The fear essay

The extract from the TV drama 'The Fear' is used to construct representations of social class using techniques such as mise-en-scene, sound, camera shots and editing.

One of the characters has a very strong Scottish accent. This creates a serious and aggressive feel whenever he talks, even if he isn't being particularly aggressive. However in this clip, he is being very aggressive and the scottish accent contributes to the effectiveness of the dialogue. The diegetic sound in the clip makes it feel dangerous and tense. Especially when he is in the doctors room and he plays some music, because it was silent apart from dialogue between the two, then out of nowhere he plays the music very loudly from his phone. When doing this he is trying to make a point about the doctors past, which suggests they used to be friends and he feels he has changed. He is not happy about this and wants to intimidate the the doctor into giving him what he wants. It represents the scottish man as much lower class than the doctor and the scottish man is a representation of the lower class being aggressive, arrogant and ignorant. Especially when he says 'You're a doctor as far as I'm concerned' That shows that he is uneducated a nd naive because he is a plastic surgeon and not a doctor.

The extract represents the lower class as violent because the scottish man threatens to hit the woman at the reception when she says he cant see the plastic surgeon and he needs to move his car. This shows that the lower class are not as educated as others as most people would just not resort to violence. The miss-en-scene in the scene shows that it is a high class office, because everything looks new and the desk is glass. This shows that the plastic surgeon has done well for himself and the scottish man is envious of him and wants to spoil what he has as he doesn't want him to be happy. Perhaps the doctor used to be of lower class, such as the scottish man.

When the man is in the reception, there is an over the shoulder shot looking up at the man. This suggests that although he is of a lower class, in this instance, he has the power as the women in looking up at him. He is looking down on her as if to intimidate her and suggests that he knows he has the power and he is right because he is physically stronger than the woman and she gets very scared of him.

In conclusion In the clip the lower class are represented as dangerous and violent, whereas the upper class are represented as well spoken and physically weaker.

Textual Analysis

-representation is linked to the economy 

-representation is shaped by technology, described as a fragmented audience

- textual analysis is an advanced form of media literacy and a basic level of it allows somebody to understand the narrative of a tv drama and to make criticisms in relation to other programmes

-to deconstruct a tv drama it is important to know how its been put together

-micro - pulling apart aspects of the texts frame by frame 

- frame construction includes camera angles and the movement, shot types, editing transitions music/sound effects and mise-en-scene

representation 

-when people say 'did you watch the game last night?' most people would say yes, however if you think about it you're actually not, how do you know that what you saw on the TV was actually the game..because your are actually watching a meditated constructed re-presentation of the match because of the camera shots and angles you see.

Metaphor

-Gauntlett (2007 developed a research method using lego, he asked people to make a metaphorical model with the lego so it represents their identity, he didn't expect them to make models that resemble them so that way he can get a better sense of how people see themselves and how people think others see them

Verisimilitude

-when we look at how media text represents the world we are more often than not concerned with the representation of age, gender, ethnicity social groups, places and themes

Representational  Codes

-'life on mars' is a good example of a tv drama that is rich with representational codes. It relies on a sense of 'authenticity'. Without the audiences complicity and understanding of the contrast in the text, the text is meaningless. 

Chapter 2.1- TV drama

-British TV still attracts huge viewing audiences 

Dramas make money from things like DVD sales

-However british TV drama is no longer as big as it was

Connolly concludes that British TV drama is now poor, in comparison to the american, it is still in a fairly healthy state

different types of tv drama that have different conventions 

-teen dramas

-soap operatas

costume dramas

medical/hospital dramas

police/crime dramas

Some Girls Essay

Discuss the ways in which the extract uses camera shots, editing, sound, Mise-en-scene to construct representation of different generation

In the opening scenes of Some Girls representations of different generations is presented through Mise-en-scene, camera shots, editing and sound.

In the title sequence editing plays a big part of the representations of teenagers. The fast tempo of the transitions shows how energetic teenagers are, if it was very slow and boring it wouldn't be clear to the audience what it's about. With the fast transitions it feels very energetic and a bit unnorganised just like teenage girls. Also the music is very energetic and bouncy so it fits the transitions.

When the P.E Teacher is doing press-ups to demonstrate to the girls how to do a proper press-up as a punishment, the camera is very low to capture the P.E Teacher and the two girls ready to do a press-up. It shows the two girls faces as they are moaning about being in trouble. It shows that the two generations are almost on the same level because they are both lying down at the same height, even though the teacher is telling them off. However the dialoughue suggests that the children aren't as mature when Viva is repeatedly calling her a 'bitch' in a childish way which shows their age. The mise-en-scene in the trip shows us clearly that they play football as there are footballs lying about and they are on a football pitch.

When Viva gets home we find out that the P.E teacher is also Viva's dad's partner, we find this out when she comes out the shower and waves her hair in the air and it is all done in slow motion with music in the background to present her in a different way from the way she was presented as a P.E teacher. We can immediately tell that her and Viva don't get on, she has many characteristics of a 'Wicked Step-Mother'. The father is presented as very childish the way the camera looks down on him when he is playing computer games. When Viva finds out the Step-Mother is pregnant she is very angry and talks to her dad and partner as thay are children, talking down to them, telling them they 'have to get rid of it'. She also mentioned one of her friends also had a termination and talks about it as if it is a small thing which shows the immature attitude of children.

