Dicuss the ways in which gender is represented in this clip with reference to camera shots, editing, mis-en-scene and sound.
Gender is represented in this TV drama in very clear ways. There are quite a few key moments when you see that a man dominates the woman and is in charge of her. For example when he uses her as a hat stand and when the women are making him tea and rushing around looking after him which is also stereotypes of women. Gender is also reprsented in the way the women look and dress comapred to the men and a lot of the gender that is represented in this clip of the TV drama are sterotypes of men and women.
Mis-en-scene is used to represent gender by the way the props and costumes are used. The costumes used have most women in very tight and curvy dresses to show off their figure which is a sterotype of women that they should do this as it is nicer on the eye, although there is one women who is wearing trousers and shows that she may be of more importance as she is not dressed like that and therefore may not be looked at like that and is of a higher status because she doesnt have to dress in tight and revealing clothes. The men are all dressed in sharp suits and office wear as well. The woman at the beginning of the clip is also smoking and drinking and puts her hands on her head as to say she is stressed. This represents gender as it shows the woman doing all the important, hard and stressful work as well as not being able to deal with it all sterotyping that they are the weaker of the two sexes but the one who is meant to do the most work. When the man uses the woman as a hat stand it shows that he has greater power. This represents gender as its saying the man has more power and is more dominant over the woman and can treater her how he likes and use her for whatever he likes wtithout her having a say in it or being able to do anything about it.
Sound is used to represent gender as the first sound you hear is of the type writter and then as the camera tilts up you see it is a woman sitting on the desk doing the office job of writing things up. This represents gender as it is a sterotype that women do the more boring jobs of sitting in an office and writing up things as men do the more important and hands on jobs. There is music in the background that gets louder or quiter at certain points in the clip, the characters walk to the beat of the music and especially the woman as she seems like she is strutting. This represents gender as she is rushing and trying to do everything and be in charge of everything and everyone trying to get the show ready in time. Digestic and non digestic sound are both used. There is dialogue the whole way through the clip which represents gender from what they are saying and from how you hear the male characters talking to the female characters.
Editing is used to represent gender as cuts to pan is used to follow her movement, this gives the audience a sense that she is rushing and trying to get everything done and also shows the audience how she acts by the way shes walking, looks at other people and talks to other people. For example when she talks to the other man about stepping in and she is higher then him and talks down to him with her boobs quite near her face which is representing gender as a sterotype of a woman thinking that because part of her body is out of near him she can get whatever she wants without there being a problem and he has to do it although this does not fit in with the rest of the clips representation of gender as throughout the rest of the clip it is shown as the man being dominant and having control of the woman but in this scene the woman has control over the man.
Camera shots are used to represent gender because the first shot you see is a tilt up over the news papers. You then see the woman and hear the type writing. This automatically tells the audience that she works in some sort of office. There is also over the shoulder shots used which represents gender as you see the character from eachothers point of view. There is an extreme close up of a man lighting a ciggerette which is mysterious as you cannot see his face and you dont know who he is. This represents gender as its showing men are more in control of whats happening as the audience are not being told anything about this man apart from that he smokes, which could also represent gender as a sterotype of being quite a rich and relaxed man. Wide shots are used quite a lot because this represents gender as a whole because you can see everything that is going on in the scene, then the other shots are used to represent gender more specifically when they director wants the audience to focus more oncertain things. Establishing shots are also used to show the audience more about where they are working for them to be able to work out more about each character and what each characters doing and that represents gender as the audience can know more.
Sunday, 25 November 2012
Essay
Discuss the way in which the extract uses camera shots, editing, sound and miss-en-scene to costruct representations of different generations.
The extract of this TV drama represents generation in traditonal and non traditonal ways. It shows the generations in conflict between the parents and the children, especially the children and there step mother and also shows stereotypes of teenagers becoming pregnant and having to have an abortion as well as the mum outside in a council flat drinking cider and not taking care of her baby, they use this to construct different representations of generations as it becomes roll reversal when the step mother says shes having a baby and the daughter offers her a number for the abortion clinic as well as telling her she cannot have the baby and that it would be a bad idea. This represents generations in a very non traditional way because it is not the way a family is meant to act and the child is never meant to be in control or try and take control. The generations are also represented in a non traditional way when the girl states she is leaving and the parents do nothing and as she walks back through the living room she sees them having sex and says that they are sex freaks. This is non traditional generations as most people would assosiate having sex in the middle of the living room something not normal for parents to do and would find it more normal for teenagers to be doing that kind of thing as teenagers are stereotyped as doing things like that.
Mis-en-scene is used from the very beginning to show the audience what type of family it is. The dad is playing on his phone very loudly as she gets ready for school and tries to talk to him. This is already a roll reversal as most parents get annoyed with there children for not listening to them because they are to busy on there mobile phones, later on in the clip you also see the father playing a gaemes console with the son showing the audience that he does not take responsbility for anything and is more like a child then an adult. Although the props used in mis-en-scene show roll reversal and the non traditional generations the costumes used show more traditional generations as he is wearing adult clothes and she is wearing her school uniform, with a short skirt and make up on. This represents how the generations actually are with her showing she is still young as she has to go into school and him sittiing in a shirt showing he should be at work. This then links in with the use of props as its showing how the generations actually are with her being young and still having to go to school but him playing on his phone acting like he has no responsibilities. Costume is also used to represent different generations when the step mother is at school and teaching there lesson as all the girls are in uniform and she isnt showing her status and that she is higher in importance to them and in charge as well as the costumes used in the scene when they are having sex showing that they havent really grown up yet and act how you would expect teenagers to act.
Sound is used to represent different generations mainly in dialougue. There is sound used in the tittle sequence and it is a very up beat sound that gives the audience a feel of energy and the type of song you want to sing and dance to. This is used to show they are teenagers and are very bubbly and energetic and like to have a good time, representing there generation. Sound links in with the mis-en-scene as you hear him playing on his phone to make it clearer to the audience what he is doing. The main use of sound is through dialougue because in this TV drama it is the best way to represent different generations as its made clear to the audience through speach who is in charge and who takes responsibility. It also represents different generations because you can clearly here the tones of there voices and when they get louder and quiter showing when they are happy or sad about something especially when the step mother says she is pregnant the way the girl reacts is most important to the audience by what she is saying. A song is also used called "fuck you" which links in with how the teenager is feeling about the whole situation.
Editing is used mainly in the tittle sequence which sets a feel for the rest of the TV drama. Wipe and disolve are the main editing techniques used in the tittle sequence which links in to the sound. By using wipe it represents the generations as it is quick and seems energetic and that with the music shows the audience what type of people they are and how they are bubbly teenagers who want to have fun. The editing represents different generations because the audience is then shocked about how the generations actually are like within the family and the feel of the family is very different to how you would think the girl was from the tittle sequence so it makes it more complicated and interesting for the audience to see how her life really is.
Camera shots are used to represent different generations by having close ups on her when she is getting ready for school and doing her make up and pushing her boobs up as well as when the camera is pointed at her books showing that she is a school girl and a typical teenager because she wants to look her best and wants her body to look nice for people. Wide shots are used when they are training for football to show all the teenagers and an over the shoulder shot is used from the teenagers point of view to look at the teacher which still shows conflict between the two generations which is normal as they are at school and most teenagers wouldnt like going to school or like teachers. Mostly wide shots are used to represent the different generations as it shows the whole picture.
