AS Media Studies Coursework Ronin

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ANNIE PARTRIDGE – BURFORD SCHOOL MEDIA STUDIES

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 The opening few scenes of ‘Ronin’ are extremely significant through the use of sound. As the writing
appears on screen, there is a crescendo of male choir voices in sync. This implies to the audience that
members of ‘Ronin’ were angry about not being involved in the Samurai anymore and that they were
angry for being left to become outsiders. As the writing fades out there is a diminuendo and a minor
chord. This reinforces the idea that the men were angry and upset for being outsiders, therefore it
doesn’t fit nicely together and creates a sense of displacement. However, when the shot cuts away to
‘RONIN’, this portrays brutality and violence from the men, furthermore suggesting their extreme anger.
 The reverberating sound of the instrument of the crash symbols suggests the fear within the men and
their heartbeats. This is played in a minor chord to suggest a discordant life and how they were
outsiders.

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 The sound of the gong being played throughout the first scene implies violence. This is because the
ancient tradition of the gong is that it is to be played as a warning for war and it calls them together to
get ready for battle. This gives the audience a sense of warning and creates an uncertain feel as to
whether battle will commence or if it’s just a threat. Furthermore, ancient history suggests they are living
in the past, which doesn’t fit in with the modern day ideas.
 The chanting in the background of the credits suggests a theme of religion. We as an audience hear that
it is being chanted in a group of people, therefore showing us that they are all part of one group and are
all respecting the same thing at once, which can also show respect and stability between each other. This
can also show loyalty within the group. However, the contrast between the writing and sound is very
significant. As the writing is shown, we feel sympathetic for the men as they were outsiders, whereas
when the sound is being played in the background we hear a sense of praise and respect towards
‘Ronin’.

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 The cream writing of the first few scenes is overlaying a black background. This portrays connotations of
life and death, good and evil, and no personality. However, we as an audience see that the black is more
dominant, therefore the ‘death’ of life and death, and the ‘evil’ of good and evil are more dominant and
implies power. The white also has connotations of purity, therefore suggesting that the men are pure to
their religion and their tradition, but the black connotes darkness and the lack of hope for their history.
 The colour of the background of ‘RONIN’ is an orange-red colour. This tells the audience that it could be
a sign of danger, anger, blood or war. However, it can also be seen from an optimistic point of view. In
Japan, red is the colour of the sunrise, and it is also a sign of luck in Asian traditions. This suggests a
sense of passionate loyalty within the men and how they are extremely respectful towards their religion.

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 The font of ‘RONIN’ seems to look like it’s been permanently slashed with a Samurai sword, and also
gives us a sense of ancient history. This creates an effect of war and tells the audience that the members
of ‘Ronin’ are angry and want to kill. This also tells us that the men are claiming their new lifestyle and
saying that it’s theirs and no one can take it from them or force them to become outsiders again. The
image of the sword cutting through the background suggests a sense of war and territory, therefore
reinstating the fact that they are claiming their place and their lifestyle.
 In addition, an establishing shot is used to tell the audience where it is based (Paris). This can also link to
mise-en-scene, as Paris is the city of love, however in the opening scenes we see a less beautiful and
stereotypical side to it. At the very beginning of the film when we see ‘RONIN’ overlaying a red
background, we as an audience may feel that the film is about love, whereas the fact that we see a less
stereotypical side of Paris further on in the film helps the audience to understand that stereotypical ideas
wouldn’t work very well within this film.

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 We additionally see a church in the establishing shot at the beginning of this scene. This gives the
audience a sense of distance as they may feel far from religion, therefore making them feel less pure and
innocent. The church is lit, which gives a sense of hope and purity within religion. This links to the
chanting in the very first scenes at the beginning of the film, as it suggested religious themes and beliefs
for something they all have respect for. But in comparison to this, the light doesn’t continue as we pan
away from the church, which therefore implies that there is actually a lack of religion within the rest of
the community.
 Tracking is also used to suggest that the audience is following the characters as if the audience were
spying on them. Near the beginning of the film when the first two characters are introduced, the camera
tracks the woman. This implies to the audience that they are spying on her, and they understand that the
man is watching her, which makes the audience fear that she is a target and it’s almost like we as the
audience are stalking her. This suggests that she is more dangerous, however we can also see her as a
vulnerable character as she fits in with the social stereotype of a young girl out on the streets at night by
herself, therefore implying that we’re watching over her to protect her.

