Beaver Falls website analysis

Beaver Falls website analysis

The signified item in question is the homepage of the 'Beaver falls' website. Multiple signifiers are used to portray meaning and increase appeal of the show to the target audience. The central image (in a denotative sense), is a close up shot of the character of ‘Flynn’ (one of the three main characters from the show) with an out of focus background in an extremely high key lighted environment.  The use of the lighting and background in this image, causes a great amount of attention to be drawn to the character in question. Within the show, this particular character is considered to be the attractive one amongst the main characters, by female characters within the show. The choice of this character within the central image, appeals to the audience in two ways: firstly it appeals to the female target audience because when choosing the character whom is considered to have the most sex appeal to them, the show is connoted overall to have a more desirable theme to it. In relation to the male section of the target audience, by choosing this character whom is portrayed as ‘cool’,  the male side of the audience may well forge a link between this character and themselves,thus achieving a higher social status, by in turn watching the show. This choice in character ultimately creates appeal for the show, as it plays into the well known phrase ‘women want him' and 'men want to be him.’ This helps to market the show successfully to the audience, as it causes elements of the show to become desirable. The background image of a pale white cabin from the camp in which the show is set,  also helps to create an appeal to the audience. The fact that the cabin is white and plain, signifies that the setting itself is somewhat irrelevant in the narrative and the elements of escapism within the show. This in turn suggests that the characters are what will ultimately make the show popular (which ties in with the central image).This creates somewhat of an enigma, as it leaves many to question what may happen in the show, and subsequently may lead to more viewers and a wider target audience. Finally,  the choice of thumbnails for video links on the page (one of the characters getting married), provides anchorage within the drama genre for the show, as the event in question which is being pictured, is something that is typically thought of as something that (while still a happy and light-hearted occasion, which supports the comedic element of the show)  effects a large amount of a person’s life, and is stereo typically used in drama to amplify certain aspects, or to play across dramatic plot turning points.

The recurring use of the cabin as a background image to base the content of the page on, (especially due to the fact that upon the page is links to videos which contain footage of the events from the show), continues to connote that there are other elements of the show that will be more significant and appealing to the audience.  The use of the ability to comment and leave opinions on the videos that are available on this section of the site, causes the users of the site (who are largely the target audience and viewers of the show), to feel as if they have a more established and personal relationship with the show itself, which contributes to a more immersive experience for the audience. The use of the colour purple, (throughout both pages and indeed the entirety of the website), creates a non-gender specific appeal on the website. This ties in with the choice of central image on the home page, as it widens the parameters of the target audience. The choice of central image on this page, depicting a scoreboard for some kind of game, creates appeal and enigma for the audience. The connotation of this sign of competitiveness, provides anchorage and signification of the drama aspect of the show, with the competitive element, due to its ambiguity in not displaying what the ‘game’ is, thus leaving the enigma to be created, whether a more significant aspect is being competed over. In contrast to this, the light hearted element of the show is also signified, due to the associations with light hearted and fun games like football etc. that signs like this have to them.