How do particular media products

establish characterisation?

By Saffron Lee

Establishing the Protagonist

Protagonists are characters who play the ‘lead’ role. However, they have to maintain qualities about them which are likeable so that, as audiences we

stay on board.

-I have found, that protagonists have to be able to connect with us deeply, so that we strive for their best outcome and are perhaps saddened when the

outcome is not what we want.

-Possibly the character with the most screen time, but more so a character where we are exposed to their personal side and we are able to follow their

journey.

-Films establish their protagonists in different ways, just because they are playing the ‘likeable’ role doesn’t necessary mean that their role within the

film is morally ‘good’.

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Challenging the Audience Many films portray their protagonist as the ‘bad guy’ however they have a level of depth which, we as audiences connect with and we find ourselves supporting the typical ‘villain’.

Leon: The Professional (Opening Sequence)

The opening of the film, challenges our perceptions because we witness a shoot out between three men.

We instantly associate this with the villains of the movie, however as you watch on we realise that the protagonist is in fact the hit man, Leon. Through this

Besson was able to establish his main character through an action scene, and without the need for

dialogue. By the action he is associated with and the chosen costume, we already have a perceived notion of his characterisation as an antagonist but as the film develops we see him become a man with a good heart

and as audiences we strive for his outcome to be good.

Submarine – Opening SequenceThis film uses great examples of mise en scene to illustrate Oliver Tate’s character:

• The books and posters on the wall indicate an intellectual and creative personality – and we begin to recognise his age before we have met him, possibly as a growing teenager. By the use of smaller

furniture, it is clear he lives with his parents and that this is the bedroom he grew up in.

• The skeleton and tripod gives his character a new depth suggesting that he has a interest in science and film, this goes against the stereotypical teenager, who usually dislikes work and is

lazy.

Antagonists don’t necessary have to be the villain of the film – some are good people who happen to just play along side the protagonist.

-However, they shouldn’t be AS powerful forces as the protagonists – we as audiences must believe that they can be eventually defeated.

- Typically films establish antagonists as someone who is in conflict with the protagonist, and we either don’t care or wish for their outcome to be bad.

-Similarly to how films challenge who we think is the protagonist they can challenge who we believe is the antagonist.

Establishing the Antagonist

The Dark Knight Rises – Opening Sequence

• The use of masks, adds a hidden identity which contributes towards the tension of the movie, and the fear of the unknown. Initially we consider them as the antagonists of

the film.

• The bright bold colours of the masks go against their actions of violence which heightens the unsettling nature of the film. However, our initial predictions of what is to come, is switched when they all plan to kill one another. Here is a prime example of

how films challenge our first judgments and keep us interested to see who is the antagonist.