keywords

Action code - a narrative structure based on a dramatic sequence of events, often leading to a violent resolution. In ‘The Sopranos’ there are many problems that resolved through murders and violence as “Tracee” and other women and men, like Ralph Ciferetto.

Anti-hero – the protagonist in a narrative who lacks the qualities of an archetypal hero but nevertheless attracts the sympathy and support of the audience or reader. In the sopranos Tony Soprano is the anti-hero as when Tracee is killed he takes up the responsibility of confronting Ralph and beating him, his own foot soldier.

Big close up – a close up camera shot, particularly of an actor’s face, showing prominent detail and facial expression as a means of creating intimacy and audience engagement with the thoughts and the emotions of the character. Big close ups are often used in the sopranos as it depicts the angry emotions of characters such as Ralph or Tony Soprano, when at the psychiatrist or beating his gumar.

Connotation – a meaning attributable to an image beyond the obvious denotation level. Such meanings may be metaphorical, symbolical or culturally generated and will vary in line with the cultural background and attitudes, beliefs and values of the individual viewing the material. There are many connotations in the sopranos of the mise en scene such aspects as props and costumes.

Construction – the process by the creation of all media texts. All texts are the product of decisions relating to selection and are constrained and defined by the criteria used for that purpose, the choice available, and the order in which the elements are combined. The text is constructed in certain ways to connote meanings to the audience for example Carmela cut off the scene when having oral sex, connoting patriarchal dominance.

Channel 4 – independent commercial television channel established in 1982 under the independent broadcasting authority. Channel 4 developed a reputation for cutting edge and challenging programming, often drawing criticism from television watchdog groups such as mediawatch. Additionally channel 4 is funded by advertising companies, so they can broadcast shows and dramas such as the sopranos. The channel is known for broadcasting documentaries and American dramas.

Denotation – the first and the simplest level of meaning of an image, e.g. the mise en scene in the scene when Tracee is beaten to death there is trash connoting white trailer park trash, or wearing a revealing dress.

Feminism – political movement to advance the status of women by challenging values, social constructions and socioeconomic practices which disadvantage women and favour men. The movement emerged from the liberation culture of the 1960’s, although individual feminists argued for women’s rights from a much earlier time. Characters such as Carmela and DR. Melfi are enforcing the ideologies of strong and independent.

Marxist feminism – a feminist perspective which sees capitalism as the principal source of gender inequalities. In a capitalist class hierarchy, women are seen as being subordinate to men and serving the male workforce in terms of low-paid, low status employment and unpaid domestic labour. Domestic violence against women is seen to be the result of powerless male workforce exercising its frustration on the female sex rather than directing it at the class system. In the sopranos the housewives have no work so are not paid and the strippers are at the bottom of the social hierarchy due to their job.