Codes and Conventions found in The Silence of the Lambs for my Foundation Portfolio for AS Level Media.

1. Talie Colbourne 12F FoundationPortfolio
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The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
http://putlocker.is/watch-the-silence-of-the-lambs-online-free-putlocker.html (up to 02:45)
Code and
Conventions
Findings Textual Evidence
Creation of enigma
An enigma has been created by her running
movement as to what she is doing by running
and could also have connotations of that she is
running from something. The isolation of the
woods is key to the creation of an enigma
because it makes you wonder why she is
actually isolated in the middle of these woods,
the fact that she is alone is shown through the
use of many long shots. The non-diegetic
music has been used to create unease and
tension in the shots which helps create an
enigma because the audience could be
confused as to what they are worrying about.
Gesture: running
Setting: isolation
Long shots: show
setting
Non-diegetic music:
create tension
Introduction to
characters
A tracking movement has been used to
connote to the audience that this woman is a
key character to the plot, this is also connoted
by her solidarity (shown through long shots)
which portray her as being on her own and the
focus of the audience’s attention and the fact
that the narrative of the storyline has made
her the first person to be seen. The woman is
also seen climbing over a frame which could
connote her overcoming obstacles in her life.
At the end of the tracking movement and after
she goes over the frame, a pan movement is
used which could connote that she has turned
her life around. The assault course is used as a
prop to help connote to the audience that she
is not necessarily as feminine as you would
expect because she is completing a course
which is often done by men. Her costume is
key because she is all sweaty and is wearing a
tracksuit which connotes that she is an
untypical female character. A high angle shot
was used when she was climbing up the rope
to possibly connote that because she is a
female who appears to be living a masculine
life, she is inferior and looked down upon. You
could infer from Propp’s narrative theory that
the woman is likely to become a
hero/victim/villain because of her solidarity
which connotes that she is more than meets
Tracking
movement: shows
importance
Long shots:
solidarity
Narrative: first
person to be seen
Gesture:
overcoming
Pan movement:
turning life around
Props: assault
course, not as
feminine as seems
Costume: untypical
female
High angle shot:
inferior
Propp’s theory:
solidarity shows she
could be the
hero/victim/villain

2. Talie Colbourne 12F FoundationPortfolio
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the eye.
Setting up Plot
Her gestures are also used to create the
beginning of the plot because there is a
mystery as to why she is running which could
be foreshadowing parts of the film. The
opening scene including the woods is
complimented by the bare trees (props) and
the washed out blue of the sky which could
connote a cold atmosphere and create tension
around this character and what her role in the
film is.
Gesture: running
Props: bare trees
Colour: washed out
blue sky
Pace and rhythm
(Editing/mise en
scene/camera
shots)
The pace of the music picks up towards the
end of the clip which could foreshadow future
events of the film because the genre suggests
danger. A number of straight cuts have been
used to combine the extract which connote
realismand set a steady pace because it is
continuous. The unsteady rhythm of the non-
diegetic music sets the rhythm of the extract
to be uneven due to the syncopated beats and
unease. A number of pan/arc movements have
been used to create a continuous rhythm as
they simply follow her rather than using a form
of editing to combine them - if editing has
been used they are straight cuts so as the
continuity is not broken - this is contrapuntal
to the syncopation of the non-diegetic music
playing over the extract. The titles are played
over the extract which help to deter some
attention from what is happening due to the
fact that they are bold and large, the lettering
itself is simple however it proves that the title
is an important part of the filmdue to its large
presence.
Non-diegetic music:
pace picks up at
end
Straight cuts:
realism
Continuity edit:
realism
Pan movement:
continuous rhythm
Arc movement:
continuous rhythm
Straight cuts:
realism
Continuity edit:
realism
Contrapuntal
sound: music is
syncopated, editing
is now
Title: bold and
important
Mood and tone
(non-diegetic
music)
The mood of the opening is very solemn which
is aided by the use of non-diegetic music
because it begins with a slow, calmand gentle
theme to it which connotes equilibrium to the
audience. The non-diegetic music also creates
a feeling of tension because of its syncopated
beats and unsteady rhythm. The mood of the
scene is shown as being mysterious by the use
of low key natural lighting to signify to the
audience that she is in a natural environment
and possibly to foreshadow that she could be
at risk of danger in the future of the film. A
number of diegetic sounds have been used to
Non-diegetic music:
solemn
Todorov’s theory:
equilibrium
Low key lighting:
risk of danger
Diegetic sound:
realism

3. Talie Colbourne 12F FoundationPortfolio
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help create realismin the extract because the
character is running through a forest and
therefore the sound of birds, leaves and heavy
breathing are likely to be present; these create
the mood that this character is hardworking
and will be a staple throughout the film.