mEdIa LaNgUaGe

The media language used throughout Prison Break is reminiscent of thriller/drama series.Prison Break is shot using a variety of cinematography. The director uses numerous establishing shots of the prison from a high-angle to reveal the location yet outline the overwhelming task that the inmates have to escape. Additionally, Prison Break invokes emotion amongst the audience as each characters story is slowly told throughout each episode and to enhance the audiences empathy with these characters the director uses a range of close ups of facial expressions as well as low angle shots to convey the emotions and harsh realities that these characters are experiencing.

Prison Break is set in a maximum security prison and this provides the foundations to the escape. The mise-en-scene throughout the series is typically focused on prison life , from daily outings in the yard, to P.I (prison industry), to the corrupt prison guards who continually taunt inmates. Additionally, the series has sub-plots developing, focused around Veronica Donovan, Lincoln Burrows attorney who attempts to uncover the truth behind the conspiracy to kill Lincoln. This involves the audience becoming aware of a corrupt U.S govt. and a special agent ordered to kill in order to protect ‘The Company’, the anonymous group behind all the conspiracies.

The sound used throughout is a mixture of diegetic and non-diegetic. The music creates a very tense feel and keeps the audience on edge. The non-diegetic sound uses low-key beats to enhance the thriller feel. Additonally, Prison Break has a soundtrack which airs at the beginning of each epsiode during the title sequence. However, Prison Break differs to most draam series as it cuts straight into the episode and cuts to the title sequence after a key incident at the beginning of the episode.

The media language used in Prison Break helps to give the series a realistic feel and every last detail of prison life is considered from the clothing to the way the guards treat inmates.