Media Theory I want to use:

    Hi Cambridge! So today, I did more in-depth research on media theories and found one that I definitely want to use in my opening... It's the representation theory by Stuart Hall. 

Hall, S. (1997). Representation: Cultural representations and signifying practices. Sage Publications.

In class, we had already discussed this theory and it's part of the list my teacher gave us, so I'm already familiar with it. It's also a commonly used theory in the Coming-of-Age genre so it's perfect for me! Here's a video I watched for more info. It explains how media doesn't just reflect reality, but it also creates it with signs and symbols. This theory stuck with me because Coming-of-Age relies a lot on visual cues to portray the character's personality/identity.

Mrs. Fisher. (2019). Media Studies – Stuart Hall’s Representation Theory – Simple Guide for Students & Teachers [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/HxK5CXfKSCI

The representation theory works perfectly for my idea for the opening. It's going to be called "So Over It," and it follows a rebellious teenage girl who's been pushed past her breaking point and decides to run away. So, instead of being dialogue heavy, I want the audience to understand her emotions through mise-en-scene. I'd show her messy room, posters on the wall, her makeup, her music, and how frantic she is when she's packing. All of these elements are 'signs' that represent her emotions of being overwhelmed. 

Here's a picture of the handout of theories my teacher gave my class.