This document analyzes 14 shots from the ABC Family documentary "CYBERBULLY". It summarizes the intent and meaning conveyed by each shot. Key shots show a female distressed by something online, a group of females looking at a phone suggesting cyberbullying for attention, a crying female by a tree suggesting the effects of cyberbullying, and a female who attempted suicide after being cyberbullied and is now weak in the hospital with her mother. The analysis suggests these shots effectively portray the risks, effects and consequences of cyberbullying.

1. Textual Analysis of
‘CYBERBULLY’ By ABC Family

2. • Despite the fact ‘CYBERBULLY’ by ABC family is
a feature length documentary, it is still helpful
for me to analyse as the layout of the
documentary is similar – there is still use of
Todorov’s equilibrium theory:
Equilibrium, disequilibrium and new
equilibrium – which is a theory we want to
apply to our documentary :)

3. • The medium close up on the female connotes intensity and
concentration, this suggests the common stereotype that teenagers are
addicted to the internet.
• The females stern facial expression connotes distress and alarm, implying
something is bothering her online.
• The placing of the laptop towards the right of the shot connotes a
presence of the online world, as the converged device gives access to
online risks.
SHOT 1.

4. SHOT 2.
• This shot connotes iconography of the internet, through the layout of chat
sites.
• As we can see beside the chat conservation are their names – this
reinforces the idea that people give too much information out
online, connoting danger and risk.
• The shot is seen through the eyes of the female, this encourages the
audience to relate by putting them in the position of the female.

5. SHOT 3.
• The close up on the converged device connotes the focus and reliance on
mobile phones.
• The green and grey messages connote iconography of real conversations
on converged devices, this with the audience looking through the females
eyes combine to help the audience relate to the female.

6. SHOT 4.
• The big close up connotes the pressure the female is under answering
personal questions such as ‘What underwear are you wearing?’.
• Also, the closeness of the shot connotes the idea that the internet forces
you to answer questions about yourself that you may not answer in
person.
• The blue background connotes innocence and suggests the site is
harmless, this reinforces the idea that the internet can be deceiving.

7. SHOT 5.
• The comment beneath the picture says, “LARDO AND DOG FACE”.
Clearly, these comments are intended to offend someone, and the
comment combined with the use of caps lock connote the common idea
that people become braver over the internet.

8. SHOT 6.
• This medium shot of a group of females looking at a converged device
suggest the idea that people are too public about themselves online.
• Also, the fact there is a group of them connotes the idea that many people
cyberbully online for attention, and to big themselves up.

9. SHOT 7.
• This medium wide shot of the female crying up against a tree connotes
distress and suggests a wounded troubled girl.
• This suggests the effects of cyberbully and is useful to us as we want to
use shots like these for our disequilibrium to display the effects of
cyberbullying.

10. SHOT 8.
This long shot of the hallway with students aimlessly walking round connotes a sense of
being lost and suggests the idea, that even though the internet is such a busy place you
can still feel so alone.

11. SHOT 9.
This medium shot of the female with her head in her hands connotes her distress, upset
and suggests her loneliness.
The low key lighting acts as a connotation for misery and loss, and may represent the
way she is feeling.
This is useful for our disequilibrium side of our documentary as we want to show the
effects cyberbullying can have on so many people.

12. SHOT 10.
This medium close up connotes the females difficulty and the burden she feels
she is carrying under her pressure received online.
Her sad and confused facial expression highlights how many victims of
cyberbullying wonder why they are targeted.
The female blurred out in the background connotes a loss, and indicates that its
hard to stick up for someone online.

13. SHOT 11.
This low angle shot consumes the female, connoting the pressure she is under and
undermines the idea that she feels she has a large weight bringing her down.
Her tears represent how she is effected by cyberbullying and she has broken down.
As she is central to the shot it indicates she feels destroyed and consumed.

14. SHOT 12.
• This shot of the tablets the female was about to take show the
extremes victims will take. This gives us an example of just
how series cyberbullying is and the consequences it can lead
to.
• The colour of the tables, red and white connote the
conflicting battle she has been facing.

15. SHOT 13.
• This medium two shot of the mother and the daughter lying
down, with the mother supporting the daughter connotes the
weakness the daughter has now. This effects of cyberbullying
have caused her to attempt suicide, her painful facial
expressions reinforce her exhaust with her experience.

16. SHOT 14.
• This big close up of the doctor handing the mother information leaflets on
how he can help her daughter highlights the fact that there are always
people there for the consequences of cyberbullying.
• This is helpful for us in our new equilibrium as we want to show the
audience that there is always a way of solving the issue.