Textual Analysis of Pretty Little Liars

Textual analysis of Pretty little liars TV Drama

Pretty little liars is a TV show Based on a book by Sara Shepard that consists a of vary of different angle shots, sizes and movements for storylines to make the reader engaged for exampleI’m looking at season 1 episode 1 a 5 minute section of where they used both an establishing shot and long shot to set the scene and to show where the characters hangout, they used a sound effectsi.e.thunder to that could symbolize trouble and danger.  The screen goes wavy and black and white when the plotshow events that have taken place earlier (flashback) then moves forward in time to show the current scene the camera changes color.

Characters

.                                       Alison Dilaurentis

.                                       Hanna Marin

.                                       Spencer Hastings

.                                       Emily Fields

.                                       Aria Montgomery.

Digetic and Non-Digetic sound :iThey use Non-digetic sound to add tension to the climax in scene 00:50 they a slow a more upbeat song to connote an idea of  danger  fear and horror .In scene 1:34 they use Digetic sound i.e. when there’s a ringtone its often recognised as a text message from a person mysteriously known as ‘A’ .

Theme song:  Theme song represents the idea of mystery and dangers of keeping secrets.in the theme song the lyrics are ‘Got a secret can you keep it swear this one you’ll save …………better lock it in your pocket taking this one to the grave’ .the props they use in the theme song are a mannequin to represent someone body, coffin to represent death. During the theme song the camera focuses changes the angle of it does a close up on the nails then it does a close on the lips and the shirt  to show the dead body is getting dressed for it funeral. they do an establish shot of all the characters   then do zoom in on a head shot of Aria Montgomery .

Mise en scene: In pretty little liars they used different types of props in scene 2:34 they used a news paper article and a few leave to set the mood and make the audience focus on the missing girl. They also used

Editing:  In the Pretty Little Liars there is a lot of cutting from one scene to another it’s just to show one persons point of view i.e. in scene 3:45 when two people are talking they cut the scene short this makes the audience want to know more about what going on