The extract of this TV drama represents generation in traditonal and non traditonal ways. It shows the generations in conflict between the parents and the children, especially the children and there step mother and also shows stereotypes of teenagers becoming pregnant and having to have an abortion as well as the mum outside in a council flat drinking cider and not taking care of her baby, they use this to construct different representations of generations as it becomes roll reversal when the step mother says shes having a baby and the daughter offers her a number for the abortion clinic as well as telling her she cannot have the baby and that it would be a bad idea. This represents generations in a very non traditional way because it is not the way a family is meant to act and the child is never meant to be in control or try and take control. The generations are also represented in a non traditional way when the girl states she is leaving and the parents do nothing and as she walks back through the living room she sees them having sex and says that they are sex freaks. This is non traditional generations as most people would assosiate having sex in the middle of the living room something not normal for parents to do and would find it more normal for teenagers to be doing that kind of thing as teenagers are stereotyped as doing things like that.
Mis-en-scene is used from the very beginning to show the audience what type of family it is. The dad is playing on his phone very loudly as she gets ready for school and tries to talk to him. This is already a roll reversal as most parents get annoyed with there children for not listening to them because they are to busy on there mobile phones, later on in the clip you also see the father playing a gaemes console with the son showing the audience that he does not take responsbility for anything and is more like a child then an adult. Although the props used in mis-en-scene show roll reversal and the non traditional generations the costumes used show more traditional generations as he is wearing adult clothes and she is wearing her school uniform, with a short skirt and make up on. This represents how the generations actually are with her showing she is still young as she has to go into school and him sittiing in a shirt showing he should be at work. This then links in with the use of props as its showing how the generations actually are with her being young and still having to go to school but him playing on his phone acting like he has no responsibilities. Costume is also used to represent different generations when the step mother is at school and teaching there lesson as all the girls are in uniform and she isnt showing her status and that she is higher in importance to them and in charge as well as the costumes used in the scene when they are having sex showing that they havent really grown up yet and act how you would expect teenagers to act.
Sound is used to represent different generations mainly in dialougue. There is sound used in the tittle sequence and it is a very up beat sound that gives the audience a feel of energy and the type of song you want to sing and dance to. This is used to show they are teenagers and are very bubbly and energetic and like to have a good time, representing there generation. Sound links in with the mis-en-scene as you hear him playing on his phone to make it clearer to the audience what he is doing. The main use of sound is through dialougue because in this TV drama it is the best way to represent different generations as its made clear to the audience through speach who is in charge and who takes responsibility. It also represents different generations because you can clearly here the tones of there voices and when they get louder and quiter showing when they are happy or sad about something especially when the step mother says she is pregnant the way the girl reacts is most important to the audience by what she is saying. A song is also used called "fuck you" which links in with how the teenager is feeling about the whole situation.
Editing is used mainly in the tittle sequence which sets a feel for the rest of the TV drama. Wipe and disolve are the main editing techniques used in the tittle sequence which links in to the sound. By using wipe it represents the generations as it is quick and seems energetic and that with the music shows the audience what type of people they are and how they are bubbly teenagers who want to have fun. The editing represents different generations because the audience is then shocked about how the generations actually are like within the family and the feel of the family is very different to how you would think the girl was from the tittle sequence so it makes it more complicated and interesting for the audience to see how her life really is.
Camera shots are used to represent different generations by having close ups on her when she is getting ready for school and doing her make up and pushing her boobs up as well as when the camera is pointed at her books showing that she is a school girl and a typical teenager because she wants to look her best and wants her body to look nice for people. Wide shots are used when they are training for football to show all the teenagers and an over the shoulder shot is used from the teenagers point of view to look at the teacher which still shows conflict between the two generations which is normal as they are at school and most teenagers wouldnt like going to school or like teachers. Mostly wide shots are used to represent the different generations as it shows the whole picture.
Wednesday, 14 November 2012
Analysing skills questions
Activity 2.4
Activity 2.5
- The different shots used in a short action sequence from an action film was tracking/dolly shot, zoom, reverse zoom, and hand-held.
- The importance of the setting and action is emphazised by the camera movment by the camera movement shows the setting and without the paticular camera movements doing what they are the audience wouldnt see the setting or the movement. Depending on what camera shot is used depend on what setting or action is happeneing because it depends on what the audience needs to see. For examplethe zoom shot was used as they were going into the lift as the camera zoomed out to show the audience what they were entering as it was important for the next part of the scene.
- The camera shots may make the audience feel more involved, for example with the hand held it can make you feel like you are running with the actor so you get more involved in the action of the film. The camera shots are also affective because they make it clear what you should and shouldnt be watching for example when it zooms into something is it showing the audience to watch that particular thing and see what is happening.
Activity 2.5
- The different shots used were reaction shot, zoom/reverse zoom, hand-held, cine-verite and steadicam.
- The camera shots make the documentary seem even more personal then it already is by zooming in to the person and following them around and making it seem more like you know the person and are involved with what they are saying and doing.
- I dont think you are drawn to the camera operator as you feel so involved in the documentary because of the camera shots that you dont think about other things or people going on.
Soap opera activites
Activity 3.13
Activity 3.15
- Hollyoaks, Eastenders, Coronation street, Emerdale, Neighbours, Home and away, Doctors.
- They fit into browns criteria quite well as there is multiple characters and plots, they are in serial form, the home/homes are the main setting for the dramas apart from in doctors when the surgery is the main setting, emphasis on dialogue, conversation and problem solving however they do not fit in very well when it comes to have sensitive men and female characters being independant as a lot of the men are very hard headed and the heads of the families which also leads to the women not being independant.
- The only other functions i would add is most soap operas have conflict within the family so that could be another function.
- A key family in soap opera is the mitchel family from eastenders.
- It was difficult to create the family tree as i only knew the very famous generations and the people that were in it a lot for example i didnt know grant or sams children because they have not been featured a lot and are not that important so it was difficult to fully complete it.
- The conclusions ive made from this genre is that they all follow the same type of processes to create there soap opera as they all include the same type of things and way certain characters act are similar in other soap operas as well although they are not all the same some are very similar. I have also learn that in most soap operas there is one main family that most viewers know a lot about the own the family business that is very dominant in the soap opera for example in Eastenders the Mitchells own the pup, in Emerdale the Dingles own the pub.
Activity 3.15
- Emerdale is an example of a soap opera that has recently been an open text as it has had a lot of drama going on that an audience member could interpret in different ways and the way characters are acting and reacting to certain story lines gives the freedom to the audience to interpret what they want to from the soap opera.
- They all seem to explore different issues within families, cultures, relationships, friendship groups etc. They also all seem to have story lines or things happening that have the possibility to split the opinion on the viewers.
- The readings that are possible from the audience are opinions about relationships, love affairs, family arguments. The audience could also read something differently from how the direction wanted it to be read which can cause conflict if thats not how it was meant to be portrayed. The audience could also get different readings about social issues.
- Phil Mitchell, Billy Mitchell, Fatboy, Jack Branning, Max Branning, Derek Branning, Ray, Alfie, Ian Bill, Jay, Ben.
- Good characters = Billy, Fatboy, Jack Branning, Ray, Alfie
- Bad characters = Derek Branning, Ben
- Do not fit into either = Phil, Max Branning, Ian, Jay
- The qualities the good characters have are kind, helpful, caring and loving. The qualities the bad characters have are evil, scheming, wicked. The qualities the characters that do not fit in to either have a mixture of the good and bad characters qualities.
- Some characters are difficult to fit in this way because they have done good things in the past and do things to help people but have also dont bad things to people and the community which makes them bad but because youve seen the good side of them you will never see them as all bad especially if the good things they have done have been significantly good.
Sunday, 11 November 2012
Essay
Discuss the ways in which the extract uses camera shots, editing, sound, mis en scene to construct representations of relationships.
