Reading an image - media codes blog tasks

 1) Analyse this RBK 50 Cent advert using the media codes you learned in the lesson: Technical, Written or verbal, Symbolic or non-verbal, Narrative. Write a paragraph for each one exploring the way meanings are created using those media codes.

Technical:

In this advertisement is a picture of the rapper 50 cent with a black and white colour scheme. This colour scheme has potentially been used to represent his past life of crime and violence as it symbolises the idea of a flashback or the past.

Written or verbal codes:

In the advertisement there are three separate pieces of writing, The quote by 50 cent, The title of the ad and the brand logo. In the quote a distinct difference compared to the rest of the ad is how the letter o has been filled in. This has been done to symbolise how 50 cent has been shot as the letters represent bullets. In addition the title "i am what i am" links with the reference to bullets in that his history defines his present and how he lives his life compared to how he used to.

Symbolic or non-verbal codes:

In the image 50 wears an urban style of clothing potentially to give consumers an idea of comfort which links to the company itself of Reebok and could be used again to symbolise his past and how he is defined by what he has become through his experiences. Another thing that again leads towards a idea of past defining us is the use of a fingerprint sheet which is typically used for something along the lines of defining someone and additionally are also linked to crime and how criminals are found, again linking back to his rough past.

Narrative codes:

An enigma code for some could potentially be the filled Os and people not knowing what they actually symbolise, confusing people and potentially distracting them from the main message the advert is trying to convey in the first place. And for action codes there arent really any distinct ideas that can be made except for maybe the image of the fingerprints due to them typically being associated with crime.

Task 2:

Technical:

In this poster advertisement for the movie Avengers Endgame there are a few notable technical aspects, one being about the lighting. On the poster you can see how lighting has been used to highlight the main characters of importance possible to foreshadow something happening with the characters with increased lighting.

Written or verbal codes:

On the poster a notable difference on the written side is the change of fonts between the title, the word Endgame has switched to a smaller sleeker font whilst the avengers title remains bold. This could potentially symbolise that there will be a change in tone or approach for the movie due to the bold typically giving viewers a common depiction of what the film will feel like, but however with the new font viewers may now not know what to expect.

Symbolic or non-verbal codes:

On the poster you can see that some characters are displayed larger than others, this is done to show who will potentially be more crucial to the plot-line of the story, assuring viewers of who to focus on certain scenes. Additionally to this you can see at the back of the poster the main villain hidden behind everyone else. This has possibly been done to symbolise how he is above all of them and ominously watching over all the characters.

Narrative codes:

An action code could potentially be on how the characters on the poster are stood and what they`re holding, looking like they`re ready to for a conflict. An Enigma code could potentially be how the characters are posed, looking like they could be potentially hopeful or ready for something, leaving audiences only to question what they`re being hopeful or ready for.