Tuesday 28 March 2023

How does media language incorporate viewpoints and ideologies in the theatrical trailer to John Wick 4?



Underline the key terms


How does media language incorporate viewpoints and ideologies in the theatrical trailer to John Wick 4? 


Knee jerk reaction


The trailer to John Wick 4 uses a variety of media language to construct a straightforward ideological perspective that violence is an acceptable way to deal with issues


Plan


Genre theory = steve neale

Repetition and difference

Action 

Music

Soundtrack

Minimise risk maximise profit 

Low key lighting 

Polysemy

Suit

Deep focus cinematography 

Engagement 

Close ups 

Montage

Hyperreality

Binary oppositions

City setting

Desert setting

Hermeneutic code

Night setting 

Bird's eye view shot

Worm eye view shots

Inventive cinematography 

Rapid fire editing 

Hegemonically attractive

Generic codes of action

Intertextuality

(fan theory)

Video Game imagery

Extreme violence

Diegetic sound

Non-diegetic sound

Pleonastic sound

70’s soundtrack 

Neon red orange, etc

Gangster genre (suits) 

Proairetic codes

Checkov’s gun 

Violence

Samurai swords 

Foreign villains

White american protagonist

Linear narrative 

Restricted narratives 


Introduction


DAC - definition, argument, context


Ideology is the main viewpoint and beliefs of the producer. Producers typically use media language to encode their ideology to position their target audience and to reinforce their viewpoint. In this essay, I shall argue that the producer of John Wick 4 uses media language to construct a blunt and straightforward ideological perspective that violence is the solution to all life’s problems. This is highly conventional and appropriate of the action genre.


Paragraphs 


  • One way in which ideology is encoded in the trailer for John Wick 4 is through the use of extreme violence. This is most notably seen through…

  • Another way in which ideology is encoded is through the audience positioning

  • Yet another way in which the producer demonstrates a straightforward ideology is through the utilisation of specific genre conventions

  • Another way in which ideology is encoded is through the use of a relatable protagonist which allows the predominantly male target audience to project their fantasies on to him

  • Yet another highly connotative aspect of this trailer is the use of stereotypical representations…

  • Intertextuality is a highly useful tool for the producer to encode their ideologies 


Stereotypical representations


  • Lower MS in low key lighting of two suited men conversing at a table constructs a stereotypical representation of powerful men

  • The stereotypical representations of men are constructed through scenes of hypermasculine violence. The entire trailer is saturated with the MES of blood, sparks, fire and explosions, that constructs an ideological perspective that Wick’s life is completely based around danger

  • The MES of Wick’s suit is highly impractical, yet reinforces his cool stereotypical masculine status. It also reinforces his hegemonically attractive status, allowing him to appeal to many audiences

  • Stereotypical representations of east asian people are constructed through their choice of weapon. Here they fight using samurai swords, which constructs a highly leading binary opposition between Wick and his gun. The use of media language others and alienates east asian people and reinforces the binary opposition

  • MES of dancing reinforces a violent and energetic mode of address which reinforces the ideology that violence is good, glamourous, elegant and enjoyable