Pretty Little Liars

1. TV Drama title: PrettyLittle liars
MEDIA LANGUAGE
Is the opening conventional in how it is structured? Explain why/why not.
The opening is conventional,itstarts by setting the scene and then introducingthe characters before
something tragic happens. Therefore, this is a conventional opening.
DENOTATION CONNOTATIONS
Mise en scene - setting,costumes, lighting,bodylanguage
and facial expressions.
 Setting, Rosewood, Pennsylvania
 Dim lighting, torches, candles,
moonlight
 Set at night
 Teen costume, not extravagant
 Fear in facial expression
The first thing we are introduced to is the town of
rosewood which is a fictional town set in
Pennsylvania. This sets the scene and will make
people think it is a small place as It is unheard of. The
dim lighting and night setting create tension straight
away in the scene, creating a sense of fear in the
audience. Furthermore, the dim lighting restricts the
view of the audience, creating suspense. The
costumes of the characters create a sense of their
identity, they are all wearing different styles which is
the start of the introduction to these characters. The
characters facial expression shows fear, which will
relate to the audience as they are also scared.
Camerawork – shot sizes, camera angles,movements, depth
of field.
 Establishing shot
 Medium- long shot
 Close up
 Tracking shot
The establishing shot sets the scene and shows us
where the characters are, it also sets the tone for the
rest of the scene. The medium long shots introduced
us to the first two characters individually. There were
also close up shots so we could see the characters
facial expressions and it was the only focus. The shot
was angled slightly off centre to show a shadow of the
other characters in the background creating and eerie
atmosphere. There is also a medium group shot
where we see all the character together, and how
they interact with each other. There are also tracking
shots, where they are following behind or in front of
the characters creating the idea they are being
watched.
Editing – continuity, montage,paceofediting, transitions,
screen time, order ofshots,etc.
 Fast paced editing
 Fast cuts
 Slower editing when suspense
The editing in the beginning of the introduction is
short and quick, creating a fast pace for the start of
the drama. The fast-paced editing slows down in the
lead up to suspense with longer shots and slower
cuts. There is no montage editing in the introduction
scene, this is to create more suspense.
Sound – diegetic, non-diegetic, ambient sound,soundeffects,
stings, music, etc.
 Music, non deigetic
 Audio
 Thunder
 Laughing
 Door opening
The music, nondiegetic sound, at the start creates a
more upbeat atmosphere, this is quickly contrasted
with the sound of thunder, in which the, music
changes to a slower, eerie tune which creates
suspense and tension. The quick change in music
quickly changes the tone making It more interesting
and gripping. The creaking door adds to the tensions
this is a typical noise heard in scary films.
Title Graphics – font style, size,colour, transitions, effects,
etc.
The only bit of text we see in the first three minutes is
the tow and state that the teen drama is set in. The
font used isn’t a specific font, however, it looks old
fashioned which suggests that it might be
suspenseful.
Genre i.e. sub-genre-crime,thriller, soap opera, comedy, etc.? Or Mixed/hybrid genre? Whatsuggest this? Icons?
The genre of this drama is teen drama. This is shown by the castall beingyoung girls,they are drinking
together showingthey areyoung, as they arehidingout in a barn,away from adults.Furthermore, they are
all wearingyounger clothingsuggestingthey are teens too.
Narrative i.e. Whatwill the story beabout? Howit is going to betold? Any binaryoppositions/conflict? Storythemes?
Conventionalnarrative?

2. From the firstThree minutes, we can suggest that the narrativewill beaboutthe disappearanceof one of
the characters,Allison,as sheis seen to disappear shortly into the beginningof the introduction.The story
seems likeit is goingto be told through the lives of the other characters seen in the barn.
Character(s) i.e. Who arethey? Whatare they like? Main character? Protagonist/antagonist? Conventionalcharacter type/role?
The characters areseen to be the group of teenage girls,themain character,the protagonist,is seen to be
Allison as shemakes a late entry and is also theone who disappears.Her character does seem to be a
conventional roleas sheis a regular teenager.
REPRESENTATION
Social Groups– which socialgroups arerepresented? How –as simplestereotypes or as morecomplexcharacters? Is everyonein
a social group represented as being the same? Positive/negative? (seelesson Ppt. for a recap onrepresentation).
There aren’t any obvious social groups represented. They arejusta group of teenage girls,however, they
aren’t all represented as beingthe same, by the way they dress and they was they actwe can see that they
are all individualsand into different things.
Ideology– what values and beliefs are being reinforced?(i.e.romantic relationships represented as something tobe desiredand
that they should bemonogamous.)
The idea of a closegroup of friends is somethingthat everyone should have, where they sharesecrets.
There aren’t really any clear values or beliefs thatarereinforced in the firstthree minutes of the show.
Are these representationsconventional ofthe TV drama genre/sub-genre?
I believe that these representations are conventional of a teen drama.
Do they reinforce dominantideologyor offeran alternative?
They reinforce a dominant ideology of a teen drama.
AUDIENCE
Whois the target audience? Demographics?
Psychographics?
The show is aimed at 12- 34-year-old females.
What tellsyou this? Genre, narrative, representation,
mode ofaddress, language used, etc.?
The characters come across as teenagers and the
storylineso far,includingthem going back to school,
suggests it would interest young teenagers and
onwards
How have the producerstried to attract the audience? Consider Gen Z short attentionspan, etc. –how does the
drama try tograb their attention and appealto themin the opening?
The producers have tried to interest the audienceby includingsuspenseand somethingdramatic happening
straightaway,to interest them and keep suspense.
How are the audience positioned? Which character(s) arewe supposed to like/dislike/sympathisewith? Arewe
positioned to takea particular side/view ofanissue?Preferred/negotiated/oppositional readings?
At this point there are no characters we aresupposed to likeor dislike,however, we are supposed to
sympathisewith the characters as oneof their friends have one missing.
Do you think the drama will shape audiences’pointsof viewabout people,issues orevents?
I think this drama will shapepeople's ideas aboutthe importanceof friendship.
INDUSTRY
TV Channel/distributor? Originally shown on ABC Family
Is it available anywhere else? Netflix, Youtube, googleplay
Time ofbroadcast? Premiered on 8th June 2010
Sponsorships? There are no sponsorships
Product placement? They all haveApple Iphones and Macbooks
Production credits in the opening?
Ifso, which ones and inwhat order?
There were no production credits in the opening
Whichepisode/series?
Out ofhow many episodes/series?
Episodeone season 1
Additional media(digital convergence)?
Website, socialmedia,onlinevideos, etc.
There is an Instagrampage and official snapchat.
There is also a twitter accounthowever there is no
website.
Do you think any of the industry elementsabove have shaped the drama? If so, how?
I thinkthe social mediahashelpedthe advertisementforthe show as eventhough itendedtwo
yearsago, people are still watchingitnow.