Media Language

Media Language is all about how a text is constructed, so it creates meaning for a reader or a viewer of the text. All media texts are constructed; someone has made decisions on how they should be made, with a clear audience in mind.


Key Areas:

• Mise-en-scene (setting, props, costume, make-up, lighting)
• Sound
• Editing
• Camera angles and shots
• Use of colour
• Text

Peaky Blinders Season 5 Trailer

In the Peaky Blinders Season 5 trailer, I noticed all of these key media aspects being used in a myriad of ways to add effect and depth, so to engage the viewer. For example:

Editing

A bleak, rough atmosphere and ambience was created by the filter they might have used, as it looked dark, almost grimy, which could be reflecting how this season will turn out. The pyrotechnics in some of the shots are timed with the movements of the character, and are the main source of light in these scenes. This crafts intensity and it might infer a sense of power to the character in those scenes.



Camera Angles
The shots tend to fade in and out, which creates a sense of melancholy; there is a lot of conflict conveyed through shots, such as cars and objects on the street being on fire, suggesting that this season will contain hostility. Furthermore, low angled shots make the reader feel inferior, therefore the character is in power. The trailer also frequently shifts from scene to scene, which could mean that there is a lot happening in this new season.
Also, when Tommy appears waking up, shirtless and lying down in one of the scenes, we see him through the lens from a high vantage point, and this crafts a sense of weakness and vulnerability, further emphasised by the fact that Tommy is sweating, and looking almost panicked.



Sound
Throughout the one minute trailer, an emotional song is played, which immediately constructs a downcast tone to the season, and sets a precedent for each episode. Also, the pyrotechnics are timed with the characters in each clips, and it is mainly character dialogue.





Mise-en-scene
The costumes and makeup are quite glamorous, for example, men have suits on and women have fully styled hair and makeup, which is accurate for the time that it is set in the early 20th century (almost the Roaring 20s). The low lighting evokes a sinister tone, and all settings are quite bleak and dim, colour palette monotone, e.g. black, brown, grey - so there is a lack of vibrancy and suggests a lack of positivity, also, in this new season.
Finally, in the shot of Big Ben, the whole picture seems rather lacklustre and dull, which juxtaposes the whole idea of the iconic, exciting, almost intimidating, city of London.