This document provides guidance for analyzing the opening sequences of films. It instructs the reader to choose between two and four opening sequences from their chosen genre to analyze. The analysis should examine the narrative structure, characters, representations, and media language used in the sequences. Key aspects of media language to analyze include camera shots, lighting, costumes, sounds, and how these elements establish genre, characters, narrative, and their impact on the audience. Representations of people or concepts in the sequences should be evaluated on whether they are positive or negative, conventional or subversive, and how they relate to the intended target audience.

1. Deconstructing Opening Sequences
INTRODUCTION
CHOOSE A MINIMUM OF TWO OPENING SEQUENCES (MAX FOUR)FROM YOUR
CHOSEN GENRE:
 Introduce each film –Title, actors, year of release, institution (Warner Bros, Working Title etc)
and target audience.
NARRATIVE
 Is this an example of linear or non-linear narrative?
 What character types are present? How can you tell?
 Are there any binary oppositions present?
 Is the enigma code present here and if so how?
 What impact does this have on the audience?
MEDIA LANGUAGE
TIP! You don’t have to talk about every camera angle or prop or location in the sequence, but instead pick a few
that you feel are significant to the genre/overall feel of the film and focus upon those in your analysis.
 What types of camera angles/shots/movements can you see?
 What do you see in terms of costume, props and location?
 What type of lighting is there? (High Key/Low Key)
 What sounds do you hear? Are these diegetic/non-diegetic sounds (see definitions below)?
 What are the connotations of these?
 How does this establish the genre/characters/narrative?
 What impact does this have on the audience?
REPRESENTATION
 Who or what is being represented?
 Is this a positive or negative representation?
 How is media language establishing this representation?
 How does this representation relate to the target audience?
 Are the representations conventional or subversive (see definitions below)?
 What ideologies are suggested by this representation?
 Is this a fair or accurate representation?

2. Aim for about 700-800 words per film. You can do this in one post of over several
posts. Be sure to include screen shots!
1. Conventional - based on or in accordance with what is generally done or believed.
2. Subversive - seeking or intended to overthrow an established system or institution.
3. Diegetic Sound – Any sound that can be heard within the film world.
4. Non-Diegetic Sound –Any sound that cannot be heard within the film world.