Representation is concerned with the way that people, ideas and events are presented to us. A media text needs to demonstrate who is being represented through costume, behaviours, stereotypes, modes of address, facial expressions and audience response.
Our trailer uses a strong trait of Barthes enigma codes, as well as Claude Levi-Strauss' binary oppositions. Binary oppositions are shown through the use of good and evil. Our clown is represented as a mysterious and eerie character conforming to the idea of horror and fright. We achieved this by dressing our clown in all black with a dramatic exaggerated mask with sharp teeth implying slasher and death. In difference, our protagonists are represented as innocent and vulnerable due to them being young and targeted by the antagonist. Instantly as the clown is introduced, audiences relate to Dyer's typography, for example who is he? and why is it there?
We used many long shots throughout our trailer to help portray the clown as strong and aggressive through its body language. This includes a bold upright position and a clenched fist. Audiences begin to realise the characteristics of the clown due to subverting typical stereotypes. However, the clown conforms to stereotypes of clowns in horror films as they are usually signified as murderous and sinful. In the 1990 film 'IT' the antagonist is portrayed as evil and a serial killer due to the events shown and specific facial features including sharp teeth. There is no dialogue in 'Jokes On You' as we wanted to represent our characters and events through soundtracks and sound effects. We used non-diegetic sound throughout to engage the audiences and help them connect with the trailer. I feel the soundtrack represents trauma throughout conforming to the horror genre. We use a chime like soundtrack along with a child narrative to conform to the horror genre whilst creating suspense and a tense atmosphere. Clown's also link to children and entertainment so we thought it would have a successful outcome. We used a circus noise sound effect to help portray the scene as if the characters and audience are in the clown's presence. It makes viewers feel slightly more anxious and uneasy.
Through mise en scene, our clown is represented as sister and immoral. This is demonstrated through the use of dark coloured clothing and the frightening looking mask. The dark clothing connotes death, mystery and sinister events. It conforms to the stereotypes of clowns in horror films as the teeth are sharp and aggressive as well as the makeup being completely over exaggerated. I feel the clown is appropriate when conforming to the horror genre as we have made it appear daunting and distressful. When filming the clown we took advantage of the night and dark lighting. This confirms to the expectations of horror as the dark lighting creates a much tenser environment and makes the whole scene appear scarier. Our protagonists are represented as innocent and weak due to their basic clothing. We didn't want them in bright clothing as it subverted the horror genre. Females in the media are represented as vulnerable and objective, supported by Laura Mulvey's male gaze. This helped influence our decision to use female protagonists as it becomes more relatable and appropriate to our target audience. The dark lighting and park scene could reflect Bathes enigma codes as questions may be unanswered. For example viewers may be wondering what he's doing at the park at night? Whose he waiting for? This tantalisers the audience.
We wanted to oppose normal stereotypes, seen by Tessa Perkins as we wanted to represent our clown as terrifying and forbidding. Clowns are typically created for entertainment and circuses. However, in horror films clowns have a much more haunting presence and become slightly less entertaining.
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