textual analysis of American Horror Story

Camera

• The free hand filming is used to create a sense of unstability and difficulties within the characters and also within the program as a whole. It shows that there will be unexpected events during the program and uncertainty through out.
• The close up of the jars shows that the show contains a lot of confusion right from the beginning because we can't actually make out whats in some of the jars and whats around them. It also shows that there could be confusion around the house and its meaning and also what happens within the house and why.  

Mise-en-scene

• The dark, metal objects which are in the shots could have been used to symbolise the negativity which is about to become the norm in this program. 
• The jars which contain human remains represent that death has been a big part of the hoses history, its preserved within the house and the jars could represent this and that the melancholy era is going to be there for many years to come.
• In one of the shots it shows old medical equipment and jars, through metal bars which could suggest that people who aren't associated with the house(outsiders) don't have a clue what is gong on within the house. It foreshadows that they fail to see that all the rumours are true and that the tour guide is correct.

Lighting

• There is a black and white motif which signifies death ad negativity. Included within the black and white motif there are flashes of yellow, red and orange. This could also connote darkness in a different way than black and white does, it creates sense of negativity however also a sense of hope within that and symbolising that there can also be bigger problems than just that. 

Editing

• The lighting is edited to fit in time with the music which draws the attention of the audience because the first things that they experience isn't messy and unorganised.
• The fast cutaways could possibly foreshadow the sense of uncertainty and confusion which occurs within the program. This will make the viewer feel that the program will contain maybe, uncomfortable scenes.
• The titles all use the same font which shows consistency and organisation making the opening sequence appear thought through and appropriate. Right before each title appears on screen the pace of the music and cutaways get faster and faster before stopping and the title appearing.

Sound

• The use of sound and editing together works well in this opening sequence, with them both getting faster at the same time and then stopping together it shows that the program may work in this way too. By using sound and cuts together the audience will be more drawn in and be aware when something shifty is about to go down.