Example Exam Answers: Textual Analysis Q2

Question 2: Textual Analysis Answer.
This question is about film analysis and requires you to use media terminology to show how the director intends to share ideas with the viewer. You need to use the key words and find examples and show how they affect the audience.

Here is an example answer from a candidate. It gained full marks in the exam. 20/20

Soundtrack

The soundtrack is notably used to create effects for the audience which fit the genre. For example, the introduction of Nic Angel is combined with a majestic soundtrack which emulates the hero’s power and status. This is regularly used in the genre to emphasize the power of the protagonist to the audience. The soundtrack also crescendoes, which aims to create tension which will be subverted by the inevitable convergence of characters. Western sounds are also used to create the effect of hybridizing comedy with action as the audience recognizes the cliché. In addition, it also serves

to imply there is an upcoming fight scene where the characters will ‘draw’ weapons, reminiscent of Western films. The soundtrack also abruptly stops to mimic the surprise of the audience at Butterman helping Nic Angel.

Editing

Editing is also utilized in different manners to create effects which help to heighten the action. For example, editing is very slow-paced at first to create a tense atmosphere which again hints at an upcoming convergence. The editing then speeds up, and cross-cutting is used frequently to help to bring together the characters in an imminent fight-scene, and the fast editing builds-up to the action, heightening tension. The cross cuts then start to match the soundtrack to emphasize tension, and the cut pace is momentarily slowed down when Nic delivers the line ‘Morning’ before speeding up again. During the fight shot-reverse-shot editing is used to show the conflicting emotions of antagonist and protagonists, and discontinuous editing is used to mimic the chaos of the situation.

Mise-en-scène

Mise-en-scène is predominantly utilised at the start of the extract, with Nic on a horse to make him higher-up, to the effect of conveying his power and presence. In addition, Nic features a distinctive costume, to further isolate him from the antagonists and make him stand-out to the audience.

The conventional set-design of English suburbia creates the effect of comedy when the tranquility is displaced for action, as it is unexpected to the audience. The props also mainly consist of weapons, providing a catalyst for action, which also creates comedy by satirising the genre through having excessive amounts of weapons. Lighting is natural simply to create the effect of realism in the town.

Camerawork

Camera devices are extensively used to connote ideals and create effects. For example, a high-angle shot is used on the school children to show their obedience and Nic’s power over them. In addition, many mid-shots and close-up shots are utilised before the action to portray the characters’ fear. An establishing shot is also utilised near the start to depict the quiet suburbia, which is then displaced when the action begins. During the conflict, a handheld camera is employed when the glass window breaks to mimic the chaos and disorientation the fighting creates. In addition a focus pull is used to bring the armed old lady into focus, and similarly the camera zooms in to the sidekick near the

start, both the establish the character importance.

COMMENTARY

This is an example of an answer that easily achieves full marks by giving a number of examples that are accurately described and analysed in a sophisticated manner.

Marks awarded and rationale: 20 marks
The section on soundtrack gives four examples – the ‘majestic soundtrack’, how it ‘crescendoes’ (sic), the use of ‘Western’ music, and the rapid stop to the soundtrack – and gives a succinct analysis of the effect of each. Not all of these examples are as specific as one might like, but enough are, and the quality of the connotative analysis makes up for any lack of specificity.
The section on editing again has four well-made examples with analysis.
The section on mise-en-scène contains at least two sophisticated and well-argued examples – the horse and the excessive weaponry – among some more mundane ones.
The section on camerawork again gives two excellent examples of analysis – of the high angle and the hand held camera – plus a couple more.
Two examples plus connotative effect per bullet point establishes an answer in level 4. This reaches the top of band on two counts – the number of examples analysed and the sophistication of the analysis. Some answers would make it to the same mark on just one of those counts.
An answer does not need to be perfect to earn full marks. It just needs to be at the top end of the range of answers produced in exam conditions. This is so that the full range of marks is used, which serves to differentiate between candidates more accurately.

Examples of what to include.

Soundtrack
Reward ‘diagetic’/’diegetic’ as terminology, but the description of sound as diegetic or non-diegetic does not count as an example.
Accept:
• Heroic brass and choral (spaghetti western) music at the start of the extract
• Sound effects emphasising the whip pans
• Sound effect of horse’s hooves over the montage of the townspeople’s reactions
• Suspense music as Angel dismounts
• Sound effect of a bird flying as one is seen in the windscreen
• Exaggerated sound effects of clothes opening to reveal weaponry
• Exaggerated sound effects of echoing gunfire
• Computer game sound as fight starts
• Sound effect of the shop alarm as the kids rush in followed by a woman’s scream
• Sound effect of Angel being hit by a bullet
• Sound effect of collision and a bicycle bell as woman hits Danny’s car door
• Short silence – calm before the storm – as Danny gets out of car
• Sound effect as the thrown gun flies through the air
• 70s buddy cop music as Danny and Angel fight together
• Any other relevant example.

Editing
Only accept answers other than visual editing if there is an explicit link made to the editing process (so soundtrack elements, for
example, should only be rewarded if there is a clear explanation that they are post-production sound effects).
The term ‘jump cut’ should only be rewarded where there is a clear breach of continuity editing.
Accept:
• Use of body wipes (eg Angel on his horse – do accept ‘jump cut’ for this transition, but no other – and on the man looking
through the supermarket window)
• The montage of the townspeople’s reactions to Angel
• The increasing pace of editing of this montage as the tension increases
• The faster pace of editing as the fighting starts
• Use of slow motion (eg when Angel rises from crouching near the fountain)
• Shot-reverse shots during the gun fight
• Any other relevant example.

Mise-en-scène
This media language element can lead to very descriptive answers (eg ‘there is a man on a horse, he is in a town’) so reward
explanation of connotative effects.
Candidates might comment on:
• Angel’s ‘warrior’ costume and white horse
• The unusual location of a sunny English country town decorated with bunting, natural lighting emphasising this
• The kids dressed in identical school uniforms and ‘hoodies’
• The townspeople dressed in traditional clothing – tweed jacket, vicar’s dog collar, duffel jacket.

Camerawork
Accept:
• Slow tracking in to the faces of the townspeople (accept ‘zooming’ for this, but tracking is more accurate)
• High angle (eg of the kids on the wall)
• Low angle (eg of Angel on his horse)
• Over the shoulder shot (eg of Angel on his horse)
• Close up (eg of ‘Zitto Colour’ spray cans)
• Whip pans (eg between walkie talkies, from the shop window to Angel, as the kids enter the shop, the shoot out around the
pillars)
• Handheld camera (eg Angel at the fountain then looking up at the window)
• Focus pulls (eg from CU of end of gun barrel to Angel’s face, from Angel to the woman under the hanging basket)
• Tracking shots (eg of woman on bicycle, as Danny and Angel run down the road)
• Crash/whip zoom (eg to the woman under the hanging basket)
• Any other relevant example.