Preferred, Oppositional and Negotiated Readings
All media texts can be "read" three ways. These are called preferred, oppositional and negotiated..
A preferred reading is the meaning or message the director wants you to have. What the director wants you to see in a film.
An oppositional reading is the opposite meaning or the message the audience/ individual might take. Disagreeing with the film's messages and values.
The negotiated reading is a combination of the two (preferred and oppositional). Blending your own reading of a film with an understanding of what the director wants to say.
Make notes on four typical characters:
Pay attention to these four important areas:
- Clothing
- Camera angle
- Actions
- Sound
