Denotation and Connotation

1) Write an analysis of the WaterAid advert above using denotation, connotation and analysis. What does the advert communicate to the audience?

In this media text, the denotations are: a young boy wearing a blue top who looks upset, beside him there's a clay wall, in the background you can see a house and some trees and lastly bold text. Connotations of the young boy who is not smiling is that he hasn't drank any water because of the area he's living there hardly might be any rain. The connotation of the blue top he's wearing is that it indicates life and health. The connotations of the bold text, "Dig toilets Not graves" infers that loads of people are dying from the lack of water and so they need to dig graves but there's less digging of toilets because no one is drinking water. The producers want to convey to their target audience that if people donate a few pounds to the company, they'll be able to dig more toilets so people can drink water and not die.

2) Now choose your own choice of advert from Google images. Save it to your documents, insert it into your blogpost and write an analysis using denotation and connotation, explaining what the advert is communicating to the audience.

In this media text, the denotations are: a little girl, the background is all grey and finally the bold, red and black text. The connotations for the little girl, Amy, is that she is upset because she is one of the 80,000 of people who is homeless and has to wake up on Christmas day without a roof over her head. The connotations for the grey background specifies that it's really depressing, lonely, sad and dingy; the company included the grey background to overpower the fact that grey is a dull colour and can fit in with the mention of kids being homeless on Christmas. The connotations for the bold, black text is to catch the eye of the reader to continue reading, also the colour black represents death and fear. This means that the people who are homeless are feeling scared because they have no where to live and some of them probably have kids. The connotations for the red, bold text symbolises danger and financial needs of survival and self-preservation. The producers/creators of the advert want to convey to their target audience that if people donate £3, they will try help the homeless families so the little children will have their Christmas back and can live their normal lives. Also, so that they can be saved and won't die in the streets but as an old age.

Extension- Print advert research: Read this design blog on some of the best print adverts of all time. Choose one advert that you feel is particularly powerful in terms of its use of connotations and analyse why it is so successful.

This advert is particularly powerful in terms of its use of connotations and analyse because the French ministry of Health wanted to spread the word about the growing problem of childhood obesity, warning parents that "obesity starts at a young age". The print ad is plain but effective: it shows a fat belly on top of an ice cream cone. The creator/s of this content used bright and cheerful colours for the background but still manages to send a message to young kids and carers. The connotations for the ice cream cone with a fat belly on top is so that the belly can symbolise an ice cream and that that's how obesity starts, by kids eating sugary food such as ice cream.

Key Concepts Film Poster Analysis

Language:

The title and tag-line, release date and the information about the company and director and follow the main aspects and conventions of a film poster. The effects created here is to show the audience when the movie was released and also if they wanted information on the company and director if they were interested on more horror/mystery movies like Insidious.

Industries:

This film was produced by Blumhouse Productions, FilmDistrict, Stage 6 Films, Alliance Communications, IM Global, Haunted Movies and The Astral Films who are all associated around the genre horror. It was administered by James Wan who is an Australian Film Director, Screenwriter and producer and is well known for directing the horror film Saw and creating Billy the Puppet.

Audience:

This looks like the film could be targeted to a mixed gender audience. The age rating for Insidious might be 15 because of the certificate. The groups of people to be interested in this movie just by looking at ate poster are a mix of young adults female and males.

Representation:

The focal picture shows a young boy (perhaps 10-12?) who looks scared and worried. This is represented to show that he is possessed. This is stereotypical amongst the horror movie theme that the kids are being haunted.

First Blog Task

1) Which part of the course are you looking forward to most?

The part of the course I'm looking forward to the most is starting on new projects and learning different skills each time.

2) What knowledge and skills do you hope to learn in Media?

The knowledge and skills I hope to be learning in Media is my editing and computer skills.

3) What grade are you realistically hoping to achieve in Media?

The grade I'm hoping to achieve in Media is 5, and if not 5 then I'd like something higher.

4) What was the last TV programme or film you watched?

The last film I watched on Netflix was 'After' and the last series on Netflix was 'The Vampire Diaries'.

5) Why do you think that TV programme or film appealed to an audience?

The film 'After' appealed to the audience because at the end of the film it was left on a cliffhanger and I think that would leave the audience wanting to know what will happen next, and for the series 'The Vampire Diaries' the whole series would leave the audience excited because there's always drama.

6) What technology have you used to access the media in the last 24 hours? (Radio, TV, phone etc.)

The technology I have used to access media in the last 24 hours was my phone.

7) What device do you use most to access the media?

The device I use the most to access media the most is my phone, my PS4 and my laptop.

8) Why was the casting of Jodie Whittaker a significant moment in the history of Doctor Who?

The casting of Jodie Whittaker was a significant moment in the history of Doctor Who because the main character 'The Doctor' has always changed into a different man, but when he changed into a woman, Jodie Whittaker, it shows that woman can be an important role model and leader.

9) What aspects of this scene do you think an audience might enjoy? List at least three things and explain why the audience would enjoy each aspect.

The three aspects of this scene that the audience might like is the bit where The doctor was giving a motivational speech to the new Doctor. This is because the song in the background made it moving, and what he was saying was really nice. The second aspect of this scene the audience might enjoy was the bit where he was turning into the new Doctor. This is because the audience were left anticipated on who it might be. The final aspect is at the end when the machine went wrong and she flew out. This is because the audience would want to know why this happened and what will happen next.

Extension question: What can you spot in Doctor Who that you will find in most television dramas? (E.g. characters, dramatic music etc.) These are called key conventions - list as many as you can think of. 

The curiosity of what will happen next, the dramatic music in the background and when the characters talk they make it suspenseful so that it could add on to the drama.

Extension question 2: What would a Doctor Who fan ('Whovian') particularly enjoy about this scene?

They would enjoy the scene where the new Doctor is revealed because they've been waiting to find out.