Section 2 : Jaws Analysis Notes

Movement/Expression

The group of friends seem passionate, and are enjoying themselves and having fun in the small community. The factor of drugs and drink are helping with this point, as they are all relaxed and laid back. When the two characters are running, it shows the guy has desperation to catch the girl and make these two characters stand out as the two main characters. They all have scraggy, messed up hair .. symbolising that they dont really care about their looks and dont seem to care what they are doing, shown by the girl going swimming without a care in the world for what may be out there. Also, when they are running, the breathing and panting is over-emphasised to symbolise the boundary between life and death.


Settings/Props
The setting seems to be at dusk or sunset, or possibly early morning as though they have been out all night. This could show they could be tired as weak and not able to make rational and logical decisions, such as the girl going to swim in the sea. Also the setting is a small community around a campfire, which could show that the campfire is the safety zone, and if you explore and go further out, there is danger. Also a sunset is shown, which could be the sun setting in the evening - showing the end of something, possibly the life of the girl. There could of been a beach party there, that is what it looks like - there is a central fire creating lots of smoke, suggesting the future or events that are about to take place are mysterious or shrouded. There is also some people playing guitar and a harmonica, giving a peaceful and relaxed, warm and homely ambience to the setting/ group of friends. When she gets attacked, she grabs the buoy, as though it acts as a false sense of security, or a false hope, to comfort her, but she knows it will not save her. There is massive contrast from this to the next shot, where he is lying on the beach, singing, and it is very calm.

Character/Function
The group of friends are in safety in numbers and act as the safety zone. They are smoking, drinking, taking advantage of free love, and socialising, showing they are comfortable and dont need to venture out of the safety boundary. However the girl seems to be rejected from the group from the start so maybe she is adventurous to begin with, to want to venture out. She also acts as the bait for the shark, innocent and childish as she flails drunken towards the beach. She also comes across as the purity symbol, very innocent and you dont expect anything to happen to someone like her. The guy is forcing her to run and chasing her, as though he is chasing her out of the group, however he just wants to catch her, as we know by him shouting "Whats your name?!" as he has just met her for the first time. The eye contact between these two characters, across the camp , before they meet shows the passion between them, or what there could be between them. She also has a very childish voice shouting "Im not drunk!", when she clearly is. She is very intoxicated and her time to make rational decisions and her reaction times would go down. She is running but falling to, as does the guy who falls down the hill, again emphasising how intoxicated they are. When she is grabbed by Jaws, she flails in desperation, trying to get attention, but doesnt succeed, again she is the bait. Before she is attacked, she swims graciously, with acrobatic style - we see her leg sinking slowly, suggesting dissapearance, or the end to something.. possibly her life.


Cinematography 
The camera angle where they are running, is with the camera running along side, showing the viewer they are able to keep up with whats going on, and possibly have the interlectual upper hand on what they are actually doing, because the characters obviously dont.
The below water shot of her legs could show that the girl has authority for the moment, as she is still alive.. but suggests that you are looking through Jaws' eyes, and seeing what he is seeing.
When she is swimming there is an extreme long shot, showing she is isolated with water all around her, showing there is not really any hope if she is to get attacked. This also shows she is even further away from the social group, and further away from any help. This also shows the empty canvas that is the sea, very vast and unknown of what could be out there.


Sound
The opening Jaws march music holds a large amount of suspense, it is very dramatic and tensionous, with an eery ambience. There is also some crescendos in the music where the pace of the song speeds up and slows down - linking to the pace of the opening sequence, the slow paced relaxation of the camp, then fast paced running and flailing when she gets attacked. However in contrast to this, the campfire music that is guitars and harmonicas is very thearuputic, jolly and happy - suggesting the mood of the camp. Also, when the camera angle is in the water, the music is very different, low and eery. However when the camera is out of the water you can just hear the campfire music ringing in the background. Also when the characters start running, the weather changes and becomes much more windy - a change in weather could show the change in events that is about to happen. The screams we hear from the girl and very cutting and violent, showing the true severity of the event. They also suggest the amount of drugs the rest of the friends have taken to not be able to hear the crys for help.
Also at the end, a radio is heard, maybe suggesting that she has been reported missing, however we do not hear this. Also if it is not mentioned on the radio, that could  link to the fact that maybe they all forgot about her, because they were so under the influence of drugs, if there was no mention of her on the radio.