June 12 - Section A Essay Practice

• Evaluate how the two trailers use the narrative technique of enigma to encourage the target audience to watch the films.  (8 marks)

One way in which product one uses the narrative technique of enigma suggested by Barthes to encourage the target audience to watch the film would be through casting characters of a similar age to the target audience of 15-24-year-olds. Casting characters of a similar age is likely to mean that the audience have a deeper investment for instance emotionally in the characters well fair  and therefore they will be more invested in ensuring that the characters are ok, for instance, the scene where the tree falls would have the audience scared for the character and wondering if they survive. Presenting an emotional attachment to the audience encourages them to watch the film as they will want that reassurance that the character is ok by the end, thus meaning that they will watch the full installment of the franchise.

Product two uses the narrative technique of enigma to encourage the audience to watch the film through its lack of dialogue which creates mystery for the audience and is likely to have them creating their own narrative expectations, thus creating enigmas about the narrative. For instance, ‘Is there more to this Eli character than she first admits? ’. The mysterious factor to the trailer and the audience creating their own narrative expectations encourages them to watch the film as they are more likely to feel a part of this cryptic storyline and want to know whether their narrative expectations of the film were correct.

• Why are media products that represent outsiders such as vampire films, so popular? You may also refer to other media products to support your answer. (12 marks)

Media products that represent outsiders are incredibly popular in my opinion as they carry unusual storylines that the audience could feel compelled to stick with and explore to the end of the film. For example, media product two is a foreign film representing a group (Swedish) that viewers may not understand very well as a result the audience are more inclined to explore it further and concentrate on the subtitles to understand the Swedish group that is represented. This is an example, of surveillance part of Blumler and Katz, Uses and Gratifications theory; suggesting that the audience uses the media in this instance films to understand what is going on around us.   

Media products representing outsiders are also very popular because they provide a sense of escapism for the audience from everyday life which is another part of Blumler & Katz Uses and Gratifications theory. This feeling of escapism is particularly apparent in the comedy genre of films representing outsiders. One such example of a film representing outsiders that provides escapism is The Inbetweeners, which centres around four boys who are seen as outsiders because they are quite socially awkward and stick out from the crowd. The Inbetweeners provides the audience with a sense of escapism as it allows them to have humour from the boys being so different as they go on their various adventures throughout the film.  

• Do you think that official and unofficial websites contribute to a film’s box office success? You should refer to other media products to support your answer. (12 marks)

Unofficial websites such as IMDB, which is an Internet Movie Database, contributes to films financial success as it gives the audience a chance to watch the trailer of the film giving them a sneak peek into the plot for the film. Such websites also have a brief synopsis of the film and cast information allowing the audience to further look into the life’s of their favourite celebrities. This supports Blumler & Katz surveillance point suggesting that we use the media to find out the latest goings-on in the lives of our favourite celebrities such as Kristen Stewart who plays Bella one of the main characters from product one.  

Official websites for media products such as The Twilight Saga also greatly contribute to the film's box office success as they attempt to bring the film to life online; through providing audiences with downloadable materials and film quizzes that extend people’s initial interest in the film so the point that they want to watch the film thus bettering its box office success. One difference that in my opinion allows official websites to contribute more to films financial successes would be that they often provide the audience with links to their other advertising materials such as social network pages and YouTube channel including sneak peeks and behind the scenes videos. These links particularly those redirecting the viewer to social networking sites such as Facebook give viewers a chance to leave their own comments about the film which is User Generated Content. The opportunity for viewers to leave their own comments is likely to benefit the film at the box office as it gives other potential audience members a reassurance as to why they should see the film coming from fellow audience members.