Semiotics: Semiotics is to do with signs and symbols embedded within the media text itself, and how we as readers/viewers interpret them. Film Posters are full of semiotics (visual codes), and as audiences are sometimes known as passive, audiences can process a lot of information, consciously or sub-consciously, just through the visual imagery of the film poster. It is important when making a film poster that the choice of Images, colours, titles & fonts and layout are taking into great account, because they all affect the way in which the audience reads semiotics and will determine how attracted the audience are to the film poster.
American Beauty - The title of 'America Beauty' is a contradiction to what the film poster and film is trying to convey, as when you think of American beauty you think of dolled up women/girls in a beauty pageant, plastered in make up, which is the exact opposite of what this film poster is conveying. The title is in bold, to emphasise the true meaning of beauty and make the audience think about what their own definition of beauty is, making them want to see how beauty is conveyed in this film. Something unique about this film poster is that there isn’t a background image and then main image/iconic image, instead the film poster in itself is just a background image. The background image consists of a naked body (showing a naked stomach), of a person who is holding a rose, this visual code connotes a message of the film poster/film, that: beauty is skin deep. The fact that the film poster has been stripped to a bare background image promotes the message that people should do the same, stripping back anything unnecessary and show their true beauty. It is clear that this is a woman's body and this could convey that there a moments of sexual encounters in the film, shown through the presentation of a naked body. The rose that is being held could represent natural beauty, as a rose is something natural that grows but is also very beautiful, again promoting the idea that natural beauty is the best beauty. The rose could also connote the theme of romance, as it is an iconographic image of love and romance. The fact that the only prop used in the picture is a rose signifies the importance of it, and suggests it might be a running motif within the film. The rose could also connote danger though, as it is red and because as you know, roses also have thorns. The rose could represent how people could get hurt if they don’t let them see their natural beauty, and that even close, loving relationships can end up in great danger.
The Godfather - This poster is very simple yet so striking because of the contrasting colours of black and white which create sinister imagery for the audience. The daunting figure of ‘Don Corleone’ emerging from the black depths, with shadowed eyes which don’t allow you to actually see his eyes leave a grave and eerie image in the viewers mind. The very serious facial expression conveys the stern and serious attributes of the mafia, which it is clear that he is in, denoted by his tuxedo suit. The suit that he is wearing, in combination with the red rose on the suit (which in this case connotes the danger [thorns] that people land themselves in if they mess with him), looks as if he is attending a funeral which could be sending a message that people are certifying their death if they choose to challenge or mess around with him. The fact that the whole poster is black and white and the only bright coloured thing is the rose which shows its importance and could signify the blood shed in this film, or the theme of family union that is shown through the mafia in the film. The effect on this particular film poster is an artistic one which makes the film poster look more aged and old-fashioned, to link with the title, as he is someone old and respected. There is no background image, as the background is just black, to put emphasis on the big bold title which is in white. The puppet strings attached to the title shows that he is at the top of the hierarchy; it shows his great importance as the “Godfather”, as he pulls all the strings and has a great role of importance and fear he holds in the mafia. The fact that he is called the “Godfather” shows him as a high figure within the mafia, as when you’re “God”, you’re the highest of all high and no one is above you. Although the film poster gives a lot of visual connotations on what the themes may surround it gives little information on the actual narrative which creates a mystery for the audience, attracting them further to find out what the narrative of the film is. Lastly, the fact that the main character is stroking a cat again connotes his evil nature as a cat is famous iconography used to immediately convey the sinister characteristic of a person. 
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