In this drama extract relationships are represented in 3 main ways. The closeness of the couple, mainly in the back of the cab, the audience can see how much they mean to eachother and how much they love eachother. There relationship is also represented in a very different way as being complex and having a lot of history with an uncertain future. The audience knows this because they talk about there past in the back of the cab by saying "2nd time lucky" "dont you mean third". There is also secrets within there relationship which makes the audience question how much trust they have. As she says "i would want you to love again" which he seems confused at and is also confused when they turn up at the hospital as he doesnt realize she is making them go to the hospital. This allows the audience to question there relationship which keeps them in suspence for the rest of the clip.
Camera shots are used to represent there relationship in very different ways. The first shot used is a two shot with her on his shoulder showing the closeness of there relationship and the love between them. The 5th shot is a close up shot of them two holding hands. The 14th shot is of them two kissing showing they have an intimate relationship because it is a close up of them kissing with their eyes shut showing it is pasionate. The shot of him rubbing his wedding ring also represents their relationship because it shows their status as a couple. The 40th shot when he is holding her head in her hands also shows their relationship because it shows how much he cares for her which shows the love he has for her. The last shot is similar to the first shot in the way that they are both shot together and closely.The last shot represents there relationship because he is laying next to her dead body with flowers spread all around her. It shows how close they were because of how upset he is in the shot. The camera shots allow the audience to know more about there relationship without any sound in the clip the audience would still be able to tell what kind have relationship they have through just the camera shots with the closeness of the couple and sepcific camera shots of him doing things that express his love, like the wedding ring.
Sound represents the secret side of there relationship as well as the closeness of there relationship. Sound represents the secret side of there realtionship by having music when she is speaking to the doctor. This keeping secrets from the audience as they then dont know what is being said or anything and leads them to believe there are secrets in there relationship because of what was said before about her not wanting him to come with her and then the audience not being able to hear what she is being told. Sound is also used to represent the closeness of the relationship as when she gets hit by the bus and its all silent you can hear his heartbeat, this builds up tension as he runs across the road to try and find her. The use of the heart beat when everything else is silent is representing how much she means to him because of the panic in his heart as everyone assosiates panic and fear with a loud beating heart, the sound of the heart is exaggerated to represent there relationship.
Mis en scene is also used to represent there relationship. The most important thing used in Mis En Scene to represent the realtionship is the wedding ring. This prop used represents there status and therefore tells the audience that they are married so it shows the importance of there relationship because if there is a ring involved and the people are made vows together the relationship is taken a lot more serious. Another prop used is the chair. The chair is used to add effect to the sound of the heart beat as it falls over when the heart beat sound is happenin, like the sound of the heart beat it shows panic and the rush to get over to his wife which shows how important she is to him which represents the relationship. An ambulance is also used to represent the secrecy of there relationship as he does not know where they are going until he sees the ambulace. That is his first sign he gets that he is going to the hospital to find out her results. He then works everything out about why she wanted to get married and then go to the hospital. The audience can see the element of surprise and frustration in his face which represents the secrecy in there relationship. When she dies she dies along side a flower stall, there are white lillys especially laying next to her, this represents the relationship because flowers are assosiated with death and fact that she lies dead next to a flower stool also gives the feeling that she is loved and will be missed.
The TV drama uses editing to represent the relationship. It uses cross fades a lot especially when she is in the doctors and he is in the cafe waiting for her. This makes the audience feel tension as they are waiting to hear the results. It is used to represent the relationship because its fading into all different scenes of him being anxious and doing different things until she comes out of the hospital showing that he cares a lot about the result. A lot of digital effects are also used in the TV clip to represent there relationship. For example the doctors room looked very dull and dark but when she came outside and shouted across the street the lighting changed and it became brighter, where he was sitting also seemed brighter and when they were in the cab happy it was brighter. The contrast of the lighting represents the relationship as the brighter the light the happier the atmosphere feels and seems so the lighting effects make the relationship seem good and happy.
I think overall the camera shots, sounds, editing and Miss En Scene show the couple to have a close relationship mainly with a past and a few secrets that seem to be kept for the sanity of the other person. I think the camera shots are the most important for representing there relationship as they are very important and really show what is going on in that relationship.
In this drama extract relationships are represented in 3 main ways. The closeness of the couple, mainly in the back of the cab, the audience can see how much they mean to eachother and how much they love eachother. There relationship is also represented in a very different way as being complex and having a lot of history with an uncertain future. The audience knows this because they talk about there past in the back of the cab by saying "2nd time lucky" "dont you mean third". There is also secrets within there relationship which makes the audience question how much trust they have. As she says "i would want you to love again" which he seems confused at and is also confused when they turn up at the hospital as he doesnt realize she is making them go to the hospital. This allows the audience to question there relationship which keeps them in suspence for the rest of the clip.
Camera shots are used to represent there relationship in very different ways. The first shot used is a two shot with her on his shoulder showing the closeness of there relationship and the love between them. The 5th shot is a close up shot of them two holding hands. The 14th shot is of them two kissing showing they have an intimate relationship because it is a close up of them kissing with their eyes shut showing it is pasionate. The shot of him rubbing his wedding ring also represents their relationship because it shows their status as a couple. The 40th shot when he is holding her head in her hands also shows their relationship because it shows how much he cares for her which shows the love he has for her. The last shot is similar to the first shot in the way that they are both shot together and closely.The last shot represents there relationship because he is laying next to her dead body with flowers spread all around her. It shows how close they were because of how upset he is in the shot. The camera shots allow the audience to know more about there relationship without any sound in the clip the audience would still be able to tell what kind have relationship they have through just the camera shots with the closeness of the couple and sepcific camera shots of him doing things that express his love, like the wedding ring.
Sound represents the secret side of there relationship as well as the closeness of there relationship. Sound represents the secret side of there realtionship by having music when she is speaking to the doctor. This keeping secrets from the audience as they then dont know what is being said or anything and leads them to believe there are secrets in there relationship because of what was said before about her not wanting him to come with her and then the audience not being able to hear what she is being told. Sound is also used to represent the closeness of the relationship as when she gets hit by the bus and its all silent you can hear his heartbeat, this builds up tension as he runs across the road to try and find her. The use of the heart beat when everything else is silent is representing how much she means to him because of the panic in his heart as everyone assosiates panic and fear with a loud beating heart, the sound of the heart is exaggerated to represent there relationship.
Mis en scene is also used to represent there relationship. The most important thing used in Mis En Scene to represent the realtionship is the wedding ring. This prop used represents there status and therefore tells the audience that they are married so it shows the importance of there relationship because if there is a ring involved and the people are made vows together the relationship is taken a lot more serious. Another prop used is the chair. The chair is used to add effect to the sound of the heart beat as it falls over when the heart beat sound is happenin, like the sound of the heart beat it shows panic and the rush to get over to his wife which shows how important she is to him which represents the relationship. An ambulance is also used to represent the secrecy of there relationship as he does not know where they are going until he sees the ambulace. That is his first sign he gets that he is going to the hospital to find out her results. He then works everything out about why she wanted to get married and then go to the hospital. The audience can see the element of surprise and frustration in his face which represents the secrecy in there relationship. When she dies she dies along side a flower stall, there are white lillys especially laying next to her, this represents the relationship because flowers are assosiated with death and fact that she lies dead next to a flower stool also gives the feeling that she is loved and will be missed.
The TV drama uses editing to represent the relationship. It uses cross fades a lot especially when she is in the doctors and he is in the cafe waiting for her. This makes the audience feel tension as they are waiting to hear the results. It is used to represent the relationship because its fading into all different scenes of him being anxious and doing different things until she comes out of the hospital showing that he cares a lot about the result. A lot of digital effects are also used in the TV clip to represent there relationship. For example the doctors room looked very dull and dark but when she came outside and shouted across the street the lighting changed and it became brighter, where he was sitting also seemed brighter and when they were in the cab happy it was brighter. The contrast of the lighting represents the relationship as the brighter the light the happier the atmosphere feels and seems so the lighting effects make the relationship seem good and happy.
