Evaluation of My Presentation

The positives of my presentation where: I opened the presentation very well giving information about the context,director and genre showing that I knew he text very well. I was loud, confident, I projected my voice and delivered eye contact with the audience. I used a lot of media terminology, My slides where simple and to the point and I powerful still images with took up the whole screen and had very little text over-lapping. I elaborated well on each slides with one bullet point and went into detail. I explained what the term 'fanboy' meant. My analysis on women in the text was very detailed and I wove key concepts in well or example institutions (Warner Bros. and Legendary Pictures)  

What I could have done better in the presentation, I kept facing the board I should have got the audience involved with the text my body language showed that I was extremely nervous. I still had some full sentences on some slides of which I read of the slide and made it harder for me to elaborate, I should show how passionate and enthusiastic I am about the text my tone of voice was very flat. I also should improve my Facial expression which I believe stayed the same throughout the presentation.I should have ended my presentation properly because I started taking about genre then the presentation just finished abruptly.

Overall, I think I did my presentation quite well, it wasn't perfect and there is still room for improvement. I think it really strengthened my presentational skills and I now know what to work on in the future.    

Summer research project

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300 Trailer

300 Trailer
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Media Audience

The target audience for the film are males aged 15 – 30, due to its high action and gore which stereotypically attracts males. They would probably be mainstreamer, as it was a very popular film at the time of its release. It also has a large ‘fan boy’ audience due to it being based on a graphic novel by frank miller (creator of sin city).

The type of audience that would watch this film is probably people who would appreciate the historic content within in the text. They may also like war films and/or documentaries and may prefer to be informed than entertained.

I think that the audience were most likely to have received the text in the cinema as I was a blockbuster as it was targeted at mainstreamer I think the way they would have received the film would have been informal as mainstreamers are likely to go to the cinema with friends. They would only pay attention to the action scenes and not receive the values messages that it gave out.  

I think it could be assumed that this film would attract audiences worldwide as it grossed over $456,068,181. I think as it is based on the graphic novel by the creator of Sin City it would have attracted more of an audience. Using famous facing faces like Gerard Butler, who starred in Beowulf and Tomb Raider would have also attracted more people.

I think that younger members of the audience would read this text as just an action or war film whereas older more educated members of the audience would see it for its historic content and the value messages that it sends out.

I see this film as an historic war film I found it entertaining and I understood it. I think the main reason I understood it was because I was taught about the ancient Greece when I was younger and I understood the messages it was trying to send out. I thought it was a great film but critics gave it really low scores I think my opinion could be incorrect as I haven’t read the graphic novel. Which I think would impact my opinion.  

Media Institutions

The film is produced By Warner Bros (part of the time warner company) and Legendary Pictures both of the production companies are very popular in Hollywood. The text has been influenced by Hollywood institution by the use of Special effects, Hollywood actors & CGI.

However, the main characters are British or European, e.g. Gerard Butler. The text was created by a commercial institution meaning that the film had to have and advertising campaign to get people to watch the film.

Although 300 is a Hollywood film it doesn’t look like one, as Hollywood films are usually bright with saturated colour this one is very dark giving of a sense of evil.

The film is distributed in cinemas worldwide on DVD (special Edition) grossing over $456,068,181. Having the special edition DVD promise the audience something more, which they may not have gotten at the cinema therefore selling more of the product .

Media Values and Ideologies

One of the major values/ideologies in the text is patriotism; Leonidas saves the Spartan empire from being defeated. Even when the end looked bleak Leonidas still fought for Sparta and he wasn’t afraid of dying. It gives the value message that people should stand up for their countries and for what is right it also encourages people not to be scared of death.

300 Final Scene

Genre

300 falls in the genres of war/action/historical/drama. The major generic conventions within the text are; Drama Films are serious presentations or stories with settings or life situations that portray realistic characters in conflict with either themselves, others, or forces of nature. A dramatic film shows us human beings at their best, their worst, and everything in-between. E.g. Leonidas has the decision of dis-obeying his countries law by not going to war on a religious holiday obeying it and allow Sparta to be under threat.

As it is also historic the film accurately portrays the past with the use of events/locations/props /costumes/language etc. For example, Spartan clothing and buildings. The film also follows the conventions of an action film by showing a hero (Leonidas) facing challenges and having fights. And it is also a war film as throughout the film there are frequent battle scenes.

The major generic themes in the text are patriotism, war, love and freedom. Many of the characters in the text are determined to make sure that Spartan does no fall, especially Leonidas. He is so determined that he only takes 300 men to fight millions. It is impossible for the Spartans to win this, but the audience soon sees that the 300 men are just as determined as Leonidas and they are all willing to die for Sparta.

I think this text toys with the audience later in the film the 300 slaughter thousands without losing one of their own even though it is impossible for them to win this battle due to their good start the audience start to believe that they could win the battle.  However as the 300 begin to be killed one by one, the audience loose hope in the 300. 

However the audience are reassured that Sparta can finish the battle when in the last scene the camera dollys out show how huge the Spartan army is. This makes the film like an emotional rollercoaster, toying with the audience’s emotions.

Zack Snyder is the director of 300 he tends to director action films based on graphic novels such as Watchmen and Suckerpunch therefore making him strongly associated with the text as people may have seen his other films making them want to see this one .

Gerard Butler (King Leonidas) is also associated with the text, he as stars in many Historic/action /drama such as   Beowulf and rock ‘n’ rolla and films based on graphic novels such as Tales of the Black Freighter. The audience know his style in acting so the know what to expect from films he stars in.

