PRETTY LITTLE LIARS

SYNOPSIS:

 Despite the generic first glance of Pretty Little Liars, the show has many alternative readings which active audiences can pick up on. Pretty Little Liars explores the life of four girls who learn of the tragedy of the leader of their group, Alison. This event causing the start of what seems like a never ending force, that being '-A'. The TV show promotes the role of females within society as the institution often depicts them as more powerful than adults and men around them. Furthermore, Pretty Little Liars throughout the 6 seasons, so far, have worked well to inject audiences with positive ideologies on things such as homosexuality where the show helped to break down stereotypes.

EVALUATION:

In the poster for Pretty Little Liars red coats are worn by all members. Thus, having intertextuality with two texts one being the American Revolution and the other being Steven Spielberg's Schindler’s list. The red coats in the American Revolution were worn by the British which fits with the political ideologies of America of being independent. Additionally, it links with Schindler’s list  in the black and white film there is a blonde girl in colour wearing a red coat. This fits with the social ideology of no war but peace that the hegemonic mass wants to achieve. However, the poster shows that 'Liars Unite' meaning the war has not stopped but just begun as they can no longer live with 'A' in their lives. Furthermore, Pretty Little Liars shows a progressive representation of the female characters which adheres to the feminist ideology. As the show is so popular amongst teenage girls (C2DE audiences) it means it becomes a trend setter and forces other shows who cater for the same audiences to change from patriarchal ideologies of the past.

Moreover, in the trailer release for season 6A the liars are shown in the mid shot with Mona in the background and a dark hooded figure. The hooded figure in the background links to the ideology of xenophobia that the girls do not know what they are facing as the character of A is unknown at this point. Xenophobia is shared with the hegemonic mass as everyone wants to know who their enemies in life are rather than being in the dark. Therefore relating with audiences, especially those that are teens as they have to face trolls on the internet daily. Additionally, the dark hooded figure could represent the idea of Satan on their back as they have all lied, making it become a religious ideology of sin is wrong. Furthermore, the girls are shown in their prom outfits which are all different which promotes the ideology of equality as the audience does not favour one of the characters due to their appearance.