Tuesday 30 September 2014
Gender in TV drama
Word Document
Video Analysis
I decided to do a quick video analysis because I thought that this video clip was interesting as the stereotypical gender roles appear to be reversed.
Camera Shots
- Close Up: The first shot that we are presented with is a close up of some people these are extras as such. We are then moved on to the second shot which is a close up of two of the main characters. This is when we get to see the characters, they appear to be hiding in a sort of air vent cover. We automatically get the feeling that these characters are not very powerful in this situation. This turns out to be due to the fact that one of the men's dad (the previous king) is being striped of his crown.
- Establishing Shot: There then is an establishing shot, this shows the audience the characters, and show a women leading what was (in that time) a primarily male dominated society, this gives the viewer a sense of what is to become and restores a sense of space.
- Low angle: The next shot we are presented with is a low angle shot where the king (previously) is on the floor looking up (as is the camera) to a woman in front of the throne, this particular shot emphasizes the fact that the male on the floor has now been striped of all status and any power he had, we it also establishes the fact that the woman is clearly dominating and at this moment in time has more status and power than anyone else.
- Mid Shot: We are then presented with a mid shot of the male that we now find out is named Uther, this further establishers his lack of power and influence over the situation as he is being held by two guards, this further emphasizes the woman's power over him.
Editing
- Cross cutting: As the conversation takes place between Uther and the woman the editor flicks between views depending on who's talking, this allows the audience to full appreciate the power the woman has over him, as she is ignoring what he says and caring on with her proceedings
Sound
- Crowd: The crowd in the shot are making no noise this increases the tension of the situation and makes the audience experience Uther's lack of power thus further representing the female as superior.
Mise-en-Scene
- Lighting: The room is primarily lit by candles and fire, these fires and candles are all at the front of the room this means that the fire is representing power and thus emphasizes the woman's status.
Tuesday 23 September 2014
Marjorie Ferguson - Male Gaze Facial Expressions
Marjorie Ferguson (1980) identified four types of facial expression in the cover photos of British women’s magazines:
- Chocolate Box: half or full-smile, lips together or slightly parted, teeth barely visible, full or three-quarter face to camera. Projected mood: blandly pleasing, warm bath warmth, where uniformity of features in their smooth perfection is devoid of uniqueness or of individuality.
- Invitational: emphasis on the eyes, mouth shut or with only a hint of a smile, head to one side or looking back to camera. Projected mood: suggestive of mischief or mystery, the hint of contact potential rather than sexual promise, the cover equivalent of advertising’s soft sell.
- Super-smiler: full face, wide open toothy smile, head thrust forward or chin thrown back, hair often wind-blown. Projected mood: aggressive, ‘look-at-me’ demanding, the hard sell, ‘big come-on’ approach.
- Romantic or Sexual: a fourth and more general classification devised to include male and female ‘two-somes’; or the dreamy, heavy-lidded, unsmiling big-heads, or the overtly sensual or sexual. Projected moods: possible ‘available’ and definitely ‘available’.
Trevor Millum - Gaze Facial Expressions
Gaze Facial Expressions
Trevor Millum (1975) identified male facial expressions:
- Carefree: nymph-like, active, healthy, gay, vibrant, outdoor guy, often smiling or grinning.
- Practical: concentrating, engaged on the business in hand, mouth closed, eyes object-directed, sometimes a slight frown, hair often short
- Seductive: similar to the cool/level look (indifferent, self-sufficient, aloof, confident, lips slightly parted, usually looking the reader in the eye), eyes shaded, confident, self-sufficient, may include a slight smile
- Comic: deliberately ridiculous, exaggerated, acting the fool, pulling faces for the benefit of a real or imaginary audience, sometimes close to archness
- Catalogue: neutral look, artificial, waxlike, eyes open wide, smile, look remains vacant, personality removed
Representation of Status - Coronation Street
Video (Coronation Street - Tina's murder)
Written Analysis (Power Point Document)
Sunday 21 September 2014
Wednesday 17 September 2014
Sunday 14 September 2014
Institutions and Audiences - The 7 Key Concept Areas Listed and Explained
Section B: Institutions and Audiences
Candidates should be prepared to understand and discuss the
processes of production, distribution, marketing and exchange as they relate to
contemporary media institutions, as well as the nature of audience consumption
and the relationships between audiences and institutions. In addition,
candidates should be familiar with:
- The issues raised by media ownership in contemporary media practice.
