Unseen analysis Joker

Explore how media language is used to create meaning in the Joker teaser film poster.

Media language- lighting costume and everything that has made the poster what is is 

Meaning- what do these elements want to say 

Tease- Drawing the audience in and giving the audience a look at the film imagery early

Film poster- conventions and what you are expecting to see as an audience

KNEE JERK REACTION

my initial thoughts are that the poster is gritty and aesthetically worn and discoloured to suggest a made up crisis and a struggle but in an ominous way 

Mis en scene of the blood on his chin is conventional of horror genre

violent imagery

enigma/ hermeneutic codes- withholding the story and leaving the audience guessing (teaser)

Lots of light but also high shadows that connote how the character in the main image is the main focus of the film because he is in the spotlight 

The dark background settling into the light green cloud is symbolic of nuclear fall out 

PLAN 

-point     -evidence     -explain 

Genre conventions of horror and film teasers

High shadows enigma code of what is he doing and why is he in the light surrounded by dust (mis en scene)

Little lexis but simple text with just the name of the character contridicting the term joker but he seems troubled not fun ENIGMA CODE  

Polysemic colour coding- dust settling like nuclear fall out and the whole poster is linking to an  apocalyptic aesthetic with the faded font and messy character make up joining to make the imagery. 

The lighting is used to spotlight him as if he were performing and as the make up is clown make up it can be a teaser to a performance in a wider sense.

is he falling? connotes mystery and his journey to downfall. 

CLASS NOTES to add

Bold sans serif font is worn and damaged anchoring to the mis en scene of the clown make up as worn by the protagonist.

Even the brighter parts of the film will have dark themes metaphorical point.

Hermeneutic code of unsettling empty space on the poster which is conventional of the horror genre.

Not a traditional z line reading with the audience looking at the main image first then we are directed by the eye line of the protagonist to the title.

Action code- enigma code who shot him

Joker mis en scene character movement links to horror as if he is falling or performing 

mis en scene of the make up represents outcast in a horror film with he connotations of clowns 

clowns reminiscent of horror- put on a happy face ironic unhinged 

Binary opposition of light allegorical element of light vs dark themes

Dehumanises protagonist as he is wearing make up like a mask to hide himself 

Genre has repetition and differences Joker is a superhero film on paper but not conventional with dark undertones

  • Mise-en-scene of the smoke is mysterious, connotations of the unknown and covering something up

  • Green colour connotes the idea of mould, toxic, decay - horror/sci-fi themes 

  • ‘Put on a happy face- - tagline reflective of mental health - the deteriorating health of the character 

  • Mid/close up of the protagonist puts him in a vulnerable position - beneath looking up at him

  •  Smoke in the background - reflective a nuclear fallout - intertextual references 

  • Bold sans serif font, bold dark colour palette - title is worn and damaged and links to the main image and reinforces the genre conventions

  • DC comics Logo attracts the fans of the genre - recognisable and familiar  

  • The lighter part of the poster is still dingy - implies dark themes even in lighter moments 

  • No Z line - uses proairetic code - the character is looking at the title and the audience is encouraged to do the same

  • Composition of image is cut off and lots of empty space on poster - hermeneutic code - we cannot see half of the poster - reflective of horror convention? 

  • Bullet in the middle of title - hermeneutic code - who’s shooting - action code 

  • Joker is the main part of the poster - movements reflect iconic imagery of the character - attracts the audience etc

  • Links to horror - his movements/performance are unsettling, unusual - subversive 

  • Lexis targets a pre-existing audience - Joaquin Phoenix - very famous actor is going to attract an audience 

  • Mise-en-scene of the make-up - representation of circus - clownlike  

  • The fade of light to dark - binary opposition - allegorical element perhaps signifying light and dark themes 

  • Doll like appearance - creates a mystery of his character - no longer a person but the joker 

  • Mise-en-scene of the Joker is not identifiable - hermeneutic code because the audience is unaware of his position in the film - would need to go see the film to confirms theories etc. 

  • Imagery of the clown - references comedy - genre hybridity

  • Genres - repetition and difference 

INTRODUCTION

Explore how media language is used to create meaning in the Joker teaser film poster. 

-Definition -Argument -Context

Media language is used in this teaser film poster to create enigma codes that the audience will be able to deconstruct to create meaning such as the use of Key lighting with a main spotlight on the protagonist, this use of media language creates meaning for the audience 

D- Media language is built up codes and conventions used to create meaning they attract an audience by representing the ideology of the producer suggested by the media product such as this teaser film poster.

A- The poster contains repetition and difference of the horror genre through the use of hermeneutic code as well as presenting polysemic meanings through media language. The purpose of this as a teaser trailer is to build an audience and evoke a sense of anticipation, I will explore how The joker poster does this through media language.

C- The joker came out in 2019 and was a worldwide success both financially and critically with awards like The academy award fro best actor from Joaquin
Pheonix

FIRST PARAGRAPH

This teaser poster uses repeated conventions of the horror genre as well as enigma codes in order to create mystery for the audience and evoke a sense of anticipation for the film. One way which enigma codes have been used is through the mis en scene of the green tinted smoke in the faded background of the protagonist. The mis en scene of the smoke connotes a sense of danger in the air because it is reflective of nuclear fallout and how the protagonist is unconventional as to look up to the chaos, this demonstrates the conventions of the horror genre as toxicity is harmful and horror promotes harm and violence. The use of the green colour coding itself is reflective of this toxicity because smoke is a repeated icon of looming danger and links to the genre of apocalypse films suggesting the use of genre hybridity throughout the film.








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