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 Furthermore, a low angle shot is used to show the superiority of the male character and his dominance.
We as an audience would feel that we should respect the character by the low angle shot as we would
feel overpowered, and it therefore suggests his importance to the film and that we may like him as a
character.
 Additionally, a high angle shot is used over the male character’s shoulder. This implies that the audience
is possibly his sidekick or friend that is watching over the girl with him, therefore suggesting that the
audience are the antagonists, however they are not quite sure as it is so early on in the film and they
need to get more information about the characters and the story to choose whether they’re seeing it
from an antagonist’s or protagonist’s view.

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 Another technique used is a point of view shot when the male character is looking down the steps
towards the female character. In front of this point of view shot is a very narrow street, which suggests a
sense of being claustrophobic and quite trapped.
 When we see the female character, the camera tracks her walking from the van into the bar. This implies
to the audience that we are her partner, and we are following her, therefore making sure that she is safe.
This makes us feel protective for the female character, but also tells us that there is something she needs
to be protected from, which means that she is in possible danger and we should be worried.

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 A mid-shot cuts to a close-up of the male character. This presents the character to the audience, and
tells us more about him, such as his appearance and possibly his personality.
 Lighting is also used to suggest the role of the female character. The lighting is brighter on the street
where she is than where the male character is, furthermore implying that she is a positive character
being watching over by a negative character. However the fact that the area that she is in suggests that
she is more vulnerable and visible, which suggests a sense of interrogation and also contrasts to the fact
that he is hidden away and would be difficult to point out from the street.
 One of the first few scenes where the audience is introduced to the male character shows a fence
between the camera and the male character. This fence acts as a barrier between the audience and the
other character, therefore suggesting that he is trapped like in a prison, and that he is separated from
the rest of society. The image of the barrier also foreshadows the next scene where we are also trapped
and helpless.

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 Additionally, when the male character walks down the stairs, the camera is set from a low angle. This
suggests that the male character is superior towards the audience at this point and he has power over
us. This makes us feel like we need to respect him and he has a job to get done, so we shouldn’t try to
get in the way of him. His suggested power makes us feel like he is extremely important within the film
as he may have power over other characters.
 There are cutaway shots of the man outside and the people inside the bar. This is used to possibly
symbolise the separation between the male character and the female character, suggesting their
differences – the man is an outsider who is isolated, whereas the female character blends in within a
crowd.

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 However, when the female character begins to put her apron on, she is in the background. This suggests
that she doesn’t want to be part of things and likes to keep her distance from anything that could be
trouble. Whereas, the male character who is standing outside implies that he is always on the outskirts
so he doesn’t necessarily want to be involved in the action either.
 Furthermore, when we track the female character into the bar, it transitions from a tracking shot to a
master shot, where the camera is positioned with a barrier between her and the audience. This implied
barrier suggests that we are antagonists, as the female character is trying to keep her distance because
she may sense danger.

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 The lack of cuts and editing within the first few scenes of ‘Ronin’ gives the audience a sense of slow
paced actions. No one is in a rush, so at the moment everything is calm. This therefore portrays the fact
that there may be a climactic change and everything will soon become fast paced, which creates a sense
of uncertainty within the audience. Furthermore, the camera is not omniscient and can’t see everything
at once.
 However, the music in the first few scenes contrasts to the misleading lack of editing. The audience feel
as if they keep waiting for things to happen, which builds the anticipation within the film and lures
people in to find out what will happen next, but reinforces the uncertainty of the audience as we have no
idea what’s going to happen, due to the misleading lack of editing.

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 When the man wearing the beanie hat walks in, the camera is tracking him. This tells the audience that
we are following him and that we are his ‘sidekick’. When he opens the door he holds it for us and lets us
in, showing his manners and that we should respect him, so we automatically want to be on his side.
Furthermore as we move into the bar, the man wearing the beanie begins in the centre of the shot but
then moves so he is blocking our view of the female character, which implies that he possibly isn’t as
positive as the tracking suggested.
 Furthermore, as the man wearing the beanie walks into the bar, we hear another reverberating noise,
and it then stops. This suggests that this man interrupts the balance between the people within the bar
and also affects the plans of the man who is sat at the booth by a no smoking sign, therefore implying
that he is possibly doing this on purpose to protect her.

