Your task is to define how Black Panther has targeted an audience with this trailer.
Write an essay using screenshots to illustrate your ideas. Alternatively you could present your analysis as a web-log like this one. You can then submit your work as a web address.
Begin by answering these questions in paragraphs;
- How does the trailer build an audience for the film and raise expectations?
- What genre or hybrids of genre would you say the film is and what codes and conventions of genres are recognisable in the trailer?
- Why have the exam board picked this film for us to analyse?
- Would you go and see this film and why?
For example, you could begin by discussing the voice-over. Analyse the choice of accent, style of delivery, tone, intonation, the pace of delivery, and the use of volume. Explain how meaning has been created for an audience?
Then consider how editing has been used. Consider the pace and style of editing and the use of a fade to black. Make reference to the codes and conventions of the film trailer and how this medium engages audiences.
Pick out five shots and analyse how meaning has been created.
For example;
In this wide shot three figures are positioned in the centre of the screen but they are back lit, by moonlight, so that they are in silhouette. (Evidence) Their body language is martial, giving a sense that they are soldiers, on guard. The figure in the centre is seated and this gives this character a central role, perhaps they are the hero or the villain. This character radiates power as if they are protected and important. This figure is looking into the world beyond suggesting thought and contemplation. The colour pallete is a dark, metallic blue and lighting is low key. This suggests that the genre is science fiction. It links with other texts in this genre and computer games which use this colour and lighting scheme. I am thinking of examples such as the 'Halo' games franchise and futuristic films such as 'Blade-Runner.' From this shot I think that the seated figure may be a King or leader pondering how he can solve a situation. The prop he/she has could be a significant aspect of mise en scene, I would compare it to Gandalf's staff in Lord of the Rings. The body language suggests other texts from the genre of fantasy and kingdom building like the 'Game of Thrones' franchise. This could be a monarch or ruler faced with great responsibility, possibly on some kind of a quest. It hints at the quest narrative as if they are contemplating a journey, either physical or philosophical. The infinite universe stretches out before this character and we empathise with this search. Intertextual references are made in the trailer. This is where past films or cultural artefacts are alluded to explicitly or implicitly. Depending on the audiences knowledge or awareness of the genre they will read these references and deepen their understanding. This is often referred to as reading the film on different levels. You could enjoy the film as a straightforward action romp in the super hero genre or read it as a clever post modern rendering of tired generic tropes, representations and cliches. I would compare the city scape in the trailer with the iconic neon city in Blade-Runner. Perhaps this character has seen many things already such as the replicant, Roy Batty, in Blade-Runner who has seen fighter ships on fire on the shoulder of Orion. When the voice-over states, 'I have seen God's fly..' is this an inter-textual reference to the clip below? Science fiction films in particular seem to be referenced in addition to the narrative being familiar to audiences of the super hero genre. I will let you use your imagination with the next sequence of shots. Take screenshots of your choice and use them to illustrate your analysis. Analyse them using your toolkit for analysis, demonstrating understanding and using subject specific terminology (Mark Scheme)
Consider the following;
- Voice Over
- Mise en scene
- Lighting
- Music
- Diegetic sound
- Non diegetic sound
- Use of Stars (Richard Dyer - Star Theory)
- Use of audio and video editing
- Shot types
- Movement of the camera
- locations
The next few posts will help you to expand your analysis by completing these tasks;
Identify audiences for the film 'Black Panther' and how have they been targeted
Consider the representations in the film 'Black Panther'
If you have access to Disney+or the DVD then watch the film. We will be dipping into the content first and then exploring audience and industry issues.
Finally, a research task. Find out as much as you can about this song, originally by Gil Scott Heron, 'the revolution will not be televised'.
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