Most media texts target a range of different audience. How
true is this for your chosen texts?
When analysing the Series Lost especially S1E2 Pilot part 2.
We can tell that this Series defiantly attracts different ranges of audience
this is due to the way in which its produced by technical conventions and
narrative structures , I will be discussing three techniques these are ; Use of
enigma codes , Narrative Structure and it’s Hybrid genre.
Firstly I will talk
about the amount of enigma codes which are used through this episode to give a
mainstream audience the enigma codes to question when the episode plays . Such
as the scene with the Polar bear we are instantly given an enigma code as to
why the animal is out of its natural habitat and in a completely binary opposition
from one extreme to another. Another enigma code is given at the start of the
series when we see a pair of handcuffs on the floor which is where we meet
Michael where he picks up the handcuff’s and the shot type is changed to a
close up with shallow focus signifying the item giving the audience enigma
codes as to why its there? Who do they belong to ? Lost uses so many enigma
codes throughout this series this is because they want to keep their audience
interested at all times. Considering this Series was a T.V show they needed to
included at least 4-5 enigma codes too keep there audience hanging and won’t be
answered till the next episode if not later in the series. As this is a series
we know that Enigma codes play a huge role for this Series and won’t give the
answer to them this is so they keep there watches interested in the show and
wait till the end to unravel this story of what they are introduced to.
Lost uses the Todorov narrative theory in this episode as we
are given an equilibrium of landing safely and being alive sunbathing on the
beech waiting for a rescuer to get them. Which is then followed by a
Disequilibrium of finding a pair of handcuff’s which instantly drops the mood
with an audience with accompanied with score music to add to the drama to tell
the mainstream watches how they should feel when they are found. We are then
given a new equilibrium of the group going on a quest finding a way to fix the
transmitter to work so they can receive help. This episode doesn’t finish a complete circle of Todorov’s theory due to
being a series they need to keep the audience on a cliff hanger. Why ? The
audience like this theory and likes to watch things in chronological order as
we can understand and enjoy the episode.
Lost falls into the depth of a hybrid genre as what is shown
is Post Modern as they are bringing different genre’s into the Series to make one especially this episode because
what we see is Action mixed with Fantasy genre stylistic genre conventions
because by producing a new genre to capture an audiences attention by mixing
the two together they can make something new for the audience to enjoy. We can
see this in this episode as they show Action conventions such as special
effects as we see the plane which is board with the cast. Where we are
introduced to Charlie a drug addict who takes his belt of to go to the rest
room to take illegal drugs as staff get irate (accompanied with score to build
the audience tension levels) and ask Charlie to come out where the plain spits
into two as we see the plane and passengers fly out into the air. We are given
the Fantasy genre conventions through the group going on a quest and getting to
the top of the mountain to receive signal for the transmitter to work to gain
help as the two are mixed together we assume that due to the Fantasy
conventions we just believe everything that’s going on without questioning it
which gives the audience escapism.
To conclude I believe that the text Lost with reference to S1E2
The Plane part 2 that this media definitely attracts different audience this is
by use of technical and narrative techniques used to produce a new Hybrid to
attract ranges of audiences because this will attract different audiences with
the use of mixing genre and using Todorov’s theory makes it easy for the
audience to like , believe and understand.
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