Narrative
Media Studies: Eduqas GCSE, topic 2.8.2
Narrative
In media language, narratives include elements like costumes, props, expressions, and gestures.
Costume
- As in most Bond films, Daniel Craig is wearing the iconic tuxedo.
- The tuxedo connotes luxury, wealth, and sophistication.
- The black and white colour creates a juxtaposition.
- Bond performs actions which are good and/or evil.
- On the poster, the costumes of the other six characters are brown, black, or a dark shade of blue.
- These costumes create an enigma as it is ambiguous whether to consider the characters as helpers or villains.
Aston Martin
- An iconic Aston Martin is on the bottom third of the poster.
- Aston Martins are engineered by a British car manufacturer.
- Aston Martins connote luxury, wealth, and sophistication.
- The Aston Martin is a DB5 model which was the first model of Aston Martin to be used in a Bond film.
- The Aston Martin generates sparks, connoting the action/thriller elements of the genre.
Guns and planes
- On the poster, three of the characters are carrying guns.
- Guns are typical iconography of the action/thriller genre.
- The audience can tell conflict will be a key component of the film’s narrative.
- In the distance, there is a spy plane/drone.
- The spy plane connotes elements of espionage which will take place.
- The spy plane highlights how Bond films stay culturally relevant.
Expressions and gestures
- Bond is looking away from the camera and off to the right of the poster.
- This is an interesting move from the convention.
- This suggests there is something important that has caught Bond’s attention, or that he is ashamed of something.
- The central character, Lyutsifer Safin, is directly addressing the audience with a muted expression.
- This presents Lyutsifer Safin as mysterious and threatening.
Test yourself on Narrative
What brand of car is on the No Time to Die poster?