Theorists

 

 

Stuart Hall

 How media can affect the minds. I.e. if a particular image is frequently associated with a particular feel or scenario, then that can affect our outlook on such things.

 

Barthes

 Semiotics. Symbolism. How we view a particular item, scene or look. I.e. how a piece of clothing  linked to terrorism can cause fear. Or how someone wearing an authorities uniform can seem more trustworthy.

 

George Gerbner

 Television. Cultivation theory. How people, if enough time is spent in the 'television' (or media) world, they will begin to believe the messages being portrayed. "Grown" to believe.

 

Hypodermic

 The theory that the media 'injects' views directly into the passive audience. I.e. with Nazi propaganda, it was wholly believed by the people, and acted uniformly regardless of stimuli.

 

Albert Bandura

 The theory that media can affect behaviour and thoughts through imitation. As a child would, different stimuli within the media can affect people and cause them to act in a particular way.

 

Steve Neale

 Genre. How a film must follow a specific set of 'rules', by following stereotypes and conventions, to be able to be defined as one of that genre.

 

 

Curran and Seaton

Industries. How the media is owned by a 'specific group', and how that can affect what it portrays. I.e. Rupert Murdoch owning a lot of News outlets, can decide what gets reported and not.

Semiotics - Barthes

 

First off, the characters are clearly not human. The light blue dots lining up the features of the darker blue skinned creatures makes them look primal yet also in tune with their bodies. Similarly, the wide eyes with stark green contrasting from their blue complexion captures the attention, and presents them as 'spiritual', as the eyes are the gateway to the soul.

The two characters in the scene are also at equal height, similar facial expression yet easily differentiated. This shows a sense of unity and non-prejudice between the creatures, yet the emotions portray thoughts that the film will have a serious tone. This could be because everything in the scene is blue tinted and appears natural, (with the world and animals), while the scene is also centred on and is being invaded by unnatural grey military helicopters, which suggests a possible conflict for the land the creatures live on.

Finally, the two planets being split in half but still near each other suggests that the helicopters could be of a different planet to the creatures, possibly Earth and humanity.

Theory