Textual Investigation 1C

Learning outcomes: 
You will look at tips for completing your Textual Investigation.
Carry out a textual analysis in bullet points.

Key words: Media terminology. Comparison. Word limit.

You will shortly begin your first textual investigation.
This must be on a print based text.
You must choose a text that will offer you plenty to write about and choose at least one other text to compare it to.
One text should conform to genre conventions and at least one should challenge the conventions.
The maximum word limit is 850 words.

In preparation for this you must look at exemplar investigations which have scored highly

Task 1:
Read the investigation below which deals with a movie poster for the 1982 film Poltergeist.

The Film Title: Poltergeist 
Year of Release: 1982
Director: Steven Spielberg 
Production/finance company: Metro-Goldwyn Mayer
Principle Cast: JoBeth Williams, Heather O’Rourke, Craig T. Nelson
Film Origin/Info: Franchise, digitally restored version

The image is presented to us in low-key lighting and the only source of light is coming from the glow of the television, suggesting that this is the center of the action for the film ‘Poltergeist’. 

The poster does not give away much about the fiIm as we see only a television and a girl. The room is dull with plain walls and this connotes that the setting is insignificant – we must focus only on the subject and the television. 

In the midst of the dim and dark setting, a young blonde girl kneels in front of the television set. This non-verbal communication and the posture in which she is sitting would be considered unnatural for a child of her age, or anyone for that matter. Her hands are pressed onto the screen as if there is a connection between her and the television in such a way that she can not detach herself. This is unusual behaviour for a child as little girls would normally be perceived to pay more attention to stuffed toys and dolls - much like the teddy bear that has been laid on the floor next to her.  This particular prop reinforces that the child is normal -  or was normal – at one point as girls are commonly associated with being inseparable with their toys. Rather than that, this child seems disinterested in the toy and more fascinated or drawn to the television which would usually be associated with an adult or teenager.  

We see little detail in the costume choice however it the slippers suggest that she is in her pajamas meaning most of the action will occur at night. Darkness and night time are gothic features that are significant in most – if not all – horror films.  The costume also reinforces the fact that the main subject is a young child connoting innocence which draws the audience further as no child deserves to be harmed.

By arranging the poster in such a way that the main subject in the long shot is not facing us, the poster itself holds ambiguity and prepares us for the uncertainty we will experience when watching the film. 

The image is presented in a neutral view rather than a high or low angle and this could suggest that what happens to the young girl could happen to anyone, despite age, class or gender etc. As well as that it can connote that the subject is not particularly vulnerable nor is she strong thus making it all the more interesting. We are not looking down at the girl or looking up to her which could suggest that during the film we will be experiencing it from her point of view or seeing things through her eyes.  

The poster uses different shades of blue for illustration, and no other colour is present. The blue light takes over the entire image much like the television does. With blue we usually associate sadness or the cold and perhaps both are present in the film. As well as this, the colour eliminates violence and death as themes and sets itself out to be more of a sci-fi or psychological horror rather than slasher or splatter, making this very clear to on-lookers and following conventions of their chosen genre. 

The sans serif font used connotes a more modern feel to the film and reinforces the idea of science-fiction that may be present. The tagline reads, “It knows what scares you” in small capital letters and the pronoun used is ‘it’ rather than ‘he’, ‘she’ or ‘they’. This reinforces the idea of sci-fi or even the monster-horror genre as well as increasing obscurity. There are no quotations or cast names which suggests that the director – Steven Spielberg – is hoping for the potential audience to focus on the plot itself as anything else would make it seem less real. Together, the minimalistic poster keeps the film a mystery as well as sparks interest in those who see it. 

Task two:
Work in pairs to analyse a (given) poster shown below.
Consider the codes and conventions and the connotations as set out above.