Media Analysis Sheet Genre Cinema – Movies Function Entertainment Persuasion Producer Universal Comcast Company Specific Genre Film Trailor Media Audio-visual Cinematographic Audience Global Public The East in particular Themes The focus of this analysis is going to be on 3 major themes displaying the link between language and the media. The analysis explores the themes of: 1. Harmony between all shot components (Sound – Setting – Camera – Characters and Discourse) – Shots 1 to 5 2. Contrast between story’s sub-themes across shots – Shots 6, 9 and 19 3. Evolution in characters and events – Shots 13 – 18 – 21 – 24 -27 and 31 Shot 1: Shot analysis focuses on the description and interpretation (symbolism) of the setting, the characters, the sound effect and the voice (speech/dialogues…etc.). The shot analyses the theme of Harmony as showcased by the synchronic link and combination of all shot components, showing how sound effects combine with setting features and camera techniques, characters and discourse to serve the theme at stake. Components Identified Interpretative Reading - Symbolism Shot Theme Overall Theme Sound effect: suspense music without lyrics in a progressively increasing volume. Fear – Approaching danger – Audience prepared for an enormous event. Danger Harmony: this is illustrated in the synchronic link between sound effects (Audio, scene (Visual setting), the camera movement (shot type), the absence of characters and dialogues, showing silence prevailing. Scene: rigid life-less mountains – desert Toughness - Fear - Death (no sign of life) – Danger Camera movement: from extreme to long scene – getting closer Approaching danger Characters: none Fear and hidden danger Voice (Discourse):none Silence that precedes the outbreak of a war The first shot showcases a splendid preparation of the audience for the main theme of the film (story) which is war outbreak. We notice a full harmony and synchronic combination of all movie technical elements that conjure up to convey the feeling of fear, danger and confrontation. Shot 2: Shot analysis focuses on the description and interpretation (symbolism) of the setting, the characters, the sound effect and the voice (speech/dialogues…etc.). The shot further analyses the theme of Harmony from a different perspectives with different components. Components Identified Interpretative Reading - Symbolism Shot Theme Overall Theme Sound effect: same sound with more suspense impact through the progressively increasing volume. Fear – Approaching danger and audience preparation further consolidated. Danger Confrontation The second shot further consolidates the theme of harmony. Shot 1 and shot 2 are clearly inter-related and the relation between them is evidently a progressive continuation. Scene: same rigid life-less mountains – desert but from a closer angle Toughness - Fear - Danger Death - One sign of life: warrior which refers to death and danger. Camera movement: from extreme to long scene Approaching danger Characters: one warrior riding a horse Fear and hidden danger Voice (Discourse): ‘We’ve travelled thousands of miles in search of a weapon…’ War The second shot is a clear plausible continuation of shot 1, further preparing the audience for the main theme of the film (story) which is war outbreak. The full harmony and synchronic combination of all movie technical elements is further enhanced by the emergence of characterization and voice. The warrior character as well as the sentence he said including the word ‘weapon’ further evoke the theme of war and confrontation. Shots 3, 4 and 5: Shot analysis focuses on the description and interpretation (symbolism) of the setting, the characters, the sound effect and the voice (speech/dialogues…etc.). These shots further analyse the theme of Harmony from a different perspectives with different components. Components Identified Interpretative Reading - Symbolism Shot Theme Overall Theme Sound effect: suspense impact through the progressively increasing volume and explosion. Concrete danger manifested in the outbreak of the confrontation (explosion in shot 3). Outbreak (war) Shots 4 to 5 take the audience from the display of the warrior to the explosion in seconds. The camera work (zooming on three components: warriors, classic weapons, and fire) served well in a harmony way the eminent character of the danger (now concrete.) Scene: same rigid life-less mountains – desert but from a further closer and different angle Concrete danger manifested in the outbreak of the confrontation (explosion in shot 3). Camera movement:zoom on warrior profiles, zoom on traditional weapons of the warriors and then the explosion caused by weapons. Approaching danger which materialized in seconds later (explosion) Characters:more warriors Eminent outbreak Voice (Discourse): ‘more powerful…’ War displayed in the use of the word ‘powerful’ In continuation from the shots preparing the audience for the main theme of the film (story) which is war outbreak, shot 3 displayed warriors, shot 4 displayed warriors with classic weapons and the culmination is the outbreak, displayed by explosion by fire weapons. Harmony in these shots is clear. So, shot 1 prepared the audience for shot 5 which is logical happening. Shot 6: Shot analysis focuses on the description