4.5.12
27.4.12
Completed essay
Garry Na 1183 Claremont Fan Court School 64680 June 2012
OCR Media Studies J526 Individual Media Studies
Portfolio B321
A
Comparison of how women have been represented in fragrance advertisements from
1920s, 1990s, and 2011.
Mavis by Vivaudou (Print 1920s)
The focus of the representation is on
the woman performing a pose like a dancer. This is observed from the fact that
the woman is being held up by the character dressed as a pier rot and that the
woman represented is stretching out her arms the same way a ballet dancer
would. This is a theatrical illustration in a way that the use of this
fragrance allows women to be a part of a "show" the same way the
represented woman would. The woman is dressed in a bright gold skirt which is
reflecting the delicacy in her fashion and its wideness is imaging the woman
like a swan along with her highly stretched arms. Her shoes match the golden
design of the skirt and its unique and sophisticated design is an impressive
figuration of the Art Nouveau style. Her theatrical illustration in this advert
match the way she is dressed and it's a major cause the woman is 'irresistible'
as the advert suggests.
We also observe the oriental
representation in the architectural format of the building surrounding the
woman. The main focus of this advert from the presentation of an oriental
style is a message of co-existence with the European environment around
it. What this would refer to is the fact that such contrasting position is
presenting an opportunity for the users of this fragrance to experience the
traditional East Asian styles along with the use. Possibly and most likely,
this would be a crucial attraction to women who have placed their interests in
the Oriental scent. The shadows that cover the arc proves to the observers
that the print advert is not just a print, but rather provides a feeling that
we are actually in the midst of the experience of the orient. The architect
makes a perfect parallel to the women's skirt and doesn't give us the feeling
that the co-existence of the Oriental feeling along with a European one is
awkward.
Reds for Men by Giorgio Beverly Hills (Print 1990s)
My second choice, Red
for Men, forms a great
contrast to Vivaudou’s Mavis advertisement in its representation of
women. Where the female in Mavis is considered the epitome of feminity in her
dainty and balletic pose, the female in the Red
for Men advert is featured as
almost masculinised in the fact that she is taking a predatory and an assertive
pose. This is derived from the motion her body is taking such as grasping the
man’s hair as if to control him and taking the higher stance in their
relationship. Whilst in the Mavis advert, the woman
was
presented more as a controlled figure in contrast to the man in the pier rot
outfit, the Red for Men advert presents her as the person in command.

Also, as the Mavis advert shows an
idealised romantic image of the woman, the Red for Men portrays a different image. In the Mavis
one, it has been stated that the whole atmosphere of the advert is giving us a
theatrical feeling due to the woman's stance and the art nouveau style of her
clothing and surroundings, as if by using the fragrance a woman would feel they
were being involved in a fantasy world. However, Reds for Men shows a direct contrast. The woman in
the advert is of an earthly image with her short hair and strong possessive
stance. She is somewhat taking the image of a man in the way she is portrayed
as a strong figure and she shows a great want showing a unique side of the
fragrance’s attraction.
Furthermore, the woman represented in Reds for Men is significant in the fact that
she is undressed along with the man to disperse sexuality and a sense of
joyfulness. An achievement of this illustration is to indoctrinate the
observers that they are at a beach or a summer holiday sort of location. This
convinces people in a sense that, 'If fun is what you are looking for, this
fragrance will do the job'. Not only does being undressed give you the feeling
of enjoyment and interest, but this is also a good way of presenting sexuality
and grasping extreme awareness, leading to the purchase of the fragrance. Such
illustration is not noticed from the Mavis
Vivaudou print advert, and
this is from the fact that the timeline of 1920s focuses on theatrical
attraction rather than natural sexuality.
