Scott Pilgrim Case Study

 LO3 - Understand how meaning is created in media.

Clip 1 - Scott is in Love

In this clip, sharp camera angles and transitions are used in order to represent moving from person to person and emphasise the note Ramona has left Scott - creating more drama and a bigger build up as Scott waits for Ramona to call. This if further shown through the non-diegetic sound added at the beginning of the clip along with text added in during editing showing a phone ringing. A bland colour palette is used throughout this scene representing the normality of it before being greatly contrasted by the dark colours used within the phone call - juxtaposing the colours and creating an ominous feel. This scene's genre follows Altman's genre theory of audience pleasures as it involves intellectual puzzles of mysteries as the tension builds while Scott is making for Ramona to call as he realises he is in love with you - connoting towards the seven evil exes he will have to fight to be with her. This also follows Stauss' binary opposition theory as Ramona and Scott are seen as good whereas the blonde woman calling is seen as bad. A close-up shot has been used to emphasise the hidden message on Ramona's number - following Roland Barthes' narrative code of the enigma code as it uses seven kisses to represent the seven evil exes. Representation is used within this clip as Scott is relatable awkward and is in a situation many of us face within relationships - therefore representing the target audience.

Clip 2 - Scott vs Todd Ingram

In this clip, dramatic camera angles from the side and behind are used in order to over emphasise the fight between Todd and Scott in a comical way. Further more, downwards and upwards camera angles are used in order to show Scott as inferior after he appears to be losing the fight and Todd as more powerful - however this is contrasted later within the clip as Scott wins against Todd. Non-diegetic sound and game like text has been edited in post-production to make it seem much more like a video game - further representing the target audience as teenagers. Props such as the bass guitars and coffee cups have been added in the scene for comical effect. Genre has been shown within this clip by furthermore using binary opposition - painting Scott as the good guy and Todd as the bad guy - especially after he becomes not-vegan. It follows Altman's audience pleasure of emotional pleasures by creating action and drama along with comedy. The narrative theory of symbolic code is used within Todd's clothing due to it all being white showing that he is pure and vegan - or at least thinks that of himself. Action code is also used throughout the fight to create more mystery as to whether or not Scott will win and to add more tension. A more diverse range of people are represented within this clip, helping to make everyone feel represented.

Clip 3 - Scott vs Gideon

Similarly, within this final clip dramatic camera angles that are low and high are used in order to represent the power between the two - creating tension as it implies that Scott is weaker and that he will  not win. Video game and comic like post-production editing is used in order to further create the image of it being like a video game including non-diegetic sound, a pinhole frame around Ramona and a split screen to create more tension without it being too heavy. A dramatic 5 person split screen is also used to emphasise how shocked everybody is as Scott gets killed. A similar fight scene is used throughout the movie - further using Roland Barthes' narrative enigma code and action code to create mystery and tension while following the genre code of intellectual puzzles. Representation within this clip appears to stereotype as the women (Ramona and Knives) fight over Scott - showing stereotypical behaviour before it turns out he cheated on both of them. Equilibrium is clearly disrupted, as in the previous clip as Scott ends up dead.