1 - analysis of genre conventions
Les Revenants is typical of the supernatural horror genre
Les Revenants is highly atypical of the supernatural horror genre
Both these statements are true, despite being contradictory. This allows the show to target a range of audiences, many of which are niche and specialised. Incidentally this is a question which is very likely to come up in both the mock and final exam. So, using the following slides, make reference to all the conventional and unconventional elements constructed by this scene. Remember to have the textual analysis toolkit open in another tab!
2 - Representational analysis of promotional images
A promotional image or promo image is an image created by the producer of a media product to market it. Typically, images like these would be distributed to online reviewers, newspapers, magazine and so on as part of a press pack or collection of information to help the reviewer write a (hopefully positive!)_ review.
Save the following images and complete a 'fact file' for each character. Each of these characters appears extensively in the first episode. The last image is an ensemble, so you will be writing about the cast of Les Revs in general!
FOR EACH EXAMPLE, MAKE EXPLCIT REFERENCE TO MEDIA LANGUAGE!
Name:
Character archetype: (eg nerd, jock, weird kid etc are archetypes of the American teen genre)
Costume codes and connotation (analyse their costume, as well as hair and makeup)
Gender performance and role within narrative (to what extent does this character portray a stereotypical representation of gender, and how is this encoded?)
EXAMPLE
I've done number 2 for you:
Name: Claire Seurat
Character archetype: Mother/middle class mother
Costume codes and connotation: Claire's jumper is stylish and understated, and does not draw attention to herself. It is clearly expensive, yet has no visible logos, connoting a sense of refinement which is stereotypical of an upper middle class middle aged woman. Her hair is stylishly scruffy and her makeup is understated and barely visible, which once again connotes confidence and elegance
Gender performance and role within narrative: Claire is a hegemonically attractive middle aged woman, and is understated and stylish and 'chic' in a way that is different from her daughter's. She is not sexualised at all, and her expression is depressed and vacant. Claire has two different men fighting over her, which reinforces her status as spectacle, and suggests a highly stereotypical representation