Luciana M. PereiraProfessor Helen DossEnglish Composition 102 C8Film Poster Analysis

American History X

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Outline

• Synopsis• Film`s Thesis & My Thesis

• Quick View to the 3 Posters• Slide 1- USA• Slide 2- Germany• Slide 3- Korea• Comparing the Slides• Conclusion- Most Effective • Conclusion- Less Effectives• Works Cited

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American History X

Synopsis

American History X is a story about two

young brothers, Derek (Edward Norton), who is a

skinhead and leader of a Neo-Nazi group, and

Danny (Edward Furlong), his little brother. They

have their lives transformed after Derek kills two

black men and goes to jail for 3 years. After many

situations in jail, Derek changes his concepts and

back to the streets he decides to keep his

brother far from that violent world. Pereira 3

Film`s Thesis

My Own Thesis

The main point of the film is that racism does not make anybody’s life better. But contrarily, can put you and everything that you have and love down, transforming lives forever because of violence.

The film is successful in presenting and convincing its audience because the choices made by the director, Kaye, (actors, narrative style, setting, music, and colors) are cleaver, and everything in this plot is used as a way to remember the audience that this is a film about racism, even though some meanings are inferred in the scenes.

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Quick View to the 3 Posters

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Intended AudienceMost men over 17 years old that like drama, violent movies, and real stories that happen in our society.

Central Message of the PosterThe message of it is how proud these two young men are to be part of a Neo-Nazi group and they defend with honor the supremacism regime.

Slide 1

USA

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Slide 1

USA

Skinheads

Respect

Calm but proud

SwastikaLoyalty

Powerful ideology

EthosPathos

To use black and

white.

To show the main

characters of the film.

To mix photographic with painting.

White Skin

Black and white has opposite meanings

Designer choses to:

To show the symbols of

Nazism.

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Slide 1

USA

Kairos

Logos

1

3

2The Swastika and

skinheads convinces us that

the movie is about

supremacism.

Audience is convinced that

the focus of this film will be in

Norton`s character.

Once that it has Neo-Nazis, the film

also involves violence and heavy

scenes.

And Furlong will appears

in second plan.

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Slide 2

Germany

Intended AudienceAdults, male that like American movies that involves action and also some kind of drama.

ER IST SEIN BRUDER. UND SEIN OPFER.

Translation for English:HE IS HIS BROTHER. AND HIS VICTIM.

Central Message of the PosterIt`s a story about a man that is involved with violence, making his own brother his victim.

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Slide 2

Germany

Ethos

Pathos

To show the main

characters of the film.

To keep its main colors

red and black.

To mix photographic

with painting.

Seriousness

Protection

Red color = Power, Danger.

Hidden

Young guys

Imposes himself

To hide the Swastika or

Nazism` symbols clearly.

Fearless

Black color = Death

Designer choses to:

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Slide 2

Germany

Kairos

Logos

Designer convinces us that is just an

American movie.

That it is a drama with two

brothers.

Norton is the first main

character that will protects his

brother.

It has nothing with Neo-

Nazism and Germany`s past.

1 2

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Slide 3

Korea

Intended AudienceAdults, most male that enjoy American violent movies, but also that involves justice.

The poster translation for English is, “Describing again a story of violence.”

Central Message of the PosterIt`s another violent American story that involves a young man, but justice will be make in the end.

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Slide 3

Korea

To remove the character`s swastika.

Ethos

To show Derek in his position

when arrested, with

handcuffs.

To mix photographic

with painting.

To use shades of

gray.

Gray= color between black

and white; undecided; in

transition.

To show just Derek in the

it.

Pathos

Not so proud!

Powerless

Impotent

Feckless

Designer choses to:

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Slide 3

Korea

Kairos

Logos

Audience is convinced that is

a story about violence and

crime.

Norton is a criminal guy.

About an American story

that is not involved with other country.

Norton will pay in jail for his crimes.

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3

Comparing the slides

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It shows how proud they

are/were for this ideology.

Conclusion - Most Effective

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Because it shows the Nazism symbols,

mainly the Swastika (does not hide information).

Danny always behind Derek, as a way to show that Derek is

his brother influence for bad or good.

It uses black and white as in

the movie scenes in the

past.

The name of the film is in a

visible size.

It shows both main characters once that the film is

about both brothers.

It makes clear that the movie is about

intolerance, so involves violence.

It makes clear in images the thesis of the

film.

Conclusion- Less Effectives

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* In a way to get the audience in Germany and Korea, the designers of these posters opted to hide Derek`s swastika Tattoo, but hiding information many times can be a problem, causing a lot of bad critics and reviews, once that the media was not clear enough with the audience.

It hides the symbols of

Nazism, ignoring the past in

German`s history and how sad was

the Holocaust.

It shows just Derek, even

though Danny is also a main character.

The name of the film is too small.

However, uses well the

handcuff on his hand , which

shows punishment.

Uses well the two brothers, showing

that Derek is Danny`s influence, for good or

bad.

Uses well the red and black colors (Danger

and Death).

Works Cited

American History X. Advertisiment. www.nordicposters.com. 22 Oct. 2013

American History X. Advertisiment. www.moviepostersdb.com. 22 Oct. 2013

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