Introduction- What is narrative?
The narrative is the way a story is told and the story is the bare essentials that can not be reduced any further. A lot of narrative theory that we use in the media has come from narrative analyse in literacy. This will cover aspects such as genre, character, form and time.
The coursework that I will be analyzing the narrative in is the horror film opening 'Scarlett' and this film opening was about an evil doll who gradually possess a group of youths who think she is just a rumor.
Paragraph 1- Because my film opening was the beginning of the story the type of narrative that my horror film opening comes under is the 'open' narrative and this is where the audience is left to wonder what happens next. This is supported by the enigma code reinforced by Roland Barthes and this code intises the audience in more as they have questions that are unanswered. For example in my film opening a question could be are the youths possessed? where have they gone?. The enigma code in my film opening is best shown in the flash back.
Paragraph 2- Time is very important in narratives and this can be easily shown with the use of a flash forward.. The idea of flash forwards in the narrative is a way to manipulate time to not make it real. In my horror film opening 'Scarlet' I used the idea of a flash back by filming it with the night vision button and editing it too a slight saturation of yellow to give it that surreal look to it. The flash forward was one of the key stages of Todorovs five stage narrative which I followed. This was shown because The equilibrium was shown at the start of the film opening showing medium shots of the youths hanging around in the park drinking representing the stereotypical rebellious ideology. This then lead to the disruption which was a the flash forward into time showing the protagonist 'Scarlet' harassing the youth playing the part of 'Riley'. The disruption was recognized by Riley screaming and shouting help including fast close up shots to create an intense and anxious atmosphere. In addition the attempt to repair the damage was when the film opening came back to real time and the youths were very clear at trying to convince themselves that the rumors they had heard weren't true allowing the new equilibrium to be the youths going back to socializing in the park.
Paragraph 3- Claude Levi-Strauss theory of binary opposites was reinforced in the planning of my characters in my horror film opening.This is because I chose the binary opposites of good v evil. The idea of good v evil is also a main connatation of horror
Paragraph 4- reinforcing this even more is the codes and conventions of Roland Barthes theory being enigma code, action code and semic code being the three codes that are used a lot in my film opening.
Paragraph 5- conclusion.
Thursday, 28 May 2015
Tuesday, 26 May 2015
Essay Plan- Collective Identity
Introduction- Define what collective identity is or mediation depending on the question. Also talk about the social group (Youth) and how the media impact this representation.
What is collective identity?
Collective Identity refers to the sense of belonging in a group, The identity of the group becomes a part of someones individual identity for example from participating in social activities.
What is mediation?
Mediation is the process in which every indivudal shot goes through to meet the final cut for example film. The three stages that shots go through to be mediated are selection, organisation and focus. Expand from these three stages using a brief example (London riots).
Paragraph 1- Begin with the examples from (Historical) and (Contemporary) explaining the way they are represented use examples from the films. Link these representations with the theorist Giroux - he argues that youth is an 'Empty category' this is because its the middle class adults who create the representation not youths therefore the creation made is from their perspective not the youths perspective. This is evidence through the examples written above for both historical and contemporary. The idea of the creation of an empty category reflects the anxieties and concerns of adults of youths.
Paragraph 2- Dominant ideology- the representations of youths being in a gang is a dominant ideology in all the sources I have looked at. This statement was said by the theorist Tajfel and Turner and this is known as the social identity theory. They suggested that social identity was established through categorisation from representing their social group through music and fashion. This is shown in: This is England, Ill manors, Qdadraphenia, London riots and Young apprentice. This is to create a sense of belonging linking back to definition of (collective identity).
This is England- Ben Sherman shirts and Doc Martins, Qdadraphenia- Rockers- leather jackets and motor bikes, Mods- Parker coats and the scooters, Ill manors and London riots- Hoodies and tracksuits, Young apprentice- Formal uniform.
Expand on this and say that this theory can lead to conflict- for example the Mods and the rockers.
Paragraph 3- The theorist Cohen (1972) studied the media response the mods and rockers. This example was used to show the moral panic that this representation of youths created. Explain all the representations in all the sources were sensationalised so much to make adults panic.
Paragraph 4- The stereotype of youths wearing 'Hoodies' and this causes society to be intimated making this a representation for youths. Explain how the London riots shows this negative representation and how the news report has been mediated. For example the shot from the police officers point of view was selected to put more impact on the representation of youths being out of control and makes them look disrespectful to higher status adults. Also the focus on the appearance of the youths in the interview where the producers directed them to cover their faces with hoodies and scarfs as the didn't want to be recognised. This enhanced the intimidating representation that the media have already portrayed.
