RESEARCH: Textual Analysis of a Documentary Poster

This is a documentary poster, advertising 'Man On Wire. It was created in 2008, directed by james Marsh and won an Oscar for best British Documentary Film.  The use of a whole image as a background for the poster is effective, as it has an impact on the audience- they are instantly intrigued by what the poster is about. The image itself is a narrative image; the content of the documentary is clear by looking at the image, it is obviously about a man's crazy mission to cross a very high tightrope. The use of colour in the image is good, as it changes the further down the audience looks, making the image more interesting as the audience reads. The text and subtitles are interesting as they are very simple, with a mainstream font and simple black colouring. This has the effect of contrasting the plot of the documentary, which is about an amazing feat, the poster is subtle and intriguing, causing the audience to wander what the documentary is about. The use of the quote as a sub-title under the main text is effective in highlighting the epicness of the documentary and what it is about, as the single word 'Exhilarating,' is a powerful indirect form of address to the audience- it does not directly relay the storyline to the viewer, but it gives an indication. 

The main text uses a simple, easily read font and capital letters. This makes an impact; the viewer is persuaded that this is an important documentary.