Still Analysis
Prompt Sheet

Framing:
· Why has the image been cropped the way it has?
· What camera angle has been used and why?
· What has been left in the image and why?
· What has been left out of the image and why?

Mise en Scene:
· Costume - what clothing codes are at work?
· Props - Is there any symbolic value to the props?
· Lighting: Is it Natural? Artificial? Where is the light coming from and why?
· Shadow is just as important as light. What is in shadow and why?

Organisation:
Which elements have been highlighted?
What elements have been played down?
What relationship do the objects in the frame have with one another
· Is one larger than the other
· Is one more central?
· Is one better lit?
· How much space is there surrounding the objects?

Ideology:

· What values is the viewer being asked to share or reject?
· How are the viewer's feelings being manipulated to prefer one viewpoint over another?
· Why might a filmmaker want the viewer to prefer one viewpoint over another?
· What artistic/financial consequences are the filmmakers aiming for?

Hegemony - Dominant Ideology:
Hegemony is the way in which the ideas, values, beliefs and attitudes held by the ruling class
(ie, those with economic and intellectual power) are perpetuated.

· In your still, which group appears to be the ruling class?
· How are the values of this ruling class being vindicated?

Preferred Reading
Producers of a media text design it with a certain meaning in mind.
They hope that audiences will decode their text in a certain way.

· Preferred readings are those which tie in with hegemonic beliefs
· What is the preferred reading of your still?

Oppositional Reading
Audiences may have a very different cultural or social experience from the producer

· An oppositional reading will reject absolutely the preferred reading
· Do you take an oppositional reading of your still? If so, what is it?