Toolkit language: the codes you've GOT to refer to!
Point of view and ideology
Codes and conventions of news products/newspapers/type of newspaper
Layout and design
Composition – positioning of headlines, images, columns, combination of stories
Images/photographs - camera shot type, angle, focus
Font size, type of font (e.g. serif/sans serif)
Mise-en-scène – colour, lighting, location, costume/dress, hair/make-up
Graphics, logos
Language – headline, sub-headings, captions
Copy
Anchorage of images and text
Elements of narrative
Focus - Media language and Representation
Talking points
Front page
- Brexit - ideological implications?
- Eastenders - 'Hayley'?
- Puff box - pull out
- Cheltenham races
- Anchorage
- Strapline - 'fighting for you'
- Mode of address - racing?
- Glassed...thug...
- Representation of women
- Size of central; image
- Intertextuality: war!
- "looses key vote again"
- Powerful women? Or vulnerable? Mirror even gender split!
- Van Zoonen: men act women appear?
- Political bias and anchorage: disapproving of May...
Article
- Polysemic nature of main image
- Language of copy - nuanced? Confused??
- Horse racing symbolic codes?"tottering Theresa"
- "Dwindling authority"
- "dashing to Brussels..."?
- "you shall not pass!"
- Binary oppositions
- Narrative codes
- Powerful women? Or vulnerable? Van Zoonen?
Detailed notes
Thanks Will for the following notes
- Mise-en-scene of the setting of parliament connotes formalness.
- The use CU and high angle of her face suggests that she is vulnerable. Reinforcing the ideologies of the newspaper, going against conservatives.
- This article is dealing about the complex issue of Brexit, while the newspaper represents the issue as a joke.
- The strap-line "Fighting for you", is a very aggressive mode of address, suggestive of a war.
- The use of lexis, is an example of hyperbole. It is being made more exciting that it really is to appeal to the audience.
- Featured at the top right of the front cover, is a article about the Eastenders, which is an example of soft news. "Eastenders Hayley glassed by thug" is interesting because the noun "Hayley" isn't even the actresses name. This is almost a spoiler for the Eastenders series, which is a soap-opra, which generally watched by working class audience.
- The term "glassed" is an example of very specific use of language, as it has been used to appeal to the working class audience.
- According to Vans Zoonen, women who are featured in media, are there for men to look at. However in the newspaper, Theresa May isn't being sexualised in any way. This subverts her idea that we live in a patriotic society ruled by men. This appeals to both male and female audiences.
- Theresa May is referred as "Tottering Theresa", which applies that she is clumsy and childish. This is also an example of alliteration, which is highly informal. This represents Theresa as informal, which means she is not suitable for prim-minister.
- Horse facing is extremely formal and informal at the same time. The people who attend these horse races are normally middle classed however the people in the betting shop tend to be people of the working class. It has polysemic connotations, the featured article of horse racing appeals to both middle class and working class people.
- There is a binary opposition created when Theresa is placed against Corbin and Johnson. The caption "Attack" under the image of Jeremy Corbin shows that he is aggressive against Theresa. This is further emphasised when Theresa's gesture of surrendering, suggesting that she is submissive. However this gesture could be taken in a different way, Theresa could be pushing Corbin back and standing her ground.
- The headline "A Faller at 2nd" is has polysemic meanings, it could mean that she has failed at leaving the EU. However it could also be a hint to horse racing, The Mirror is almost dumbing down politics and are comparing it to horse racing.
- There is a political sketch featured to the left of the newspaper. The Mirror refers to Theresa as "Gandalf", which is a pop-culture reference to the film "The Lord of the rings". The quote "You shall not pass" is a quote taken from the film and is almost seen as a meme on the Internet, which suggests that no one is taking her seriously. By referring May as "Tory Gandalf" makes her sound informal, however it could also suggest that she is heroic. This all appeals to the older generation
Thanks Harriet for the following notes. Please note FP=front page, while DP=double page
- FP. The use of a pun "Mayhem" informal language targeting the working class.
- DP. Proairetic code of hands held up suggesting that she is about to surrender because she is weak.
- DP. The images of Corbyn and Johnson are anchored by the copy suggesting that they are victorious in this situation which causes confusion since there are binary oppositions.
- DP. The copy takes a polysemic mode of address by using formal language which contradicts the nature of the tabloid.
- DP. The use of hyperbole throughout the headline of a horse racing joke calling May a joke suggesting that the audience are old, working class gamblers.
- DP. The daily mirror narrativises the story of Brexit which connotes that politics is boring, "40-1 odds" causes excitement.
- FP. Puff of "Enders Hayley" targets middle aged females, this is colloquial. The reader ship of the mirror is almost 50/50 because of sports and Eastenders. Van Zoonen, stereotypically have been positioned as hegomonically sexually attractive. However this puff subverts Van Zoonen's suggestion that women are sexually objectified for a heterosexual male. Also women are nor represented as being powerless, representation is a construction of reality.
- FP. "Chaos" indicates war by using intertextuality. This is revolutionary which suggest we are overthrowing our useless government.
- DP. Sati is used to insult May suggesting she is Gandalf, this is a pop culture reference meaning only younger audiences will understand this. "shall not pass". This is a true intertextuality reference because it is referencing memes making a joke of May. Appealing to the audience of The Lord of The Rings.
- DP. tottering May by uses derogatory language, her gesture her could anchor this because she is trying to control a situation poorly. Reinforcing how completely useless she is. The binary opposition is formed between May, Corbyn and Johnson which shown when Corbyn is pointing at May and she has her hands up like he is attacking her.
- DP. "Shambles" is an old reference to a slaughter house reinforcing the metaphor of war that May has created.
- DP. "Kamikaze" referring to extremely patriotic soldiers saying that May is a dangerous ruler.