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 We see that in the bar, the female character is the only woman. She is surrounded by men, therefore the
audience feel as if she might be in danger. The men are all dressed in dark clothing, whereas she has
slightly lighter clothing, yet it is still dark, suggesting that she may have something to hide.
 The men in the bar are all dressed quite casually, however, the male character who has been outside of
the bar for the majority of the first few opening scenes is in a suit. This tells the audience that he’s not
there for pleasure but there for business, and also suggests that the other men aren’t as professional as
him, reinstating the fact that he has power and we as an audience should respect him, giving him an
authoritative figure.
 As we cut to the man who is drinking and smoking in the booth, an additional reverberating sound is
heard when he watches her. This suggests that she’s anxious and knows that she is being watched, but
can also mean that we as an audience are anxious. This sound was heard when the bold title of ‘RONIN’
was shown at the very beginning of the film, therefore meaning that the smoking and drinking man is
quite possibly part of ‘Ronin’, and she is his target.

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 Additionally, the mid-shot of this man sat at the booth smoking and drinking by the ‘no smoking’ sign
shows that he doesn’t follow the rules. This therefore means that this man is a danger to the people
around him, and releases a bad atmosphere, furthermore suggesting to the audience that they should
be afraid of him.
 A tilted shot is used when the man outside is already down the stairs and is looking at a menu outside of
the bar. This suggests a sense of confusion and he can’t see inside the bar, therefore implying that he
wants to know what is happening inside, but he is also confused about his plan and how he is going to
go through with it.
 Furthermore, when the light goes out, this portrays a loss of innocence and safety. This tells the
audience that we should be aware that something bad is about to happen, and that action needs to be
taken. We feel nervous for the man outside, and also the woman and the man wearing the beanie hat. At
this point, we can’t see what is going on inside of the bar, so we have a sense of uncertainty and feel
anxious that something is going to happen inside and we would miss it.

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 As the camera tracks the man outside after the light goes off, this implies that the audience is his
sidekick again. This suggests that we are an important role to him, and he is dependent on us, therefore
we need to look out for him and watch to see if anything is coming so that he stays safe and gets his job
done.
 As we follow the man underground, cellos are heard and they are played in a minor chord. Cellos are
very strong instruments, so this suggests that there is a strong sense of uncertainty and unsettlement
within the audience, giving us a sense of danger and a lack of safety.
 When we are underground, only one light can be seen. This gives us a lack of visual proof of what is
going on around us; therefore there is a sense of unsettlement and a lack of purity and safey, meaning
that the audience needs to prepare for any danger that may come.

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 In addition, the camera again tracks the man when we are underground with him. This suggests that he
is trying to continue to look for danger. He then looks behind the camera, which suggests to the
audience that he is looking out for us to show that he is protective and we should like him. Furthermore,
when we are looking behind him, this suggests that we are also looking out for him and trying to keep
him safe; therefore the mutual protection gives a strong sense of security.
 When the man underground pulls his gun out, we hear a reverberating sound. This is where we finally
understand that he is there to possibly kill someone and we automatically know what he does as a
profession. Furthermore, the audience then begins to question again whether he is a protagonist or an
antagonist. However, as he hides the gun, the woodwind music that was heard at the beginning of the
scenes is heard again, making us move towards judging him as a protagonist, meaning that his business
and orders are to protect someone rather than try to kill someone.

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 As we go into the bar with the man who has been outside for the majority of the first few scenes, there is
a close-up of the female character behind the bar pouring a drink for someone. As she looks up quickly,
the alertness suggests that she senses danger and knows that something is wrong, therefore making the
audience feel anxious and worried for her safety.
 Panning is used to suggest a sense of urgency when the man wearing business clothes opens the wrong
door purposefully, after he asks the bar owner where the toilet is. This tells the audience that he is going
to get the gun that he put outside and is going to try to shoot someone, but we don’t know why.
Furthermore, this could confuse the audience, as we are suddenly unsure of whether the man is a
protagonist or an antagonist.
 As we cut back to the female character getting ready to leave the bar, she puts a gun in her back pocket.
A strong drumbeat and cymbals are heard, which suggests a sense of danger and anxiety, as the
drumbeat can represent her heart skipping a beat, therefore reinforcing the anxiety and the fact that she
is scared for her own safety. It also suggests there is an alliance between the man wearing the business
clothes and the woman as they are both acting suspicious and seem to both have guns.