Media, A2
Evaluation
Challenged Conventions
Through out our video, we use quite a bit of high-key lighting (until the night time scene.) This is quite unusual for indie/alternative as low key lighting is most commonly used. This is to portray the sad/dark themes that run throughout the narrative. The reason we had high-key lighting was mainly to do with setting and the fact that we were unable to control the natural light. However, we do have a mix of lighting, which could qualify for a binary opposite (light vs dark) This conveys parts of our narrative as it has light themes, which turn dark. However, by heavily relying on high-key lighting, it creates a different atmosphere during the ending scene. It creates a sense of something not being "right" as the high key lighting (associated with hope/happier themes) is being paired with a disturbing scene.
As well as conforming to narrative theory, our video also challenges it. For example, our video is not in chronological order and it focuses on the happy side of the narrative before the dark theme. This is unusual for indie/alternative genres as they are more likely to focus on the sad details on the narrative. Our video shows progression and at the begining, is slightly hard to understand. This is the enigma and the action code as people will wonder why the bear is in prison, but they will also now be alert of the fact that the narrative will show why the bear is in prison. Due to our video not being in order, it arguably challenges the basic narrative theory. Our video also misses a few steps of the narrative theory. For example, new equilibrium is never reached at the end of our video. This could partially frustrate the audience as my audience's would like to see a proper ending that is neatly wrapped up and solved. Our video also struggles to fit into McQuail uses and gratifications theory. Mainly because none would want to escape to this reality as it is very sad and does not end well. However, It would fit into James Lull's theory of Avoidance, and Social learning, where viewers would try to avoid the situations in the video in order to remain out of trouble and to maintain relationships with family and friends.
Lighting
Narritive
Female's
Our video heavily challenges Mulvey's theory: the male gaze theory. For example, our character remains full clothed and there are no camera movements/angles that flaunt her body in a sexualised way. We also choose a lion to represent our female character - therefore representing her as strong and brave, just like a lion. This portrays our female in a different light and allows her to mean something/be apart of the media without being slightly exploited. We also challenged Bell Hooks theory of black women being sexualised an objectified. Our main female lead is played by our friend Beth. We could have chosen any female to play this role, however we chose Beth. This was because Emma and I always planned to use Beth as we wanted to represent black women in a different way. Even though it may not be 100% clear that the actress is black due to her being clothed properly, and her face hidden, we wanted to portray the character as a strong woman, hence why we have no used any stereotypes that could create underline racist tendencies.
