Introduction
The purpose of this section is to analyse what happens when the NSA is mentioned and to search for common aspects between the "NSA" instant in each TV series.
NSA in the Tv Series
Visual anlysis of the context in which the NSA is mentioned
How to read the visualization
The first image shows all the screenshots of the instant in which the NSA is mentioned. Above the image there is a list of five typologies of analysis through which it's possible to have a deeper and clear look at all the scenes at once. Each type of analysis includes a legend that explain the guidelines of the analysis and the colors used.
How it has been done
This visual analysis is achieved through the clips containing the instant in which the NSA is mentioned. 10 episodes are selected between the TV shows in which the Security Agency appears more frequently according to the Subzin's results, so a video has been created using 66 clips. This is the list of the episodes analysed: - Day 2: 8.00 a.m.-9 a.m. from 24, - Chuck versus the Helicopter from Chuck, - Jerry 2.0 from Jake 2.0, - Endgame from NCIS: Los Angeles, - Finders Keepers from Numb3rs, - No good deed from Person of Interest, - Transition from The West Wing, - Monsters and men from NCIS: Naval Criminal Investigative Service, - Second double from Alias, - Hard out from Burn Notice.
To explain all the elements that appears watching the video, each clip is described using five guidelines. The first one is the purpose of the NSA's activity that more clearly appears to the audience (security or surveillance). Primarily it has been taken into account the purpose which appears from the scenes and secondly the purpose which appears from the complete series. The second one is a description of the scene (calm, tense, agitated and very agitated) especially deduced from the audio. Then the location (outdoor, car, indoor, office) and the main two colors, selected after blurring each screenshot. Finally each clip is described through the presence of a phone or a prisoner, two characteristic elements recognized in many clips.
Findings
The first reflection that could be done is that the NSA appears more frequently as a security agency rather than a surveillance organization. It blocks terrorist's attacks and illegal traffics (24) and sometimes it intercepts arms dealers (Numb3rs). However at some other time it monitors all communication with other governments (The West Wing) and it owns some listening stations to control the American citizens (Person of Interest).
Generally there are many tense and critical circumstances in the 10 TV series. Locations are often indoor with a high number of scenes set in offices whereas outdoor locations are uncommon. Colors are dark, in fact the predominant colors are especially black and dark brown or green.
Finally, some characteristic elements, which appear in many clips, are identified: prisoners, like hostages or criminals, and phones, only mentioned or really placed into the scene.
