Representation analysis

Hunger Games

Representation

The way Lions gate (the producers) show and represent, gender in the hunger games goes against the belief that strong muscly white males should be the main hero. Instead, Katniss Everdeen is the heroine and isn’t really muscly at all, nor is she rich. She comes from a poor back ground and has gained her skills through constant practise just to stay alive and feed her family. An example of her gaining her skill is right at the begging of the trailer where Katniss is hunting with a Bowen arrow.  This could be seen as unusual for a woman to be the heroine as you would normally expect a muscly male to be the hero.                                             Even though there is a herein instead of a hero, there are still male main character. But the representation of gender in hunger games reinforces traditional gender stereotypes. Peeta mellark plays the stereotypical male American action side kick. He is aggressive, brave and intelligent in helping the main character; katness everdeen survives the hunger games. When katniss is on the verge of death that when peeta really steps up to help and be the side kick of the heroine. But all after he has betrayed her once, unwillingly. This is a typical qualities associated with male sidekicks. This may make the audience feel for him and make them feel like he is really trying and giving all he’s got to help the heroine.

Films use unexpected representations in film so the audience will look  at the poster or watch the trailer and realise it’s not what they expected so will then go and watch the whole film as it’s something different to watch and possibly more interesting. But the film has still kept some stereotypical representations, for example peeta meelark. They possibly done this so the audience doesn’t feel like the film has represented all the characters differently to a past feel they enjoyed.

The hunger games also may have changed the stereo type of male men always being the hero as they are trying to get a real life point across. A point like, men are always the hero and women don’t do much but get in the way. So they have changed that, making the female the hero

Narrative Theory

Hunger Games 

The trailer for hunger games uses many narrative techniques, applying the character theory. We have a clear protagonist in hunger games, katniss everdeen. She is shown to be the stronger character we also know that she is the protagonist from the trailer as it focuses on her saving her sister in the disequilibrium of the trailer. Gale Hawthorne, which you could call the mentor or theoretically the Donor of Katniss Everdeen, is also a major character you could call him the doner as you could tell in the first 25 seconds that he and the heroine are hunting together, possibly training together. Another main character is Peeta Mellark. He is the Helper as he helps the heroine, Katniss Everdeen. He acts as the sidekick. These well-known character types quickly help establish the genre, Adventure, Sci-Fi and action Thriller. It also allows the audiences to understand the main relationships within the trailer.

The film's narrative is introduced in the trailer and follows theory of equilibrium. The equilibrium starts at the beginning of the trailer, when the character, katniss everdeen and Gale Hawthorne are hunting freely and seem very happy as they hunt for food to feed their families, as the film is also based around poverty and equal rights. So, it’s not like they can just go out t o a supermarket and buy food. Instead they have to hunt for their food, which has become natural to them, it has become a hobby. The introduction of Effie Trinket creates the disequilibrium. along with the random selection of a male and female, where they are made to represent and gamble their lives for their district in the 74^th hunger games. Which is a tournament where 24 people enter an artificial but only one is meant to come out. The new equilibrium is not shown in the trailer because is important that the audience watch the whole film to enjoy this resolution.

The trailer has many of Barthes' enigma and action codes. These enigmas are there to draw the audience in and encourage them to watch the whole film to resolve their questions. E.g. will Katniss Everdeen die or her helper peeta mellark? what happens to the winning challenger? Or what is the new equilibrium going to be like, is it going to be a lot different or is it going to go back to how it was before? However, enigma codes work alongside action codes. Action codes are there to engage and maintain the interest of the audience.  One of the first action codes occurs within the first 20 seconds, when Katniss and Gale are talking about running away from someone, the next happens not long after when katnisses sister is crying because she is scared of this person/people gale and Katniss wanted to run away from. You could tell that it was giving of an action code by the music, the music change and made more tension appear. And the only way to see what everyone is scared of and the new equilibrium is to watch the full movie. There are many more action codes that happen in this one trailer to draw in more of an audience to watch the film. This is a critical aspect of the film marketing.

SOUTHPAW

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mh2ebPxhoLs

Southpaw is a sporting drama featuring Jake Gyllenhaal. Personally I would have also called this a action thriller as well as sporting thriller as there is a lot of bloody violence  that happens in the duration of this film. as well as the boxing that makes it a sporing thriller  the film is based on the death of his wife, the life of his daughter and how the main character 'Jake Gyllenhaal' handles everything that happens in this short period of his life, through his talent. 

what it's about:

The film is based on a boxer named Billy Hope but also know as 'the great' who has an impressive career, a loving wife and daughter, and a lavish lifestyle. However this all is take taken away when tragedy strikes. Hope starts ttom after losing his wife is taken away from him over his house and his manager. He soon finds an unlikely saviour in Tick Willis a former fighter who trains amateur boxers. With his future on the line, Hope fights to reclaim the trust of those he loves the most.

NORBIT

https://youtu.be/MmSZJ17ppEQ

Norbit is a romantic comedy as the film is based on love and romance but is also a comedy. like my recent blog you may be able to tell this is a comedy as Eddie Murphy Is a main character. And Eddie Murphy is branded for comedies for example coming to America.

what is it about:

Norbit is about Norbit, who is a  middle aged black American that's not living the American dream. He has always had it rough, since the day he was adopted by a Chinese restaurant owner who ran an orphanage. he was then forced to marry a bad-tempered and nagging wife, Rasputia. he is at wit's end until, his childhood sweetheart who grew up in the orphanage, Kate. Moves back to town. Hating his current wife , Norbit tries to make a strategic plan to his true love, kate.

THE EQUALIZER

https://youtu.be/-3V0cchHy60

This film is an action thriller that was realised in 2014 called The Equalizer. You maybe able to tell as I have got a clear shot of the main character, Denzel Washington in the image above.

Denzel Washington is known for being in actions and thrillers. that is his brand.

what is it about:

A man believes he has put his mysterious past behind him and has dedicated himself to beginning a new, quiet life. But when he meets a young girl under the control of ultra-violent Russian gangsters, he can't stand idly by - he has to help her.

magazine cover

target audience.

This is targeted for people age 15+. As ages younger, may not be interested in how to make money, interested in celebrity life or interested in how celebs make their money.

This is an establishing shot as it sets the scene for what is about to happen. this shot also tells that the bag is a valuable item.

this is an medium shot but also an establishing shot as it isn't to far away or close up and it gives you a hint for what is about to happen and that is why it is an establish shot. this shot is also meant to show that we are good friends.

This is also a medium shot which shows that we are not up to good and trouble is about to come, you maybe able to tell this due to both of us covering up are faces. which you may do when about to rob something.

this is a over the shoulder shot. this shot helps shows suspension As you cant see the other persons face but you know that we are looking at each other and from the last shot you know that we are out for trouble. This shot also makes the target clear and who we are out to rob.




This is another other over the shoulder shot that is meant to show the two boys wanting something the third boy owns you maybe able to tell that this, as one of the boys is pointing at some thing the third boy is pointing at.

This is a medium shot. Clearly, One boy is on the floor while the other two are taking his belongings (robbery), This can be counted as a violent scene even though no one is hurting one another. but you know before this shot was taken some violence took place. As in the previous scene he is stand and now I this scene he is one the floor.

This is another medium shot that escalates from the last one and has become more brutal, as now the victim is being kicked and stamped on.

This is a long shot and also the final shot. which shows the two robber walking away showing no sympathy for the victim who is badly injured or possibly dead. we also purposely did it in the direction of the sun shining towards the camera to represent the scenes coming to the end as the sun would normally shine bright when its coming towards the, going down.