I think overall the camera shots, sounds, editing and Miss En Scene show the couple to have a close relationship mainly with a past and a few secrets that seem to be kept for the sanity of the other person. I think the camera shots are the most important for representing there relationship as they are very important and really show what is going on in that relationship.
Tuesday, 16 October 2012
Research task - TV Drama stills
This shot is a close up because the camera is very close to one of the characters faces but not extremely close so you can still see the other character slightly. This still represents social groups as two girls are having a fight against eachother and the big hoops and lots of make up may represent a chav social group fighting eachother. This shot type has been used to focus paticularly on one character and show her facial expressions without not being able to see the other character. This is so the audience still know who and what the scene is based on e.g the two girls having fights. In TV dramas the camera usually in a scene like this does close ups between the characters so the audience can see the facial expressions of each.
This shot is a cutaway because thefemale character is the subject but you can see another character in the background doing other things. This shot reoresents social groups as you can see the man doing all the domestic work, including cooking and cleaning which is unusual because the woman is usually stereotyped to doing all the domestic work so this is a different representation of social groups. This shot is used so the audience focus mainly on the woman but can also see the man and what he is doing.This is important because the audience pick up on things that help them work out the family type and what might go on in that family which then helps them later on in the scene.
This shot is cut in as it shows two peoples hands in a lot of detail and can clearly see what they are doing. This shot represents social groups as the audience can tell what type of relationship these characters have and how close the characters are. This shot is used so the audience can clearly see what they are doing and can therefore suggest what pinky promising means to them. The shot is also used so the audience focuses on what they are doing and nothing else.
This is an extreme close up because the camera is zoomed in very closely to the babies head and you can clearly see it. This shot represents social groups as it is a relationship between a mother and baby. You can also see from this shot that the mother and baby are both quite young which represents a social group of young mothers. An extreme close up was used to focus on the baby, who is cute which allows the audiences to feel sympathy for them. It also allows the audiences thoughts and feelings to just focus on the baby.
This is an over the shoulder shot because the camera is behind one characters shoulder showing the other character. This represents social groups as the audience can tell from facial expressions that there may be conflict between the characters and shows the type of relationship they may have. This shot was used to focus on the different characters when they were speaking and to see the facial expressions and how the characters are acting from someone elses point of view as you are looking at them over someone elses shoulder.
This is a wide shot because the camera is standing away from the characters and you can see everything in the scene, it doesnt focus on one character. This shot represents social groups as it shows the type of relationship these two men may haveas they are both in the pub drinking and are not to near eachother. This gives the audience the idea that they may be friends but not very good friends as there is that space between them. This shot type was used because the audience needed to focus on both characters and it is more realistic for the camera to be where it is as it shows the conversation between the two characters as it was just a normal everyday conversation where nothing needed to be focused on.
Monday, 8 October 2012
Mis - en - scene
Mis - en - scene is everything you see in the scene. E.g props, styling, shots, movements, characters, lighting, set design.
DOCTOR WHO:
LIGHTING - Quite dark but natrual light shown. Lamps down the coridoor, night time, spotlights.
SET DESIGN - Hospital, reception area, conflict shown by characters position.
PROPS - Chair leg, light, bell, desk.
STYLING - Casual clothes. nurses outfit, doctors suit, modern clothes.
DOCTOR WHO:
LIGHTING - Quite dark but natrual light shown. Lamps down the coridoor, night time, spotlights.
SET DESIGN - Hospital, reception area, conflict shown by characters position.
PROPS - Chair leg, light, bell, desk.
STYLING - Casual clothes. nurses outfit, doctors suit, modern clothes.
Music video essay
There are lots of different stereotypes in music videos including women, different races, young people, gender, women, men and classes.
In rap music videos women are represented in a very sexual way with very little clothing and men are represented as having little respect for women, rich, a pimp and being irrisistable.
In rock music videos they are always performing to a crowd, in a stadium with different lighting.
There are also different performance music videos.
Classic performance videos use instruments, featuring music skill.
Charity videos use emotive images to make people give money.
Narrative videos tells the story.
We looked at two different music videos that have strong stereotypes. They were Ghetto gospel and Beautiful by tu pac and Christina Aguilera.
Ghetto gospel;
2.44 - 2.50
In this shot of ghetto gospel the main stereotype shown is black american men being in a gang. The setting is on the side of a street and it is dark, which is where people may assosiate a gang with being because you wouldnt see them in a nice area or causing trouble when it is light as they would be more likely to get caught. The shots used in this are close ups and wide shots. The wide shot is used so you can see the whole gang and the audience can see what they look like and how they are acting and the close up shots are to see certain facial expressions and things about the gang members.
1.57 - 2.02
In this shot it is going against the main stereotype of a black male in america. In this shot he is a family man and caring and you wouldnt think he was the type of man to get into trouble. I chose this shot because Ghetto gospel shows stereotypes and then goes agaisnt those stereotypes in different parts. The shots used are close ups and cut ins.
The cut in is used to show her body expression and what is on the telly which is also showing that she is being ignored because you see her arguing and shouting and can see her arm expressions but can see the telly is on so the man is watching that. The close ups are used to show facial expressions.
1.42 - 1.44
Another example of this is a scene where he goes to church, you wouldnt assosiate going to church with a member of a gang.
Beautiful;
1.08 - 1.11
In this scene of Beautiful the stereotype is bullies and the way gay people are treated by other people as well at stereotyping gay people. The girls are beating up the other girl because she is a lesbian. This is stereotyping girls to say that they dont like lesbians and will be horrible and treat her different because she is a lesbian. The shots used in this scene are wide shots and close ups. The wide shot is used to show the girl on the floor being beaten up and with blood all over her face. It is also usesd to show the bullies faces.
The close up is used to show the girls whos being bullied facial expression and to show she had blood all over her face.
1.43 - 1.45
In this scene the stereotypes are girls. It shows the stereotype that all girls want to look like celebritys and be skinny and the lengths that they will go to to be skinny as this girl is anerexic. It could also be showing stereotypes of celebritys being skinny and girls looking up to them and wanting to be like them as well as maybe showing stereotypes of how people make girls feel so they feel the need to do that to themselves. The shots used are wide shot and point of view shot. The wide shot is used so the audience can see the extent of the body damage she has done to herself and for the audience to be able to see clearly that she is anerexic.
The point of view shot is used to show her looking at herself in the mirror to show the audience how much she dislikes herself and how she feels about herself and her body.
In rap music videos women are represented in a very sexual way with very little clothing and men are represented as having little respect for women, rich, a pimp and being irrisistable.
In rock music videos they are always performing to a crowd, in a stadium with different lighting.
There are also different performance music videos.
Classic performance videos use instruments, featuring music skill.
Charity videos use emotive images to make people give money.
Narrative videos tells the story.
We looked at two different music videos that have strong stereotypes. They were Ghetto gospel and Beautiful by tu pac and Christina Aguilera.
Ghetto gospel;
In this shot of ghetto gospel the main stereotype shown is black american men being in a gang. The setting is on the side of a street and it is dark, which is where people may assosiate a gang with being because you wouldnt see them in a nice area or causing trouble when it is light as they would be more likely to get caught. The shots used in this are close ups and wide shots. The wide shot is used so you can see the whole gang and the audience can see what they look like and how they are acting and the close up shots are to see certain facial expressions and things about the gang members.
In this shot it is going against the main stereotype of a black male in america. In this shot he is a family man and caring and you wouldnt think he was the type of man to get into trouble. I chose this shot because Ghetto gospel shows stereotypes and then goes agaisnt those stereotypes in different parts. The shots used are close ups and cut ins.
Another example of this is a scene where he goes to church, you wouldnt assosiate going to church with a member of a gang.
