Media portrayals, and interpretations, etc.
Selection and Rejection, not everything is shown. Editing.
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Period Drama, - The Tudors!
Portrayal and emphasis on the Monarchy of the era.
Portrayal and emphasis on the Monarchy of the era.
Discuss the ways in which the extract constructs representations of the Tudor period using the following
- Camera shots,
- Angles,
- Movement and composition
- Editing
- Sound
- Mise-en-scene
Immediately this opening challenges our expectations of the Monarchs of this era. The audience associate things such as: The Plague, rats, and sewage with the Tudors, instead we see a rather suggestive portrayal of the Tudors.
The opening shot is crucial and very iconic to the sequence. It sets the scene, and matches the audiences' expectations of this era. The throne and the crown represent and anchor the theme of this drama. It also shows power and authority that King Henry the VIII had, and prepares to audience for what they are about to embark on. Working alongside these iconic images is a powerful voice over. Henry is talking directly to the audience, drawing them in and creating several enigmas with the words: "you think you know the story, but you only know how it ends". This adds mystery and makes the audience realise they are about to discover a different portrayal of the Tudors. It is intriguing and exciting.
This title sequence is build on this notion of fast-pace editing working closing alongside a carefully constructed soundtrack. The audience are presented with a series of subliminal images. These iconic images that flash so fast, the audience are given more information that they realise, subconsciously.
The marketing for the television show has portrayed the characters in portraits. The style used in post-production has created the illusion that these photographs have been painted like painting in the Tudor era. These conforms to our expectations of the drama and suits perfectly.
The drama opens with an iconic shot of the throne establishing a portrayal of the Tudor monarchy. The opening shot is crucial and very iconic to the sequence. It sets the scene, and matches the audiences' expectations of this era. The throne and the crown represent status and authority, and also secure the theme of this drama. This first shot anchors the hegemonic values of the era preparing the audience for the journey they are about to embark on.
The architecture shown in the title sequence instantly establishes the era for the audience. The castles and interior both work together in creating the illusion of a very dated look. The buildings feature carvings and furniture shows wealth indicating that this drama is focusing on the Monarchy. This also represents the effect of Tudor time and class difference.
Working alongside these iconic images is a powerful voice over. Henry is talking directly to the audience, drawing them in and creating several enigmas with the words: "you think you know the story, but you only know how it ends". This line suggest we are about to discover a different side to a well known historical event. From this point the narrative is now established. It is intriguing, a different portrayal is exciting and this draws the audience in.This title sequence is put together by this notion of fast-pace editing working closely alongside a carefully constructed soundtrack. The audience is presented with a series of subliminal images. These iconic images that flash so fast, the audience are given more information than they realize, subconsciously. This method highlights the key points and draws the audience into the drama. A soundtrack accompanies these images. It consists of stereotypical Tudor instruments such as the violin, the lute and other string instruments. It is intense and heightens the drama.
Mid-shots are important in this title sequence as they allow the audience to see the character without becoming too close. Opening credits are placed between series of images throughout the sequence. They are presented in a different light. They are allowed to break the fourth wall by directly looking at the audience. These shots are powerful and entice the audience, with eye contact to indicate that they are going to find out more about them.
These quick glimpses portray the dramatic themes that dominate this period drama. The first fast shot we see is an axe being swung down; this signifies and conforms to our expectations that there will be a lot of death and violence. There are also many flashing images of crosses which tell the audience that one of the key themes is religion as society was very much dominated by religion in this era. Up until this point everything the audience has just seen conforms to the hegemonic values of the Tudor age.
There are many suggestive glimpses of women undressing or revealing themselves. These fast-pace shots set a raunchy tone and challenge the expectations of women in this era. The lighting in the sequence is often candle-lit, in most parts. Particularly when we see the women, this is a reflection on the time and the character. The dim glow from the candle gives warmth to the scene and adds greatly to the mise-en-scene. Throughout the title sequence the music reflects and matches the images shown. A fast pace edit will be accompanied by fastened high pitched notes. This dramatizes the images the audience are being shown. This makes the tone more intense and has a very rushed feeling to it, creating several enigmas for the audience. In contrast, sexual scenes have a romantic tone to them as the music is softer whereas scenes of death are anchored by strong, thriving notes.
Throughout there is a consistent theme of religion iconography. Such as Henry’s wives clutching prayer beads. We see a woman in black clutching the beads, she is the only woman dressed in black but also features jewelry this suggests that she is Jane Seymour; the only wife that died naturally. There are also many shots of priests and churches and several flashing images of the Holy Cross. Religion is also presented in a dark light with many dim candles this suggests a conflicting tension as Religion in this era was constantly challenged.