Paragraph 5- Expanding on the point of youths being represented as the overpowering figures. This is reinforced by the theorist Gramsci. Gramsci developed the concept of cultural hegemony. The dominant group (middle aged men) are the ones who include their view point and embed it in the media.
This is shown in the News report London riots as the camera angles were shown to see the police officers trying to protect themselves from the crime showing this as 'Normal' and the youths from the perspective of attacking violently showing this as unacceptable to society.
Gramsic see's cultural hegemony as a struggle of debating whats not acceptable.
Paragraph 6- However in the contemporary documentary 'Young apprentice' it challenges the representation of youths being 'thugs' as they represent youths to be: intelligent, ambitious and polite. When they say 'yes Lord Sugar' and 'Good morning Lord Sugar' showing politeness features. Also the televised shots having titles for each youth exaggerating the experience they have to exgerrate their intelligence. However because the majority of the representations are negative this representation of youths gets dismissed.
Paragraph 7- Self representation - On the other hand, Chandler the music video exposing youth to succide and drugs. Representatating youths to be associated with this. Other youths were creating a parody representing it by sharing it on web 2.0 allowing this to be uploaded to youtube feeling part of something reinforcing the Jenkins theory of paticipartical. As well as the theorist Giddens who said that mediated experiences make them reflect their own self narrative in relation to others. This is shown as a lot of youths had re created the dance in this video to gain a sense of belonging in their experience. Self representation was used in the selfie where the youth female took a selfie smiling in front of the German Concentration camp. She represented herself smiling without taking into account that this photograph could be seen as disrespectful. However this selfie could be represented as youths being interested in the history and by the youth visiting shows her interest in it.
Conclusion - As a youth myself the experiences I have been through to an extent reflect the way media portray us and the identity I have formed is through having a sense of belonging in a friendship group. From all the analyse I have done I have learnt how important representation is and how sensationalised it is which affects the audience as they will react differently to youths because of the negative represents
they have been given especially.
What is collective identity?
Collective Identity refers to the sense of belonging in a group, The identity of the group becomes a part of someones individual identity for example from participating in social activities.
What is mediation?
Mediation is the process in which every indivudal shot goes through to meet the final cut for example film. The three stages that shots go through to be mediated are selection, organisation and focus. Expand from these three stages using a brief example (London riots).
Paragraph 1- Begin with the examples from (Historical) and (Contemporary) explaining the way they are represented use examples from the films. Link these representations with the theorist Giroux - he argues that youth is an 'Empty category' this is because its the middle class adults who create the representation not youths therefore the creation made is from their perspective not the youths perspective. This is evidence through the examples written above for both historical and contemporary. The idea of the creation of an empty category reflects the anxieties and concerns of adults of youths.
Paragraph 2- Dominant ideology- the representations of youths being in a gang is a dominant ideology in all the sources I have looked at. This statement was said by the theorist Tajfel and Turner and this is known as the social identity theory. They suggested that social identity was established through categorisation from representing their social group through music and fashion. This is shown in: This is England, Ill manors, Qdadraphenia, London riots and Young apprentice. This is to create a sense of belonging linking back to definition of (collective identity).
This is England- Ben Sherman shirts and Doc Martins, Qdadraphenia- Rockers- leather jackets and motor bikes, Mods- Parker coats and the scooters, Ill manors and London riots- Hoodies and tracksuits, Young apprentice- Formal uniform.
Expand on this and say that this theory can lead to conflict- for example the Mods and the rockers.
Paragraph 3- The theorist Cohen (1972) studied the media response the mods and rockers. This example was used to show the moral panic that this representation of youths created. Explain all the representations in all the sources were sensationalised so much to make adults panic.
Paragraph 4- The stereotype of youths wearing 'Hoodies' and this causes society to be intimated making this a representation for youths. Explain how the London riots shows this negative representation and how the news report has been mediated. For example the shot from the police officers point of view was selected to put more impact on the representation of youths being out of control and makes them look disrespectful to higher status adults. Also the focus on the appearance of the youths in the interview where the producers directed them to cover their faces with hoodies and scarfs as the didn't want to be recognised. This enhanced the intimidating representation that the media have already portrayed.
Paragraph 5- Expanding on the point of youths being represented as the overpowering figures. This is reinforced by the theorist Gramsci. Gramsci developed the concept of cultural hegemony. The dominant group (middle aged men) are the ones who include their view point and embed it in the media.
This is shown in the News report London riots as the camera angles were shown to see the police officers trying to protect themselves from the crime showing this as 'Normal' and the youths from the perspective of attacking violently showing this as unacceptable to society.
Gramsic see's cultural hegemony as a struggle of debating whats not acceptable.