Beautiful;
In this scene of Beautiful the stereotype is bullies and the way gay people are treated by other people as well at stereotyping gay people. The girls are beating up the other girl because she is a lesbian. This is stereotyping girls to say that they dont like lesbians and will be horrible and treat her different because she is a lesbian. The shots used in this scene are wide shots and close ups. The wide shot is used to show the girl on the floor being beaten up and with blood all over her face. It is also usesd to show the bullies faces.
In this scene the stereotypes are girls. It shows the stereotype that all girls want to look like celebritys and be skinny and the lengths that they will go to to be skinny as this girl is anerexic. It could also be showing stereotypes of celebritys being skinny and girls looking up to them and wanting to be like them as well as maybe showing stereotypes of how people make girls feel so they feel the need to do that to themselves. The shots used are wide shot and point of view shot. The wide shot is used so the audience can see the extent of the body damage she has done to herself and for the audience to be able to see clearly that she is anerexic.
Sunday, 7 October 2012
Soap opera questions
The term Soap opera originated in the 1930's,when US radio serials were sponsered by major soap powder companies. Those serials tended to concentrate on domestic and family dramas.
A serial format is when narratives are carried over from one episode to the next and characters develop overtime, their actions informed by the detailed histories which they carry with them. This is on contrast to the series format in which characters and situations are carried from episode to episode but the narratives remain self contained. Outnumbered is in a series format but serial forman is eastenders.
The primary audience for soaps is females.
The uses and gratifications that the audiences get from soap operas in, diversion (escape from everyday and problems), personal relationships (Subsituting soap operas for family life).
Setting is important in soap operas because it can give you information about the character. E.g Lola living in small, old and dirty house which shows how much money she has. It is also important for each character to have there own identity which is shown through setting. E.g houses.
The traditional concepts of family are challenged by always being different new, breaking relationships, affairs etc. The idea that the family should have clear boundires is always stretched to almost breaking point. Its central in a soap opera but there is no clear definition of how a family should be.
John Fiske argues that the lack of central characters or a single narative view point in soap opera provides a more open experience for viewers. This allows a single narrative event to be interpreted in a number of different ways, allowing audiences to explore social or moral issues for themselves.
Open texts is media products whose form and content allow a large degree of interpretative freedom to the audience. E.g art films
Closed texts is media products whose form and content are arranged so that only a limited number of interpratations or reading are possible by the audience.
Women are portrayed in soap operas as gossiping and presenting a view of the world in which those qualities are privelleged or respected more than elsewhere,they also show power through there sexuality. E.g gossiping vera in coronation street. Power through there sexuality e.g Kat slater and soap operas allow women to dominate by being strong and independant.E.g peggy mitchell
Matriach is the strong female heading a unit. It is important in soap operas because it is rarely seen in other genres. E.g Fiz in coronation street is a matriachal figure as she has no husband but looks after her daughter and brother. Kirsty is also because shes in control of what happens and goes to work whilst tyrone stays at home.
Tabloid newspapers interact with soaps by having headlines advertising whats going to happen that weeks on the soaps and giving extra information on the soaps.
The male sterotypes that feature in soap opera have to show similar capabilities to female characters and have to show sensitivity and caring and perform a secondary role.
Mike Baldwin, Ian Beale and Jack Duckworth all challenge gender stereotypes.
Morally bad characters are; Phil Mitchell and Nick Cotton and morally good characters are Fiz, Alfie Moon
Analysing the representation of gender roles in coronation street
In coronation street general roles are represented in a very different way between Kirsty and Tyrone.
Kirsty tells Tyrone he is not on his daughters birth certificate, therefore he has no rights over his daughter. Gender roles are represented here because the women is the dominant character which is unusual as males are usually seen to me the dominant characters. This also represents gender because it shows the woman having all the rights over the child and the man having none, this is representing gender because it is known as the woman being the caring one towards children and staying at home with the children and this is shown in the scene by the father having no rights. All the shot types used in the scene are all close ups to either Tyrone or Kirstys face. This is to show the facial expressions the character is pulling and to make the audience focus on them and nothing else.
The balance of realism and drama in eastenders
In eastenders there is a good balance between realism and drama. A lot of the things that happen in Eastenders are things that happen in real life. Where the balance comes into it is they are things that happen in real life but they are exaggerating and made a lot more dramatic then they would be in real life. For example on a recent episode of eastenders Lolas baby got taken away from her by social services which does happen in everyday life it was just made into drama by her yelling whos the babys father was when she had been hiding it as well as screaming in the middle of the street.
The responsibility of soap opera producers;
I think the main responsibility of soap opera producers is to entertain the audience and provide them with good story lines that could possible relate to there lives. I believe they should have a set of moral codes and not take things to far. They should know when to stop the story line before it goes to far and think about how audiences may feel towards certain story lines and how it may effect viewership. The way they show things to be realistic by over exaggerate it by adding more drama is a good thing as long as they have the balance, this is because if it was realistic it wouldnt be as entertaining to watch and you may not always want to know what will happen next.
A serial format is when narratives are carried over from one episode to the next and characters develop overtime, their actions informed by the detailed histories which they carry with them. This is on contrast to the series format in which characters and situations are carried from episode to episode but the narratives remain self contained. Outnumbered is in a series format but serial forman is eastenders.
The primary audience for soaps is females.
The uses and gratifications that the audiences get from soap operas in, diversion (escape from everyday and problems), personal relationships (Subsituting soap operas for family life).
Setting is important in soap operas because it can give you information about the character. E.g Lola living in small, old and dirty house which shows how much money she has. It is also important for each character to have there own identity which is shown through setting. E.g houses.
The traditional concepts of family are challenged by always being different new, breaking relationships, affairs etc. The idea that the family should have clear boundires is always stretched to almost breaking point. Its central in a soap opera but there is no clear definition of how a family should be.
John Fiske argues that the lack of central characters or a single narative view point in soap opera provides a more open experience for viewers. This allows a single narrative event to be interpreted in a number of different ways, allowing audiences to explore social or moral issues for themselves.
Open texts is media products whose form and content allow a large degree of interpretative freedom to the audience. E.g art films
Closed texts is media products whose form and content are arranged so that only a limited number of interpratations or reading are possible by the audience.
Women are portrayed in soap operas as gossiping and presenting a view of the world in which those qualities are privelleged or respected more than elsewhere,they also show power through there sexuality. E.g gossiping vera in coronation street. Power through there sexuality e.g Kat slater and soap operas allow women to dominate by being strong and independant.E.g peggy mitchell
Matriach is the strong female heading a unit. It is important in soap operas because it is rarely seen in other genres. E.g Fiz in coronation street is a matriachal figure as she has no husband but looks after her daughter and brother. Kirsty is also because shes in control of what happens and goes to work whilst tyrone stays at home.
Tabloid newspapers interact with soaps by having headlines advertising whats going to happen that weeks on the soaps and giving extra information on the soaps.
The male sterotypes that feature in soap opera have to show similar capabilities to female characters and have to show sensitivity and caring and perform a secondary role.
Mike Baldwin, Ian Beale and Jack Duckworth all challenge gender stereotypes.
Morally bad characters are; Phil Mitchell and Nick Cotton and morally good characters are Fiz, Alfie Moon
Analysing the representation of gender roles in coronation street
In coronation street general roles are represented in a very different way between Kirsty and Tyrone.
Kirsty tells Tyrone he is not on his daughters birth certificate, therefore he has no rights over his daughter. Gender roles are represented here because the women is the dominant character which is unusual as males are usually seen to me the dominant characters. This also represents gender because it shows the woman having all the rights over the child and the man having none, this is representing gender because it is known as the woman being the caring one towards children and staying at home with the children and this is shown in the scene by the father having no rights. All the shot types used in the scene are all close ups to either Tyrone or Kirstys face. This is to show the facial expressions the character is pulling and to make the audience focus on them and nothing else.
