Applying Codes and Conventions to 'The Space Guard':
There are several codes and conventions of the science fiction genre that I have applied to 'The Space Guard'. The codes and conventions are; the setting, the narrative elements, the symbolism, and the mise-en-scene elements.
The way that 'The Space Guard' shows the setting that is conventional of the science-fiction genre, is through the sets, and the special effects. 'The Space Guard' is set in space on a space station. This shows the science fiction genre as a large portion of media products of the science fiction genre are also set in space. The special and visual effects of 'The Space Guard' help reinforce the science fiction genre as they help put the sets into context. For example, during the scene set in the 'control room' the characters look out the 'window' to see space and the stars of space; this reminds the audience of the setting and the science fiction genre. As well as this, many science fiction media products are set in the future, or an alternate universe. This convention of the science fiction genre is represented through the futuristic technology that is shown through the visual effect of the 'holographic images' on the screen in front of the characters. The idea of 'The Space Guard' being set in an alternate universe to reality is shown through the idea of humans and aliens are living in co-habitation. This is shown through the character of the Lieutenant, as she is shown to be an alien through the special effect prosthetics that have been applied to the actress' face to show that she is not a human. The setting of the 'The Space Guard' also shows the conventions of the science fiction genre through the sets that the scenes from 'The Space Guard' are filmed. The two locations on the space station that are shown in the teaser scene and opening credits are the control room, and a corridor of the space station. Both of these locations are common locations for scenes of science fiction media products to be set.
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| Image 1: A shot from 'The Space Guard' that is set in the space station's control room. |
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| Image 2: A shot from Star Trek that is set in the control room of the ship. |
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| Image 3: A shot from 'The Space Guard' that is set in a corridor of the space station. |
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| Image 4: A shot from Star Trek that is set in a corridor of the ship. |
As well as the setting of 'The Space Guard' reflecting the codes and conventions of the science-fiction genre, these codes and conventions are shown through the narrative element. In science fiction media products, the tension is kept high through the constant danger that the characters are in. This is shown in 'The Space Guard' from the very beginning of the teaser, the characters are sensing the looming threat of something that has gone wrong. This theme is continued as the Captain continues to learn the bad information of what has happened because of the explosion; "communications were damaged in the blast...", "an unauthorised pod is leaving bey area 17...". The enjoyment of watching science-fiction media products is from watching the characters, whom the audience are invested in, be put in danger, and find ways to escape imminent peril, this is why I made the script so full of danger so to show what the whole programme will be about. As well as this, the language that is used by the characters use also reflects the science-fiction genre. Language such as "council of planets", "bey area 17", "emergency protocols" all show the science-fiction genre as they are linked to space, space ships, and are language that is often used on other science-fiction media products.
Another convention of the science-fiction genre that was applied to 'The Space Guard' is the symbolism. In 'The Space Guard' the colour red is used to show the danger that the characters are in. In general, the colour red is associated with danger, and negativity. In 'The Space Guard' this is shown through the red lighting that is in most of the shots after the explosion.
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| Image 5: Shot from 'The Space Guard' where the lighting is red to symbolise danger. |
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| Image 6: Still from Star Trek 3 where the lights are red to symbolise danger. |
Another way that 'The Space Guard' shows the codes and conventions of the science fiction genre is through the mise-en-scene such as lighting, props, costumes, and camera angles. The props that are in science-fiction media products ususally include technology that is futuristic and hasn't been invented yet. As well as control panels that feature flickering lights. This is shown in 'The Space Guard through the 'control panel' prop that is used in the opening part of the teaser scene.
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| Image 7: Shot from 'The Space Guard' featuring a prop that reflects the codes of the science-fiction. |
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| Image 8: Still from Star Trek: Next Generation of a prop thats of a control desk. |
Another prop that that was used in 'The Space Guard' was the window that was looked through to space in the first part of the teaser scene. This shows the conventions of the science-fiction genre as most science-fiction media products are set in space, by having the window look out to space, it reminds the audience that the show is set in space. In both Star Trek and 'The Space Guard', the characters look out the window to space as the shows are set on space ships.
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| Image 9: Shot from 'The Space Guard' where the characters are looking out at the stars through the window. |
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| Image 10: 00:01 of a clip where the characters from Star Trek look out the window in their space ship at the stars. |
Another convention of the science-fiction genre is that all the crew that are on the space ship all wear the same uniform. In 'The Space Guard', this is shown in through the navy blue jackets that the crew wear that make all the crew members look the same.
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| Image 11: Shot from 'The Space Guard where the characters can all be seen wearing the same uniform. |
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| Image 12: Shot from Star Trek Discovery where all the characters can be seen wearing the same uniform. |
The codes and conventions of the science fiction genre can be seen throughout 'The Space Guard', in the language that the characters use, the mise-en-scene, props, setting, and everything that is in it.
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