Wednesday, 20 November 2013
Tuesday, 12 November 2013
Lost: Jack representation essay
in this first episode of lost, or more so the opening scene, we look at Jack. Jack overall is given an image of a leader or someone who can take charge and responsibility when needed. we can see this through the things he does in the scenes, such as collecting himself quickly after re-gaining consciousness and medically helping those in danger at the crash site as soon as he noticed them.
the first scene i want to look at is the scene when Jack wakes up in the jungle after the plane crash. right from the start i'm curious as to why he ended up so far from the plane and not be in worse shape. granted he does have a wound which is revealed when he picks himself up but it still seems like he should be more hurt. the scene starts from an extreme close up of Jack's eye, this is a trademark thing that Lost do to start off an episode. his eye is wide which shows he is in shock and confused because it darts around a little bit so he can re-gain some sense of knowing where he is and what's going on. the extreme close up also throws the viewer off a little because we don't know who's eye it is until the camera becomes a birds eye view mid shot showing Jack's upper body. Jack is dressed in a suit, which shows that he was dressed for something formal when he got on the plane in the first place. however, we still haven't seen the plane yet, which again throws the viewer off but also hooks them in order to keep watching to find out why Jack is there, why he's wounded, and so on. we then see a high angle of him when he stands up to show he's re-gaining control of himself. he checks out an apparently painful wound which could raise ideas that he was in a plane crash. he also pulls out a small shot bottle of vodka, the type that you'd get on a plane. the camera cuts to different angles frequently to again throw the viewer off to emphasise Jack's confusion and shock.
the next part of the scene which is interesting in terms of camera shots is the part when Jack starts making his way through the jungle. the tracking shots, which keep his speed consistent and give a better impression of his speed than a panning shot, start of slow but they gain speed as Jack's running gains speed to emphasise it. there are also a lot of transitions and you can only partly see Jack through all the bamboo and vegetation; this again throws the viewer off and disorientates the viewer to create tension and again continue to hook the viewer through confusion in the hopes the confusion will be ended through an explanation or Jack emerging a short time later on the beach. the beach creates an oxymoron for the situation as it looks like a photogenic paradise yet there's Jack's current situation and you can hear screams of terror in the distance. Lost aimed to create a lot of disorientation for the viewer to emphasise Jack's in the first scene, they do this again by breaking the 180 degree rule on the panning shot of the beach. they do, at the end of this part, show that Jack can re-gain himself quickly as he reacts very quickly to the distant screams and runs to where they are coming from showing that he clearly aims to help who is in danger.
the next part of the opening scene i want to look at is when Jack arrives at the crash site and, while helping a man stuck under debris, notices the pregnant Claire across the beach and goes to help her. he immediately starts talking in watered down medical terms to show that he knows what he's doing but also that he's taking in to consideration that Claire may not be educated in medicine. he works very quickly under the preassure of the situation which gives a very vivid impression that he may be a doctor. a lot of close ups and mid shots and wide shots are used together with each other to both give the viewer a clear view of what's happening between Jack and Claire (and Hugo because Jack calls him over to help her, which is also where we first learn Jack's name) and the immense panic and danger everyone is in.
the last scene i will look at is when Jack notices Barnard's unconscious wife and that a lifeguard is performing CPR the wrong way on her. they way he handles getting someone to watch Claire for him so he can help another person shows that he is both capable and willing to help multiple people at the same time, despite the pressure and danger of the situation. close ups of Jack and the life guard show their conversation but also how they are reacting with everything going on. Jack's knowledge of CPR also reinforces the idea that he's a doctor. Jack also doesn't waste time explaining that he's a doctor, he just gets straight in to reviving Bernard's wife. this makes a nice change to the cliche "out of the way i'm a doctor" we see so often in movies and TV. wide shots are again used to reinforce the obvious danger and panic going on around them. Jack also has no problem telling the life guard what to do which reinforces the idea that he is a leading figure right from the first scene of the first episode.
there are many things that support the idea that Jack is represented as a leader in the opening scene of the first episode. things such as how he can work so well under pressure and how he helps multiple people at the same time. also the fact that he tells people what to do without hesitation because he knows it's for the best. later episodes show that he's more of a failed leader but the opening scene gives a clear impression that he's willing to take responsibility for a group of people.
the first scene i want to look at is the scene when Jack wakes up in the jungle after the plane crash. right from the start i'm curious as to why he ended up so far from the plane and not be in worse shape. granted he does have a wound which is revealed when he picks himself up but it still seems like he should be more hurt. the scene starts from an extreme close up of Jack's eye, this is a trademark thing that Lost do to start off an episode. his eye is wide which shows he is in shock and confused because it darts around a little bit so he can re-gain some sense of knowing where he is and what's going on. the extreme close up also throws the viewer off a little because we don't know who's eye it is until the camera becomes a birds eye view mid shot showing Jack's upper body. Jack is dressed in a suit, which shows that he was dressed for something formal when he got on the plane in the first place. however, we still haven't seen the plane yet, which again throws the viewer off but also hooks them in order to keep watching to find out why Jack is there, why he's wounded, and so on. we then see a high angle of him when he stands up to show he's re-gaining control of himself. he checks out an apparently painful wound which could raise ideas that he was in a plane crash. he also pulls out a small shot bottle of vodka, the type that you'd get on a plane. the camera cuts to different angles frequently to again throw the viewer off to emphasise Jack's confusion and shock.