The balance of realism and drama in eastenders
In eastenders there is a good balance between realism and drama. A lot of the things that happen in Eastenders are things that happen in real life. Where the balance comes into it is they are things that happen in real life but they are exaggerating and made a lot more dramatic then they would be in real life. For example on a recent episode of eastenders Lolas baby got taken away from her by social services which does happen in everyday life it was just made into drama by her yelling whos the babys father was when she had been hiding it as well as screaming in the middle of the street.
The responsibility of soap opera producers;
I think the main responsibility of soap opera producers is to entertain the audience and provide them with good story lines that could possible relate to there lives. I believe they should have a set of moral codes and not take things to far. They should know when to stop the story line before it goes to far and think about how audiences may feel towards certain story lines and how it may effect viewership. The way they show things to be realistic by over exaggerate it by adding more drama is a good thing as long as they have the balance, this is because if it was realistic it wouldnt be as entertaining to watch and you may not always want to know what will happen next.
Thursday, 4 October 2012
Research task - Roles in TV Drama
In TV Dramas you have a lot of different roles. Some of these roles are:
- Director
- Producer
- Script editor
- Actors
- Actresses
- Make up artist
- Costume designer
- Camera men/women
- Editor
- Models
Research task - Social groups
Different TV dramas represent social groups and social issues in different ways. Tv dramas may represent them by being able to see the divide in different social groups. For example in a recent episode of eastenders you could see the divide in the social groups by Lola and her friends being in a big group causing trouble and other people being afraid of them and not approaching them. This was also represented when they were talking to Lola, Abbie and Jay. As them three were in a group on one side of the park and the other group were together on the other side of the park. Eastenders did this because you could very clearly see the different social groups because of how they were set out on the square. TV dramas represent social issues by having arguments or fights between character about the social issue. They make it clear to the audience what they are arguing or fighting about. For example in coronation street Tina and Tommy are having an argument with Kirsty and Tyrone about money they owe and them getting involved in eachothers relationships. In this argument they represent social groups and social issues because you can clearly see the divide between Tina and Tommy and Kirsty and Tyrone because they are standing on different sides of the street arguing. You know they are arguing about money if you have watched previous eppisodes but they also make it clear that they are arguing about money if you havent by kirty repeatidly saying "We lent you money" and Tina replying to her to clearly show the social issue.
Dramatic conflict can be shown between different social groups in TV dramas especially social groups of different races. You often see groups of people from different races having arguments in TV dramas. They are usually arguing about one group doing something to the other group. You also often see conflict between social groups of males and females. You may also see it between older people and younger people. This is nearly always shown between arguments but can sometimes be shown in a not so obvious way. For example certain looks between the groups or the way somebody will act around a certain group can show this.
The shots are usually shown in wide shots because this shows the whole of the groups and makes the audience able to see everything the groups are doing. Some shots may be close up when the scene is just based on one group or close up shots when going in between the social groups. Theyre may be extreme close ups if the groups are giving certain looks or facial expressions but are mainly wide shots to show the divide between the groups especially at the beginning of the scene so the audience can see the divide between the groups clearly as they are usually standing on opposite sides of the road, park etc.
Dramatic conflict can be shown between different social groups in TV dramas especially social groups of different races. You often see groups of people from different races having arguments in TV dramas. They are usually arguing about one group doing something to the other group. You also often see conflict between social groups of males and females. You may also see it between older people and younger people. This is nearly always shown between arguments but can sometimes be shown in a not so obvious way. For example certain looks between the groups or the way somebody will act around a certain group can show this.
The shots are usually shown in wide shots because this shows the whole of the groups and makes the audience able to see everything the groups are doing. Some shots may be close up when the scene is just based on one group or close up shots when going in between the social groups. Theyre may be extreme close ups if the groups are giving certain looks or facial expressions but are mainly wide shots to show the divide between the groups especially at the beginning of the scene so the audience can see the divide between the groups clearly as they are usually standing on opposite sides of the road, park etc.
Sunday, 23 September 2012
TV Scheduling
Most TV Dramas are scheduled no earlier then about 6.30. The first soap is on at 6.30 everyday (hollyoaks) followed by emerdale, coroation street and eastenders, although these are not always on everyday. Crime Dramas are usually on after 8 or 9 depending on how violent they are. TV programmes that use swearing or have sexual content are also on after 9 because thats when younger children would not neccesarily be watching them. Childrens TV programmes are usually scheduled in the morning because younger children are awake earlier.
It's increasingly important for TV networks to know whether viewers watch shows on the internet, via a service like Hulu Plus, BBC iPlayer, YouTube or Amazon, or whether they watch 'live' (at the time of original broadcast), or time-shift their viewing via DVR.
Television broadcasts used to be the only way audiences could experience TV shows. However, the advent of the video recorder in the 1980s brought in the concept of time shifted viewing, and also the reality that viewers could fast-forward through advertising. Today, there are a number of different technologies on which we can consume a TV show - as a DVD box set, online (including via pirated downloads), on a phone or tablet, via a DVR recording. Therefore the old patterns of TV scheduling are fading.
If people watch the same TV show at the same time, then that's what everyone wants to talk about the next day at school or work. In the days before time-shifted TV, episodes of shows became hot topics the following morning 'around the water cooler', discussed simultaneously in newspaper reviews and ordinary conversation. "Water Cooler TV" is still a phrase bandied round by TV executives, but it's now used to describe the global discussion that goes on about TV shows via social media networks like Twitter and Facebook, as well as via blog posts.
Social media is useful to TV networks for generating excitement prior to the broadcast of a show, and for ensuring that as many people as possible tune in during the original time slot. The creation of Facebook pages and Twitter feeds for shows and characters is a vital tool for building fan loyalty. This is particularly important for the finale of a talent show like American Idol or BGT. Because so many people discuss the content of a show via tweets and status updates as it happens, spoilers abound on the internet for anyone who's not next to a TV set.
However, social media is a double-edged sword where international drama sales are concerned. When viewers in one country get to see a show first, their online discussion may spoil things for viewers in other countries, especially where the death of a character or a plot twist is concerned. Networks are well aware of this problem, because it generates demand for pirated shows. Unable to wait, a fan might illegally download episodes of their favorite show so that they can keep up with the online chatter - and know what happens! Dexter was the most downloaded TV show of 2011, because Season Six was broadcast in the US long before it appeared anywhere else.
It's increasingly important for TV networks to know whether viewers watch shows on the internet, via a service like Hulu Plus, BBC iPlayer, YouTube or Amazon, or whether they watch 'live' (at the time of original broadcast), or time-shift their viewing via DVR.
Television broadcasts used to be the only way audiences could experience TV shows. However, the advent of the video recorder in the 1980s brought in the concept of time shifted viewing, and also the reality that viewers could fast-forward through advertising. Today, there are a number of different technologies on which we can consume a TV show - as a DVD box set, online (including via pirated downloads), on a phone or tablet, via a DVR recording. Therefore the old patterns of TV scheduling are fading.
- Audiences Now Rarely Drawn To Live Television — New York Times, 14/5/12
Social Media and the TV Schedule
Before the video recorder, watching a TV show was a shared social experience. Whole nations would all "tune in at the same time" to watch a popular show, especially if there was some kind of cliffhanger set up or resolution, or for the finale of a drama. In a small country like the UK, where all viewing happens in the same time zone, this causes a phenomenon known as TV Pickup, a surge in the National Grid that occurs immediately before and after a record-rated show, as everyone switches on their kettles or other small appliances after walking away from their TV. In the age of time-shifted viewing, it's very rare to see the kind of power surge that occurred after the 1984 broadcast of The Thorn Birds finale (the biggest surge experienced after a TV drama), but surges still happen, after big events like major football matches or a royal wedding.If people watch the same TV show at the same time, then that's what everyone wants to talk about the next day at school or work. In the days before time-shifted TV, episodes of shows became hot topics the following morning 'around the water cooler', discussed simultaneously in newspaper reviews and ordinary conversation. "Water Cooler TV" is still a phrase bandied round by TV executives, but it's now used to describe the global discussion that goes on about TV shows via social media networks like Twitter and Facebook, as well as via blog posts.
