Intertextuality and media languageand its representations on social groups
There is a lot of intertextuality in Burn The Witch which all combined is a metaphor for the refugee crisis in Britain 2016 a month before the EU referendum where xenophobia and racism took an up rise due to false advertisement that Britain would be overpopulated due to immigration.
Initially,we encounter a nervous mayor looking down at his watch nervously and then there is a band playing music to put on a facade, setting the idea that the village is a loving graceful community. We know this is a facade as the mayor brings the congregation and instructs them on how to behave, and we know this by the hand gestures. The lyrics playing are 'stay in the shadows' and this suggests that the village should remain quiet or low key so it isn't noticed. This may mirror how the UK looks to the rest of the world. It looks a very welcoming friendly country and also very peaceful on the exterior but internally and those familiar with the UK it may appear a hostile environment where new people and foreigners are discriminated against.
We then hear the words 'cheer at the gallows' which creates a sinister mood denoting that they are happy to watch criminals get hanged. This may connote however, the verbal abuse immigrants get and the fact that there is no remorse from their oppressors which happens alot. For example, in 2018, there was a day called 'punish a Muslim day' where attackers gained points and where cheered on for inflicting abuse against Muslims. The bigger the abuse the more points. This reinforces the idea of hostility. The cheering at the gallows can be interpreted as intertextuality from the Bible or even medieval times where people would watch criminals being punished in the form of hanging or being stoned to death as a method of entertainment and the audience gained some sort of gratification from watching it. This form of intertextuality is ironic however, as it goes against the name of the village 'MODERN VILLAGE.'
The whole music video uses characters from Trumpton, a childhood tv programme which was relaxing for kids and intriguing for them. This, idea therefore may come across as unsettling as such an ideal town is adapted into this evil place where everything is just a pretence. A place which separates it self from the world and is very nationalistic thinking its ahead of the times of the rest of the world hence the village being called 'MODERN VILLAGE.' Which is some reasons why Britain wanted to leave the EU. A lot of the Euro sceptics did not see themselves as European but infact just a separate island with their own currency unlike the Euro used for the rest of the countries in the EU. The use of the programme Trumpton could be in relation to Donald Trump who became president in 2016 and one of the biggest laws he tried to impose after stepping into power is the travel ban which again shows hostility to other countries and a dislike for other countries.
As the inspector walks around he sees a see-saw with a suspected witch in a dunking chair. This is reffering to historical times where people weren't as educated and believed people were guilty until proven innocent hence the punishing of suspected witches. If the woman drowns shes a witch and if not then she was human. This reiterates xenophobic behaviour that natives are scared of what they don't know. As all women drowned they were not witches and punished when they were innocent and this just implies that foreigners are prejudged and abused when they are really just common people like the natives. This reinforces the idea of discrimination of what is new or unfamilliar.
Thursday, 14 February 2019
semiotics
Semiotics- Barthes
In Deutschland 83- signs and symbols, connotations and denotations
In Deutschland 83 there are many signs and symbols with signified meaning. For example there is army uniform worn in Deutschland 83 which shows that Martin is living a professional life whenever and wherever. It connotes a constructed lifestyle where every soldier is to behave and act the same. It is like they all have the same role and are to all behave the same. The uniform also signifies unity and aspects of a patriotic Germany. The typewriter recording dates and location is to make a record of the events ongoing. It also reiterates the 1983 timezone of which the drama is set. The type writer connotes secret spy stuff. The typewriter takes us through a journey with Martin and engages the audience more through his mystery journey through the West as a spy. It is also for historical reasons, keeping a record of what has happened somehow like a diary.
In Stranger Things- signs and symbols, connotations and denotations
In Stranger Things there is a lot of intertextuality to the 1980s. For example the three boys on a bike riding down a hill to embark on an adventure is reference to The Goonies Movie in 1975. This reinforces the idea that Stranger things will be a journey to search for something mysterious just like in The Goonies. The independent sherif who is heavy on alcohol and drugs signifies a neglected neighbourhood with not a lot of security and patrol. The shaven girl 11 represent Judith Butler's idea on gender performativity and that sex is nothing but biological, 11 appears in the first episode as gender neutral and just a human due to her identity being a number, her wearing a plain long shirt as if she is a scientific experiment and the shaven head.
Film language and mise en scene
Deutschland 83- natural light is used to make it seem more realistic and it is a historical drama so there are no major visual effects. It is all just natural and genuine filming in the eyes of the soldier Martin. As an audience we go around Germany through Martins perspective.
Stranger Things- There are some visual effects such as the man floating in the lift, and the constant flickering of lights which adds the sci-fi element to the drama.
Baudrillard- Simulacra and Simulation is most known for its discussion of symbols, signs, and how they relate to contemporaneity (simultaneous existences).[citation needed] Baudrillard claims that our current society has replaced all reality and meaning with symbols and signs, and that human experience is a simulation of reality.
Heroes- Martin, willing to be a spy so he can get his mother on the kidney transplant list
Villain- Perhaps Lenora, she is manipulating Martin but maybe she believes it is a duty to fight for West Germany.
Heroes- 3 boys off to save the world
Villains- maybe parents, they are trying to stop them going onto do this or sheriff who isn't the most professional in his sector.
Post Modernism-
In Deutschland 83- signs and symbols, connotations and denotations
In Deutschland 83 there are many signs and symbols with signified meaning. For example there is army uniform worn in Deutschland 83 which shows that Martin is living a professional life whenever and wherever. It connotes a constructed lifestyle where every soldier is to behave and act the same. It is like they all have the same role and are to all behave the same. The uniform also signifies unity and aspects of a patriotic Germany. The typewriter recording dates and location is to make a record of the events ongoing. It also reiterates the 1983 timezone of which the drama is set. The type writer connotes secret spy stuff. The typewriter takes us through a journey with Martin and engages the audience more through his mystery journey through the West as a spy. It is also for historical reasons, keeping a record of what has happened somehow like a diary.
In Stranger Things- signs and symbols, connotations and denotations
In Stranger Things there is a lot of intertextuality to the 1980s. For example the three boys on a bike riding down a hill to embark on an adventure is reference to The Goonies Movie in 1975. This reinforces the idea that Stranger things will be a journey to search for something mysterious just like in The Goonies. The independent sherif who is heavy on alcohol and drugs signifies a neglected neighbourhood with not a lot of security and patrol. The shaven girl 11 represent Judith Butler's idea on gender performativity and that sex is nothing but biological, 11 appears in the first episode as gender neutral and just a human due to her identity being a number, her wearing a plain long shirt as if she is a scientific experiment and the shaven head.
Film language and mise en scene
Deutschland 83- natural light is used to make it seem more realistic and it is a historical drama so there are no major visual effects. It is all just natural and genuine filming in the eyes of the soldier Martin. As an audience we go around Germany through Martins perspective.
Stranger Things- There are some visual effects such as the man floating in the lift, and the constant flickering of lights which adds the sci-fi element to the drama.
Baudrillard- Simulacra and Simulation is most known for its discussion of symbols, signs, and how they relate to contemporaneity (simultaneous existences).[citation needed] Baudrillard claims that our current society has replaced all reality and meaning with symbols and signs, and that human experience is a simulation of reality.
Heroes- Martin, willing to be a spy so he can get his mother on the kidney transplant list
Villain- Perhaps Lenora, she is manipulating Martin but maybe she believes it is a duty to fight for West Germany.
Heroes- 3 boys off to save the world
Villains- maybe parents, they are trying to stop them going onto do this or sheriff who isn't the most professional in his sector.
Post Modernism-
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