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  • Writer's pictureJacob Martins

Movie Poster Analysis



Binary Opposition is 2 concepts that are opposite in meaning. It is often used to define good vs evil.

This is seen in the Joker movie poster, where his face is divided between 2 identities, one normal and one twisted; in Minority Report, her and the 2 agents could be working for different sides making it good vs evil; in Blood, there is the divide between land and sea; in Final Destination you have a tired looking person and a skull, life and death; in Look Away a hand is cleaning the fog in the mirror, this reveals another identity, a dark secret perhaps?


Proairetic/Action codes are something that disrupts the narrative, they introduce new problems which progress the story. An action that is caused by a previous event then leads to other events.

These are found in Minority Report, with the running and the ziplining; in Blood, with the fire and the incoming ship; in Final Destination, with the falling glass broken by a gunshot; in the One Shot poster, with the gun being held.


Hermeneutic/Enigma codes raise questions. They are elements that are not explained and leave the viewer wondering. Usually, stories will hold back details in order to make the final revelation more impactful.

These are present in all the posters shown. Most of these posters make us question something. Why is the glass broken? Why is their face painted? Why is he running? Is he chasing someone or being chased? Why are they in uniforms? Are they on the same team? Why is there fire? Why are they standing there? Where is the ship going? What else is the smoke hiding? Why is there a skull? Why is there blood? Why is it fogged? Who is wiping it? Why is she pointing a gun? Why is there a blue light? Why did she fire the gun? What is it hiding? Who are they?

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