Cherie by Miss Dior (Moving
Image 2011)

The woman in the advert
carries a free spirit allowing her to carry out what she desires to do. From
the start to the end of the advert, every second illustrates the open life that
the woman is enjoying. For example, in the scene where the woman is walking
across the bridge, we realise that she has an elegant smile over her face and
her posture represents her freedom of belonging to where she is. As the advert
moves on, she designs her own dress, rides a bike along the city, and tries out
what she wants to. This acts as an incentive for people with busy lives to
realise the message that life is there to enjoy. She never loses her smile
throughout the advert and this is a sign of her bliss and happiness.


In
conclusion, as time passes the theatrical representation of beauty slightly
converts to a more natural image of strong sexuality, and the attraction of the
modern beauty is often achieved by portraying a free image which suits the busy
world we live in.
12.4.12
26.2.12
Action & Adventure Film Trailer Analysis
For the media prep that was set, we were asked to take a trailer from an action and adventure film, and explain ways in how the events fit the genre including the soundtrack, camerawork, editing, and the mise en scene. The movie trailer I chose was, 'Indiana Jones Kingdom of the Crystal Skull'. The trailer video below shows the basic and significant components of an action and adventure film.
First of all, the soundtrack starts off in a mysterious way as if to introduce something that is not of the normal. Then it turns to a heroic music featuring the 'hero' and the chase that he is involved in. The location of the setting is in a warehouse full of war supplies, and the clearly visualised US army forces add to the realistic feeling of an adventure that lies ahead. As the hero is being chased by the soldiers in the car, the camerawork plays a crucial role. When Indiana Jones has a higher ground compared to the chasers, the camera is recording from a floor above even the hero to distinguish the fact he is in a very high position. The camera angle changes instantly as Indiana Jones moves such as jumping up to the ceiling and landing on the car.
Another important fact is that the background of the scene is not an everyday place and has a sense of mysteriousness to it, thus adding to the features of an adventure film. This includes the temple with stone pillars which is shot from a very high angle to portray the settings as a massive and exotic destination of the hero and his chasers. Quite frequently, explosions occur which is another component of the action and adventure genre and nail biting situations fill the framework often. The editing towards the end of the trailer works to show the many events either positive or negative that happen in the film and gives the observers the basic information of the events that the hero experiences throughout the film.
First of all, the soundtrack starts off in a mysterious way as if to introduce something that is not of the normal. Then it turns to a heroic music featuring the 'hero' and the chase that he is involved in. The location of the setting is in a warehouse full of war supplies, and the clearly visualised US army forces add to the realistic feeling of an adventure that lies ahead. As the hero is being chased by the soldiers in the car, the camerawork plays a crucial role. When Indiana Jones has a higher ground compared to the chasers, the camera is recording from a floor above even the hero to distinguish the fact he is in a very high position. The camera angle changes instantly as Indiana Jones moves such as jumping up to the ceiling and landing on the car.
Another important fact is that the background of the scene is not an everyday place and has a sense of mysteriousness to it, thus adding to the features of an adventure film. This includes the temple with stone pillars which is shot from a very high angle to portray the settings as a massive and exotic destination of the hero and his chasers. Quite frequently, explosions occur which is another component of the action and adventure genre and nail biting situations fill the framework often. The editing towards the end of the trailer works to show the many events either positive or negative that happen in the film and gives the observers the basic information of the events that the hero experiences throughout the film.
23.2.12
Media Study starting activity
In Media Studies, we keep informed with short starter activities that relate to the actual world. Today, we talked about the price of truth and how the efforts of journalists should be acknowledged. Sunday Times journalist, Marie Colvin passed away from a rebellion attack in the district of Baba Amr during a mission to observe the Syrian crisis. She was dedicated to pass on information with the highest degree of accuracy and did not hesitate to jump into any situations. Journalists are valuable people who never find objective reporting as compelling. Marie Colvin was covering information in a place torn by destruction and death and she did all she could do discover the truth in a sandstorm of propaganda filled with gunshots and explosion.
9.12.11
A comparison of how women have been represented in fragrance advertisements from 1920s, 1990s and 2011.
