Analysis of Psycho

 Throughout this assessed piece of work I shall be analysing the shower scene murder from the film Psycho. May different things can be deduced from what happens and the way in which: the camera, the different shot types, the sounds, the lighting and the mise-en-scene are used while the scene takes place. By analysing these key features of the scene, I will be able to give a detailed response, portraying my understanding and ability to break the scene down into sections.

This is a close up shot of the killer in the shower scene, holding a knife poised ready to attack. The close up is used to get closed to the killer without getting uncomfortably close. The face is blackened out to conceal their appearance, giving off a sense of mystery in which the audience will want to continue watching. Using the rule of thirds, it can be identified that the shot has been purposefully composed so that the killer is centre shot, and the background is blurred. This makes them the key point of focus for the audience. The knife is also a focus point, showing the tension in the fingers, of the killers hand while holding the knife, makes the audience realise what will happen next. The shot is very simple in terms of mise-en-scene. The water from the shower appears to mask the killers face, but the long hair give connotations that they are possibly a woman. The light in the shot is specifically used to emphasize the focus on the hand holding the knife, making sure that the audience are aware of it.

This shot is a high angle, mid shot showing the victim in the shower being stabbed by the killer. A mid shot is used to show the victim’s body, while only just capturing the killers head. The curtain pole conceals the killers face, once again creating mystery. Using the golden mean identifies that the knife and the victims head are in line with each other, making them the key points of focus. At this point in the scene the sounds are very high pitched notes making the scene seem even more real with each stab of the knife. This shot is the cut off point in the scene. Everything before this shot is calm and normal, like everyday life. But once the killing has taken place, the music, shot speed and action rises, making it abnormal and surreal. The shots high angle is used to emphasize the vulnerability of the female victim as she tries to prevent the knife from piercing her skin. The water from the shower is still running, which shows that the killer emerged to attack while the victim was busy, giving the element of surprise and portraying the cunning and twisted psychological mind of the killer.

This is an extreme close up shot of the victim’s eye as it dilates after the killing. This shows extreme detail, while low pitched notes mark the end of this horrible ordeal. The close up is used to leave out the bathroom and the state of everything after the killing has finished, making the eye the main, and only point of focus for the audience. This is the simplest shot in the scene, but possibly the most effective because there is nothing else in the shot to take away the audience’s attention.

These two shots are close ups of the shower plug-hole and the victims eye, also these are matches on action. The camera tracks the water going down the plug-hole, then fades out to the eye, by spiralling out of the eye to reveal the victim’s body slouched out of the shower. The similarities between the two shots are vast. The blood mixing with the water and the skin of the victim are alike. The dark plug-hole and the pupil and iris of the eye are very alike. These mean that the match n action works properly, instead of them looking nothing alike. The low pitched notes continue through this part of the scene, still showing the devastation and effect that the murder has had on the victim and to some extent the audience. These are once again very simple shots, making the audience focus on the only things on screen; the shower plug-hole and the victim’s eye, as it spirals out to reveal her body.

(Pictures couldnt be added)

Lesson Review - 08/09/2011

Today we further discussed genre types, linking film titles with there corresponding genre. For example, the film Goodfella's is a gangster film and Narnia is a fantasy film.
We also talked about the 3 types of genre that can be found in a film. Major, Sub and Hybrid.
Major genre is one of the main, mostly known genres, like Action or Horror. A Sub genre is one which has been created through a major genre, like Sci-Fi was created from Fiction. And a Hybrid genre is a mixure of genres that compliment eachother. A good example of a hybrid film is Saw, as it is a pychological thriller mixed with horror and slasher moments.

Lesson Review - 07/09/2011

Today in Media Studies, we discussed what a 'Thriller' is, and what they can include. A thriller is a play, book or film that depicts crime, mystery and/or espionage along with supense, action and excitment.
A thriller is commonly called a 'Psychological Thriller', because they can sometimes be confusing and hard to follow, and can make you think hard about whats happened, hence 'Psychological'. 
Thrillers commonly follow conventions which make them thriller films, a few examples are: the characters and the aura about them, music/sound and clifhangers.
We talked about examples of thriller films: the happening, Seven, Memento, Signs, The Others and Taxi Driver.
We also talked about linear and non-linear films. Linear films are films which are in the right order, e.g. beginning, middle, end. But a non-linear film is when the parts of the story are mixed up, e.g. end, beginning, middle, end. This can happen because a character retells the story of their life or something similar.
The last thing we mentioned was hybrid-genres. These are a mash-up of different genres, like Shaun of the Dead. This film is a Rom-Com-Zom, being a Romantic, Comedic, Zombie film, featuring all of these genres at different times. 

Being my first lesson of Media Studies so far, I really enjoyed the structure of the lesson and the things we have so far learn't. Hope theres more to come :)

First AS Media Studies Post

Hello world, this is my first post. 
Looking forward to what I'm going to be doing in AS Media Studies.