2. Representation
Representation when the real world is re-presented to us and the
audience are shown a version of reality.
The study of representation is about decoding the different layers of
the truth or the fiction. The audience of a film decodes signs and
signifiers that producers have encoded into their work.
Representation is important because the media works with existing
representations of people in the media to make the audience
assume things about a character. It helps the audience create an
image of a character in their heads.
3. One Character from the Opening
Sequence
Both characters appear to be up to something that’s unknown to the audience. The mise-en-scene
makes it clear that both characters are working on something, possibly a job, so they perhaps belong
to the working class. This is shown through the books that they are writing in.
From the left hand picture, it gives off the impression of photography, which compares to the photo
on the right as the audience has no idea what the character is writing about.
However, the cinematography is clever with the use of high angle shots, so that the audience are
unable to see the faces of either characters.
As both these characters are in the opening sequence, you automatically assume they will have one
of the main roles in the film as Barthes’ theory of Enigma leads the audience to question what will
happen next.
4. One Character from the Opening
Sequence
In the left hand photo, is the main character from our opening scene, similar to the character in
the right hand photo, taken from the film Taken.
The similarities between these two characters is that they may have one of the leading roles in the
film, which is unusual for a thriller as it is usually males who have the leading roles.
Both characters are of similar ages – early 20s. Through mise-en-scene both characters are
presented in casual and simple clothes. This challenges the expectations of the thriller genre as
characters featured in thrillers, often wear dark, black clothes, making themselves more
mysterious, creating suspense.
We decided to use a mid shot of our character to get a clearer shot of the location, making it
obvious to the audience that it is set in a studio. It challenges the expectations of the thriller genre
as it is so unusual. It is completely unexpected to the audience, for a thriller genre, which links to
how we used Bathes’ theory of Enigma to keep the audience questioning what will happen.
