RESEARCH FOR SLIDE SHOW

Theories


As part of our research we looked at theories on media. One was the uses and gratifications theory, where individuals use media for diversion, personal relationships, personal identity and surveillance. Therefore we wanted our film opening to provide some of those factors to entice the audience, we included diversion, personal relationships and personal identity through the characters, mise en scene and location.

Another theory we looked at was the reception theory, the idea that different people receive and interpret a text differently and that their individual circumstances (gender, class, age, ethnicity) affect their decoding of what is encoded by the producers . To avoid major differences in readings of the same code, we used recognised codes and conventions to draw upon audience expectations relating to aspects such as genre and mise en scene, and therefore created a certain amount of agreement on what the code means.



Romance as our chosen genre

The main narrative of a romantic genre follows a construction of finding new love, or falling in love. Which is usually centred around a central woman or male character. Often emotions are dealt with that target the female market as they are put into a position to feel emotional from the narrative of the film, as they can usually relate to the main female characters situations and issues that they express around relationships and love. This is an audience pleasure as audiences can seek gratification needs from the media, by using the uses and gratification model. For example audiences can build a relationship or identify themselves with the female character.

After analysing some romance films such as Bridget Jones’ Diary, The Time Traveller’s Wife and Love actually we found there were similarities:


-The leading female character is looking for love, or falls in love, or is heartbroken but saved by love. (narrative)


-Iconography /misenscene, and camera angles are similar – for example the couple running up to each other and embracing in love as the camera seeks a close up shot of their faces


-A race against time, to express emotions of love


-Non diegetic music that creates a climax and tense atmosphere


-Generic types, characters that are associated with the genre. For example in Bridget Jones’ Diary there is the stereotypical good looking business man, and Bridget is the stereotypical average English woman