REPRESENTATION

Representation

1. Roland Barthes Mythologies (1964): state what you learned about his approach and how you 'read' this image. 
2. Roland Barthes The Rhetoric of the Image(1977): explain what you understand by 'rhetoric of the image' and deconstruct the Panzani advertisement.           After watching an article by Daniel Chandler Semiotics for Beginners, I found deconstructing the Panzani advertisement and Barthes,"The Rhetoric of the Image(1977)"  advertisement much easier. Firstly, the Panzani advertisement is a denotation ands purpose is to overall underpin the view that this is fresh, italian and family loved food. In the photograph, there is clearly a strict colour scheme, this being red, green and white again helping to imply the Italian home cooked food, since these colours are the same as the Italian flag. The use of the netted bag, demonstrates the food has been picked up from a market and this again illiterates the freshness of the following products, reassuring the viewers that they are purchasing only the best. This advertisement stunt, is also supported by the fresh produce of mushrooms, a tomato and potatoes being placed around again adding a rustic and organic sense. Finally, the use of the produce overflowing in the bag, underpins the the views that this Italian, wholesome buyer can't get enough of the Panzini range, and obviously that it is just as good as homemade ingredients.
3. Choose a photo from a recent film and analyse the representations depicted. For example, what would you say about either of the stills from Pride(2014)?  The photo I've chosen is from a scene in the recent film "The Fault in our Stars". It displays a wide shot and on the left hand side the character Augustus “Gus” Waters, grinning looking to the side of the camera holding a packet of eggs. He's wearing a dusty, brown and vintage looking leather biker jacket, which underpins a “bad boy” persona indicating to the viewers that he is rebellious, and possibly using the eggs to break the rules. The posture and gesture of the protagonist conveys the feeling of drama and elation. Out of focus in the background is what looks like a housing estate, which may imply that Gus is egging a well-kept and respectable house. His overall relaxed posture shows that his fractious actions are possibly not a big deal in his eyes, again implying his unruly behavior and characteristic.

In the middle is the character Isaac, who is crouching down, with his mouth wide open in disbelief. This implies that he is possibly shocked by Gus's actions yet intrigued and supportive, and this is evident by his conserved posture and how he isn't stopping him from proceeding. From research, Isaac is wearing glasses because he is blind, but this wouldn't be clear to the viewer with no background knowledge, which implies that the character is treated as an equal throughout the film.

Lastly, the character on the far right is Hazel Grace Lancaster who again is carrying a box of eggs, yet these are unopened. Her posture evidently shows her awe and shock towards Gus throwing them, and this is underpinned through her hand covering her mouth.  Finally, again through research and watching the film I know that Hazel had cancer and due to this experienced hair loss, which again is covered by the beanie. In this shot of the film, both Isaac and Hazel are covering there illness through items and this conveys all of the three characters as equals and doesn’t heighten there individual and personal issues.