Codes & Conventions
Codes are systems of signs, which create meaning. They can be divided into two categories - technical and symbolic.
Technical codes are all the ways in which equipment is used to tell the story in a media text, for e.g; The camera work in a film.
Symbolic codes show what is beneath the surface.
Conventions are the generally accepted ways of doing something. There are general conventions in any medium such as the use of interviewee quotes in a print article, but are also genre specific.
Smartly dressed / men and women / scripted / live / well lit studio / use of graphics / camera on tripods / range of shots / cuts to responses / Interviews - objective.
Monday, 29 September 2014
Monday, 22 September 2014
Fahrenheit 9/11 Documentary - Louise Reed
Task A) Write a brief introduction to the documentary film.
Fahrenheit 9/11 is a 2004 documentary film by American filmmaker and Political Commentator Michael Moore.
The Documentary takes a critical look at the handling of war and terror and its coverage in the news and media, in the time of George W. Bush's presidency. Moore provides a deep insight on the American Security system, showing the combined levels of paranoia, fear, false values and patriotism which set a stage for Bush to launch a war on Iraq instead of focus on catching the real culprits of the September 11th attacks. The film generated intense controversy due to Moore criticising the American Corporate media labelling them as cheerleaders for the 2003 invasion of Iraq, as they did not provide an accurate analysis of the rationale of war.
The film also discusses in depth the way Bush handled things at the time, an example of this being when he remained sat an an Elementary several minutes after being told a plane had hit the World Trade Centre because he wanted to let the children finish reading their books. Along with this, Moore also talks about Osama Bin Laden and the ways in which 24 members of his family were evacuated from a US Airport, administrated by President Bush even though all planes had been grounded and no one was allowed to fly.
Task B) Who is Michael Moore and what other documentaries has he been associated with?
Michael Moore is an American filmmaker, author, social critic and political activist. He has many high grossing documentaries such as Fahrenheit 9/11, Bowling for Columbine (2002), and Sicko (2007) and has won a 'Palme d'Or' (the highest prize awarded at the Cannes Film Festival) for his film Fahrenheit 9/11, along with winning Academy Award for Documentary Feature.
Below is a list of films he has created/been associated with.
Fahrenheit 9/11 is a 2004 documentary film by American filmmaker and Political Commentator Michael Moore.
The Documentary takes a critical look at the handling of war and terror and its coverage in the news and media, in the time of George W. Bush's presidency. Moore provides a deep insight on the American Security system, showing the combined levels of paranoia, fear, false values and patriotism which set a stage for Bush to launch a war on Iraq instead of focus on catching the real culprits of the September 11th attacks. The film generated intense controversy due to Moore criticising the American Corporate media labelling them as cheerleaders for the 2003 invasion of Iraq, as they did not provide an accurate analysis of the rationale of war.
The film also discusses in depth the way Bush handled things at the time, an example of this being when he remained sat an an Elementary several minutes after being told a plane had hit the World Trade Centre because he wanted to let the children finish reading their books. Along with this, Moore also talks about Osama Bin Laden and the ways in which 24 members of his family were evacuated from a US Airport, administrated by President Bush even though all planes had been grounded and no one was allowed to fly.
Task B) Who is Michael Moore and what other documentaries has he been associated with?
Michael Moore is an American filmmaker, author, social critic and political activist. He has many high grossing documentaries such as Fahrenheit 9/11, Bowling for Columbine (2002), and Sicko (2007) and has won a 'Palme d'Or' (the highest prize awarded at the Cannes Film Festival) for his film Fahrenheit 9/11, along with winning Academy Award for Documentary Feature.
Below is a list of films he has created/been associated with.
Task B
1) Fahrenheit 9/11 - What is the opening statement? How does this suggest how much power the government has?
The opening statement in the trailer is "Anyone will do what you want them to if they're afraid".
This suggest's that the US Government has immense power of the people of America and those who aren't, due to the simple fact that because they're 'The Government' they could cause a fuss out of anything they wanted too to make you scared, to get what they want out of you. The fact that this relates to the Government also shows that this is actually their tactic. This is how they get what they want. They cause a problem, they hide things from people, they scare people so they can get what they need out of them, which relates to the 2003 war in Iraq. Did we actually need to cause a war, or was it just over the oil so we could make more money? Did we really need to scare all those people, kill people, blow up their homes, risk soldiers lives, all over some dollar sucking liquid? Yes, apparently so. Why? Because anyone will do want you want them too if they're afraid.
1 2) What information is given about the U.S.
Government and the Bin Laden family in the opening segment?
in the opening segment we are taught that as all planes were grounded and nobody was allowed to fly, 24 members of Bin Laden's family were evacuated out of the country by the US Government, which was authorised by President George Bush.
"When President George W. Bush froze assets connected to Osama bin Laden, he didn't tell the American people that the terrorist mastermind's late brother was an investor in the president's former oil business in Texas. He also hasn't leveled with the American public about his financial connections to a host of shady Saudi characters involved in drug cartels, gun smuggling, and terrorist networks."
3
3) What is implied about President Bush in the opening segment (first 25 seconds)? Describe how the film implies this?
George Bush is shown at fancy dinner parties, drink champagne, laughing and joking around when theres a war on in Iraq and half of his country are out there fighting and he's continuing to live this leisurely lifestyle and doesn't seem to be taking the ongoing problems seriously. The film implies this by first of all playing some sort of rock star music whenever Bush comes on the screen, trying to portray his actions as 'awesome' and up beat, happy and joyful. They also show clips of him at dinner parties, toasting champagne and laughing. The worst one of them all is when he is being filmed on a golf course and is giving a brief speech on how America need to capture these terrorists, then 2 seconds later is asking the camera to look at him whilst he hits a strike.
3) What is implied about President Bush in the opening segment (first 25 seconds)? Describe how the film implies this?
George Bush is shown at fancy dinner parties, drink champagne, laughing and joking around when theres a war on in Iraq and half of his country are out there fighting and he's continuing to live this leisurely lifestyle and doesn't seem to be taking the ongoing problems seriously. The film implies this by first of all playing some sort of rock star music whenever Bush comes on the screen, trying to portray his actions as 'awesome' and up beat, happy and joyful. They also show clips of him at dinner parties, toasting champagne and laughing. The worst one of them all is when he is being filmed on a golf course and is giving a brief speech on how America need to capture these terrorists, then 2 seconds later is asking the camera to look at him whilst he hits a strike.
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