Paragraph 6- However in the contemporary documentary 'Young apprentice' it challenges the representation of youths being 'thugs' as they represent youths to be: intelligent, ambitious and polite. When they say 'yes Lord Sugar' and 'Good morning Lord Sugar' showing politeness features. Also the televised shots having titles for each youth exaggerating the experience they have to exgerrate their intelligence. However because the majority of the representations are negative this representation of youths gets dismissed.
Paragraph 7- Self representation - On the other hand, Chandler the music video exposing youth to succide and drugs. Representatating youths to be associated with this. Other youths were creating a parody representing it by sharing it on web 2.0 allowing this to be uploaded to youtube feeling part of something reinforcing the Jenkins theory of paticipartical. As well as the theorist Giddens who said that mediated experiences make them reflect their own self narrative in relation to others. This is shown as a lot of youths had re created the dance in this video to gain a sense of belonging in their experience. Self representation was used in the selfie where the youth female took a selfie smiling in front of the German Concentration camp. She represented herself smiling without taking into account that this photograph could be seen as disrespectful. However this selfie could be represented as youths being interested in the history and by the youth visiting shows her interest in it.
Conclusion - As a youth myself the experiences I have been through to an extent reflect the way media portray us and the identity I have formed is through having a sense of belonging in a friendship group. From all the analyse I have done I have learnt how important representation is and how sensationalised it is which affects the audience as they will react differently to youths because of the negative represents
they have been given especially.
Tuesday, 19 May 2015
Question 1b
What is Genre-
The word genre means 'kind' or 'class' and is a way of grouping texts together.
Theorists:
Steve Neale (1980) He declares that genre are instances of repetition and differences. He also said that difference is essential in the economy of genre.
Lacy's repertoire of elements.
Lacy considers that these are a repertoire of elements that work together to suggest genre.
Setting
Character
Iconography- the main signs you see and hear for example screaming
Style
Narrative
Gledhill (1985)
Differences between genre means the different audiences could be identified and catered to this made it easier to standerdise and stabilise production.
Narrative
The word narrative is the way the different elements in a story are organised to make a meanful story.
Todorov- He argues that narratives always have a structure of equilibrium, dis equillbrium and a new equilibrium.
Roland Barthes- He states the idea of the enigma code, action code and also open and closed text.
Claude Levi- Strauss- argues that human culture understanding is based on a system of binary opposites for example good/white black/white.
Representation
The word representation means the description or portrayal of someone or something in a particular way.
Laura Mulvey
The word genre means 'kind' or 'class' and is a way of grouping texts together.
Theorists:
Steve Neale (1980) He declares that genre are instances of repetition and differences. He also said that difference is essential in the economy of genre.
Lacy's repertoire of elements.
Lacy considers that these are a repertoire of elements that work together to suggest genre.
Setting
Character
Iconography- the main signs you see and hear for example screaming
Style
Narrative
Gledhill (1985)
Differences between genre means the different audiences could be identified and catered to this made it easier to standerdise and stabilise production.
Narrative
The word narrative is the way the different elements in a story are organised to make a meanful story.
Todorov- He argues that narratives always have a structure of equilibrium, dis equillbrium and a new equilibrium.
Roland Barthes- He states the idea of the enigma code, action code and also open and closed text.
Claude Levi- Strauss- argues that human culture understanding is based on a system of binary opposites for example good/white black/white.
Representation
The word representation means the description or portrayal of someone or something in a particular way.
Laura Mulvey
Question 1a
The horror films I looked at:
Woman in black
Chucky
Cabin in the woods.
Introduction-
In my AS media practise I constructed a horror film opening with a production group. The horror film opening was titled 'Scarlett' and was about a doll who possess a group of teenagers who think she is a just a rumour. My A2 media practise was a construction I did indivdually creating two adverts, a sponsorship and an online pop up on the advertisement of sportswear. In this essay I am going to show the progression I have made from AS to A2 and how media texts were an important aspect to this.
To begin with I looked at previous pre lim tasks from media students that had already created by media students on You tube. As well as looking at the Doc Martin episode to see how the simple shot type conventions were embedded in the scenes. The conventions that I found for the pre lim task was action match, shot reverse shot and 180 degree rule. These conventions were achieved as I followed them in my own pre lim task by creatively filming these shot types for example a person walking through a door and a conversation being filmed using the conventions. This allowed me to adopt the idea of these conventions to create a flow.