and interpretation (symbolism) of the setting, the characters, the sound effect and the voice (speech/dialogues…etc.). The shot analyses the theme of Contrast as showcased by the contrastive images running through the story: classic weapons vs fire weapons. Components Identified Interpretative Reading - Symbolism Shot Theme Overall Theme Sound effect: suspense impact through the progressively increasing volume and explosion. Concrete danger manifested in the outbreak of the confrontation (explosion in shot 3). War Contrast: the shot illustrates a clear contrast noble forces (warriors with classic weapons) vs devilish forces of destruction (fire weapons and explosion. This theme emerged in previous shots showing warrior riding a horse (shot 3-4) and warriors with classic weapons (shot 5). Scene: same rigid life-less mountains – desert but from a further closer and different angle Concrete danger manifested in the outbreak of the confrontation (explosion in shot 3). Camera movement: zoom on warrior profiles, zoom on traditional weapons of the warriors and then the explosion caused by weapons. Approaching danger which materialized in seconds later (explosion) Characters: more warriors with classic weapons compared with the explosion resulting from fire weapons. Outbreak of war illustrated by the explosion. Voice (Discourse): ‘more powerful…’ War displayed in the use of the word ‘powerful’ Shot 6 showcases the outbreak of war between noble warriors (definite: western warriors) and the devilish forces of destruction (till now not identified). The scene is characterized by contrast. Shots 9 and 16: Shot analysis focuses on the description and interpretation (symbolism) of the setting, the characters, the sound effect and the voice (speech/dialogues…etc.). The shot analyses the theme of Contrast as showcased by the contrastive images running through the story: the noble vs the villain, classic weapons vs fire weapons, and animosity vs unity. Components Identified Interpretative Reading - Symbolism Shot Theme Overall Theme Sound effect: suspense impact and war sounds (explosions, swords contact sounds…etc.). Concrete danger consolidated by the fighting scenes. War with two perspectives: Noble Dirty Contrast: Shots 9 and 16 showcase contrast between the status of confrontation between western and local warriors (9 to 12) illustrated by the discourse of the local female warrior ‘Why are you here?’ and the progress to the status of unity between western and local warriors (16) displayed by the proposal made by the Western warrior ‘Can we fight with you?’. A beautiful contrast: Animosity - Unity Scene:assembly room, prison, war setting. Concrete danger manifested in a series of fighting confrontations. Camera movement:fighting scenes with variation of camera shots zooming in, zooming out, close and far camera angles. War in details Characters: more warriors with classic weapons – locals and westerners. Fighters of two types: Noble Dirty Voice (Discourse):a beautiful contrast in discourse: “Why are you here?” “You lie.” “You are thieves.” “Can we fight with you?” Confrontational discourse: “You lie.” “You are thieves.” “Can we fight with you?” These two shots carry the message of the film, presenting two faces of the reality in a beautiful series of contrast. Noble war against dirty war, noble warriors against dirty forces of destruction, animosity against unity. Western warriors, initially considered by locals as intruders representing danger and threat have gone through evolution into allies and friends representing unity. Shots13, 18, 21, 24, 27 and 31: Shot analysis focuses on the description and interpretation (symbolism) of the setting, the characters, the sound effect and the voice (speech/dialogues…etc.). The shot analyses the theme of Evolution in characters and events. It mainly studies how the local female warrior changed from a tough warrior to a tender and crying lady. Components Identified Interpretative Reading - Symbolism Shot Theme Overall Theme Sound effect: suspense impact and war sounds (explosions, swords contact sounds…etc.). Spreading of the war. War leading to evolution Evolution:the shots display the impact of the western warriors and their intervention as a salvation force. The result was the evolution of the female warrior from a strong fighter to a tender lady. Scene:war settings from different angles: ground, sky, top, down…etc. Spreading of the war. Camera movement: fighting scenes with variation of camera shots zooming in, zooming out, close and far camera angles. Spreading of the war. Characters: Local female warrior in different shapes: Shot 13: fully-dressed as a warrior Shot 16: head uncovered and body remained in full war dress Shot 21: face – admiration towards westerners Shot 24:face – more admiration towards westerners Shot 27: zoom on body parts without war dress (fearful face) Shot 31: zoom on face and eyes - tears Various fighters, implying the involvement: Spreading of the war. Female warrior getting into a fragile lady. Voice (Discourse): Can we fight with you? Unity resulting in the emergence of the woman from within the warrior. The shots showcase a marvelous evolution of a soldier into a tender lady as a result of the alliance between the noble local warriors and the western warriors.