Explore how codes and conventions are used to construct meaning in the theatrical poster for the mystery film Knives Out
Codes and conventions
Layout and design
Composition
Images/photographs - camera shot type, angle, focus
Font size, type of font (e.g. serif/sans serif), colour
Mise-en-scène – colour, lighting, location, costume/dress, hair/make-up
Graphics, logos etc.
Language – slogan/tagline and copy
Anchorage of images and text
Elements of narrative
Analysis
Below is largely unedited analysis submitted by U block, answering the above question:
- The anchorage of the magnifying glass in the background is typical to the mystery genre
- the MES of a knife blade is highly conventional of the mystery genre, and acts as anchorage, making reference to the title. The lexis of the word 'knife' also functions as a proairetic code, suggesting the threat of violence to the audience
- Poster shows off the famous cast-members, with their names being at the start of the z line.
- The costume conforms to the genre paradigms: they wear old-fashioned clothes, with bright, saturated colours like you might see in Cluedo. This is a clear example of intertextuality.
- It features the imagery of a magnifying glass, which is a symbolic code for mystery.
- The font is serif, which (in combination with the bookshelves and formal costumes) portrays the characters as being wealthy and middle class
- Audiences can take pleasure at seeing Bond actor Daniel Craig playing a completely different role. Star appeal
- This could also be interpreted as a hyperreal and glorified representation of England in approximately the late 1800s.
- The cast are all either young and attractive or are older and depicted as being wise. You can tell this through the use of costuming, in the case of the performer clad entirely in red, as she's wearing small, circular glasses, which stereotypically have connotations of intelligence. In another case, looking at Christopher Plummer’s character, his pose makes it clear that he's wealthy, dominant and intelligent, as he's sat in an armchair, with his legs crossed and fingers interlocked. A clear example of patriarchal hegemony
- These all have connotations of power.
- They appear to have artificially inflated Daniel Craig's height in order to make him appear more stereotypically masculine, as he appears taller than Chris Evans, who in reality he is significantly shorter than.
- The cast-members are all stood in a line (with one exception, although he is also part of the line), potentially reminiscent of a police lineup, and is therefore a symbolic code for crime or suspicion.
- The characters all looking at the camera, and therefore the audience, breaks the fourth wall and immerses the audience in the mystery and finger-pointing.
- Hermeneutic code: Because it’s a murder mystery who did it and there’s loads of people it’s like oh who is it
- the mise en scene of the low key lighting with the mid shot angle, of the picture portraying all the characters has codes and conventions of danger and mystery in addition to this the symbol of the sharp item going through the mass tittle of the poster emphasises the ideological intention of the producer... but this idea juxtaposes with denotation of the font colour, which is yellow.the colour yellow has conations of happiness and love, has oppositional meaning to each other, this highlights the enigma story line of the film
- The mise en scene of the costumes that are in bright lighting compared to the low key lighting of the setting allows the characters to be the main focus.
- yellow title - stands out and bold also is a large font
- The Long shot gets the full cast in the frame and keeps them to the centre of the print, with the most known actors in the centre of the row to directly appeal to the audience
- and the sharpness of the font is anchorage to the image and name
- The mise en scene of the red chair that actor Don Johnson is sitting on reflects the murder mystery genre as the colour red gives connotations of death, blood and revenge as well as showing to the audience that he is one of the main characters and allows the audience to focus on him.
- he low key lighting in the background is highly conventional of a mystery genre and creates enigma
- Every character is hegemonically attractive, reinforcing the dominant ideology that only attractive people can have rich and exciting live in Hollywood films...
- All members look directly at the audience with glum looks giving an intimidating look as if there is a sense of danger and action setting the tone for the poster the movie which is a use of proairetic code
- Hegemonically wealthy and attractive cast, costuming reinforces the producer's intentional creation of a hyperreal representation of england