Analyse how camera is used to create meaning in a media product you have studied (12) X-Factor exam practice.

Analyse how camera is used to create meaning in a media product you have studied (12)

In the X-Factor episode, the power of the camera work lays an important role in establishing a sense of meaning for the singer Ella Henderson.

For example, the way in which the camera is used to create meaning for Ella Henderson in her X-Factor audition is by using a combination of close up shots, shallow depth of field and the slow tracking shots isolates and focuses the contestant. It also shows her face and how nervous she was during her audition, as well as create tension, nervousness, a feeling of closeness and a feeling of empathy for the singer to the audiences watching at home and in the arena. Also the close ups that show her family, specifically her dad crying over her singing, makes the audience feel sad and sympathy for her and her family. As well as happy for them when they see the possible excitement if she goes through to the next round. 

Another way that tension is created is by the way that the camera does a swift sweeping long shot to show the body language of the singer, and allows the audience to see how big the stage is, which then reflects how big the arena is and how small it makes the contestant look compared to the rest of the stage. Rick Altman states that the audience consumes media for different reasons, one of these reasons being emotional pleasure. The intensely of the show allows the audience to watch the show on the edge of their seats especially for a singer like Ella Henderson because of the amount of tension that has been built around her, through the close ups and the audience wanting her to go through to the next round and do well on the show. 

The way that the camera creates a sense of tension, through an extreme long shot reflects the fact that auditioning for the X-Factor and singing in front of hundreds and millions of people, both in the actual arena and on television, is a petrifying thing to do and that the singer is most likely nervous, which makes the people watching feel nervous for her, which again is linked to Rick Altams theory of having some sort of pleasure when watching a film or television show. In this case the audience is most likely to feel emotional pleasure as they are nervous and have empathy for Ella Henderson, as well as feeling joy and happines for her when she goes through to the next round.