For my horror film opening I looked at previous horror film openings that already existed in the media industry. To establish these conventions I made a powerpoint presentation showing my main influences. The first horror film opening I looked at was Cabin in the woods and I found that the main convention that was shown was the location. This convention was the stereotypical location of a woods and I followed as my main influences for the choice of location was cabin in the woods as the location that I had filmed was a park surrounded by a woods. Therefore I followed this convention as I filmed at a park surrounded by a woods. However this convention was followed to an extent but also challenged as I used a park which was very different a
Woman in black
Chucky
Cabin in the woods.
Introduction-
In my AS media practise I constructed a horror film opening with a production group. The horror film opening was titled 'Scarlett' and was about a doll who possess a group of teenagers who think she is a just a rumour. My A2 media practise was a construction I did indivdually creating two adverts, a sponsorship and an online pop up on the advertisement of sportswear. In this essay I am going to show the progression I have made from AS to A2 and how media texts were an important aspect to this.
To begin with I looked at previous pre lim tasks from media students that had already created by media students on You tube. As well as looking at the Doc Martin episode to see how the simple shot type conventions were embedded in the scenes. The conventions that I found for the pre lim task was action match, shot reverse shot and 180 degree rule. These conventions were achieved as I followed them in my own pre lim task by creatively filming these shot types for example a person walking through a door and a conversation being filmed using the conventions. This allowed me to adopt the idea of these conventions to create a flow.
For my horror film opening I looked at previous horror film openings that already existed in the media industry. To establish these conventions I made a powerpoint presentation showing my main influences. The first horror film opening I looked at was Cabin in the woods and I found that the main convention that was shown was the location. This convention was the stereotypical location of a woods and I followed as my main influences for the choice of location was cabin in the woods as the location that I had filmed was a park surrounded by a woods. Therefore I followed this convention as I filmed at a park surrounded by a woods. However this convention was followed to an extent but also challenged as I used a park which was very different a
Tuesday, 12 May 2015
Collective Identity
What does it mean?
It means the individual sense of belonging to a group, the idea that is through participating in social activities, in this case film and television- individuals can gain a sense of belonging and in essence an identity that transcends that individual.
Media representations
Stereotypes are always about the power, those with power stereotype these with less power (Dyer 1979) - youths the identity has been made by a group that have more power- the media.
Mediation
The media don't not just offer use a transparent window on the world but a mediated version of the world, They don't just present reality they re-present it (David Buckingham)
Gramsci's theory of hegemony
much of the media is controlled by a dominant group in society and the viewpoints assoicated with this group inevitably become embedded in the product.
Hegemony is a representational strategy of power.
Anthony Giddens (1991)- self experiences
Claims that mediated experiences make us reflect upon and re think our own self narrative in relation to others. That we are free to create ourselves however we want to do but also at the same time its constrained by the issues given to us by the media as they can define the way we think.
'The self is not something we are born with, and its not fixed.
Instead the self is reflexively made- thoughtfully constructed by the individual the life style we chose.
Gauntlett (2002)
The idea of role models by thinking of their own identity, attitudes, behaviour and lifestyle and relate this to a media figure. Role models aren't someone they cpu but someone they navigate several choices from.
'I don't believe that experts can have the final word about representations'. This means that a representation isn't worth anything until it gets into the mind of an audience.
Ideology- a value that are embedded in the media
Dominant ideology- these are the ideologies that are accepted by the majority of the norm in society for example the dominant ideology in youth is that they should all be under control because they are out of control for example the London riots.
Pluralism
Says that the media is diverse with a wide range of available choice.
Essay plan- Collective identity.
Analyse in different ways in which one group of people are mediated.
Introduction- What is mediation? mediation is the process in which three stages have to be done to mediate the media product before it is shown to an audience. They are to select, organise and focus which makes the media product no longer real.
The theorist I will include in the introduction are- The idea of mediation is evident from the theorist (David Buckingham) who said 'The media don't not just offer use a transparent window on the world but a mediated version of the world, They don't just present reality they re-present it'.
Then say that the group I will be focusing on is youth and the way they are portrayed through the influence of media.
Paragraph 1- Begin with the theorist Gramsci- much of the media is controlled by a dominant group in society and the viewpoints associated with this group inevitably become embedded in the product. This theory is all about hegemony and that it is a strategy of power. Use examples of historical- This is England, quadraphenia and contemporary films- Ill manors and Sket. Explain the representations of these and how they are all seen as very deviant through violence and disrespect their elders. This portrays a dominant ideology through all these films that youths need to be controlled. These representations have been shown through shot types that have been mediated.
Paragraph 2- Link the idea of the dominant ideology of the youths needing to be controlled by the theorist Giroux who says that youths are an empty category which is represented through middle aged men therefore they create the identity of them and sensationalise it so much that the audience will believe it. Use examples above representing negative representations.
