Monday, 29 April 2013

Discuss the audience appeal of your three main texts. [30] LOST

Lost appeals to it's target audience by using common conventions such as music. The non-diegetic music in Lost is used as an indicator for when the audience should feel certain things. For example, the music in the scene where the group that go on a hike to get signal for the radio come across a threat, that turns out to be a polar bear, in the jungle that is running towards them, the music indicates when the audience should react in which ways. The music gets gradually louder as the conflict between Sayid and Sawyer builds as they are arguing over whether they should turn the radio on or not. As the argument develops, the music starts to focus on shots of the polar bear when it is charging towards them. As the shots from the polar bear cuts to shots of the group, who are running away in opposite directions, the music is quieter when the group are in the shot. The music builds up as the group are running away, with the assistance from screams from the group. Alongside the quick cuts and the fast editing of the scene, the music builds a considerable amount of tension and fear within the scene as it progresses.

There is never a full shot of the polar bear on its own, the audience only ever see quick shots of small parts of the polar bears body - this appeals to its audience as an enigma code because as there is a shot of the polar bears head, it is left to Kate to confirm that it is in fact a polar bear. As soon as Kate confirms what the audience already knows, there is a straight cut to adverts, which will make the audience feel a need to know more. This will mean that the audience appeal is successful in the way of keeping their audience interested.

Tracking shots of the mise en scene while the group are walking through the jungle will make the audience aware of where they are and the degree of which they are lost and in the middle of nowhere. The crane shots allow us to get a high view of the location, and also allow us to get a sweeping view of the group and the order in which they are positioned - with Kate being a clear leader. The camera works makes the characters a prominent part of the programme, with it highlighting their fear when the polar bear comes charging towards them. The characters fear is made clear as the camera switches from smooth, tracking crane shots, to a hand held camera, which appeals to the audience in the way that they are likely to feel in the scene. The hand held camera builds tension as it allows us to get a feel for the scene as if we were there, or as if it is from a characters point of view. This appeals as it indicates that the camera work allows many different interpretations of the programme, with different points of view, which allows depth and involvement for the audience.

Sawyer is the character who stands aware of the bear and shoots it point blank. Before Sawyer does this, he is portrayed as a bad guy, an antagonist, which makes the action very important and changes our opinions of Sawyer. This part of the scene will appeal to the audience in many different ways. Sawyer will appeal to females as he is a strong, attractive man who is brave and fearless and stands up to the polar bear and saves the group. He will appeal to a male audience because they may want to be like Sawyer, attractive, brave, fearless, and so they will watch this in admiration.

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