textual analysis1

1. TEXTUAL ANALYSIS 1: ALIEN3

2. INSTITUTIONAL CONTEXT
• The logo of the distributor (20th Century Fox) is shown at the beginning with its usual animation – moving spotlights.
• All the titles appear and disappear in the same way by fading in and out. They all use the same font (Arial) and are placed in the center of the
screen.
• The names of the top two companies (Fox and Brandywine) come first, then a larger, bolder font is used for the name of the star (Sigourney
Weaver). The title of the film proceeds this.
• After this, title screens are placed between shots of the main event. This is especially so for the actors’ names. When crew members are
named, they appear after each other instead of with a shot of the main event in between. The director’s name is shown just before the shots of
the cryogenic tubes escaping towards the planet.

3. NARRATIVE
• Most of the narrative happens in the first two minutes of the opening, showing the equilibrium, the complicating action, the acknowledgement
of disequilibrium, and the attempt to repair. The characters are shown doing not much else but sleep, however the alien hatches and takes
over one of the human characters, causing the disequilibrium.
• The opening is chronological and must be for viewers to understand it and the full film to come.
• Two settings are established in the sequence. The spaceship is the most established as it’s the main focus for most of the opening. To
establish the second setting, the planet, an establishing long shot is used to show the full scale and also to show how the cryogenic tubes
crash onto it.
• Only one main character is established and that is the protagonist across all three Alien films and is already expected by the actor’s title at the
beginning of the sequence (Sigourney Weaver).

4. REPRESENTATIONS
• The human characters are presented as being peaceful in the first shot as they are sleeping in cryogenic tubes, resting. They
could also be perceived as vulnerable as the camera zooms in slowly imply a target, foreshadowing. The large, clear glass
window on the tubes adds to how the characters are presented as vulnerable and prey to the alien, for there is only a thin
layer of glass keeping them safe.
• The setting is presented as uncomforting as the metal bars and industrial framework juxtapose the peaceful sleeping of the
characters. It suggests that everything outside the tubes are a danger or could cause some harm. The low key lighting and
blue, misty light creates an ominous atmosphere as the alien begins its attack.

5. GENRE
• The genres of the film are sci-fi and horror. The conventions of the genre that are present in the opening
are:
• The settings are space/spaceship and a planet.
• Low key lighting is used as well as well placed shadows to emphasize the alien’s presence.
• A skull, blood, and smashed glass are all shown in relation to the alien hurting the humans.

6. USE OF CAMERA 1
• Distances: Close-ups when on detailed objects (the faces, the alien, the computer screens). Long shots and extreme long shots as establishing
shots. Full shots when showing the movements of larger objects (the cryogenic tubes sliding down).
• Angles: Low angles are used on the alien when its attacking the humans. They are also used to show urgency when used on the computer
screens and flashing red lights.
• Camera Movements: There are some panning shots when establishing the inside and outside of the spaceship, as well as zooms to emphasize
certain targets in the spaceship. A tracking shot is used near the end of the opening, following the cryogenic tubes being ejected from the
spaceship.
• Close-ups, low angles, and panning shots are the most frequent forms of cinematography within the sequence.

7. USE OF CAMERA 2
• Most shots in the sequence frame the focus in the center. However in the close-up of the alien on the cryogenic tube and the
sleeping human, the alien is framed upper-right, whereas the human is framed lower-left. This shows the imbalance of power
and how the alien is preying upon the human.
• Before this shot, a shot of the opened alien egg is framed in the left in the dark, whereas the lit side of the spaceship where
the humans are is framed in the right. This suggests a similar thing to the previous shot, however gives the impression of
foreshadowing and how the alien is the focus of the danger. It also shows how the humans are helpless and have no idea
about the alien, where we, as viewers, do.

8. SOUND
Non-Diegetic:
• The most common sounds are the ambient sounds used for the title shots in space.
• Metallic vibrations are used when the title of the film comes on.
• When the alien comes on high pitched minor vocals are used.
• A drum can be heard beating only twice very quickly in the next shot.
• One of the last sounds is a rising and elongated trumpet note played multiple times.
Diegetic
• When the alien moves an unfolding bone sound can be heard.
• Cracking glass as the alien breaks into the cryogenic tube. Similarly, electrical spark sounds are used when the acid blood
burns through the floor.
• Dialogue: “Stasis interrupted. Fire in cryogenic compartment. Repeat: Fire in cryogenic compartment,” and an alarm
sounding. Hard breathing is used as the skull on the screen turns.
• Screeching as blood spreads across white cloth.
• Explosion can be heard as one of the humans cries out in sleep.

9. EDITING
• Most shots are singular, for they are spaced apart by the title screens. There is possible cross-cutting
between open space in the title screens and the spaceship.
• Mostly straight cuts are used. However there is a cross dissolve with a lengthened transition period when
the escape pods leave the spaceship – the face of the main character is overlaid.
• Most shots last between 0.5 seconds and 3.5 seconds. This varies a lot as the pace changes frequently.