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