his actions, maybe after he has committed his crimes he feels empty, it has not cured any yearning he has in order to commit these crimes.

 

4.

 

An example of anchorage in the poster is the concentric triangles and the tagline.

 

The tagline encompassing the words “rape” and “ultra-violence” are associated with a lust not necessarily for woman but for power. It suggested that the protagonist is out for the feelings of power that these acts will give him.  The mention as well that he is a young man suggests that he is “finding himself” he is mixed up and confused. Felling lost and powerless he strives for the feelings of supremacy and control it could give him as well as regaining some of the control he feels he could have lost in his growing up. All feelings it is accepted young men often feel however not many will take it to extreme levels. I wish to point out that I am in no way insinuating all men are power hungry rapists.

 

 This is anchored by the triangles that could be phallic or at the very least representations of masculinity and power. This is reinforced by the positioning of the woman above the smallest triangle, she is hand cuffed and appears powerless, this reinforces the meaning that this “young man” is power hungry and out for the kill.