Social media is useful to TV networks for generating excitement prior to the broadcast of a show, and for ensuring that as many people as possible tune in during the original time slot. The creation of Facebook pages and Twitter feeds for shows and characters is a vital tool for building fan loyalty. This is particularly important for the finale of a talent show like American Idol or BGT. Because so many people discuss the content of a show via tweets and status updates as it happens, spoilers abound on the internet for anyone who's not next to a TV set.
However, social media is a double-edged sword where international drama sales are concerned. When viewers in one country get to see a show first, their online discussion may spoil things for viewers in other countries, especially where the death of a character or a plot twist is concerned. Networks are well aware of this problem, because it generates demand for pirated shows. Unable to wait, a fan might illegally download episodes of their favorite show so that they can keep up with the online chatter - and know what happens! Dexter was the most downloaded TV show of 2011, because Season Six was broadcast in the US long before it appeared anywhere else.
Why do audiences enjoy watching Crime Dramas?
People may watch Crime Dramas as a way to escape from there own lives. The suspence and excitment of watching the crime drama may make people forget about the stress and upset of whats going on in there lives. The tension that crime dramas bring make people fixed on them and concentrate on what is happening which makes them zone out and forget about all the problems. Crime dramas also can become part of your routine where you look forward to them being on every week. They may also become part of your routine because you want to know what happens next or what differnet event is going to happen in the next episode, therefore audiences enjoy watching them and look forward to when they will next be on.
Audiences may also enjoy watching Crime Dramas for emotional support. By watching crime dramas you may feel like you can interact with the characters causing you to feel things torwards the character and the programme. This may help people with personal relationships and emotionalproblems because the person may feel the characters feels the same as them therefore feeling like they can connect with the character and share the way they feel even though the character isnt actually real. This works with crime dramas because crime dramas can show a lot of different emotions like, anxiety, fear, anger.
People may enjoy watching Crime Dramas as you can learn things from them, in some crime dramas you may learn more about the criminal justic system and how that works, in some you may learn more about the jobs a police officer or detective does which may interest you and make you change the way you think and feel about society. People may enjoy this because they are learning about things they are interested in as well as being entertained.
Crime Dramas may teach you certain things that you need to know to live, for example it may teach somebody about self defence which you may need either now or later in your life. People may also enjoy them because they teach you about policing and the way the law works which is helpful in your life as well.
Audiences may also enjoy watching Crime Dramas for emotional support. By watching crime dramas you may feel like you can interact with the characters causing you to feel things torwards the character and the programme. This may help people with personal relationships and emotionalproblems because the person may feel the characters feels the same as them therefore feeling like they can connect with the character and share the way they feel even though the character isnt actually real. This works with crime dramas because crime dramas can show a lot of different emotions like, anxiety, fear, anger.
People may enjoy watching Crime Dramas as you can learn things from them, in some crime dramas you may learn more about the criminal justic system and how that works, in some you may learn more about the jobs a police officer or detective does which may interest you and make you change the way you think and feel about society. People may enjoy this because they are learning about things they are interested in as well as being entertained.
Crime Dramas may teach you certain things that you need to know to live, for example it may teach somebody about self defence which you may need either now or later in your life. People may also enjoy them because they teach you about policing and the way the law works which is helpful in your life as well.
Crime Drama
Key Elements
Range of crime
- Verisimilitude
- Team work and pleasure in success
- Conflict between different modes of policing
- Father/Son relationship - experienced and detective sidekick
- Conflict with the law
- Sacrifices in private lives
Range of crime
- Criminal led e.g hustle
- Investigate detective and sidekick stories e.g A touch of frost
- Cold case narratives e.g silent witness
- Court room naratives e.g judge john
- Soap series e.g The bill
Uses and Gratifications theory
During the 1960's, as the first generation to grow up with television became grown ups, it became increasingly apparent to media theorists that audiences made choices about what they did when consuming texts. Far from being a passive mass, audiences were made up of individuals who actively consumed texts for different reasons and in different ways.
In 1948 Lasswell suggested that media texts had the following functions for individuals and society:
The list of uses and gratifications has been extended, paticularly as new media forms have come along (e.g video and games and internet)
In 1948 Lasswell suggested that media texts had the following functions for individuals and society:
- Surveillance
- Correlations
- Entertainment
- Cultral Transmission
- Diversion - escape from everyday problems and routine.
- Personal Relationships - Using the media for emotional and other intercation (e.g substituting soap operas for family life)
- Personal identity - finding yourself reflected in texts, learning behavior and values from texts
- Surveiliance - Information which could be useful for living (e.g weather reports, financial news, holiday bargins)
The list of uses and gratifications has been extended, paticularly as new media forms have come along (e.g video and games and internet)
Thursday, 20 September 2012
Narrative
The difference between narrative and story.
Story - A sequence of events, known correctly as the plot.
Narrative - The way those events are put together to be presented to an audience.
Therefore when we analyse a narrative we analyse the construction of the story e.g the way it has been put together, not the story itself. Also considering what the story is about in its most basic terms e.g the theme.
All media texts have a narrative whether they are a six hour TV mini-series or a one paragraph story or a glossy magazine photograph.
Analysing a narrative will involve the following:
Technical Codes
This refers to all the aspects of narrative constuction that involve technical decision making. Therefore anything to do with camera angles and movement, lighting, sounds, props, shot framing, composition, design, layout and editing. What do each of the choices made tell you about what is going on. E.g how does a camera shot make you feel if it is from a high angle or a low angle, how are sound affects used to help you understand?
Verbal Codes
The use of language - written and spoken - and signs contrained in graphics. We learn a lot about a narrative from what we are told in this way, but the best narratives show rather then tell, leaving the audience to draw their own conclusions.
Symbolic Codes
These are the signs contained in the narrative that we deocde (work out the meaning of something) as being significant (shows or means something) and having meaning. E.g a ragged coat may mean a character is poor. Use them as clues that have to be followed, and different viewers/readers will follow clues in different ways.
Structure
Russian theorist, Tzvetan Todorov suggests that all naratives follow a three part structure. They begin with equilibrium, where everything is balanced, progress as something comes along to disrupt that equilibrium, and finally reach a resolution, when equilibrium is resotred. Equilibrium - disequilibrium - New equilibrium.
The simple formula can be applied to virtually all naratives - it is a more formal way of thinking from the beginning, middle and end and it takes into acounnt Aristotle's theory that all drama is conlfict. e.g there is a disequilibrium at the heart of every narrative.
Narrative Conflict
Aristotle - "All drama is conflict"
Claude Levi-Strauss came up with a theory of Binary Opposition, meaning that all narratives had to be driven forward by conflict that was caused by a series of opposing forces. This theory is used to describe how each main force in a narrative has its equal and opposite.
Analysing a narrative means identifying these opposing forces, e.g light/dark, good/evil, noise/silence, youth/age, right/wrong, poverty/wealth and understanding the conflict between them and will drive the narrative on until finally, some sort of balance or resolution is achieved.
Bobo's doll experiment;
One theory of whether watching something violent can cause you to act in a violent way e.g video games.
Bandura had a number of predictions about the outcomes of the Bobo Doll Experiment, fitting with his views on the theories of social learning.
Story - A sequence of events, known correctly as the plot.
