Here is my Textual analysis of the TV show American Horror Story Hotel...

1. Textual AnalysisTextual Analysis
(American Horror Story Hotel)(American Horror Story Hotel)
By Laura Knowles

2. Shots Used And The Importance Of Them…
At the beginning of the opening titles, a quite close-up shot is used of
some hands that are shown to be behind a broken/decaying part in the
wall which makes it look as if the person behind the wall is tying to
escape. As the viewer can see, the part of this wall looks as if it has been
boarded up which gives the impression of craziness or keeping a person
hostage, also this part foreshadows the show and what happens later on
in it. I think the idea of making the person behind the wall look as if
they are trying to escape makes the viewer curious, which makes them
want to carry on watching as they want to see the unknown be revealed.
A lot of blood has been used in the opening titles of American Horror
Story hotel to give more of a first impression on the genre of the show
to the viewer. An example of this is when the blood is shown to be
running down the walls. I think that this creates the image of unsafety
as a shadow is shown on the wall, however this figure does not seem
distressed of the situation or anything that is going on. I think by using
this along with the blood dripping it creates the image of murder and
a lack of empathy. Also by not being able to see the person, this creates
an image of secrets being kept, betrayal and plots that need to be
unravelled.

3. In these opening titles, there are many parts that use close-ups to show people to be
cleaning up blood which I think foreshadows many things that are to come.
The use of these different shots foreshadow the hiding that killers use and
specifically the techniques that the serial killer (James Patrick March) who built the
hotel used, this is shown later in the series when he talks about building the hotel a
certain way and why.
The cleaning up of blood also foreshadows the role of the maid in the show (Hazel
Evers) as she works for James Patrick March and does the cleaning up for everybody
else in the hotel after every kill has happened.
The picture in the middle is a mid shot that only shows a silhouette of a persons
shoulder and head who is cleaning blood off of the walls. This is another example of
secrets being kept and plots later being unravelled in the show which makes the
viewer want to carry on watching.
The use of the close-up on the clothing in the last picture I think could also represent
in a way the clothing of a maid. In the last picture, the woman is also shown to be
down on her knees, I think this could foreshadow near the end on the series when
the maid is apologising to James Patrick March and gets down on her knees wanting
forgiveness, however he then finally says that he wont be needing her any more.

4. Here a long shot is used to show what
looks like a man dressed up in a
women's dress. I think that this has
been done to foreshadow the character
of Liz Taylor who is a transgender
woman who works in the hotel. I think
that the long shot has been used to show
the femininity that Liz portrays in what
she wears and how her posture is, which
is shown throughout the show. However,
the face cannot be seen as much but has
been made to look quite evil. I think
that this has been done to show the
different side of her that is more
reckless in a way that she is not afraid
to kill, just like everybody else in the
hotel.

5. Again, I think that this extreme close-up of this mouth portrays some of
the characters in the show by using the lipstick as a part of it. One
character I think that this foreshadows is sally who is actually a ghost
junkie who lives in the hotel Cortez. I think that this foreshadows sally
as through the whole series she is shown wearing lipstick and at one
point is shown putting it on however seems very incapable of doing so.
However sally is a mentally unstable character which I think is shown
in this image by including a sense of craziness.
Another character that I believe this could be foreshadowing is the
countesses as she is portrayed throughout the show as a feminine
woman who has a very distinctive taste in fashion. I think this
foreshadows her as although it shows the femininity and beauty of her
I think that this also represents her more psychotic and dangerous side
that is shown as she seduces people before killing them, which is also
something that she is
never afraid to do.
Sally

6. At near the very end of the opening titles a
fast zoom has been used onto the room 64
door.
I think that this has been done to
foreshadow the importance that this room
has later seen to have in the show, also the
audience will later get to know about
everything that happens in room 64.
I think that this has been done to create the
image to the viewer that they are almost
entering room 64 inside the hotel which I
think makes them feel more engaged with
the show. Because of this, I think that they
will want to keep watching as it drags their
attention in.

7. The Typography
The typography used in the opening credits of American Horror Story
Hotel are in the style of neon lights that flicker.
As they are in the style of neon lights, this foreshadows scenes that are
to come in the show as neon lights are used in the hotel room of
residents such as the Countess. I think that the effect of them flickering
creates the effect of more mystery and the dim lights that hide peoples
secrets inside the hotel, including the Countess herself. The lights inside
the room that the Countess stays in also show the type of character that
she is, for example the sign “Why are we not having sex right now” is
on the wall. This I think fits in with her character in the way that she
seduces people before making them her victim and killing them.

