Spectre

Spectre is part of the James Bond franchise and was released on 26th October 2015. The selection and combination of media language helps to construct meaning in the film poster.

Mise en scene

The main image is a long shot of Daniel Craig who plays Bond and this is in the centre third.
The mise en scene creates meaning through the use of costume.
The white tuxedo is iconic and acts as an intertextual reference to previous Bond films.

The white tuxedo

The juxtaposition between Bond in white with the character in black behind him embodies the notion of good vs. bad and is an example of Levi Strauss’ theory of binary opposition.
The connotations attached to the white tuxedo are wealth, luxury and sophistication, all of the traits associated with the character of Bond himself.

Intertextuality

The use of the gun as a prop is key iconography of the action genre and helps to define Bond as the protagonist.
The use of the 007 logo acts as further intertextuality to the previous Bond films in the franchise and is the name of the agent James Bond within the narrative.

Conventions

The poster conforms to multiple conventions of a film poster.
James Bond uses a direct mode of address which is a common convention of film posters as it allows the audience to connect with the character and the product.

Star theory

The names of Daniel Craig and Albert R. Broccoli are placed to the left of the main image to add star status (Richard Dyer’s star theory), which suggests to the audience the film will be of good quality.
The name of the film is in a bold font in the bottom third of the frame, along with the form industry credits and logos associated with distribution.

Narrative

Narrative is created within the poster through the technical, verbal and symbolic codes.

Connotations

The name of the film, Spectre, has connotations of a ghostly past and helps to foreshadow what the film will be about.
The difference in opacity of the image positioned behind Bond further anchors the meaning associated with the word Spectre.

Foreshadowing

The costume of the man behind Bond is designed to look skeleton-like and is an intertextual reference to the Mexican Day of the Dead festival.
This also foreshadows key parts of the narrative such as where it will take place and the idea that death will be an outcome.

Enigma

The fact that the character is wearing a mask which conceals his identity can act as an enigma code as theorised by Barthes, encouraging the audience to watch the film to find out more.

Propp’s theory of narrative

Bond appears to be the main hero in this narrative and it can be inferred that the masked man is the villain.
Propp’s theory of narrative can therefore be applied to the poster.
The hero archetype is conventional of the action genre.

Representation

James Bond is a stereotypical representation of masculinity.

Masculinity

James Bond is a stereotypical representation of masculinity.
Bond has the traditional characteristics traits associated with masculinity such as being brave, strong and confident.
James Bond is also represented as being sexually desirable for women who rely on him to save them.

Women in Bond

Traditionally James Bond has represented women in an inferior manner, suggesting women are sexual objects.
However, in more modern James Bond films this attitude has changed slightly and women have started to gain some level of independence, reflecting shifts in society.

A patriarchal narrative

By having James Bond and the masked villain both be male it can suggest that the franchise is still male dominated and conforms to a patriarchal narrative.

A feminist perspective

A feminist perspective would argue that the lack of women in the poster mirrors the lack of representation of women existing within the action genre.

1Overview

1.1Media Language

1.1.1Media Language

1.1.2Media Language 2

1.2Audience

1.2.1Audiences

1.2.2Audiences 2

1.2.3End of Topic Test - Media Language & Audience

1.3Representation

1.3.1Stereotypes

1.3.2Gender

1.3.3Audiences

1.4The Media Industry

1.4.1Media Industries

1.4.2Ownership

1.4.3Funding & Regulation

1.4.4End of Topic Test - Representation/Media Industry

2Component 1: Section A

2.1Magazines

2.1.1Magazines

2.1.2Pride

2.1.3Pride 2

2.2GQ

2.2.1Context

2.2.2Narrative

2.2.3Representation

2.3Advertising & Marketing

2.3.1Advertising & Marketing

2.3.2Analysing Adverts

2.3.3Analysing Adverts 2

2.3.4Theories & Principles

2.3.5End of Topic Test - Magazines & Advertising

2.4Print Advertisements

2.4.1Quality Street

2.4.2This Girl Can

2.5Film Posters (Marketing)

2.5.1Spectre

2.5.2The Man with The Golden Gun

2.5.3The Man with The Golden Gun 2

2.6Newspapers

2.6.1Ownership & Regulation

2.6.2News Selection

2.6.3Media Language

2.6.4Genres

2.6.5Newspaper Conventions

2.6.6Representation

2.6.7Audience

2.6.8Theories

2.6.9End of Topic Test - Newspapers

2.7The Sun

2.7.1Context

2.7.2Narrative

2.7.3Language & Images

2.8The Guardian

2.8.1The Guardian

2.8.2Narrative

2.8.3Language & Images

3Component 1: Section B

3.1Video Games

3.1.1Video Games

3.2Film

3.2.1The Big Six

3.2.2Technology

3.2.3End of Topic Test - Video Games & Films

3.3Radio

3.3.1The Radio Industry

3.3.2Categories of Radio Station

3.3.3Technology & Radio Audiences

3.3.4Theories

3.3.5End of Topic Test - Radio

3.4No Time To Die

3.4.1Context

3.4.2Narrative

3.4.3Representation

4Component 2: Section A

5Component 2: Section B

5.1Music Video

5.1.1Music Videos

5.1.2The Music Industry

5.2Michael Jackson

5.2.1‘Black or White’

5.3Taylor Swift

5.3.1Bad Blood

5.3.2Intertextual References

5.3.3Media Theories

5.3.4Representation

5.3.5Social Media

5.4Bruno Mars

5.4.1Uptown Funk

5.4.2Analysis

5.4.3End of Topic Test - Music Videos

5.5Lizzo

5.5.1Context

5.5.2'Good as Hell'

5.5.3Media Language

5.5.4Representation

5.5.5Audience

5.5.6Industry

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