As well as beautifully constructed soundtrack the sequence features many digetic sounds. They are placed subtly within the soundtrack, but still work with the images. There are many shots of swords that are all connected to Henry VIII. These shots represent strength, power and nobility. They imply that this era was a time of war and conflict within the society. They can be seen as metaphors of sexual desire, in a literately way. The ravens are associated with this era and the Tower of London is featured in the shot also suggesting death as this is where many of the beheadings took place.
The sequence also features many close-up shots; these create a personal connection between the audience and the characters. We break the boundary of personal space, allowing the audience to enter their world. These shots force the audience to focus on a certain character which is not dominating the frame due to the angle and nature of the shot.
Overall, the score and soundtrack conforms to the expectations of the Tudor era. The repetitive instrumental secures audience expectations of this era.
The architecture shown in the title sequence instantly establishes the era for the audience. The castles and interior both work together in creating the illusion of a very dated look. The buildings feature carvings and furniture shows wealth indicating that this drama is focusing on the Monarchy. This also represents the effect of Tudor time and class difference.
Working alongside these iconic images is a powerful voice over. Henry is talking directly to the audience, drawing them in and creating several enigmas with the words: "you think you know the story, but you only know how it ends". This line suggest we are about to discover a different side to a well known historical event. From this point the narrative is now established. It is intriguing, a different portrayal is exciting and this draws the audience in.This title sequence is put together by this notion of fast-pace editing working closely alongside a carefully constructed soundtrack. The audience is presented with a series of subliminal images. These iconic images that flash so fast, the audience are given more information than they realize, subconsciously. This method highlights the key points and draws the audience into the drama. A soundtrack accompanies these images. It consists of stereotypical Tudor instruments such as the violin, the lute and other string instruments. It is intense and heightens the drama.
Mid-shots are important in this title sequence as they allow the audience to see the character without becoming too close. Opening credits are placed between series of images throughout the sequence. They are presented in a different light. They are allowed to break the fourth wall by directly looking at the audience. These shots are powerful and entice the audience, with eye contact to indicate that they are going to find out more about them.
These quick glimpses portray the dramatic themes that dominate this period drama. The first fast shot we see is an axe being swung down; this signifies and conforms to our expectations that there will be a lot of death and violence. There are also many flashing images of crosses which tell the audience that one of the key themes is religion as society was very much dominated by religion in this era. Up until this point everything the audience has just seen conforms to the hegemonic values of the Tudor age.
There are many suggestive glimpses of women undressing or revealing themselves. These fast-pace shots set a raunchy tone and challenge the expectations of women in this era. The lighting in the sequence is often candle-lit, in most parts. Particularly when we see the women, this is a reflection on the time and the character. The dim glow from the candle gives warmth to the scene and adds greatly to the mise-en-scene. Throughout the title sequence the music reflects and matches the images shown. A fast pace edit will be accompanied by fastened high pitched notes. This dramatizes the images the audience are being shown. This makes the tone more intense and has a very rushed feeling to it, creating several enigmas for the audience. In contrast, sexual scenes have a romantic tone to them as the music is softer whereas scenes of death are anchored by strong, thriving notes.
Throughout there is a consistent theme of religion iconography. Such as Henry’s wives clutching prayer beads. We see a woman in black clutching the beads, she is the only woman dressed in black but also features jewelry this suggests that she is Jane Seymour; the only wife that died naturally. There are also many shots of priests and churches and several flashing images of the Holy Cross. Religion is also presented in a dark light with many dim candles this suggests a conflicting tension as Religion in this era was constantly challenged.
As well as beautifully constructed soundtrack the sequence features many digetic sounds. They are placed subtly within the soundtrack, but still work with the images. There are many shots of swords that are all connected to Henry VIII. These shots represent strength, power and nobility. They imply that this era was a time of war and conflict within the society. They can be seen as metaphors of sexual desire, in a literately way. The ravens are associated with this era and the Tower of London is featured in the shot also suggesting death as this is where many of the beheadings took place.
The sequence also features many close-up shots; these create a personal connection between the audience and the characters. We break the boundary of personal space, allowing the audience to enter their world. These shots force the audience to focus on a certain character which is not dominating the frame due to the angle and nature of the shot.
Overall, the score and soundtrack conforms to the expectations of the Tudor era. The repetitive instrumental secures audience expectations of this era.
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