8. The typography used in the opening titles of
American Horror Story Hotel also use quotes
from the 10 commandments.
This gives the viewer an idea that religion is
going to play a part in the show and that it
will obviously play an important part as they
flash them on and off the screen in the first
credits.
This also foreshadows the importance that
religion and the 10 commandments do have
in the show and how they get mixed in with
the plot of murder, which later gets revealed
but is probably something that is quite
unexpected for the viewers.

9. Why this is an effective opening…
I think that the opening of American Horror Story Hotel is very effective as
it instantly drags the audience in and gets their attention.
I think this because it already gives the viewer an idea of what this
particular season is about, as each season of the show has a different
theme to it and a totally different story to tell. However it sometimes
includes reoccurring characters that make all of the seasons come together
more. I think that this also helps drag in the audience as they get used to
the actors in it and want to see them act as different characters.
As I said about the titles, using things such as the 10 commandments gives
the viewer the idea that religion including the 10 commandments are going
to be an important part in the series.

10. The opening titles of American Horror Story Hotel also include a lot of shots that are
looking through a hole in the door, I think this has been done as only a piece of the
room behind the door can be seen. I therefore think that this has been done to make
the viewer want to see more of what is behind the doors of the hotel, making them
want to watch the rest of the series and to see what else there is to find out about the
place. After showing the image through the hole in the door, it then does go through
the door and show more, which I think this has been done to link to the show and how
it unravels.

11. Sharp movements have also been used to make the opening more thrilling for
the viewer to watch, which also fits very well with the theme of the show.
For example when the person is trying to escape the boarded up wall, sharp
movements of the hands are used to create a sense of craziness and that there
are obviously some very dark secrets hidden about the hotel in the show.
I also think that this could foreshadow keeping people locked away and in a
way, torture.

12. Another example of when sharp movements have been used is when the
woman is laying on the bed and the arms come out of the mattress to grab
her. This gives the idea that crime and murder happens in the hotel and
again, this also shows that there is something dark that goes on in the
hotel.
As well I think that this gives sense of unsafety and I think could portray
that nobody in the hotel is safe.

13. However, children are used in the
opening titles of American Horror Story
Hotel, indicating that although there
seems to be a huge load of danger and
murder included in the series, that the
children are safe (this is foreshadowing
what happens in the show).
The children in the opening titles look
as though they are part of the plot/evil
as they are not scared. Also the
children shown do not seem bothered
of what is going on around them, as
we know a usual child definitely
would.
This is another clue that is given to the
viewer that there is obviously
something very wrong with the setting
of this show as the people in it are not
‘normal’.

14. The order of the titles
The first title that some up on the screen is
the name of the production company, as this
part is very important and the production
company obviously have a big part to do
with the show. This therefore instantly lets
the viewer know who produced the TV series.
Near the end of the opening titles, the creators of the show
(Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk's) names are shown. These
are also both very important which is probably why both of
these titles have been shown at the end and the beginning of
the sequence.
Also these titles seem to stay on the screen a bit longer than
some of the other titles, which gives the viewer a longer time
to read them, therefore heightening their importance even
more.

15. Throughout the use of the names of the production
company, the creators of the show, and the clips
shown, the actor’s names are flashed up onto the
screen.
Again, this could instantly drag some viewers in who
have seen the other seasons in as they may
recognise some of their favourite actors from the
other seasons names on the screens. This would
make them want to carry on watching as some enjoy
seeing their favourite actors change into different
characters.

16. At the very end of the opening titles of American
Horror Story Hotel the name of the show is shown in
the same neon lights that I have previously talked
about.
I think that this has been done not only to fit into
the overall theme of the opening and the overall
show but to also make the viewer now really feel as
if they are entering the hotel.
The title of this stays on for a while compared to
some of the others such as when the 10
commandments were flashed on and off the screen,
and it proceeds to flicker.
I think that flickering gives the image to the viewer
that the hotel that they are about to be introduced
to is a very old building, however does contain
modern people and objects (such as the neon
lights).
I think they have also been shown to be flickering
to add to the thrill of the whole opening and that
there is something not quite right that happens in
the hotel.

17. Sound used in the opening titles…
All seasons of American Horror Story use the same base for the theme song to
their show, however each season is always slightly adapted to the theme of the
particular season.
For this season, crackles in the music are used, which I think fits really well with
the flickering of the lights and the sharp and jerky movements of things as I
believe that it creates a good sense of madness, murder, and horror.
I believe that this could have also been done to fit along with the idea that the
hotel is old so obviously has it faults.
I think the music makes the opening more effective to the audience because of
all of this, but also because people who have watched the other seasons will
know the sound of the theme tune, however it is obviously slightly different due
to being adapted to the specific season of ‘Hotel’.

18. THE END