Paragraph 3- However the media can represent youths to be positive use examples from the young apprentice. Also say that even though the youth are represented to be very ambitious, intelligent and strong minded the program has still be mediated to show the adults to be a higher status. In contrast with this a negative representation of the youths in the Sky news report the London riots. Explain how this news report has been mediated for example the shot types are selected as they are from the police officers view therefore emphasising the youths behaviour.
Paragraph 4- Collective identity means an individual having a sense of belonging this links with the theorists Tajfel and Turner saying that youths are represented through social identity and this is measured through categories. Use examples of the skin head in This is England, Hoodies in the London riots and Ill-manors, mod and rockers in quadraphenia. Also how these categories can have consequences of the competition for example the mods and rockers not getting along.
Paragraph 5- Cohen- moral panic and state that it originated in the rock n roll era with the mods and rockers having a negative affect on each other and society.
Paragraph 6- Self representation-
It means the individual sense of belonging to a group, the idea that is through participating in social activities, in this case film and television- individuals can gain a sense of belonging and in essence an identity that transcends that individual.
Media representations
Stereotypes are always about the power, those with power stereotype these with less power (Dyer 1979) - youths the identity has been made by a group that have more power- the media.
Mediation
The media don't not just offer use a transparent window on the world but a mediated version of the world, They don't just present reality they re-present it (David Buckingham)
Gramsci's theory of hegemony
much of the media is controlled by a dominant group in society and the viewpoints assoicated with this group inevitably become embedded in the product.
Hegemony is a representational strategy of power.
Anthony Giddens (1991)- self experiences
Claims that mediated experiences make us reflect upon and re think our own self narrative in relation to others. That we are free to create ourselves however we want to do but also at the same time its constrained by the issues given to us by the media as they can define the way we think.
'The self is not something we are born with, and its not fixed.
Instead the self is reflexively made- thoughtfully constructed by the individual the life style we chose.
Gauntlett (2002)
The idea of role models by thinking of their own identity, attitudes, behaviour and lifestyle and relate this to a media figure. Role models aren't someone they cpu but someone they navigate several choices from.
'I don't believe that experts can have the final word about representations'. This means that a representation isn't worth anything until it gets into the mind of an audience.
Ideology- a value that are embedded in the media
Dominant ideology- these are the ideologies that are accepted by the majority of the norm in society for example the dominant ideology in youth is that they should all be under control because they are out of control for example the London riots.
Pluralism
Says that the media is diverse with a wide range of available choice.
Essay plan- Collective identity.
Analyse in different ways in which one group of people are mediated.
Introduction- What is mediation? mediation is the process in which three stages have to be done to mediate the media product before it is shown to an audience. They are to select, organise and focus which makes the media product no longer real.
The theorist I will include in the introduction are- The idea of mediation is evident from the theorist (David Buckingham) who said 'The media don't not just offer use a transparent window on the world but a mediated version of the world, They don't just present reality they re-present it'.
Then say that the group I will be focusing on is youth and the way they are portrayed through the influence of media.
Paragraph 1- Begin with the theorist Gramsci- much of the media is controlled by a dominant group in society and the viewpoints associated with this group inevitably become embedded in the product. This theory is all about hegemony and that it is a strategy of power. Use examples of historical- This is England, quadraphenia and contemporary films- Ill manors and Sket. Explain the representations of these and how they are all seen as very deviant through violence and disrespect their elders. This portrays a dominant ideology through all these films that youths need to be controlled. These representations have been shown through shot types that have been mediated.
Paragraph 2- Link the idea of the dominant ideology of the youths needing to be controlled by the theorist Giroux who says that youths are an empty category which is represented through middle aged men therefore they create the identity of them and sensationalise it so much that the audience will believe it. Use examples above representing negative representations.
Paragraph 3- However the media can represent youths to be positive use examples from the young apprentice. Also say that even though the youth are represented to be very ambitious, intelligent and strong minded the program has still be mediated to show the adults to be a higher status. In contrast with this a negative representation of the youths in the Sky news report the London riots. Explain how this news report has been mediated for example the shot types are selected as they are from the police officers view therefore emphasising the youths behaviour.
Paragraph 4- Collective identity means an individual having a sense of belonging this links with the theorists Tajfel and Turner saying that youths are represented through social identity and this is measured through categories. Use examples of the skin head in This is England, Hoodies in the London riots and Ill-manors, mod and rockers in quadraphenia. Also how these categories can have consequences of the competition for example the mods and rockers not getting along.
Paragraph 5- Cohen- moral panic and state that it originated in the rock n roll era with the mods and rockers having a negative affect on each other and society.
Paragraph 6- Self representation-
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