Section 2: Jaws

Jaws

The narrative has a linear narrative which is shown as the film is a fast flowing sequel. There is equilibrium which is balanced this is shown as the teenagers drinking beer and all happy sitting round a camp fire together. Also there is a disequilibrium, this is shown when the girl goes into the water and we know whats going to happen to her and why. Narrative creates lots of suspense, this leads you to carry on watching as your drawn in to find out what happens to the girl and why it happens.

Many codes and conventions were used throughout Jaws. Partial vision is used to create suspense so we dont know whats in the water. Transformed City is used where the beach is a safe place usually but is transformed into a not so safe place as shark are infested in the waters. Concealment and protraction are also used as they help conceal the identity of the creature in the water going to kill the helpless girl which makes us ask these questions like, whats in the water? what the boy doing? will the girl survive?

Camerawork is used widely throughout Jaws. The film starts with a point of view shot, this is the point of view of the killer. This shot is unsettaling for the audience as we start to ask questions on what the killer is and where its going. Then there's a tracking shot through the reef as the killer moves around. These shots are followed by a shot of the teenagers partying on the beach, tracking, which makes us feel like were at the party enjoying it aswell as the others there. A over the shoulder shot is used to make us feel like we shouldnt be there with the other teenagers at the party.

Mise-en-scene has been used effectively altogether in jaws. At the start of the film, one of the first shots is of the group of teenagers at the beach, this is seen to be safety associated as nothing majorly dramatic happens on a beach at night. Also the first shots are taken at night time, this could suggest it isnt clear for the character and what they can and cant see whats around them. Although nothing major looks like it could escalade, there is a theme of ' naughtiness ' as the teenageers are drinking and getting ' rowdy ' with each other.

Sound is used extremely well in these opening scenes of Jaws. An non diagetic soundtrack is player over the of the scenes which is not there for the characters to hear, just the audience to listen to builds tension, in which is now iconicly known worldwide for building up tension. Other sound we can hear is diagetic, this includes the harmonica being played by a dude in the group and guitar. The fire also crackles showing a sign of relaxation as no one is bothered. In contrast with the fire, when the bell rings on the buoy this signals danger as its a sound when the seas are picking up and weather goes stormy.

Editing is used throughout Jaws and plays a major part in making the film more effective and creates more suspence making the audience watch on to find out what happens next. At the start of the film a long take is used to show the audience the characters in the film and the location which set up most parts of the mise-en-scene. Also when watching the long take tracking through the landscape this builds up tension as the viewers are waiting for the camera to change angles and shot. A shot reverse shot is used to show the conversation between the main character and the girl who he is interested in. This shot reverse shot also introduces sexual tension between the two actors in the film. Ediiting is used in different ways in this film as we expect many breaks between different shot but we find it unusual because not many breaks are used to break the shots up. Cross-cuts are used throughout aswell, these shots take one piece of action to another such as the shot on the shark ( Jaws ) and back to the shot of the characters on the beach, this also takes us to different tension in the film.

The graphics in Jaws are used boldly to emphasis a point. The graphics used are white and large in size, placed centrally on the screen. Using them in this way makes the graphics more ' in your face ' which make you focus in on then. The actors names and production company are shown to the viewer in the graphics, this could show the viewer how well the film is going to be, mainly form the reputation of the actors and the director of the film for example Steven Spielberg directed the film.