MIGRAIN

Media Language:
Clamps
There are no conventional customers worn such as capes or masks.
High key lighting is used, and the effects are made to look very “natural”. Even scenes with blood and guts is made to look very realistic.
The setting varies depending on each character, as they are all in different places, e.g. Claire: Texas
However all the characters are linked together and come together in the end.
Some of the superheroes use props such as a sword, or a gun.
lThere is also a reoccurring symbol, creating enigma codes for the audience.

Ideology:
Heroes does have a patriarchal ideology as the majority of the characters are male, and the female characters are sometimes portrayed as weak.
For example Claire is constantly being “protected” by her father. The tagline also reflects this as they whole program is focussed on saving the cheerleader indicating that she may be weak and vulnerable.
Nathan also being president shows the power of men.

Genre:
Heroes is a mix of fantasy, science fiction and action. However unlike other superhero programs, there is not just one hero ( e.g. Smallville, Spiderman & Superman)
Common traits of superheroes:
Extraordinary powers.
Strong morals, such as doing good without expecting a reward.
Secret identity protecting friends and family.
Costume, e.g. a cape, and mask
Enemies or villains.

Representation:
The main character is Claire, the cheerleader, who seems to be the main focus (Save the cheerleader, save the world) Also she has superpowers she is often portrayed as weak, similar to another female character Jessica, an emotional mother.
The masculinity of the male characters is emphasised more, especially Peter who is able to obtain many superpowers. Likewise, Nathan is also another very masculine character, who it shown to be very powerful.

Audience:
Heroes was most-watched program among adults aged 18-49, attracting 14.3 million viewers when first aired in the USA.
The target audience primarily would be male, as the genre focus’s on action and action.
BBC2 have recently begun showing Heroes at 9pm on Wednesdays, this is prime time TV and also increasing the viewership, as it is being aired after the watershed

Institution:
Heroes was NBC's most successful of shows which debuted in that period. It ranked twenty-first in the ratings, with an average of 14.3 million viewers in the United States.
The series aired first on Sci Fi UK. The premiere attracted 579,000 viewers on its first showing. The series averaged 450,000 viewers, almost four times more than any other viewer ship for a program on this channel. Terrestrial airing began on BBC2, July 25, 2007 at 9:00 p.m.
It attracted an audience of 4.3 million viewers. This was the first time that BBC2 had a high viewer ship than BBC1 in prime time for over a decade.

Narrative:
Heroes does not really use Todorovs narrative structure, in the majority of the episodes there are flashbacks, and it goes back in time.
Usually each episode it also ended by a cliff-hanger which is followed in the next episode.
Propps theory of character roles – There is a villain (Sylar) who is a serial killer, however rather than having just one hero, there a various heroes, each obtaining different super powers.
In Heroes, the storyline is narrated by one of the characters, introducing and concluding each episode.