The Social Network trailer uses a variety of techniques to glamorise the topic of Facebook.
Once way that it glamorises the topic is by using different all the dramatic clips of the film, adding in a few lines in important scenes such as "This idea is potentially worth millions of dollars" which adds tension and makes the topic seem important.
At the start of the trailer, they use a montage effect of Facebook profiles showing people on holiday, at parties, and various other social settings. The first image that we see is one of a woman looking over her shoulder. The image uses a fade in and pixelated effect to start off the trailer. Also, there is blue text by the side of it saying 'Comment' which immediately gives us the impression that the image is from Facebook. This glamorises the topic as it presents Facebook in it's full glory; shows it as being modern and also it shows the diverse amount of people that use it. They also use quick editing to make it seem as if Facebook is changing all the time, and portraying different aspects of it also puts it under a new light.
In the trailer they use scenes of nightclubs and parties to make the trailer seem more glamorous and to portray the type of film that it is.
The camera shots also glamorise the topic. There is a lot of use of long shots to show a large amount of people and present the amount of people who are involved in this developed idea, but there are also a lot of close ups of Mark showing him working on the project in hand and trying to sort out situations.
Social Network engages the audience in a number of ways.
It also engages the audience by using short dramatic clips that build up throughout the trailer. It presents to us the process of how Facebook first developed with short scenes that help to engage the audience, such as the scene at 1min35 where the man who is against Mark (the inventor of Facebook) sits in front of him and says "I can't wait to stand over your shoulder and make us write you a check." In this particular scene, a sound bridge is used to engage the audience further; and make them wonder where the stern voice is coming from.
They also use non-diegetic sound throughout with a classical type song which varies in volume and keeps the audiences attention throughout.
According to the uses and gratifications theory, it also engages the audience through the use of social interaction. By using Justin Timberlake in the trailer, it would allow the viewer of the trailer to be more likely to go and see the film knowing that a celebrity that they are perhaps a fan of is in it.
Towards the end of the trailer, (around 2min10) The music suddenly fades out to make the last lines more significant and so that they leave a lasting effect on the viewer. The music then starts again with the lyric of 'I don't belong here' which would have an emotional effect on the audience.
An excellent answer Sophie, that shows real promise. Particuarly for this early on in the year, I am very impressed.
ReplyDeletewhat's really good is how you have used Media Language and that every sentence is trying to say something.
Focus a little more on representation in your answer, and on narrative and how this is structured.
I really like the use of quotes, specific scenes and applying the theories, you've gone into detail about how the trailer relates to Facebook and how effective it is. Maybe next time you could include more about the narrative and a few other theories such as Propp ect. :)
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