(MAVIS Vivaudou 1920s Print Ad.)
The focus of the representation is on the woman performing a pose like a dancer. This is observed from the fact that the woman is being held up by the character dressed as a pierrot and that the woman represented is stretching out her arms the same way a ballet dancer would. This is a theatrical illustration in a way that the use of this fragrance allows women to be a part of a "show" the same way the represented woman would. The woman is dressed in a bright gold skirt which is reflecting the delicacy in her fashion and its wideness is imaging the woman like a swan along with her highly stretched arms. Her shoes match the golden design of the skirt and its unique and sophisticated design is an impressive figuration of the Art Nouveau style. Her theatrical illustration in this advert matches the way she is dressed and it's a major cause the woman is 'irresistible' as the advert suggests.
We also observe the oriental representation in the architectural format of the building surrounding the woman. The main focus of this advert from the presentation of an oriental style is a message of co-existence with the European environment around it. What this would refer to is the fact that such contrasting position is presenting an opportunity for the users of this fragrance to experience the traditional East Asian styles along with the use. Possibly and most likely, this would be a crucial attraction to women who have placed their interests in the Oriental scent. The shadows that cover the arc proves to the observers that the print advert is not just a print, but rather provides a feeling that we are actually in the midst of the experience of the orient. The architect makes a perfect parallel to the women's skirt and doesn't give us the feeling that the co-existence of the Oriental feeling along with an European one is awkward.
( Red for Men 1990s Print Ad. )
My second choice, Red for Men, forms a great contrast to Vivaudou’s Mavis advertisement in its representation of women. Where the female in Mavis is considered the epitome of feminity in her dainty and balletic pose, the female in the Red for Men advert is featured as almost masculinised in the fact that she is taking a predatory and an assertive pose. This is derived from the motion her body is taking such as grasping the man’s hair as if to control him and taking the higher stance in their relationship. Whilst in the Mavis advert, the woman was presented more as a controlled figure in contrast to the man in the pier rot outfit, the Red for Men advert presents her as the person in command.
Also, as the Mavis advert shows an idealised romantic image of the woman, the Red for Men portrays a different image. In the Mavis one, it has been stated that the whole atmosphere of the advert is giving us a theatrical feeling due to the woman's stance and the art nouveau style of her clothing and surroundings, as if by using the fragrance a woman would feel they were being involved in a fantasy world. However, Reds for Men shows a direct contrast. The woman in the advert is of an earthly image with her short hair and strong possessive stance. She is somewhat taking the image of a man in the way she is portrayed as a strong figure and she shows a great want showing a unique side of the fragrance’s attraction.
Furthermore, the woman represented in Reds for Men is significant in the fact that she is undressed along with the man to disperse sexuality and a sense of joyfulness. An achievement of this illustration is to indoctrinate the observers that they are at a beach or a summer holiday sort of location. This convinces people in a sense that, 'If fun is what you are looking for, this fragrance will do the job'. Not only does being undressed give you the feeling of enjoyment and interest, but this is also a good way of presenting sexuality and grasping extreme awareness, leading to the purchase of the fragrance. Such illustration is not noticed from the Mavis Vivaudou print advert, and this is from the fact that the timeline of 1920s focuses on theatrical attraction rather than natural sexuality.
( Miss Dior Cherie, Moving image Ad. 2011 )
The third advert that I chose is Miss Dior Cherie. This advert concentrates more on the representation of freedom from being dependant on anyone to make her happy. This is much like a post-feminist assertion of independence that women will experience unlike the first and second advert which describes the attraction the user might experience from it. The advert has a 'main colour' of pink to show an elegant and soft image of French sophistication. From the woman's clothings to the backgrounds of the scene, the woman is portrayed as if she is in her own world that was created for her to enjoy. The information that is passed on from the advert is that the fragrance allows the user to enjoy life the way the model in the advert does. This is a very well portrayed engagement with the busy lifestyles of today and creates another sense of attraction for women to be interested in.
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