Research

We have studied various opening title sequences, one of them being Six Feet Under. this is a TV show, even though we know this information, I have learnt certain features contained within the title sequence.



Close - ups dominate the title sequence, this is for the audience to question why the subject is being represented in this way. E.g. There was a close - up of the feet with a tag on the big toe, to focus on the tag, which suggested it was a dead human being.

Animation was used in this title sequence, on two occasions, this made the titles more interesting for the audiences viewing. These were, the credits chiseled onto the grave stone, and the name above and below the line on the embalming fluid. Also at the end of the title sequence the animation of the tree suggested to the audience the cycle of life and it also related to the name of the TV show Six Feet Under.

Use of music at impact points, this helps to catch the audiences attention. Also it gives the audience a sense of knowledge that some parts of the programme will take place in a hospital. E.g. the trolley wheel, this turned rapidly, which made the audience aware of where it was going, another impact on music is when the image of the flower slowly dies, the music gets louder.


Secondly we looked at the opening title sequence to Dexter.



There is one main similarity in Dexter to Six Feet Under, this being Close - ups. Close - ups are used in dexter to manipulate the audiences view on the reality of the programme. E.g. Dexter starts to cut the meat which the audience are put under false pretenses, they are led to believe that it is flesh. Then the audience are re-assured when he fries the ham in the frying pan, and then he eats it. The tension is then later resumed when he cuts his egg and the ketchup spurts out onto the plate, this suggests to the audience blood, even though we know it is ketchup.

Union of the correct sound with the correct image, this represents power. E.g. when the blood droplets falls into the sink, a triangle is played to draw the attention to the blood droplet which then creates power.