- The importance of cross media convergence and synergy in production, distribution and marketing.
- The technologies that have been introduced in recent years at the levels of production, distribution, marketing and exchange.
- The significance of proliferation in hardware and content for institutions and audiences.
- The importance of technological convergence for institutions and audiences.
- The issues raised in the targeting of national and local audiences (specifically, British) by international or global institutions.
- The ways in which the candidates’ own experiences of media consumption illustrate wider patterns and trends of audience behaviour.
This unit should be approached through contemporary examples
in the form of case studies based upon one of the specified media areas. See explanations below.
Section B: Institutions and Audiences.
The Exam Board will select one concept to devise
a question for the exam. The concepts are explained below:
- The issues raised by media ownership in contemporary (current) media practice: The depth and range of ownership across a range of media and the consequences of this ownership for audiences in terms of the genres and budgets for films. How for instance, can Channel4's Film4 survive in the British market place against the high concept, big-budget films made by Newcorp's FOX, Warner Bros, Disney, Universal, etc.? What kinds of niche audiences are left for Film4 to attract? Are mass audiences out of reach given the genres of films Film4 have the budgets to make? How successful have they been in reaching mass audiences with their films? How healthy is it that just a few mega media groups can own such a range of media and can decide what the public may see, and, perhaps, shape audience's tastes?
- The importance of cross media convergence and synergy in production, distribution and marketing: Digital technology is enabling various media to converge in hubs, platforms and devices. For instance, mobiles phones do a lot more than act as hand held telephones: you can download and watch films and TV programmes, use them as alarm clocks, watches, play music on them, take photos and short films, text, go online, use GPS functions, a range of apps, and a whole lot more. TVs, Playstations, X-Boxes, iPads, Notebooks, MacBooks, etc. are also examples of hubs which in which a variety of media technologies can converge for convenience for users. Media convergence is having an enormous impact on the film industry because of the ways in which institutions can produce and market for audiences/users on a widening range of platforms, capable of receiving their films.
Synergies can come out of an organisation's size; smaller media organisations such as Channel4 can-cross promote their films, etc. but the scale of cross-media promotion is nowhere near as great as that which can be gained by massive media organisations. Film4 is therefore unable to promote their lower budget films on a level playing field.
- The technologies that have been introduced in recent years at the levels of production, distribution, marketing and exchange: The audience's ability to interact with films by, for instance, using digital technology to put extracts on You Tube and overlay new sound tracks on them, etc. and make answering videos has been greatly enhanced by Web 2.0; Film studios can make films using CGI, greenscreen and other special effects that were impossible to make only a few years ago. The ways of filming and editing films have changed, too, with the introduction of digital film and film cameras, editing software, laptops, digital projectors, etc. Distributors market films using the latest software for designing high-concept film posters and trailers. They can use phone apps., online marketing, Face Book, etc. File-sharing and piracy are growing issues because the software exists to take the protective encryption of DVDs, etc and WEB 2.0 enables people to make and share copies of films easily. One way in which film companies are trying to get around this is by releasing films soon after theatrical release by selling them on video-on-demand, premium TV channels and downloads. US and UK cinemas chains are not happy about this, especially after all the investment some have made on digital equipment, projectors, etc. which unfortunately quickly goes very quickly out of date!
- The significance of proliferation in hardware and content for institutions and audiences: This means the increase of something: i.e. digital cameras, software, CGI, 3D films, film genres, etc. which are part of current trends; how significant is this for See Saw Films or Film4? Or are they still able to be successful without it by making films with genres that do not need the latest breakthroughs in digital technology? Research the film company's use of cameras, special effects, software, posters, digital distribution of films, etc.
- The importance of technological convergence for institutions and audiences: This is a WEB 2.0 issue and how technology is coming together in hubs like laptops is one of the features of our age; the mobile phone in your pocket is a great example of technological convergence: it can do so much more than a simple phone call; think how this is affecting film making at the production, marketing and exhibition stages? The Internet is acting as a hub for many aspects of film: you will find film posters, You Tube videos on films, interviews, trailers, official film and blog websites, etc. on it. Audiences can also remake their own films by creating extracts and running new scores over them and then posting them on You Tube. This often leads to answering videos, never mind the comments, etc. that people make on such sites. The internet, film and videos games seems to be converging in so many ways. People can watch films in a range of ways, using an astonishing range of hardware and software. They can also find audiences of their own. This amounts to free publicity for film institutions for their films and "A Long Tail" sales into the future through endless exchange.
