'1984' Poster Deconstruction

This poster has an emphasised difference between the background and the foreground.
Background:
- consists of mainly black and grey,
- a drab wall, implies the destitution of the characters and their reduced quality of life.
- creates a grungy, realism ambiance for the narrative creating a social stage of a dystopian, crumbling society.

Telescreen
- the boarders almost divide the poster into thirds,
-representative of the technological advancement Orwell predicted of the future
- the film grain or static over the image of Big Brother also supports this
- this is an iconic set piece from the novel.

Not only is this poster then playing on the iconic status of the novel (this version of the film was filmed and released in the year of 1984) but it is also setting up the world of the film.

This poster still works today because of the narratives relevance to our society. Eerily many of Orwell’s prediction came into being.
For example:
- CCTV cameras instead of telescreens,
- advanced computers and,
- in communist dictatorships, constant war as a form of economic oppression.

Big Brother:

Inside the telescreen are the watchful eyes of ‘Big Brother’, the presidential figure, made almost into an idol.
- A portion of his face fills the screen
- clearly his intense gaze is the focus of this poster.
- staring out of the poster at the potential consumer, thereby drawing them into the poster and the film world, and also at the two characters in the foreground.

Colour:
- stylised blocking of colour, with the rusty red blending into black, gives BB striking features and reinforces the idea of a malevolent presence.
- the rust red used on Big Brother’s face, whereas his appears more dramatic can be seen to symbolise anger or blood,
- black surrounding him and at points reaching his eyes is perhaps indicative of his dark inner-most thoughts or intentions presenting him as the clear antagonist.

Central Foreground Characters:
- The positioning of these two indicates that they are the protagonists.
- light/dark contrast on all three of the images on the poster which potentially mirrors the conflicts of truth within the narrative.

- Their indistinguishable outfits create a focus on their faces and by extension their emotions and body language.
- Julia’s neck is completely exposed by the arching of her back and her skin white and flawless which highlights her youth and is a great show of trust and sensuality.

- Her face is therefore at a lower level than Winston’s implying that he is the main character and placing her in the role of love interest.
- Winston is contrasted with Julia,
- leaning forward into her
- it appears that he is grasping her which connotes to possessiveness or protectiveness.
- very little physical space shown between their two bodies highlighting their unity and/or deep connection.

- Winston’s expression is hard to read, yet the almost softness of his features immediately contrasts him with the face of Big Brother.
- He is looking at Julia
- suggested emotions: worry or desire,
- sepia tint of the characters is a softer/lighter version of the paler rust red used on Winston and Julia seems to show vitality and passion.

Logo:

- a symbol or brand for the film
- The red ‘V’, for victory, behind the title
-In the narrative the characters smoke Victory cigarettes and drink Victory gin - poor substitutes for the real thing
- Victory is ironic, through this government the characters have lost everything - only The Party has gained.
- A connection or contrast between this red ‘V’ and the red ‘V’ used later in the film ‘V for Vendetta’  could perhaps be found.

Title:

- At the top of the poster
-
- look like house numbers,
- casting large shadows for an ominous effect.
- This area at the top uses all three of the theme colours in the poster, red, white/grey and black 

The whole image together creates a Sci-Fi, Thriller, Romance impression.

The white numbers or ‘1984’ have thick black outlines,