The symbols used in the media text are more obvious than in the play text this is because you can visualize them instead of imagining them. Symbols such as the crucifix, garlic and stake are known to ward of evil as mentioned before. The symbol “stake through heart” is used in media text and in film Dracula, where as in the film Van Helsing they use the myth that vampires should be bitten by werewolves to die. In the film Dracula by Bram Stoker the crucifix is being dropped ad smashed in to pieces this is blasphemy this instantly creates the image that they are going against Christian beliefs.
The media text shows the characteristics between good and evil by giving the dull clothes and having eerie music playing when it’s their role for the evil and for the good they would be wearing brighter clothes than the evil. An example would be Dracula; you can see that he wears a long dull black coat in Van Helsing with a dull black t-shirt inside this can represent evil. Whereas in Dracula by Bram Stoker has Dracula wearing a bright red robe this could mean the sign of warning, danger, alert. The colour red is used in both films to show the meaning of danger, warning and anger. In the film Dracula, Jonathan Harker is in the train on his way to Dracula’s castle and he sees Mina…through a red light he then sees the eye of a peacock feather on the other side of this peacock feather is Dracula. This symbol shows the evil eye of Dracula. Dracula is surrounded by red when remembering him. This shows a sign of danger. Although in the play text the evil eye of the peacock is not mentioned it still makes an appearance in the media to give the effect that Dracula is not good he is evil, also adding on the effect of the gothic genre.
The setting of the media text and play text has great effect on the reader/viewer. This is because they use pathetic fallacy and they use gothic architecture, also using camera angles. Pathetic fallacy creates a major influence to the image created in the viewers mind. Obviously pathetic fallacy cannot be used in plat text but they describe the setting of the place well enough.
The gothic architecture would be used to add to the eeriness of the setting. In the film Van Helsing a lot of gothic architecture is used, especially when Dracula’s castle is in the scene or when they are in a village. Camera angles are a major importance in media text, although not shown in play text. Camera angles would set the scene, they would give you the feeling you are there, and they make you feel either bigger or smaller than the character or setting. For example, in the film Dracula there is a scene when cameras are on Renfield. They show that he is in a cramped position by having the camera angle further away from him and closer to the ground. This gives the image he is not happy.
Lighting also is another major impotency in the media text. Lighting has to be used efficiently to get
