1All: will be able to define and features found on DVD covers;Most: will be able to analyse DVD covers and explain how these features can be identified;Some: will be able to evaluate the methods of targeting audiences on covers.

What do the colour

schemes on each of

these DVD covers

suggest?The colour _______ has

connotations of…

EXT: which colours link to

which genres?

Denotation vs. connotation

Connotation is the meaning or suggested meaning

of something.

eg. It suggests pirates, poison, death, danger etc

It has connotations of the action adventure genre.

Definitions:

Denotation is literally what something is.

eg. It is a skull and crossbones.

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Colour Connotations

Which colours would you mostly associate

with science fiction? Why?

What do these colour schemes suggest

about the films?EXT: explain if you think the film might use one more than

one genre (a hybrid)

Titles

1. What are the connotations of each of these films’ titles?

2. How do they link to the science fiction genre?

3. What do the titles suggest about the film’s narrative

(storyline)?

Solo – A Star

Wars StoryAbout TimePrometheus (a

character from

Greek myth who

helped mankind)

Oblivion – a

state of being

forgotten or

wiped out.

Typography

FONT BOLD FLOWERY

SHADOWED ITALIC

BLOCK CAPITALS

BLURRY WAVY

HANDWRITTEN

A

B

C

D

TASK: Comment on each example’s use of typography considering the connotations

EXT: which of the four do

you think is the most

successful at connoting

the DVD’s genre?

Explain your thoughts.

Typography

1. What does the use of typography on these DVDs suggest?

The use of typography which is…. and ... suggests the science fiction genre.

The colour … has connotations of…

Additionally, the imagery includes… which suggests…

Typography

2. What does the use of typography on these DVDs suggest?

The use of typography which is…. and ... suggests the science fiction genre.

The colour scheme has connotations of…

The font reminds me of…

Typography

3. What does the use of typography on these DVDs suggest?

The use of typography which is…. and ... suggests the science fiction genre.

The style reminds me of…

Additionally, the imagery includes… which suggests…

Taglines

A tagline is the catchy sentence which accompanies a film poster, trailer or DVD cover.

eg. 2012 – a sci-fi disaster film. “Who will be left behind?”. This suggests world-ending action, characters dying and asks the audience to wonder what will happen at the end.

For science fiction DVDs , a tagline might serve to add intrigue, suggest what the narrative might be and reinforce the film’s science fiction credentials.

TASK: Use clues such as genre and plot to help you. (Don’t peek!) EXT: Which titles/tagline sound most like science fiction films?

• Alien Double Oh-behave!

• Austin Powers 2 Just when you thought it was

safe to go back in the water

• Titanic Nothing on Earth could come

between them

• GoldenEye In space, no one can hear

you scream

• Jaws 2 Who you gonna call?

• Ghostbusters You know the name, you

know the number

Taglines

TASK: Use clues such as genre and plot to help you.EXT: Which titles/tagline sound most like science fiction films?

• Alien Double Oh-behave!

• Austin Powers 2 Just when you thought it was

safe to go back in the water

• Titanic Nothing on Earth could come

between them

• GoldenEye In space, no one can hear

you scream

• Jaws 2 Who you gonna call?

• Ghostbusters You know the name, you

know the number

Taglines

Plenary

12

Which of these titles seems to be most representative of the

science fiction genre? Explain why, using as many key

words from the lesson as you can.

EXT: Write what you think the tagline ought to be for that film and explain your choices.

All: will be able to define and features found on DVD covers;Most: will be able to analyse DVD covers and explain how these features can be identified;Some: will be able to evaluate the methods of targeting audiences on covers.

13All: will be able to define and features found on DVD covers;Most: will be able to analyse DVD covers and explain how these features can be identified;Some: will be able to evaluate the methods of targeting audiences on covers.

What would you

expect to find on the

back cover of these

DVDs?I would expect to

find…because…

EXT: Would the back covers

be different depending on

their genre?

14

Look at this full cover for a horror film.

TASK: What can you spot on the back? Why has it included?

EXT: Some features are in more than one place. Why?

15

Look at this full cover for a horror film.

TASK: What can you spot on the back? Why has it included?

EXT: Some features are in more than one place. Why?

More images presenting different characters and key moments from the film. How are different aspects of genre shown?

Names of people involved in making the filmThink Star Power

Short, one-sentence reviews and who they are from. Who has written it? Why?

A short blurb which teases the reader but doesn’t give away the surprises.

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Analysing Back Covers

TASK: MAKE PLANNING NOTES, WORKING YOUR WAY UP THROUGH THESE TASKS FROM RED TO GREEN AND USING THE NEXT SLIDES TO HELP YOU! Make a note of all of the features on the back of this DVD cover, describing what they are and why they are there.Explain how each feature links to the genre of science fiction and appeals to the target audience.EXT: Read the blurb. How does this appeal to the audience in a different way?

