A textual analysis for my year 12 AS level Media course.

1. EX MACHINA
TEXTUAL ANALYSIS
JAKE FOULKES

2. EX MACHINA PLOT SUMMARY
A young and gifted programmer is selected by the leading
developer in a prodigious international company to participate in
a ground-breaking experiment in synthetic intelligence by
evaluating the human qualities of a breath-taking humanoid A.I.
However difficulties occur when the programmer realizes that the
A.I. is dangerously more intelligent than he expected which could
end up putting both of the programmers in jeopardy.

3. GENRE OF EX MACHINA
• Ex Machina has several different genres therefore creating a
tri-hybrid genre the main genres that is explores are Drama,
Mystery, Sci-Fy and Thriller.
• The genres that it uses are very specific to the narrative. For
example the thriller aspect of the genre is shown through the
lead protagonist as throughout the film you are constantly in
fear for the protagonist. This contrasts with the Horror genre
because in the horror genre you are scared / in fear for yourself
where as in a thriller you are in fear for the lead characters.

4. DRAMA GENRE
• The drama genre consists of an exciting, emotional, or
unexpected event or circumstance in which the protagonists or
antagonists face throughout the plot.
• The movie Ex-Machina explores this genre through the main
protagonist as he tests an unpredictable A.I. and coming to an
unexpected end that will shock the audience.

5. MYSTERY GENRE
• A mystery is a novel, play, or film dealing with a puzzling
crime, especially a murder. A mystery explores something that
is difficult or impossible to understand or explain.
• Ex Machina shows the genre exceptionally well as throughout
the film the audience is constantly trying to piece together
ideas and evidence as to how the end will conclude therefore
solving the mystery, however due to the drama genre that
traverses in the film, there are twists and turns in the narrative
that will shock and confuse the audience.

6. SCI-FI GENRE
• The Sci-Fi genre is fiction based on imagined future scientific
or technological advances and major social or environmental
changes, frequently portraying space or time travel and life on
other planets.
• This is shown through the character of the A.I. and how the film
looks e.g. the Cinematography. The Thriller Sci-Fi genre is
something that we are seriously considering to look into for our
piece because it is different to other pieces of AS level media
that we have observed and we want to make something
different.

7. COMMON CONTENTIONS IN A THRILLER
• Protagonist in mercy of the antagonist
• Montages
• Diegetic sound
• Quick cuts
• Low key lighting

8. TEXTUAL ANALYSIS
• For the analysis I will be looking at the genre, codes /
conventions, the narrative and theory's and representation of
characters and themes in the opening scene of “Ex-Machina”
• I will start off by analysing the camera work, iconography and
Narrative
• Then I will move into the repertoire of elements
• Then to finish I will look at the conventions and themes of the
opening scene

9. CAMERAWORK AND EDITING
• In the opening scene there are lots of great examples of
camera work and editing. There are lots of different shots
exhibited throughout the scene ranging from Extreme close
ups to Establishing shots. I am going to be picking out some of
the most key shots that I think are really effective on the
audience and have a lot of connotation.

10. SHOT 1: EXTREME CLOSE UP

11. ANALYSIS OF SHOT 1
• In the shot we see that the protagonist has won “First prize” in the
work lottery.
• The shot of the words “First Prize” has a shallow around it. This is
because the director wants the audience to focus on the fact that the
protagonist has won something most likely important and will have
an effect on the storyline later in the film.
• The words “First Prize” connotes that this is something good however
later on in the film you soon realise that what seems good might turn
into bod there is also some other proleptic irony (foreshadowing)
later on in the scene.

12. SHOT 2: MEDIUM SHOT

13. SHOT 2 ANALYSIS
• In the Medium shot we see the protagonist on his phone whilst being scanned by what
seems to be a face scan.
• We see the face scan form the perspective of the web cam on the desk and he looks
straight at the camera.
• This could connote that the protagonist knows that he is being watched which gives the
audience the feeling of paranoia almost like somebody is stalking you.
• Cameras are a key prop / feature throughout the film appearing in most of the shots.
This is almost like an invasion of privacy, as if you are always being watched which makes
the audience feel uncomfortable. The idea of being watched by cameras also shows the
time period that the film could be set in because it is suggesting that the cameras are
used fro mass surveillance over the public.
• The face scan technology also gives us a sort of indication into when the film is set.
Personally I think that the film is set in the near future which is where we want our media
piece to take place.

