The Mirror Set Text Flashcards
‘Gran’
Gran’ is colloquial language (a typical feature of tabloids) to make the Mirror seem like a friend to the reader. It also makes her death seem more heartbreaking by creating a personal connection with the reader - making the reader imagine is she was their grandma.
subheading ‘crazed’
The selection of ‘crazed’ as the description for the dogs - which has connotations of insanity - constructs the image of them as abnormal and uncontrollable
action on danger dogs
By featuring a sub image calling for ‘action on danger dogs’ the Mirror presents itself as heroic and reinforces its image as a newspaper for the people. ‘Action’ suggests that The Mirror is committed and is not just writing about the news, and the demonisation of the ‘danger dogs’ makes what they are doing seem even more important.
She vistis her grandson
The choice to mention her grandson and describe him as ‘young’ creates a hero narrative - it suggests she rescued him from the dogs
subheading image and main splash
The binary opposition that Levi Strauss studies is shown through the subheading image and main splash as it shows a happy elderly women vs a crazed vicious dog inferring how this dog is aggressive and dangerous compared to an older person who is often more fragile
main splash
The main splash features an image of a the Grandmother, smiling and showing a happy photo of her contrasting to the ‘crazed’ and ‘mauled’ emotive language used.
mid shot
white haor feels like a halo
yet another
‘Yet Another’ suggests that she is just one in a long string of victims, creating a further sense of horror
DPS image of dog owner at top of page
stuart hall sterytype? Additional image of the owner of killer dog.The image is a mid shot with a direct mode of address.His body language expression is aggressive and threatening.Additionally he has a closed fist which has connotations of being volatile and hostile.His clothing codes are all black which connotes death or fear.As well he is covered in tattoos-often linked to criminals/gang members.Altogether the mirror creates the impression the owner is a criminal and a risk to society to push this narrative that XL bully owners are aggressive and at fault.
DPS image of XL bully
Additional tightly cropped image of XL Bully.Surprisingly to the rest of the spread the dog seems docile and passive.However perhaps this could be to suggest the dog could switch at any time and may seem calm at first but shouldn’t be underestimate.
Copy on double page spread
‘DANGER DOGS’, in big bold letters connotes anger, as if the writer is shouting, they feel strongly about the message they are trying to convey, time for action against dangerous dogs
The ‘DANGER DOGS’ is also in bright yellow which connotes caution
The dog in the image seems to be particularly aggressive and is directly addressing the camera, which displays it as quite vicious and confrontational, whilst also calling for action against dangerous dogs, generalising dogs as a whole as dangerous.
‘Esther Martin’, names the woman repeatedly, also calls her a grandmother several times, gives her an identity, makes the story more personal for readers
‘Nobody can tell me what to do with my dogs”, shows the owner to be quite arrogant, believes that they know what they are doing
DPS middle third ‘8 xl bullys in the house’
‘8 XL bullies in the house’, shocks the readers, an absurd amount of dogs, especially as they are so big and seen as quite dangerous
The title is in bold capital letters to convey outrage at this information as well as possible anger that more people have been hurt by these dangerous dogs
‘Locals battle to save gran, 68’, pushes the age agenda, makes readers feel sympathy as she is ‘older’ than other victims, calling her a gran makes the story feel more personal for readers
Locals are battling to save her, shows how violently she was attacked, she is important to the community as they are trying so hard to save her.
Telling readers that the dogs were fighting clearly pushing the writers views of the XL bully dog as being dangerous and violent
the mirror
Calls itself an ‘Intelligent tabloid’.
Slogan on masthead is ‘The Heart of Britain’.
Critical of Tory government, left-wing, focus on social issues and working class.
