Textual Analysis: Kidulthood Trailer

1.    Media Forms:
What techniques does the trailer use to persuade its audience to see the film?

There are a number of various techniques used in this kidult hood trailer, which all help to persuade the audience to see the film itself. Firstly the use of fast paced shots is used to gain momentum and pace within the shots, which create an emphasis that the film is quick paced, which engages the audience to want to find out more. The use of fast paced shots is a contrast to the not as quick tempo shots in the beginning they are quite long, which creates suspense and tension, persuading audience to find out more about the film. Sound is also used to help to achieve the audience to persuade to view the film. Moreover the sound in the beginning seems to be gaining momentum as well, which could foreshadow some form of dilemma to be approaching soon. Firstly non digetic sound via music is used; in this case the music is quite solace and dim, yet kind of edgy (gangster), which is also typical of the films genre, which may give audiences an insight into the gratifications of this film, hence persuading them to view it. Use of digetic sound is also used via dialogue which helps to give audiences an understanding of dilemmas the characters may face as well as establishing the “goodies” and “baddies” in the film, which persuades them the audience to see the film, as they are likely to want to discover the outcome of the dilemma. The name of the film is said right at the end, via a slogan, this slogan is “before adulthood comes kidulthood”; this slogan or film line creates anticipation as well as excitement for the name of the film to be heard.

2.    Media Representation:
How is gender represented in this trailer?

Gender is represented mostly in a males perception, firstly due to the fact that the main protagonists is also a male and that most of the characters seen in the trailer are men .In addition the males in this trailer are shown to be controlling ,superior and  dominant. They have the power to do anything they want. The males are also represented to be the main ones causing chaos and conflict, which can be seen as a stereotype for men to be troublemakers. In contrast women are perceived to be inferior in relation to men. During the trailer audiences hear offensive terms in reference to women, which again demonstrates women to being sexually objectified. Moreover in one scene in the trailer it is shown that a young girl is beat up, which again could infer women to be weaker, inferior to women, or the prey in relation to men being the predator. The fact that the young girl who is also hit and thrown doesn’t fight back again portrays the influence of violent young males to be strong on women, and that there may some sort of acceptance by the females that they will never outdo or fight back with the males as there is no point, as they will always win.  

              

3.    Media Audiences:
What target audience would be attracted to this film?

The primary target audience whom would be attracted to this film is mainly of 14-18 males, as the characters’ in the actual film are of a similar age cohort. The demographics would include soci economic class to be of E as they are likely to be students, as the characters in the trailer are students who attend school as well. The soci economic class would also be of a class D and C2 as they means they are working class, and are likely to be on benefits or live in council flats where there is likely to a soaring crime rates, in, which also relating to the characters in the trailer, as their lives are seen to be influenced by crime and violence which may be similar to some of the audiences lives. Another notion of the target audience being males mainly is that the costumes that they are wearing are mostly inexpensive, cheap tacky tracksuits, which is stereotypical of young males to be like that.  Moreover it could be inferred that the target audience could include females as well, as there may be a woman who could be in a similar situation, and seeks solace in a film like this. What’s more is that the costumes of the women are shown to be quite chavy with the use of hoops and short skirts, which again could relate to secondary target audience.

4. Media Institutions:
What low budget values and characteristics can you identify in this trailer?

The institution of this film is SNHY media which is perceived to be quite a modern, gangster type organisation which touches upon realistic aspects of society, which may startle audiences but is true. There is also a lack of lighting, which is conventional of low budget values in a film. More low budget values and characteristics present within the trailer is the fact that they use inexpensive clothes, as well as unknown actors, which again conveys that the film is likely to be low budgeted.