Narrative

The narrative structure of 300 is Linear. In terms of Todorov’s theory, it starts at equilibrium then moves on to dis-equilibrium, usually you will find that narrative structure meet a new equilibrium at the end. However in the 300 there is no new equilibrium and the audience is left to imagine what the new equilibrium could be but are reassured that it will be good.

Spartans are created as heroes as the audience are introduced to them first they almost make the audience feel at home. In the voice over the audience is told about all the bad things the villain has done the villain is then introduced later on. At this point the audience have taken sides with the Spartans.

The soundtrack of the film was heavy metal; this suited the film as heavy metal is often seen as very aggressive and violent. It made the audience aware that this film would have very violent action scenes and enticed them into the narrative. Iconographies in film such as weapons also made the audience know that there would be a battle and keep them interested in the narrative.

The major themes in the narrative are patriotism, war, love and freedom. The values and ideologies that these themes embody are that you should not give up your freedom for anyone and to always stand up for your country and what is right and that you are willing to die for your country like Leonidas did.

Media Languages and Forms

Throughout the Film Frequent slow motion shots are used in action scenes it emphasises the sheer power that the Spartans have and creates tension among the audience typical of an action film. Phrases from the film tell us a lot about it for example “Tonight we dine in Hell!” connotes violence and bloodshed as the film is a war epic this is expected. These connotations are important as the help the audience understand the film.

Non-verbal structures such as facial expressions help the audience know what emotion the characters are feeling whether it is anger or happiness. Props such as swords, shields and spears connote that there will be war.

Setting is also important in showing what characters are feel, in the scene where Queen Gorgo and her son find out the Leonidas is dead we see that they are in a vast field and it becomes clear to the reader that they only have each other. Gorgo is wearing dark clothing signifying that is in mourning. The importance of having the right mise-en-scene is that the film seems realistic and makes sense.

Slow Motion in 300

300 ~ the Slow-Motion Scenes
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300 Fight Scene

Zack Snyder - 300 interview

http://uk.movies.ign.com/dor/objects/40983/300/videos/300_3607_zack.html

Media Representations

In Three Hundred the main protagonist is King Leonidas. He is based upon the real King of Sparta 520-480BC. Throughout the film he is not just showed as a King, but as a husband, Spartan, father and war hero. King Leonidas is shown as a product/exemplar of the warrior culture is Sparta at the time. As a Spartan we see him being raised from a boy who fights with his bare knuckles to a young man who faces combat with a wolf in the wilderness.

All Spartans are raised with such trying tasks to overcome. Those who didn’t survive were not seen at being fit to be Spartans. This is an accurate representation of Spartans. The where known to be trained from the ages of 6/7 to become warriors and underwent a severe training course. He is shown as a Husband in the scene where he makes love to his wife and when he tells a message to tell her he loves her.

He is also shown as a father in the scenes when he is shown training his son to fight. He is shown as a war hero throughout the film; he only takes 300 soldiers to face millions of men. He himself slaughters a huge amount of them. In a minute long scene king Leonidas slays a dozen men the tracking shot follows Leonidas as he walks only Dollying in and out to emphasise each kill showing how tremendously powerful he is. He is further shown as a war Hero towards the end of the film as he is willing to die for his country, with thousands of arrows heading towards him he stands his ground waiting for the impact showing him as fearless and brave.

Women in this film are shown both in a positive and negative light. For example Leonidas’ wife Queen Gorgo was allowed to speak freely. When this was challenged by a messenger he was killed. Queen Gorgo also gave a speech in the courts with was probably not allowed at this stage in time nevertheless it showed women as independent. Women were also shown as sexual objects in the film elders would sleep with them and they were made hosts for spirits.

The colour used in the film is unsaturated; the only bold colour that is seen is red which connotes violence and bloodshed which were on the robes of the Spartan army. The low key lighting created a sense of danger and evil, as at that time in Sparta it was a battle zone and it was a dark time for the Spartan Empire.

Zack Snyder - 300 interview

Reviews

It is excessively, cheerfully violent -- and it is gorgeous to behold. It looks like the world's most sophisticated and expensive video game, and I mean that in a good way. - Richard Roeper (Chicago Sun-Times)


Visually stunning, thoroughly belligerent and as shallow as a pygmy’s paddling pool, this is a whole heap of style tinged with just a smidgen of substance. - Will Lawrence (Empire)

It might have been one of the great all-time mad, bad movies but for one thing – it’s just sooo boring. - Trevor Johnston (Timeout)

300 is about as violent as Apocalypto and twice as stupid. - A.O. Scott (New York Times)

Taken on it's own terms - as Greek myth meets Looney Tunes - it's kind of a masterpiece. - Paul Arendt (BBC)

A blustery, bombastic, visually arresting account of the Battle of Thermopylae as channeled through the rabid imagination of graphic novelist Frank Miller.- Todd McCarthy (Variety)

Summer Reseach Project - 300

(PLOT) Based on Frank Miller's graphic novel, Directed by Zack Snyder this film takes place during the Battle of Thermopylae of 480 BC where an alliance of Greek city-states fought the invading Persian army in the mountain pass of Thermopylae. Vastly outnumbered, the Greeks held back the enemy in one of the most famous last stands of history. Persian King Xerxes lead a Army of well over 100,000 (Persian king Xerxes before war has about 170,000 army) men to Greece and was confronted by 300 Spartans, 700 Thespians and other Slave soldiers. Xerxes waited for 10 days for King Leonidas to surrender or withdraw left with no options he moved. The battle lasted for about 3 days and after which all 300 Spartans were killed. The Spartan defeat was not the one expected as a local shepherd named Ephialtes defected to the Persians and informed Xerxes of a separate path through Thermopylae, which the Persians could use to outflank the Greeks.