17

18

Analysing Back Covers:

Blurbs

Semantic field

Words which all belong to the same category and

suggest a certain genre.

Eg. Wedding, sweetheart, affection = romance

Terrifying, disturbing, victims = horror

EXT: Which words suggest science fiction?

Copy this definition:

Which words suggest this is a sci-fi?

In remote Alaska, citizens have been mysteriously vanishing since the 1960s. Despite multiple FBI investigations, the truth behind the phenomena had never been discovered—until now. While videotaping therapy sessions with traumatized patients, psychologist Dr. Abigail Tyler (MillaJovovich) unwittingly exposes terrifying revelations of multiple victims whose claims of being visited by alien figures all share disturbingly identical details. Based on actual case studies, The Fourth Kind uses Dr. Tyler’s never-before-seen archival footage alongside dramatic re-enactments to present the most disturbing evidence ever documented in this provocative thriller critics are calling “terrifyingly real…The most shocking alien abduction movie to date.”

The blurb includes words from the semantic field of … such as… which

has connotations of / makes me think of…

Which words suggest this is horror?

In remote Alaska, citizens have been mysteriously vanishing since the 1960s. Despite multiple FBI investigations, the truth behind the phenomena had never been discovered—until now. While videotaping therapy sessions with traumatized patients, psychologist Dr. Abigail Tyler (MillaJovovich) unwittingly exposes terrifying revelations of multiple victims whose claims of being visited by alien figures all share disturbingly identical details. Based on actual case studies, The Fourth Kind uses Dr. Tyler’s never-before-seen archival footage alongside dramatic re-enactments to present the most disturbing evidence ever documented in this provocative thriller critics are calling “terrifyingly real…The most shocking alien abduction movie to date.”KEY TERM: a film which mixes elements from more than genre is a hybrid.

EXT: Why do film-makers want to make their films hybrids (or appear to

be them on the covers and promotional material)?

21

Analysing Back Covers:

Ratings / Reviews

A rating/review is often included on a DVD cover

to influence the audience. There may be one

standout review on the front and several

supporting ones on the back cover.

It can be a rating (5*, 9/10 A+) or a short

summative review (“Excellent”, “Unmissable”,

“Film of the year!”0

• What kind of people/organisations have their

reviews included on covers?

Copy this definition:

Ratings/reviews

What is the purpose/ audience appeal of this review?

Analysing Back Covers:

Ratings / Reviews

The Sunday Mirror

What does the review say and how is it persuasive?

How are the words used linked to the genre or target audience?

How is the person/company reviewing the film known by the

audience?

0

Ratings/reviews

What is the purpose/ audience appeal of this review?

Analysing Back Covers:

Ratings / Reviews

The Sunday Mirror

“Action packed” makes the film sound like it is full of exciting scenes.

It suggests the genre is not just sci-fi, but a hybrid Including action too and

teenage boys typically love action sequences. The Sunday Mirror is a popular

newspaper especially amongst working class people who will trust its reviews

page. It is more likely adults would read this and recommend to children.

“2010’s ANSWER TO THE HANGOVER”GLAMOUR

Ratings/reviews

What is the purpose/ audience appeal of this review?

Analysing Back Covers:

Ratings / Reviews

What does the review say and how is it persuasive?

How are the words used linked to the genre or target audience?

How is the person/company reviewing the film known by the

audience? N.B. Glamour is a female T.A. magazine. Is this a surprise?

The Hangover is an adult comedy about a

group of men on a stag do in Las Vegas.

Ratings/reviews

What is the purpose/ audience appeal of this review?

Analysing Back Covers:

Ratings / Reviews

What does the review say and how is it persuasive?

How are the words used linked to the genre or target audience?

How is the person/company reviewing the film known by the

audience?

Ratings/reviews

How do these different reviews for the same film

appeal to different sections of the audience?

Analysing Back Covers:

Ratings / Reviews

What does the review say and how is it persuasive?

How are the words used linked to the genre or target audience?

How is the person/company reviewing the film known by the

audience?

MARIE CLAIRE

The Sun

EMPIRE

Ratings/reviews

Look at the ‘Special Features’ box on

the cover of The Giver.

How do these features represent:

a) the genre of science fiction

b) the teenage target audience

Analysing Back Covers:

Other features

An extended scene called “harrowing journey” suggests a scary

or exciting piece of the film was cut out but may be of

interest to fans of the genre.

Teenagers might like to see the YA novel’s author speaking

about the book and there’s also a study guide if students are

reading the book at school. A music video by a popular group

is featured which might appeal to that audience as well.

Plenary

Briefly sum up how the front and back covers both

help the target audience understand that this is:

a) a sci-fi film

b) a hybrid of other genres

c) aimed at the Young Adult demographic