Sherlock Textual Analysis 2

Season 1 Episode 1










There was a montage of war flashbacks that faded into this character. This shows that they have PTSD and were in the army. The lighting is low-key and creates shadows in the shape of bars. This connotes that the character feels trapped somehow, possibly by their current life.

The camera dollies out gradually so the viewer sees the room. The room is plain and beige. This, coupled with the low-key lighting, shows that John is methodical and lives a mundane lifestyle. The music is sombre, which creates a dark mood.

This is a wide shot that shows that the two characters are separate from one another. The therapist is sitting upright, indicating her professionality, and is slightly forward, as if she wishes to reach out. John, on the other hand, is slouched away, showing he is not enjoying their session. The ambient sound creates versimilitude and sets up the digesis. 

This high-angle close-up makes it seem as if the audience is viewing this from a position of power. The non-diagetic music creates tension for the viewer, as they are unsure as to what is going to happen. The character is looking past the camera, like they are looking at someone, which suggests that someone out of the shot is inluencing them. This creates mystery. There is also a previosu focus on the pills, indicating that they are important in this scene.

The camera fades to this scene to show that time has passed. Sinister music and low-key lighting create atmophere. There is selective focus on the character, particularly their hands, indicating that what they are doing is important to the narrative. 

American Horror Story Textual Analysis 2

Season 1 Episode 2

This is a close-up at eye-level. The camera is steady. The lighting is low-key to reflect the situation and increase the tension.

The camera switches to this close-up at a bird’s-eye view. This gives the viewer more power over the character, signifying how powerless the character feels.

This is a mid-shot at eye-level. However, the male character is looking down at the viewer and the female character, signifying that he has the most power in this scene. This makes him intimidating. The camera continuously switches between the male character and the female character to reflect their conflict.

Though this wide shot is at eye-level, the character’s head is pointed low and she is looking up. This signifies that she is intimidated by the male character and is powerless towards him. Her clothing and furniture are the colour white; this connotes her innocence.

This is a mid-shot at a low angle. It directs the audience’s attention towards his face and makes them more intimidated by him. The colours in this shot are darker than the previous one, which signifies the dangerous nature of the character.

This close-up of the woman’s face is used to increase the audience’s sympathy for her.

In this scene, the male character holds the majority of the power over the female character. The female is presented as the victim, and the audience is made to feel sympathy for her. The audience are made to feel intimidated and horrified by the male character. This is a typical trope used by horror and crime genres, as women have traditionally been considered the weaker gender by society and, in turn, the media.