- The issues raised in the targeting of national and local audiences (specifically, British) by international or global institutions: "Slumdog Millionaire" was originally aimed at Asian audiences living in various parts of the UK and also at Danny Boyle fans. The film's unexpected success at film festivals and being nominated for the Oscars led to another theatrical release and a crossover from the "indy" art-house into the mainstream. British film makers often make social realism films and aim them at local and regional audiences whereas this would never be enough for the major media players who tend to make high budget, high concept films. They have boutique offshoots who make and often distribute lower budget films, aimed at more high brow audiences. Disney's Mirimax and Fox's Fox Searchlight are examples of such boutique, art-house film distribution.
- The ways in which the candidates’ own experiences of media consumption illustrate wider patterns and trends of audience behaviour: How you consume films whether it is as a social activity after visiting a shopping centre or on an MP4 player or Playstation, is what is at issue here. Visit Pearl and Dean to see how multiplex cinemas are adapting the experience of cinema-going to gain audiences. In an age of falling DVD sales, home cinema and an increase in downloading for both music and film audiences are changing in how they want to consume film. Identify trends and consider where the audience trends are going in the near future.
This unit should be approached through contemporary (up-to-date) examples in the form of case studies based upon one of the specified media areas. Our students are studying the British Film industry with See-Saw Films and Bedlam Productions' The King's Speech or Film4's Slumdog Millionaire; for comparative purposes they are also preparing a case study of US film production/distributor with an example film.
Thursday 11 September 2014
Representation Of Argument - Corronation Street
Video (Coronation Street - Tina's murder)
Written Analysis (Power Point Document)
Wednesday 10 September 2014
Representation In The Media - 100 Words
All Media texts are re-representations of reality, they have
been intentionally made by producers for a specific purpose and audience. When studying
the different aspects of media it is vital to remember that regardless of
budget and quality it is somebody’s concept of existence codified into a series
of signs and symbols that can be read by an audience. Without media our view of
the world would be limited, media is what helps us develop opinions and develop
an understanding of reality, we need artificial texts to mediate our view of
the world. Therefore representation is a fluid, two-way process.
Tuesday 9 September 2014
Self Representation
Self Representation
- Jonathan Ive: I would compare the way I dress to Jonathan Ive as he generally wears plain t-shits in simple colours, I also dress in this way. I also share his passion for design and simplicity.
- Jeremy Clarkson: I would compare certain elements of my personality to Jeremy Clarkson's, I would also compare some of my interests to his as well, we shares an interest in cars. I would also compare my sense of humor with him, I do not agree with some of his views though, I also admire his attitude towards what people think of him (He doesn't care)
- Torsten Müller-Ötvös: I would compare myself to him because we share a passion for excellence and precision. He also has an interest in cars.
- Ferdinand Piëch: I would compare myself to Ferdinand because he was also as I am hugely interested in cars and business, He also had a passion for precision and excellence. In the car industry Piëch is one of the most important people, he was the man behind cars such as the Bugatti Veyron and Volkswagen Phaeton. Both very important cars in their own right.
I don't consciously 'Model' anyone I would say that it is more of a coincidence than the fact I have 'copied' these people. I personally don't believe that anyone copies anyone I simply believe that they get inspiration from these people.
According to the UK Tribes website I am associated to the "Get Paid Crew" in some ways I would agree with this as I am passionate about business, hence why I chose two successful car company bosses who run or ran the businesses at their peak time. I would however like to add that I don't like DIY and according to the UK Tribes website that is related.
7 areas of representation and 4 areas of textual analysis
7 areas of representation and 4 areas of textual analysis
7 areas of representation
- Gender
- Ethnicity
- Age
- Class and status
- Sexuality
- Regional identity
- Physical ability/disability
4 areas of textual analysis
Camera shots, angle, movement, composition
- Shots: establishing shot, master shot, close-up, mid-shot, long shot, wide show, two-shot, aerial shot, point of view shot, over the should shot, and variations of these.
- Angle: high angle, low angle, canted angle.
- Movement: pan, tilt, track, dolly, crane, steadicam, hand-held, zoom, reverse zoom.
