Using The Comparison Of These Two Texts As Your Starting Point, Explore The Media Issues And Debates These Texts Raise.
Essay Preview: Using The Comparison Of These Two Texts As Your Starting Point, Explore The Media Issues And Debates These Texts Raise.
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For years, England has been represented as a powerful and revered country and a key component in the ruling of the world. Most media texts have carried an English perspective and therefore been very biased, not showing how the controlled countries feel. “The Wind that Shakes the Barley”, a 2006 film from socialist director Ken Loach allows the viewer to view England from the point of view of the suppressed Irish.
From the beginning of Text 1 — the moving advert — the viewer first sees Ireland in a peaceful, rural town. The music accompanying it is immediately recognisable as traditional Irish folk music; this in addition to the green countryside shown on the poster makes Ireland seem well established and not at all like the well-known England of the 20th century which was full of technology and industry. However, the peaceful image is soon distorted when the music develops a heavier drum beat which is reminiscent of a war-march. Also, in the background, a bell toll can be heard which adds to the war-like feel. This sudden change of music acts as an enigma code because it suggests to the viewer that this film will not be as tranquil as they first thought, and that in fact violence and aggression will follow. Not soon after the change of music, the viewer is introduced to a few key characters as they train new recruits on a grassy hill. The Irishmen instantly fulfil their stereotype of being funny and quick-witted, as the leader berates one of the recruits for focussing on his shoes rather than the enemy. Since the audience has been able to create a connection with the characters, they feel more able to empathise with them and therefore are more inclined to take their side over the English’s.
The audience is still able to feel a connection with the Irish, even after they are seen shooting British soldiers. The fact that the rural countrymen are standing up to the stronger, more advanced enemy shows courage and makes England seem like its bullying Ireland to give in. Furthermore, the rebels at the bottom of the poster stand out in comparison to the British soldiers — the Irishmen are dressed in their usual clothes, whereas the British soldiers are fully dressed in an impressive uniform. The obvious difference between both sides creates an obvious David/Goliath opposition and yet again forces the audience to feel compassion for the Irish.
Despite their obvious disadvantage, the main character Damian still seems masculine and brave. On the poster, he is occupying the top half and is holding a shot gun, looking into the distance. The determined look in Damian’s eyes makes it clear that he is not likely to give up and will patriotically fight for his country no matter what. Also, as Damien is sitting next to his brother, this shows that the Irish have strong family ties and will treat each other as such even if they are not related. This relates to the bottom image, as they all stride confidently to battle, they appear like a brotherhood. The careful choice of images shows that the producers have carefully selected what the audience see in order for them to agree with the dominant theme running throughout the film.
Although both adverts tend to focus on men and their masculinity,