This document analyzes the opening title sequence of the TV show "Dexter". It summarizes that the OTS for Dexter is symbolic and linear, showing the main character Dexter as a normal man while symbolizing his secret life as a murderer through images of blood and death. It establishes the themes of murder, death, and hiding a secret life. It creates narrative enigmas by making the viewer question who Dexter is and why his life seems different. The representation of Dexter as a normal middle-aged man emphasizes how he portrays himself while hinting at his sadistic nature. Overall, the OTS effectively sets up the plot and tone of Dexter as a man living a double life as a serial killer.

1. Assignment 10 –
Analysing OTS
JAKE EWEN

2. We firstly looked
at 15 different
opening title
sequences and
did some analysis
of each one.

5. After watching the 15 OTS in class,
we made the following observations
 1. Contradictive music is used in many of the OTSs
 2. Nearly all created narrative enigmas
 3. 8/15 were symbolic
 4. Only 2 were just linear
 5. Only a few established a character
 6. Music is important when establishing a feel to the OTS
 7. All establish the genre clearly
 8. Still shots proved very effective
 9. Mise en scene is not important in all
 10. Only a few use clear conventions

6.  We were really inspired by the following OTSs
 1. Dexter
 2. The walking dead
 3. Dawn of the dead
 4. The last of us
 5. The conjuring
 6. True blood

7. Analysis
 In our group we all set out to analyse one of the 15 OTSs
 I will be analysing Dexter

8. It’s a symbolic and linear OTS:
 To show how behind to the world he is a normal man
 Symbolising through the use images of blood and murder that behind the
scenes he is a murderer.
 To symbolise themes: death, murder,
The OTS prepares for the series by:
 Showing the idea behind the series (A man living a secret life of a murderer)
 Sets the tone for how gory the series will be with gruesome perspectives of
everyday life shown
 Establishes the themes
 Establishes main character
Creates Narrative enigmas?
 Who is this man?
 Why is everything in his life different/ gruesome?
 Why are there symbols relating to blood and death?
It mostly challenges forms and/or conventions of this genre
 The symbols of death and murder being hidden is not conventional of this genre
 The upbeat tone in the music also relates to conventions being broken
 However does reinforce conventions such as blood and gore.

9. Characters representation and why they are represented in this way
 Middle class, middle age male
 This over emphasises that he is portraying himself as a “normal” guy
 Aggressive in his daily morning routine
 This shows that he has almost a sadistic side to even his morning routine
suggesting that there is something he is hiding
Present credits and the main title by
 All are red representing the characters fascination with blood
 More emphasis is on the name with it being consistently larger than the role

10. What I enjoyed…
 The suggestiveness of all the parts of his routine
 This links very well to the plot of the story creating good narrative
enigmas
 I also liked how the music covered up the brutality being suggested
by the images, again suggesting the idea of hiding in plain sight
linking to the plot further.

11. The title shows the
importance of blood and
how it is very influential to
the character in the series.
This is important
due to his
character being
a killer obsessed
with blood.

12. Again blood is emphasised in almost every scene creating an
uncertainty about the protagonist, Dexter, as it suggests almost a
fascination.

13. Here imagery of cutting up and therefore murder is created
through the use of breakfast. This order of blood and then
cutting up resembles his process in the series of killing the
victim and then cutting them up. This creates a narrative
enigma as the audience are intrigued to find out why this
person is murdering and whether he is even a murderer.

14. Further murder and sadistic
imagery is shown through
the use of floss where it
represents strangling. This
cut also highlights the rush
of blood to the surface of
the skin linking to the
previous parts of the OTS.
This becomes more noticeable
in the next clip with the shoe
laces.

15. The last item that is relatable to the plot is the t-shirt shown below. Not
only does it reinforce the sadistic theme through the suggestion of
suffocation, but it also represents the theme of hiding. This is a key
theme in the series as Dexter, the protagonist, is hiding his true sadistic
nature.

16. The final clip shows Dexter walking out of his apartment. This represents how
behind all the sadistic things that happened before, to another person he
seems completely normal, which is how he is represented throughout the
series.