Narrative - The way those events are put together to be presented to an audience.
Therefore when we analyse a narrative we analyse the construction of the story e.g the way it has been put together, not the story itself. Also considering what the story is about in its most basic terms e.g the theme.
All media texts have a narrative whether they are a six hour TV mini-series or a one paragraph story or a glossy magazine photograph.
Analysing a narrative will involve the following:
Technical Codes
This refers to all the aspects of narrative constuction that involve technical decision making. Therefore anything to do with camera angles and movement, lighting, sounds, props, shot framing, composition, design, layout and editing. What do each of the choices made tell you about what is going on. E.g how does a camera shot make you feel if it is from a high angle or a low angle, how are sound affects used to help you understand?
Verbal Codes
The use of language - written and spoken - and signs contrained in graphics. We learn a lot about a narrative from what we are told in this way, but the best narratives show rather then tell, leaving the audience to draw their own conclusions.
Symbolic Codes
These are the signs contained in the narrative that we deocde (work out the meaning of something) as being significant (shows or means something) and having meaning. E.g a ragged coat may mean a character is poor. Use them as clues that have to be followed, and different viewers/readers will follow clues in different ways.
Structure
Russian theorist, Tzvetan Todorov suggests that all naratives follow a three part structure. They begin with equilibrium, where everything is balanced, progress as something comes along to disrupt that equilibrium, and finally reach a resolution, when equilibrium is resotred. Equilibrium - disequilibrium - New equilibrium.
The simple formula can be applied to virtually all naratives - it is a more formal way of thinking from the beginning, middle and end and it takes into acounnt Aristotle's theory that all drama is conlfict. e.g there is a disequilibrium at the heart of every narrative.
Narrative Conflict
Aristotle - "All drama is conflict"
Claude Levi-Strauss came up with a theory of Binary Opposition, meaning that all narratives had to be driven forward by conflict that was caused by a series of opposing forces. This theory is used to describe how each main force in a narrative has its equal and opposite.
Analysing a narrative means identifying these opposing forces, e.g light/dark, good/evil, noise/silence, youth/age, right/wrong, poverty/wealth and understanding the conflict between them and will drive the narrative on until finally, some sort of balance or resolution is achieved.
Bobo's doll experiment;
One theory of whether watching something violent can cause you to act in a violent way e.g video games.
Bandura had a number of predictions about the outcomes of the Bobo Doll Experiment, fitting with his views on the theories of social learning.
- Children witnessing an adult role model behaving in an overly aggressive manner would be likely to replicate similar behavior themselves, even if the adult was not present.
- Subjects who had observed a non-aggressive adult would be the least likely to show violent tendencies, even if the adult was not present. They would be even less likely to exhibit this type of aggression than the control group of children, who had seen no role model at all.
- Bandura believed that children would be much more likely to copy the behavior of a role model of the same sex. He wanted to show that it was much easier for a child to identify and interact with an adult of the same gender.
- The final prediction was that male children would tend to be more aggressive than female children, because society has always tolerated and advocated violent behavior in men more than women.
Shot Types
EWS (Extreme Wide Shot)
The view is so far from the subject that he isn't even visible. Often used as an establishing shot.
VWS (Very Wide Shot)
The subject is visible (barely), but the emphasis is still on placing him in his environment.
WS (Wide Shot)
The subject takes up the full frame, or at least as much as comfortably possible.
AKA: long shot, full shot.
MS (Mid Shot)
Shows some part of the subject in more detail while still giving an impression of the whole subject.
MCU (Medium Close Up)
Half way between a MS and a CU.
CU (Close Up)
A certain feature or part of the subject takes up the whole frame.
Cut-In
Shows some (other) part of the subject in detail.
CA (Cutaway)
A shot of something other than the subject.
Two-Shot
A shot of two people, framed similarly to a mid shot.
(OSS) Over-the-Shoulder Shot
Looking from behind a person at the subject.
Noddy Shot
Usually refers to a shot of the interviewer listening and reacting to the subject.
Point-of-View Shot (POV)
Shows a view from the subject's perspective.
Weather Shot
The subject is the weather. Can be used for other purposes, e.g. background for graphics.
How stereotypes are represented or challanged..
In a episode of Eastenders,
Stereotypes are usually challanged by another character that the stereotpe would be seen to not get on with. For example, Ray is challanged by a policeman. In real life black people, especially men, are stereotyped as casusing trouble and ending in conflict with the police so this is shown in Eastenders. It is also represented by the police man talking down to Ray like he is nothing.
Stereotypes are also represented in the way a by stander acts. For example, Mo in eastenders just stood there and watched until Ray was found not guilty she then went over and helped, but if there was someone from the same race they may have got involved sooner. This also shows how stereotyping can effect other people when they are standing by and that it is very different if someone is being judged from the same race or not and that would have a big impact on how they acted. This is also represented in TV dramas and was represented in Eastenders.
Stereotypes are usually challanged by another character that the stereotpe would be seen to not get on with. For example, Ray is challanged by a policeman. In real life black people, especially men, are stereotyped as casusing trouble and ending in conflict with the police so this is shown in Eastenders. It is also represented by the police man talking down to Ray like he is nothing.
Stereotypes are also represented in the way a by stander acts. For example, Mo in eastenders just stood there and watched until Ray was found not guilty she then went over and helped, but if there was someone from the same race they may have got involved sooner. This also shows how stereotyping can effect other people when they are standing by and that it is very different if someone is being judged from the same race or not and that would have a big impact on how they acted. This is also represented in TV dramas and was represented in Eastenders.
TV Drama, Research task 1
Types of TV drama and examples
1. Soaps - e.g Eastenders, Coronation street, Emerdale
2. Costume/Period drama - e.g downton abbey, Emma, Jane Eyre
3. Medical/emergency - e.g Casualty, Holby city, Doctors
4. Litery adaptions - e.g The only way is essex, To kill a mocking bird, Sin city
5. Crime drama - e.g The bill, CSI, Law and order
6. Contempory melodrama - e.g Waterloo road, Wizard of Oz, Titanic
7. sc-fi/fantasy - e,g Star treck, Star wars, Lost in space
8. Spy drama - e.g MI high, Hunted, Nemesis
9. Family - e.g Smallville, My family, Gilmore Girls
10. High school - e.g Skins, High school musical, Beverly Hills
11. Comedy - Miranda, Beaver falls, shameless
1. Soaps - e.g Eastenders, Coronation street, Emerdale
2. Costume/Period drama - e.g downton abbey, Emma, Jane Eyre
3. Medical/emergency - e.g Casualty, Holby city, Doctors
4. Litery adaptions - e.g The only way is essex, To kill a mocking bird, Sin city
5. Crime drama - e.g The bill, CSI, Law and order
6. Contempory melodrama - e.g Waterloo road, Wizard of Oz, Titanic
7. sc-fi/fantasy - e,g Star treck, Star wars, Lost in space
8. Spy drama - e.g MI high, Hunted, Nemesis
9. Family - e.g Smallville, My family, Gilmore Girls
10. High school - e.g Skins, High school musical, Beverly Hills
11. Comedy - Miranda, Beaver falls, shameless
Wednesday, 19 September 2012
Conflict in TV Dramas
CONFLICT
Conflict vs Victim
Conflict vs police
Conflict vs law (court)
Conflict vs detective
Detective vs suspect
Detective vs criminal
Detective vs police
Detective vs lawyer
Conflict vs Victim
Conflict vs police
Conflict vs law (court)
Conflict vs detective
Detective vs suspect
Detective vs criminal
Detective vs police
Detective vs lawyer
TV Drama
Why do people watch TV Drama?
- Entertainment
- The plot
- Suspence, Engaged
- Relaxation
- Reliable
- Links to there life
- Verisimilitude
- Daily routine
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