the next part of the scene which is interesting in terms of camera shots is the part when Jack starts making his way through the jungle. the tracking shots, which keep his speed consistent and give a better impression of his speed than a panning shot, start of slow but they gain speed as Jack's running gains speed to emphasise it. there are also a lot of transitions and you can only partly see Jack through all the bamboo and vegetation; this again throws the viewer off and disorientates the viewer to create tension and again continue to hook the viewer through confusion in the hopes the confusion will be ended through an explanation or Jack emerging a short time later on the beach. the beach creates an oxymoron for the situation as it looks like a photogenic paradise yet there's Jack's current situation and you can hear screams of terror in the distance. Lost aimed to create a lot of disorientation for the viewer to emphasise Jack's in the first scene, they do this again by breaking the 180 degree rule on the panning shot of the beach. they do, at the end of this part, show that Jack can re-gain himself quickly as he reacts very quickly to the distant screams and runs to where they are coming from showing that he clearly aims to help who is in danger.
the next part of the opening scene i want to look at is when Jack arrives at the crash site and, while helping a man stuck under debris, notices the pregnant Claire across the beach and goes to help her. he immediately starts talking in watered down medical terms to show that he knows what he's doing but also that he's taking in to consideration that Claire may not be educated in medicine. he works very quickly under the preassure of the situation which gives a very vivid impression that he may be a doctor. a lot of close ups and mid shots and wide shots are used together with each other to both give the viewer a clear view of what's happening between Jack and Claire (and Hugo because Jack calls him over to help her, which is also where we first learn Jack's name) and the immense panic and danger everyone is in.
the last scene i will look at is when Jack notices Barnard's unconscious wife and that a lifeguard is performing CPR the wrong way on her. they way he handles getting someone to watch Claire for him so he can help another person shows that he is both capable and willing to help multiple people at the same time, despite the pressure and danger of the situation. close ups of Jack and the life guard show their conversation but also how they are reacting with everything going on. Jack's knowledge of CPR also reinforces the idea that he's a doctor. Jack also doesn't waste time explaining that he's a doctor, he just gets straight in to reviving Bernard's wife. this makes a nice change to the cliche "out of the way i'm a doctor" we see so often in movies and TV. wide shots are again used to reinforce the obvious danger and panic going on around them. Jack also has no problem telling the life guard what to do which reinforces the idea that he is a leading figure right from the first scene of the first episode.
there are many things that support the idea that Jack is represented as a leader in the opening scene of the first episode. things such as how he can work so well under pressure and how he helps multiple people at the same time. also the fact that he tells people what to do without hesitation because he knows it's for the best. later episodes show that he's more of a failed leader but the opening scene gives a clear impression that he's willing to take responsibility for a group of people.
Thursday, 7 November 2013
Wednesday, 6 November 2013
The Male Gaze Notes
Marjorie Ferguson's aspects of the male gaze:
The Chocolate Box: this is when the person depicted is pretty or attractive in a conventional or idealised way. it originally comes from the decorative way companies decorate chocolate boxes in order for customers to notice the product and buy it.
generic and pleasing picture. warm smile and pretty without breaking any sort of society's conventions.
Invitational: this is when the person in the picture is posed in an inviting way. it could be inviting in numerous ways and can be a means to many ends. often the invitational look is thought of as to depict more sexual poses because sex sells. however, it can just be someone enjoying some food which is invitational for the onlooker/customer to buy the food.
Top Image: group of people eating a meal and obviously having a good time, invitational to go to certain restaurant and not at all sexual.
Bottom Image: Eva Mendes posing in a sexual manner. her legs are parted and she makes no effort to hide her body. this is invitational in a sexual way and used to sell underwear.
Super Smiler: this is when the woman depicted would be smiling a very huge smile or grin. it is used to show that she is having a good time but at the same time keeping her attractive looking to play to the male gaze.
woman in the picture has a big grin on to show she's having a good time in whatever she's doing. picture also shows confidence and gives her an attitude which is also like-able.
Romantic or Sexual: this is probably the one that gets talked about the most in terms of the male gaze. it very much uses the idea of "sex sells" in order to advertise whatever it's advertising. despite being the one that gets criticised the most, it's probably the one that works the most.
clearly sexual exchange between the two in the picture. things like this would probably be used to sell fragrance or perhaps blue jeans as that's what they're both wearing.
The Chocolate Box: this is when the person depicted is pretty or attractive in a conventional or idealised way. it originally comes from the decorative way companies decorate chocolate boxes in order for customers to notice the product and buy it.
Invitational: this is when the person in the picture is posed in an inviting way. it could be inviting in numerous ways and can be a means to many ends. often the invitational look is thought of as to depict more sexual poses because sex sells. however, it can just be someone enjoying some food which is invitational for the onlooker/customer to buy the food.
Bottom Image: Eva Mendes posing in a sexual manner. her legs are parted and she makes no effort to hide her body. this is invitational in a sexual way and used to sell underwear.
Super Smiler: this is when the woman depicted would be smiling a very huge smile or grin. it is used to show that she is having a good time but at the same time keeping her attractive looking to play to the male gaze.
woman in the picture has a big grin on to show she's having a good time in whatever she's doing. picture also shows confidence and gives her an attitude which is also like-able.
Romantic or Sexual: this is probably the one that gets talked about the most in terms of the male gaze. it very much uses the idea of "sex sells" in order to advertise whatever it's advertising. despite being the one that gets criticised the most, it's probably the one that works the most.
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