MEST4 Summer Project

The following needs to be completed by the 

MIGRAIN key concept research

Media Representations 

• Who is being represented? In what way? By whom?

One of the groups that are represented are villain who are shown in the movies as aggressive and unsympathetic.This reinforces the crime done by the villain which is shown in nearly every superhero film. Even though they are doing the same act of crime, they are breaking the law either being fictional or not. 

Another group shown is superhero. In must superhero movies, the hero or heroine are shown to be noble and a role model to kids. However, in Deadpool, the hero is trying to benefit himself. This is an alternative view on superhero.

• Why is the subject being represented in this way? 

Even though that this movie wasn't expected to do as good as it did, it still had the same stereotypes as the blockbusters. For example, the villain is from England. They are shown to be harmful to innocent people to gain power or wealth.

• Is the representation fair and accurate?

As most movie that are made are from Hollywood, the huge companies such as Universal can put these representation as they want. A example of this is the representation of foreigners. They show them as innocent and doing  blue colours jobs.

• What opportunities exist for self-representation by the subject?

Media Languages and Forms 

• What are the denotative and connotative levels of meaning?

Most of the scenes have the same denotation of fighting and violence. In the beginning of the movie, the titles of the characters are written with some comedy. For example, some douche-bag film. This shows us that the company doesn't take it self to seriously making them more likeable by the younger audience. Most of the scenes have the same connotative of showing power to the audience. Scenes when he is throwing people over the motorway show that he is supernatural character before the movie starts.
All of these scenes in the opening segment reinforces negative behaviour to young children. There is a huge amount of graphic fight that could be recreated. Also, this could be a of normalising violence and shortening the line of fiction to reality. Even though this movie is rated 15, younger children now a days could easily find this on the Internet. However, you could argue that the scenes shown aren't telling audience to do violent acts as his attacking the villains in the movie.

• What is the significance of the text’s connotations?

Most of these scene reinforces the stereotype that superheros are violent but for a positive reason as they are fighting the villains in the movie.

This movie show the audience that it is OK for violence to happen if you want or need something. It show the violence as a joke and for fun. It show them that they have no consequence for killing people. The hero in this film way more people then the villain with could influence people.However, you can say that this film is escapism for people as they already know the fiction from the narrative. 
You could also say that people are already so used to seeing so much violence that they have become immune to it. Would people still consider an action film if no violence is included?

• What are the non-verbal structures of meaning in the text (e.g. gesture, facial expression, positional communication, clothing, props etc)?

We don't get facial expression from the main character as he is wearing a mask. However, from the dialogue and body movements, we can tell that is very confident and maybe some times "cocky". Also, the scene in the taxi ,00:36, shows us he is childish and easily distracted when he fined the chewing gum. The clothing in the clip is a red and black body suit. This is very stereotypical in a superhero film as most superhero films have a costumes to hide there identities to add mystery.

• What is the significance of mise-en-scene/sets/settings (CLAMPS)?
• The comedy genre is show in the ‘title’ sequence as it is not a a stereotypical title sequence. The sequence was made using CGI. The CGI gives the effect that the camera is always moving without giving a clear view of the setting.The scenes are showing each individual character and object that will become relevant  in the movie. The ‘camera’ has a very smooth motion and isn't like other movies as it is CGI. The scene itself is froze-frame of a fight scene allowing the audiences to see what is happening. We don't see any cuts that are made as it is one continuous shot. This make it more immerse. The do have non diegetic sound of a song called  Angel Of The Morning by Juice Newton. This is contrapuntal as the song is very relaxing and the mise-en-scene is a fight scene.
• CLAMP

c-Most of the clothing warn in the film is modern and casual. The body suit warn by Deadpool is the same costume that is warn in the comic. This will attract the fans from the comic as they would already know the characters just from the costume.

L-Most of the movie was high key lighting which showed the audience everything in detail. This create realism even if the movie in fictionally.

A-  Most of the actors in the movies weren't well known which would mean that that movie didn't have expectation and people were more likely to watch it.

M- make up was very important as every time the hero face was shown, it had make up on it. It is important for the make to be similar or the audience will lose focus.

p- the most important thing in a action movie is the props as the weapons used had to be realistic.

• What work is being done by the sound track/commentary/language of the text?

As this movie is rated 15, the language used isn't appropriate. The sound used vary with the mise en scene as some its parallel and sometimes it contrapuntal. For example, the opening scene is a classic song play as non diegetic sound for a fight scene.

Narrative 

• How is the narrative organised and structured?

