Mass Media Analysis of 'Knives Out' for CMNS130A Assignment

This assignment analyzes the film 'Knives Out' through the lens of mass media concepts. The student explores the use of Mise en scene, examining the arrangement of props to convey meaning, such as the significance of knives in the film. The Kuleshov effect is discussed, highlighting how the juxtaposition of shots creates meaning, particularly through the detective's interrogations. Modes of address are analyzed, focusing on how textual elements direct the audience's interpretation. The concept of flow, as defined by Mihály Csíkszentmihályi, is applied to the film's narrative structure, emphasizing the interconnectedness of scenes. Cultural imperialism is examined through the portrayal of immigrant characters and their treatment by the family. Finally, echo chambers are discussed, illustrating how the film manipulates audience perception and reinforces certain beliefs about the characters. The assignment demonstrates a comprehensive understanding of these media concepts and their application to 'Knives Out'.

Assignment on the Mass media
Assignment on the Mass media
Name of the student
Roll number
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Assignment on the Mass media
Mise en scene
This term defines the arrangement of the scene. What the movie or show is trying to convey by
the arrangement of the props. Like if the whole movie is romantic then they shall be using mild
beautiful objects like flower, books, library or cake in the scene. Where after every shot the hero
will be trying to impress the actress. The setting of the surrounding of the set of the film defines
the term Mise en scene.
The movie under analysis is “ knives out” it was released in November 2019. It’s a mysterious
thriller story about the death of a famous novelist Harlan Thrombey. The irony of the movie is
that the novelist who is the center of the movie was very much fascinated by the knives and he
had master piece constructed of the knives in the middle of the home. He was a very bossy
person and in his extended family he used to make rules for everyone. The detective played by
Benoit Blanc ties to unravel the case of the murder mystery of the novelist and makes everyone
the suspects in his house. The knife is the prop that indicates the family bitterness for each other
and the murder object. The knives also depict the novelist point of view regarding his own
sharpness and his anger for his family.
Knives in the background and even in front of Harlan

Assignment on the Mass media
The Kuleshov effect
The Kuleshov effect is very commonly used in film editing effect. It is a psychological
phenomenon by which viewers tries to find more meaning from the interaction of two sequential
shots instead of single shot in isolation. Daniel Craig who is playing Benoit Blanc the famous
private detective is show in the beginning of the scene interrogating the suspects and showing
how he is observing their answers, body language and pause that they take while replying. In
whole of movie the scene where the detective is trying to figure out the point of murder and how
he keep his facial expression same throughout the interrogation is building the seriousness in the
movie. At all points when interacts each of the family member he uses his intense look to create
a suspense in the atmosphere where at any point the person accepts his crime. By looking at each
of the scene where we find Daniel Craig we think that the killer is the person he is interrogating.
In each of the scene we see him intensifying his role. And there the audience is convinced that
the person is the murderer even when he is not.
His intense look throughout the movie

Assignment on the Mass media
Modes of address
Mode of Address is a very interesting term that is not about words or acting but it’s about a prop
placement. Its about how the text expresses to the audience, and get them involved in the story.
A text on book, paper or anything that influences the audience to think that is the answer to the
mystery in the movie. They start to imagine in that direction and tries to find the meaning of the
text or the book with such label. In short the writing speaks to the viewer. There can be direct or
indirect mode of address with text directing towards the killer, or the young people who are in
the movie or trying to elaborate about the ongoing change in the movie.
At one instance when the nurse played by the protagonist Marta Cabrera (Ana de Armas) is
spooked by a torn report paper and a message on it saying that “I know what you did” gives the
story to a text representation. The scene tells the audience to think that the murder is marta. She
has done it on purpose and killed Harlan. But the fact is slightly different still with this method
director turns the interest of the movie to a different direction.
The turning point in the movie with this letter

Assignment on the Mass media
Flow
A movie is successful only when there is a flow in the movie. A continuous meeting of dot to dot
and creating a fair picture of what actually the movies or the story was about. The concept of
flow was defined by Mihály Csíkszentmihályi. It refers to a mental state in which a person is
fully immersed in a specific action. The mind is psychologically impressed to think that each
scene in the show or movie is interlinked with the final result. The beauty of flow only makes the
movie a successful saga. In movies there are two way or one way one step flow theory. In one
way flow theory communication process of the mass media communicates directly to the mass
audience. The influence on the audience is big, that the audience gets influenced by the media
and not by other factors.
In the movie whole of the scenes are complementing each other. The specific scene where the
protagonist Marta gives wrong injection to the novelist and then ho they try to hide it so that she
is not convicted is very gripping. The flow of the movie starts to build from this scene and
influences the audience to think whether it is a planned murder or a mistake. They keep the
motion and action in one form. That directs the audience to think the directing the media wants.
Marta gave wrong injection and the story of murder suspense beginnings.

Assignment on the Mass media
Cultural imperialism
It’s a well known term which is not just limited to media but is used in general. The cultural
imperialism deals with one culture impact or influence on another culture. It’s a same way where
one name is deemed to adopt the culture of its immigrant or vice versa. It has all started with past
political or social project with colonising culture was popular on the indigenous culture. Through
mass media it depicts how one culture is adopted or forced on the other by also spreading a
positive or negative message. After globalisation its is seen in the movie culture that they adopt it
extensively to express their views. It also helps in building the background and plot of the movie.
A message or cultural value that is transmitted from one culture to another through mass media is
Cultural imperialism.
At one point when the whole family is debating about the immigrants and their contribution to
their country the Don Johnson the son in law gives a message that any immigrant is not as equal
as the county’s own population. They have to serve the national to gain the similar position in the
society. They are not equal and don’t the rights to be treated nicely. Even at the end of the movie
Marta the immigrant has all the property by the novelist and proves that to gain the similar rights
one does not have to be working like a servant.
Marta is treated like servant in this conversation as she is a migrant

Assignment on the Mass media
Echo chambers
In media, echo chamber is a description of a plot where one is made to belief that whatever is
shown or spoken is true. An amplified or reinforced message sent by communication and
repetition inside a closed system. An echo chamber people are able to find out information that
reinforces their views, unconsciously confirming the belief. Several times that increase social
and political polarization. The concepts speak about how individuals are exposed to content even
when may have clashing opinions and might use it interchangeably. The echo chamber is used
extensively in horror, mysterious or politically influenced movies. The audience is made to
believe and forced to accept the opinion of the writer.
Similarly in the movie the audience were kept with the opinion that non one but Marta is the
killer. She did it on purpose so that she can claim all the property by influencing the Novelist. At
one point in the scene where she meet Jaeden Martell who convinces her to tell the truth with
trick and then bends the audiences view from him to her that not he but Marta is the culprit. The
movie echo this till the end o the movie by giving hints that Marta has some hidden secret and
she has killed Harlan Thrombey.
Marta is made to believe that she is the culprit in front of the police.