How do written codes work in term of film posters?

• WRITTEN CODES

Written codes are the range of contexts in which words are used in the text itself, ie the actual words creating the film title, tagline etc. These are important to a film poster as the language in the title and taglines will have an effect on the audience.

• Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986)

This film poster is unique as it contains two taglines, which both give the audience a clue to the genre and themes of the film. 'Leasure Rules' instantly alerts the audience that the film is going to be a comedy and possibly a teen one of that, due to the colloqiual language in the term 'leasure rules'. The genre and theme of this film is further hinted at by the secong tagline which reads 'One mans struggle to take it easy'. This is a clever tagline as the use of irony ('struggle to take it easy') makes the line catchy and easy to remember. Furthermore added to the title 'Ferris Bueller's Day Off' the audience are able to denote that this must be a comedy about a young boy and his ongoings throughout his day off. All this can be deonoted by just the written codes, as in this case the semiotics are less of an insight into the theme and genre.

• I Am Legend (2007)

The bold title of this film adds an uplifted importance on the main protagonists shoulders as we are expecting him to be brave and couragous through the words 'I am legend'. Furthermore the film is dramatised by the use of a paradox and contrast in the tagline 'The last man on earth is not alone', which also leaves the audience and curious by this contradicting sentence, which is likely to make them more enticed by the film. Moreover the tagline of this film is important as it implies the main theme of this film which the title itself does not portray. Through the tagline the audience understand the film has a judgement day theme to it. Also the main actors name is written in bold across the top of the poster in order to entice the audience who may only take attention to the film due to the high profile actor starring in it.

• Robocop (1987)

'Part Man. Part Machine. All Cop. The future of law enforcement'. This powerful statement emphasises the themes and genre of this film. From the tagline alone we can denote that the themes are police, sci- fi and action. Furthermore the short sharp sentences at the beginning of the tagline, and the repitition of the word 'part' add drama to the film and emphasise the fact that the main protagonist is part man and part machine, which is an important feature. The title itself and the font it is written in also suggest the genre of sci-fi and the genre of a futuristic time.