Strategies
•Symbolic
Codes
•Written Codes
•Technical codes
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The body language
between the two fighters
indicates the binary: power
Body language, facial expressions, stance,and submission. Ali has the
power shown through his
eye contact
flexing of his biceps over his
Settings/Locations
submissive competitor.
Costumes
Colour
Props (objects that may be symbolic)
The weather in a particular image/scene
(e.g. cloudy, rain, rainbow etc)
In this case, the colour red, symbolises
power, but also violence and physicality
(red being the colour of blood). The white
worn by Ali, is the colour of innocence
and ‘goodness’. Due to Ali wearing this
colour, it implies that his victory is the
‘right’ victory and is supported by the
audience behind Ali. The boxing gloves
are also symbolic because they represent
masculinity and power.
The setting: the beach represents
Australia’s coastal lifestyle
 The Australian Flag: represents patriotism
 The weather: the sunshine reflects the joy
of the Australian culture
 The girls are all Caucasian: represents
that in spite of our ‘multicultural’ society,
a racial tension exists.
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Headlines
• Captions
• Speech bubbles
• Punctuation
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Also try to identify specific
language devices: instruction,
adjective, rhetorical question,
quote from an expert etc
The slogan: Just Do It. This is also a
command urging people to take a risk,
or to persevere in spite of obstacles.
 Pistorius’s testimonial: tells us of the
physical obstacles he’s faced, but also
explains how he has chosen to use this as
an advantage.
 Selection of language: he uses words
that remind the audience of war e.g.
‘war’, ‘courage’, ‘weapon’, ‘conquer’
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Camera angles/shots
Lighting
Focus (what elements in the
scene are in focus and what are
out of focus?)
In this image, the photographer has
used an extreme close-up on the hands.
The background is blurred, focusing the
audience on the handclasp. The natural
lighting has cast thin black shadows in
the background. Shadows are a
secondary representation of a person,
so you could argue that the black
shadows represent the forgotten issues
of third world countries starving, while
first world countries prosper.
Make sure you identify the context (where
the image possibly came from or what
event/issue the image is referring to.)
 Also mention what the purpose of the
image is: to raise awareness? To capture an
historic moment? To sell a product? To
change viewers’ behaviour?
 Explicitly state this in your introduction!!!
 You will get points if you can mention how
this may affect the audience’s response to
the image. Also consider the time period
the image came from. Has the meaning
changed for modern audiences viewing
this?
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Context: Neil Armstrong landed
on the moon in 1969. The mission
was part of the US ‘space-race’
with the USSR. The US wanted to
show the USSR that it was more
technologically advanced.
The purpose of the image was to
celebrate America’s achievement and
the achievement of the human race.
But the purpose was also to intimidate
the USSR.
Now there are conspiracy theories that suggest
America faked the moon landings. For
contemporary audiences this image may incite
anger against the US. Even if you don’t believe
the theories, you could still interpret this image as
yet another example of the arrogance of the US.
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Actuality footage
Reconstructed footage
Archival footage
Camera angles/shots
Editing
Lighting
Soundtrack
Narrative structure
Actuality footage: this is the footage shot
in real time as the events occurred
 Reconstructed footage: where actors reenact an event from the past and it is
filmed
 Archival footage: photographs, film,
letters, newspaper articles (etc) from the
past that are included in the
documentary
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When a documentary is created, they do not present
all the footage in the exact order that it was filmed.
 Some footage is removed completely.
 Some scenes that were filmed at the end of the
filming process, may actually be presented at some
other point in the documentary.
 Sometimes two scenes will be edited so they are
presented one after the other as if they were
connected, but they may not have actually been
connected at all.
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Ask yourself: What footage may have
been excluded? Why have particular
scenes been placed next to one another?
What events have not been filmed? Which
interviews have been included and with
whom?
Brooke’s mother says, ‘It’s something we all look forward
to.’ Then, the camera cuts to a close-up of Brooke
yawning and looking bored and tired.
 At the pageant, the toddlers stand in a line and parade in
front of the judges. Then the scene changes showing
footage of the MC, Tim Wittner smiling in a predatory
manner.
 Brooke’s mother is horrified that Asia’s parents have
dressed Asia in ‘cut outs’ saying ‘It’s a no-no.’ The scene
changes to Brooke wearing a halter top and mini-skirt.
 Asia’s father says, ‘I’d like to see her in a pair of chaps.’
The camera remains on his face for an extended time to
suggest that the documentary makers are horrified at this
statement.
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The opening sequence is a montage of images of toddlers
in skimpy outfits, heavy make-up with their mothers
pointing and yelling at them.
Voiceovers
 Interviews
 Music
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In Painted Babies the ones to
remember are:
•The interviews with Brook’s
family and Asia’s family
•The interviews with the pageant
judges/organisers
•Hey Big Spender
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An archetypical narrative
(a familiar narrative
recycled).
A conflict or problem that
needs to be solved. The
documentary usually
promises to solve it.
A competition/rivalry. This
keeps the viewer
engaged because they
want to find out the
outcome.
Painted Babies uses the rivalry between
Brooke and Asia to tell the story. This is
clever because it also highlights how
destructive competition is for the girls.
It also highlights the pushing parenting
because the rivalry is most strongly felt
between the mothers, not Brooke and
Asia.
Remember, in this section you have to
answer ONE question, that has TWO
components.
 Part a) requires you to respond to an
image provided by the exam.
 Part b) requires you to respond to a
visual text you have studied in class (in
your case, Painted Babies)
Question 1
a) With reference to at least one of the images provided,
discuss how images can challenge or reinforce
viewers’ expectations.
Your response should:
Identify specifically what expectations are being
challenged or reinforced
Explain how visual codes/conventions portray ideas
a) Explain how at least one visual text you have studied
influences your response to a particular social issue.
Your response should:
Identify specifically what social issue you are discussing
Explain how visual codes/conventions influenced your
response
Your understandings of:
 How visual conventions have
been used to communicate
meaning. To score highly, you
need to use 3-4 examples of
techniques.
 How the visual techniques have
manipulated your response
(audience response) to the
image
 Context and purpose
 Alternative readings
 Written expression
REMEMBER: you need to do
more than just identify the
techniques! You then need
to discuss what information
the audience receives from
the use of these techniques.
There is no way of predicting what question you’ll be asked,
however , here are a list of possible ideas/concepts you
should look for and discuss in your response:
•Representations of power
•Representations of gender (men and women)
•Representations of particular cultural groups (religious
groups, age, subcultures, racial groups etc)
•Values and attitudes
•The action the image wants viewers to take on an
issue/problem
•Also look to see whether a particular event (e.g. Australia
Day, WW1 etc) has been represented in a particular way