Poster Analysis

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The first TV show poster I will be analysing is the popular American comedy show called ‘The Big Bang Theory’.  The poster has lots of connotations in its appearance firstly the way the characters are stood and the poses they are doing for the image make them look like superheroes.  Another example of this connotation is with the lightening coming from the sky to one of the main protagonists laptop which he is holding in his hand.  All the main characters from the TV show are placed on the poster with the leading main protagonists being placed closer to the audience and camera making them more dominant.  The use of the laptops and computers on the poster guide the audience to thinking that these characters will be “geeks” as that is the ideological thought of people who enjoy playing on computers while also having the connotations of the superhero narrative which also fits into that view.  The colours used are very bright and appealing to the audience viewing the poster, the colours used for the title are red and white this could also be associated with the superhero characters.  The characters actions and gestures are a paradigm, a collection of related signs as all the characters are posing using intertextuality as all the poses have been used in other media texts mainly superhero films/shows.     The use of lighting behind all the characters is a bright white one making all the characters look like heroes and good characters.  The use of clothing and dress code on the characters makes them look like students as they are, the clothing could also be a hint of comedy as they aren’t very fashionable clothes.  There are lots of enigmas on this poster as it does not directly represent what the show is about, the poster could fit in a number of different genres for the audience without them actually viewing the show. 

This poster is of the American tv show Heroes, the posters shows all the main protagonists on the bottom of the posters with just their faces showing their faces are also lit differently with the use of lighting on the poster this could show difference in personality and ‘powers’ which is what the show is about.  The main focus point about the poster is the image of the skyline behind them, we know it will be American as most tall high skyscrapers are normally thought of being American cities.   The camera has been position on a 45 degree angle to have the connotations of somebody flying, there is also the use of a big cloud in the centre of the poster to show yet again somebody flying through a main city.  The colours used are very dark this could be to represent the unknown abilities and characters in the show.  The use of text I just plain white in a basic font with the exception of the “O” in the Heroes title, this looks like a sun or moon which is foreshadowing something that appears in the tv show. 

Finally the third poster I will be analysing is the tv show ‘Prison Break’ which is an American thriller, action show which is based around convicts which have a number of different stories and backgrounds who break out of prison.  The two characters on the poster are the two main protagonists Michael Schofield and Lincoln Burrows which the narrative is heavily based around.  Firstly the mise en scene of the poster is very bright there is the use of lighting on the characters posters this could symbolize the difference in the two characters or the unknown characteristics or the characters.  There is the use of cage in-between both characters which is showing that there is also a difference in the characters as it is hinting that one is in prison while another is free and on the outside.  Both characters are using direct mode of address staring straight at the camera making it very intimidating to the audience watching.  The facial expressions on both characters are also very different as the character behind the bars seems to very mysterious and a much happier character than the other.  The character placed closer to the camera has a very angry look on his face directing the audience to think that he is a criminal.  There is the use of a slogan on the poster which says “prisons were made to be broken” which is foreshadowing what happens in the tv show.  The tv channel who broadcast the tv show in America also have their logo on the bottom of the poster with it being a “Fox” logo this has connotations of it being a big tv network which is rated highly meaning the tv show should be good to watch for the viewers.