14. SHOT 3:

15. SHOT 3 ANALYSIS
• At the start this is a Medium shot as his waist is visible on the screen
however as the shot moves on it becomes more of a medium-Long shot.
• we see the protagonist hesitantly walk into the house. This connotes that
he is probably afraid about what he is going to find or he is just nervous.
• In the shot, when the protagonist moves out of the frame the door closes
automatically behind him this shows that the time period my be in the
future due to the technology shown. However when the door closes behind
the protagonist the light on the door turns from bright blue to a dark blood
orange which could be foreshadowing events later on the in the film and the
dark orange colour could connote danger, as if the protagonist is locked in
this isolated house.

16. NARRATIVE
• From the opening of the film we have a clear indication as to what is
going to happen throughout the film. We can tell that the protagonist
has been chosen to go and do some sort of research for the company
that he works for as this secret estate in the woods of Alaska, USA.
The use of foreshadowing / proleptic irony shows that this “Prize”
that he has won might back fire on him later on in the film.
• In a thriller the use of foreshadowing is key because when you watch
the film back you can see little pieces of evidence which you then
realise that was ironic to the story at the end.

17. TODOROV’S THEORY
• suggests that all narratives follow a three part structure where they begin
with equilibrium, where everything is balanced, progress as something
comes along to disrupt that equilibrium, and finally reach a resolution, when
equilibrium is restored.
• In Ex Machina however this theory is missing the resolution step. For
example, the equilibrium is where the protagonist is doing some research
for his company, the disequilibrium is where the robot becomes more and
more intelligent which causes a disruption in the narrative. However in Ex
Machina there is no resolution because the end is very unexpected because
the protagonist gets locked in the house by the A.I. and the A.I. escapes into
the open world.
• What we can take from this is that the film does follow the theory however it
takes a bit of a turn in the end.

18. CHARACTERS AND CONVENTIONS
• In the film there are only three main characters they are Caleb, a
young programing genius, Nathan, a billionaire who is working on
artificial intelligence and there is Eva, the artificially intelligent robot
woman who is imprisoned underground in Nathans house.
• Conventionally in a thriller you would have a clear protagonist and
antagonist however in this film the protagonist is clear but the
antagonist fluctuates between the A.I and Nathan. This is
unconventional because the antagonist is not made clear
throughout the film which is effective on the audience because it
leaves them wondering the is the antagonist at the end of the film.

19. CHARACTER PROFILE OF CALEB
• He is a young man who works
for Nathans large company and
is one of the best young
upcoming programmers in the
company. He dresses like an
ordinary man which is
conventional because normally
in a thriller you would have a
normal protagonist because
the audience can relate to
them which makes them fear
for the character.

20. CHARACTER PROFILE OF NATHAN
• Nathan is a scientific
billionaire making his riches
off his worldwide
programming company that
he owns. He is a Caucasian
male who likes to keep in
shape by working out most of
the time. This is conventional
to the antagonising persona
about him because he is
stronger than the protagonist.

21. CHARACTER PROFILE OF EVA
• Eva is the Artificial intelligent robot
designed and programmed by
Nathan. She is a scientific
breakthrough that may change the
direction of science however she
thinks the same as Nathan which
could be dangerous because he is
the antagonist and he thinks
dangerous things. She is almost
the damsel in distress which is a
common convention of the genre.

22. SETTING
• The setting in the opening scene is set in the woods of Nathans
estate and the main setting in the film is the claustrophobic
area in Nathans home. The fact that it is in the woods gives the
film a feeling of isolation and freedom
• However the house in which they live s very crammed and
claustrophobic which could make some of the audience feel
uncomfortable.

23. THEMES
• Some of the themes in the film are:
• Science vs Ethics
• Good vs Evil
• Right vs Wrong
• The themes in the film really show in the characters good being
Caleb because he has done nothing wrong and bad being Nathan
because he is obsessed with creating the most convincing robot
known to man which ends up being dangerous because he becomes
a bit of a taxidermist almost as if he is playing the role of God.

24. EDITING IN THE OPENING SCENE
• There are Jump cuts to show him working his way through the
forest.
• There is a montage of texts on his phone almost like a time
lapse.
• There is continuity editing.
• 180 degree rule.
• Match on action .
• And there are many reaction shots.