Textual Analysis: 'Skins'

AS Media Textual Analysis
‘Skins’

The following Textual analysis comes from the opening scene of Series 1, Episode 1 (Entitled Tony) of Skins. I analysed the piece in terms of Camera, Editing, Sound and Mise-en-Scene.
Episode 1 is entitled Tony and introduces the character of Tony to the audience.
The scene begins with a close-up of Tony’s face, the camera then pans out to a high angle birds-eye shot of Tony lying rigid in his bed.
There are repetitive, non-diagetic sounds of bells chiming in the opening of the scene, this is then followed the diagetic sounding of an alarm clock. After the alarm finishes, non-diagetic background music is played.
In this opening scene, we learn a lot about the character of Tony. It is evident that Tony has OCDs and is very organised. His OCD is represented when he is lying in bed, he is lying very straight and stiff in the centre of his bed and his bed looks immaculate with nothing out of place. We then see Tony resume a monotonous routine, it shows that he is obsessed with his daily routine, which consists of exercise, this portrays his vein, image conscious personality. Tony is represented as a typical male student but also comes across as a manipulative individual.
There are several shots focussing on him doing each individual activity of his daily routine (doing exercise, looking in mirror, brushing teeth etc.) His OCD and organisation is further represented when he opens his drawer and there is a camera shot of his shirts in his drawer; neat and tidy.
Within this opening scene, there is a high angle shot of Tony sitting on his bed.
A point of view shot shows Tony is looking out of his window and into the window of a lady who is naked in view. This shows Tony’s flirty side and enhances the stereotype of ‘typical’ male teenagers.
Another point of view (eyeline match) shot is used when Tony is outside and looks over at the lady again, this is an over-shoulder shot.
Throughout the entire scene there are various close-up shots, including that of the toilet flushing and towards the end of the scene, a close-up of Tony’s dad’s backside, adding comedic value.
Various other shots include; a shot of Tony’s bedroom door, with the music volume increasing, tension building and expecting his dad to burst through the door. Another shot from outside the house, in the street, shows Tony sliding down the pipe on the side of his house.
There is a shot across the table from one of the seats at the breakfast table, looking across at Tony and his sister eating breakfast.
A shot/reverse shot is used when Tony and his dad are arguing/shouting.
When Tony is looking out of his bedroom window, his attention is diverted from the naked woman to his sister who is coming home from a night out, to cover up for his sibling, he turns up his music and allows her to sneak into the house unnoticed. The diagetic sound of Tony’s stereo is used as he turns up the volume.
Tony’s sister is introduced and is represented as a party-goer who isn’t as innocent as she may seem (particularly to her parents).
Tony’s dad enters the scene when he bursts into Tony’s room, shouting and swearing. He is portrayed as grumpy, aggressive and could be seen as a stereotypical dad. His bad language is represented and is his most noticeable trait.
Tony’s mom seems very friendly and a calm influence within the household. She is shown cooking breakfast and again this could be seen as stereotypical for a mother.
The family seem to be of a middle class background.

Codes & Conventions: Thriller

Codes and Conventions: Thrillers.

Codes are systems of signs, put together (usually in sequence) which create meaning. Codes can be divided into three categories - Technical, Symbolic and Written/Audio:
Technical codes are all the ways in which equipment is used to tell the story in a media text, for example the camera work in a film.
Symbolic codes show what is beneath the surface of what we see. For example, a character's actions show you how the character is feeling.
Written/audio codes such as headlines and captions/Music.
Conventions are the generally accepted ways of doing something. Conventions are genre specific.
Codes and conventions of a Thriller Movie:
- Sound and editing. eg quick cuts and camera angle changes.
- Music that gives tension when appropriate (Visceral).
- Harsh and abrasive sounds.
- Lighting, especially the use of shadow. Usually dark.
- Objects such as mirrors and stairs.- The use of flashbacks.
- Blurred, flickered, distorted or faded camera shots.
- Psychological; gets the audience thinking.
- Ordinary people in extraordinary situations’
- Plot intensive.
- Clues are laced into the thread of the film
- Often a twist at the denouement.
- Audience as detectives.
- Thematically darker side of human emotions – Revenge, obsession, murder, money, regret, concealment, escape, passion or hatred.
- Mood/Tone is dark, oppressive, sinister, mysterious, cold, bleak.
- The opening should introduce a significant theme / moment from the film and/or character from the film but should be careful not to reveal any crucial information.
- Should seek to engage the audience in the world of the film.
- Should seek to set the tone of the thriller (diegetic), dark, oppressive, atmospheric.
- Violence and obscenity showed in action and uses of props (guns, knives, weapons).
- Roland Barthes: to create suspense in narrative, there must be
unanswered questions which will compel the viewer to anticipate action with a resolution.
- The audience is gripped by the plot and wants to watch on to see the story unfold.
- Age Certification of 18+
- Opening titles/credits - writing font in red to symbolise evil/blood or credits fragmented.
- Prologue acts as a ‘hook’ to get the audience interested.
- Begins with protagonist introduction (Victim/Killer).
- Killer is male to represent strength and dominance, also a stereotypical view of a killer/evil person.
- Storyline not in chronological order.
- Victims are innocent and vulnerable.
- Dark costume - represents evil, sinister dark side of character.

Codes & Conventions: Romcoms

Codes and Conventions: ‘Romcoms’

Codes are systems of signs, put together (usually in sequence) which create meaning. Codes can be divided into three categories - Technical, Symbolic and Written/Audio:
Technical codes are all the ways in which equipment is used to tell the story in a media text, for example the camera work in a film.
Symbolic codes show what is beneath the surface of what we see. For example, a character's actions show you how the character is feeling.
Written/audio codes such as headlines and captions/Music.
Conventions are the generally accepted ways of doing something. Conventions are genre specific.
Codes and Conventions of a ‘Romcom’ movie:
- Appeals to anyone who has ever been in love or who hopes to be so soon.
- Characters in love are distracted and liable to do daft things – comedic value.
- The plot of a romcom will see an obvious couple taken through a series of
misadventures designed to keep them apart until the ending (usually when they
get married).
- Happy ending (marriage and children).
- Target audience: Young Women
- Plot involves male protagonist after female protagonist he fancies and having to overcome obstacles and rivals for her affection.
- Typical male and female, heterosexual relationships.
- Male protagonist offers comedic value due to his incompetence or struggle to attract female protagonist.
- Soft, romantic music.
- Stereotypical gender/sexuality roles.
- Attractive protagonists, particularly female.
- Very cliché and stereotypical of the idea of ‘Love’.
- Begins with introduction of 2 characters to fall or in love or the protagonist (male seeking woman).
- Twists to relationship, including a period where it seems the relationship is over until the end when they reunite and are happy together.
- Filmed in a big city/town location (e.g. London/New York)
- Flirting common throughtout film (usually one-way.)
- Costume is smart and sexy, appealing to the opposite sex.
- Soppy, light-hearted and lovey-dovey plot.
- Another male (usually more attractive, clever and wealthy) to compete for females attention, underdog eventually wins.
- Male protagonist fails in his attempts to be romantic.
- Unlikely couple from audience’s point of view at beginning of film, get together at end of film.
- Scenes of nudity, sex and intimacy.
- The colour red represents love, hearts, sexuality and passion.
- The colour white represents innocence, purity
- The colour pink represents love, romance and femininity.
- Usually labelled ‘Chick flicks’.