Star Wars The Phantom Menace Codes and Conventions
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Star Wars: The Essay Menace
In Star Wars: The Phantom Menace George Lucas, producer, director, and writer, uses many different codes and conventions to portray his message that good triumphs over evil. Codes and conventions in television and movie media can be split into two different categories: technical codes, which range into camera techniques, framing, lighting, and positioning of the camera, people and objects; and symbolic codes, dealing with colour, clothing, setting, objects, background music and language.
One of the primary codes used is background music. It sets the mood for a scene and leaves the viewer with a particular feeling or impression. Soft relaxing music plays during romantic scenes, while very fast and exciting music plays during fight scenes to totally thrill and capture the audience. One of the most famous pieces of music ever made for Star Wars was the Imperial March, played during the most evil and dark parts of the movie. If an enemy ship is moving through space or Darth Sidious, Dark Lord of the Sith, has just entered the room then there is a good chance the imperial march is playing which intensifies and excites the moment for the audience. You can always tell the evil characters from the good characters just by the music that is playing. An example of background music setting the moment would be the end fight scene involving Obi Wan Kenobi and Qui Gon Gin against Darth Maul. At the beginning, the music is very fast and exciting but slows down as Qui Gon Gin's death approaches...