For the last two weeks, my class was given an assignment to make a presentation on the theories we've learnt.
The first presentation was on to analyze the film poster; Kiss of the Vampire using Roland Barthes's media theory codes that we found.
Symbolic codes that could be found from the film poster are the bats. Bats represents vampires can turn into bats
There are several semantic codes that could be found from the poster. On the poster, most of the colours are dull and monochrome black colours which could presents death and darkness. The colour red could present blood. These colours will give an idea to the audience that it might be a horror film.
As written on the poster 'In Eastman Color', it could be a film is a modern telling of a old story.
The V on the 'Vampire' graphic has blood dripping from the fang which could presents stakes that is used to kill vampires.
Proairtetic or action codes that could be found in the poster are the two unconscious/ dead looking body. This could give an idea to the audience that somewhere in the movie, there might be violence and killing which is why the two bodies ends up like that.
There are several hermeneutic/enigma codes that could be found from the poster such as the woman's hand looks like it is getting bitten by the large bat, the male vampire looks like he is defending himself by how his facial reaction is and the characters are sworn by bats. This will make the audience curious on what will happen in the film and it can make the them want to watch the film.
Audience that have watched the film or know the background story of vampire will know that vampires have fangs. This is a cultural/ referential codes.
On the last slide, I added other theoretical perspectives from other theory about the Kiss of the Vampire poster.
David Gauntlett's theory of identity: The female vampire acts as a role model for women struggling against male oppression or might be desperate to be seen as the equal of men, whatever the narrative or environment.
Lisabet Van Zoonen's feminist theory: The female vampire could be contributing to social change by representing women in non-traditional roles.
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