From Wales to Hollywood: Chosen Film Posters- Media Language

From Wales to Hollywood: Chosen Film Posters- Media Language

Media Language in Film Posters

  • Media language in film posters is an advanced system of signs and symbols to communicate messages about the film.
  • It includes various elements such as colour, typography, graphics, and imagery.

The Role of Colour in Film Posters

  • Colour in a film poster sets the mood and quickly communicates genre and tone.
  • Warm colours can evoke action, romance or comedy, while cool colours may hint at drama, horror or sci-fi.

Typography and Text

  • Typography communicates the key information — title, cast, director — and also helps to set the poster’s tone.
  • Decorative fonts can indicate a light-hearted movie, while bold, block letters might suggest an action film.

Graphics and Imagery

  • Graphics and imagery can tell a story, hinting at the film’s plot, themes, and characters.
  • They can use composition, framing, and perspective to guide the eye and create emphasis.

Wales vs Hollywood Film Posters

  • Welsh and Hollywood film posters may differ in their use of media language due to variations in budget, audience, cultural associations, and cinematic traditions.
  • A Hollywood film poster might use well-known stars to attract audiences, while a Welsh poster might rely on unique graphics or typography.

Analysing Film Posters

  • Consider the use of visual elements, typography, and symbols to communicate information about the film.
  • Ask yourself what emotions the colours and images evoke, and what the typography suggests about the film’s tone.

Realism and Expressionism in Film Posters

  • Some posters lean towards a representational or realistic style, accurately portraying film characters and scenes.
  • Others use more expressive or abstract style, with artistic interpretations of themes or symbolic images of the film’s narrative.

Genre Conventions in Film Posters

  • Film posters often adhere to genre conventions in their media language. This may pertain to recurring visual motifs, colour schemes, or typography.

Representations in Film Posters

  • Representation is how different groups — whether defined by gender, race, age, or nationality — are presented in a film poster.
  • Representations can reaffirm or challenge stereotypes, power relations, and societal norms.

Audience response to Film Posters

  • Different audiences may interpret the media language of a film poster differently, depending on their own experiences, knowledge, and cultural backgrounds.
  • Through media language, film posters aim to appeal to their target demographic.