- Composition: framing, rule of thirds, depth of field - deep and shallow focus, focus pulls.
Editing
Includes transition of image and sound - continuity and
non-continuity systems.
- Cutting: shot/reverse shot, eyeline match, graphic match, action match, jump cut, crosscutting, parallel editing, cutaway; insert.
- Other transitions: dissolve, fade-in, fade-out, wipe, superimposition, long take, short take, slow motion, ellipsis and expansion of time, post-production, visual effects.
Sound
- Soundtrack: score, incidental music, themes and stings, ambient sound. Diegetic and non-diegetic sound, synchronous/asynchronous sound, sound effects, sound motif, sound bridge, dialogue, voiceover, mode of address/direct address, sound mixing, sound perspective.
Mise-en-Scène
- Production design: location, studio, set design, costume and makeup, properties.
- Lighting: colour design
This is an extract from:
http://ghostasmedia.blogspot.co.uk/
Monday 8 September 2014
Thursday 4 September 2014
5x5
Favourite Media items
Films
- Rush: I love this film because I believe that it perfectly shows off what James Hunt and Niki Lauda were experiencing; it allows the viewer to really put it into perspective. I love some of the Filming techniques used
- Sky fall: I think this film adds a more personal dimension to the James Bond series of films.
- Italian Job: The major reason I like this film is the car chase, I think the car chase in this film is possibly the best car chase ever in a film.
- The Help: I personally believe that this film is one of the most moving and emotional films ever made, it really brings home the wider effect of racist America.
- Transporter 2: This film has some really good acting and action scenes; it also has some really good car chases.
Adverts
- MG Motor UK MG3 Advert: I think that this advert really emphasizes the personalisation features of this car, it also uses a huge range of bright colours, which attract attention to the car. It also gives the MG Motor UK brand a new more youthful image.
- MG Motor UK MG6 Advert: This Advert portrays the MG6 as a sporting gran tourer image; it justifies the rest of the sporting marketing. And gives the car an upmarket feel.
- Apple iPhone Advert: I think this advert shows the iPhone as a family building tool more than a phone, I think it also shows how good the product is if it doesn’t need to focus on the key qualities of the product.
- Audi Key ring Advert: This advert attempts to tell viewers that an Audi car can be Good Handling, safe and many other things, it points out that its competitors are only really good at one thing at a time and not all of them.
- Samsung ice bucket challenge advert: This advert is a great advert due to the fact it cashes in on a current internet trend and also shows of the fact that while its waterproof its main competitors aren’t, this is shown when the S-Voice nominates the Apple iPhone 5s, Nokia lumia 930 and HTC One M8.
Video Games
- GTA V: I think that this game is good because it allows the player to free roam around a large map, this means that pretty much all players tastes are satisfied.
- Forza: I like the Forza Motorsport series because the graphics are always one of if not the best in the market.
- Driver San Francisco: I like this game for the same reason as GTA V, although you are more limited in what you can do.
- Call Of Duty: I don’t personally play this game but I admire the way in which it sucks in the player and makes them want to play more, this means that whenever a new version is released the players buy it by default.
- Test Drive Unlimited: Again this is a car-based game that allows the player to free roam the map.
TV Shows
- Top Gear: This show is one of the most widely viewed shows in the world and generates one of the biggest revenues due to franchised products.
- Netflix Exclusive Shows: Although not one show in particular, the marketing behind these shows is brilliant and thus encourages people to purchase a Netflix subscription.
- James Mays cars of the people: I liked this mini-series due to the fact the explanation was so good, it also tied in history with the cars.
- Sherlock Holmes: This show was very good, it captures the viewers well and makes them want more, it also generates a lot of hype due to the fact that they only release 3 episodes at a time.
- Elementary: This show is a version of Sherlock Holmes, it is good because it captures the audience when the other Sherlock Holmes isn't on.
Print adverts
- Audi magazine ads: These attract the potential customers attention by having a big image and not much text.
- Jaguar ads: These attract potential customers by displaying a large picture of the car and then explaining the qualities of it below.
- Apple adverts: Retailers usually display these in magazines on Apples behalf, they are usually simple but include attractive offers and prices and customers are attracted by them.
- MG Motor UK MG3: This advert uses the same colour scheme as the TV advert so therefore accents continuity, it attracts potential customers with the bright colours and low price.
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