The structure of this film is a very typical structures of it budget. It follows the narrative theory of Todorov who claim that found have a equilibrium, disequilibrium and then a new equilibrium. First we see the hero,Ryan Reynolds, who has a normal life until he was diagnose with cancer. Then we see him trying to save himself and his girlfriend.

• How is the audience positioned in relation to the narrative?

The audience can't relate to the physic of the hero but would be able to relate to the love story that drives the narrative. Deadpool looks directly at the camera to give dialogue with immerse the audience even more making them feel like they are friends.

• How are characters delineated? What is their narrative function? How are heroes and villains created?

Like other superhero movies, the protagonist is a normal individual that then turns into a superhero cause he as too. Deadpool has the same narrative. The audience is introduced to Deadpool by Deadpool as he is carrying the narrative through the movie telling the audience how he got to where he is now.

• What techniques of identification and alienation are employed?

When the protagonist tells us how he lost his family, the audience can sympathise with him as they will be able to relate to. This is one of Blumber and Katz- Uses and gratification theory of identify.

• What is the role of such features as sound, music, iconography, genre, mise-en-scene, editing etc within the narrative?

The main sound that is used in this movie is dramatic music which are parallel to the mise en scene of all the fight scene.  One one main iconography is the 11 second introduction of Marvels. The editing in the film is very important as fast pace editing is used in the action scenes. The effect done on post help create realism.

Genre 

• To which genre does the text belong?

Deadpool is a action, adventure and comedy film according to IMBD.

• What are the major within the text?

The movie has the typical violent scene that make it a action film. It includes guns and weapons shown in most action films. Most of the comedy come when Deadpools looks at the camera the narrate the movie. In addition, the opening sequence has comedic names telling audience what type of movie it will be.

• What are the major iconographic features of the text?

One of the most recognisable thing is the suit warn by Deadpool as the audition that read the comic books would know where the consume came from. The 

• What are the major generic themes?

One is the villain taking the girlfriend and the hero having to go save her. This is very generic as this is what happens in most superhero films.

• To what extent are the audience’s generic expectations of the text fulfilled or cheated by the text? Does the text conform to the characteristics of the genre, or does it treat them playfully or ironically?

 When the audience watch the the first fight scene that comes in the first 10 minutes of the movie, they would be fulfilled as that is only one of many fight scene to come. When the audience thinks of a comedy film, they don't expect a action movie as well which help the movie become more unique. 

• Does the text feature a star, a director, a writer etc who is strongly associated with the genre? What meanings and associations do they have?

Ryan Reynolds is a very well known star in Hollywood. He has played in movies in this genre which haven't been so successful such as Green lantern. Also, the other actor in the movies weren't every well known which i feel helped the movies as they didn't have any expectation of.

Media Institutions 

• What is the institutional source of the text?

 Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation, Marvel Entertainment, 

• In what ways has the text been influenced or shaped by the institution which produced it?

Where this film came from is where most blockbuster superhero films come from such a Iron Man, Spiderman, Xmen, Guardian of the Galaxy and Avengers. Even though audience fell the movie is different to other superhero movie, it is still made by the same people that make the blockbuster movies. This film would have the same resources as the other films which had 4 time bigger budget but still made the same profit at box office. 

• Is the source a public service or commercial institution? What difference does this make to the text?

20 century Fox is a commercial institution is makes movie to make a profit. It does make a difference as these company only put money in if they know the movie will make money. Deadpool is an example as they didn't expect them to make money.

• Who owns and controls the institution concerned and does this matter?

Marvel is own by Disney. This doesn't make a difference as Marvel still have control to make what they want to make.

• How has the text been distributed?

The movie have been distribtued by cinema, DVD, BLUERAY and streaming services.

•  

Media Audiences 

• To whom is the text addressed? What is the target audience? (Demographics, Psychographics)

Marvel is very open to a wide audience and is watch by many people groups. However, Deadpool is different as it is not appropriate for children as of languages, violence, nudity, sex and threads. This isn't like Marvel as before most of the films are clean enough to be watched by 10 year. The target age for this movie is 16 to 30 year old as they are mature enough to watch the films. However, the older generation might think the content is inappropriate as they haven't seen superhero movies like this that advertise violence and bad language. 

• What assumptions about the audience’s characteristics are implicit within the text?

You could assume that the audience is mainly males as of the violence involved. We generally see male being attracted to violence and weapons. However, we also see a love story which is expect from the male audience which could attract females as well.

• What assumptions about the audience are implicit in the text’s scheduling or positioning?

it was released in February with means that the main traget audience is free at this time.