Poster Analysis

Both of these posters have very similar layout out and character representation.

This is England uses the colours red, white and blue in the title which links to it as they are the colours of the union jack. This gives the audience a strong sense of what the film is about just by seeing the colour of the title and the title itself. The layout of the poster has the characters at the bottom half of the poster which suggests that as important as the characters are throughout the film, there are other factors that are also important. This is shown through the metal fencing they are stood in front of that is separating them from the houses that we see in the background. The title is placed above their heads in very large printed letters. The font is also done so that it has the effect that it is printed onto the metal fence which suggests that it is permanent and also that they are possible the gates to England and the gang are the guards of it. The characters are stood in a long line, showing they are a united gang. Even though the characters do have similarities in clothes for example the boys are skin heads, they wear the same boots and jeans and shirts, and they are all stood in their own individual position which shows that even though they are part of a gang, they each have an individual identity. The colours they are wearing consist of blues, blacks, whites and red where this shows that even the colours of the title are leaking into what they wear. The tag line reads “Summer 1983. A time to stand out from the crowd.” This gives the audience a greater understanding of what to expect from the film, such as the idea that they are a group that are trying to form their own identity with new values and appearance that will be new to this time period.

The Quadrophenia poster also includes the colours red white and blue which makes the audience aware that it is a British film. It has the target in the middle of the ‘Q’ which is the same symbol of the band ‘The Who’ which were also popular during this time which makes us understand what they are representing. The title is in colour which makes it stand out from the background image. The tagline “ A way of life” font is almost as if someone has written it on the poster which represents the rebellious side of the gang. The image is in Black and white which maybe trying to suggest that their gang is simple and straight forward. The audience may also think the film is black and white. The group are stood in front of a wooden fence which again suggests separation from something or they are like guards trying to keep the audience out. Again the characters are stood in a line to show they are a united force but each have their individual personality which is shown their clothes. Some dressed in long rain coats and others in full suits, which suggests that they are professionals. The clothes can also be a sign of their gang and also link to fashion during that time. There are only two girls in the poster which shows that it is a male dominated film, and as neither of them are stood at the end of the line, the men protect them from harm.