In Conclusion Some Girls presents the two generations very similarly, showing that the younger generation can sometimes be just as mature as their parents and sometimes their parents can be just as immature as them.

Discuss the ways in which the extract uses camera shots, editing, sound, Mise-en-scene to construct representation of relationships.

Cutting it

At the start of the clip, the couple are in a taxi holding hands and they particularly highlight the wedding ring.  This could suggest that they have an intimate relationship. Also at the start of the clip they are in a taxi, holding each other's hand. They are in a two shot which shows their emotions and facial expressions towards each other. In the first scene there is also an extreme close-up focusing on them holding hands, this shows that they have a strong relationship and their feelings towards each other are genuine and strong. It helps to create a sense of emotion from the audience which later on in the clip helps you feel empathy towards the husband when the woman gets hit by a bus as you see their relationship and how much she means to him and he feels like he's lost everything.

The sound in the clip plays a big part in the emotion of the clip. When the woman is in the hospital dialogue is stopped and slow music is playing the background. This creates a romantic feeling in clip. It also builds up tension as we do not know what is happening or why she is at the doctor and from the couples previous conversation it suggests it it something serious. When the woman gets run over by a bus the clip is silent other than the heartbeat sound effect used. This also contributes to create tension in the clip. Also after she is hit by a bus the husband runs over to see what's wrong and holds her while she's dying orchestral music is playing which creates a romantic and sassy which once again helps the audience to empathise with the couple

In conclusion, the main way 'cutting it' constructs representations of relationships is through the camera shots used, as they show the strong emotions and connection between the couple. Close ups of the Wedding ring suggest something is not quite right and creates a sense of suspicion among the audience, and close ups of the couple show their feelings for each other.

Selection of TV Drama Stills

The first Shot I chose is a medium close up. This shot shows the expression on his face without getting too close and creating a too intense shot. It shows that he is angry but not absolutely fuming.

                                                                                   

The second shot I chose was a two shot where they are arguing and very close up to each other. It shows the intensity of the scene as Christian is looking down on Syed, It shows that Christian is intimidating him and it makes Syed look inferior.

The final shot I chose is an over the shoulder shot, it shows there is dialect going on between two people. In this case it shows you his expression but you cannot see what she is thinking. It creates a slightly suspicious feel and makes you feel as there is conflict. I this shot he looks significantly taller than her, making him look superior and the dominant character.

Roles within a TV Drama

Television Producer: They look at the whole production and bring the elements and characters together. It also requires them to be present across all the stages of production.

Television Director: They take responsibility for the sound and visual aspect of the drama. They are involved in preparing the schedule and script and makes sure everyone is following it and doing what they should be. They also check that the characters have everything they need to before filming.  

Production Manager: They look at the production from start to finish. They look after the budget and organise all facilities like catering, transport, and equipment accommodation and plan the crews.

Script editor- They work with the writer and producer to make sure the story feels right as both a script and when filming. They will make sure the script is ready on time and create the atmosphere the script is explaining.

Script continuity-  They make sure the scene is running smoothly and that the crew is keeping on top of the filming by maintaining scenery, costumes lighting and all essential jobs that can make the edit accurate.

Production secretary- They will support the production team by completing traditional secretary duties. 

Location Manager- they are responsible for ensuring the filming is hassle free and to find locations. They are also responsible for health and safety and dealing with owners of the chosen location.

Researcher- They support the producer, contribute ideas and will interview contributors and will write reports.

Runner- They are the most junior member of the team but will be able to get involved in all aspects of production including photocopying or helping with research. They may also do very small tasks such as making tea.

How are Social Groups Represented in Music Videos?

How are Social Groups Represented in Music Videos?

Social groups are represented differently in every single music video, it often depends on the artist and/or the type of song. Four example if it was a young artist making a positive song, young people maybe representing positively, oppositely, if a young artist makes a slightly negative some about gang culture then young people could be represented as gang members which is a negative outlook on the youth of today. If you represent young people as gang members then the viewers of the video automatically think all the young people are involved in gun and knife crime and vandalism, this means all the people that view the video automatically think badly of a young person when they see them  walking down the road.

A good example of young people being represented as gang members and criminals is the official video for West London artist ‘Ratlin’ ‘Messiah remix’. This specifically stereotypes young black men in London. It shows lots of them in big groups wearing bandanas, smoking weed and drinking alcohol. This video is targeted at other young people so it may influence them to commit crimes and be involved in gang culture. Music video represents young black male’s as dangerous and intimidating which creates a stereotype and then people look down on every young black man they see. However, the artists themselves see this as representing their lifestyle and not doing anything wrong but they don’t think about the consequences that everybody else.

In contrast to this, the young rapper from Margate ‘Mic Righteous’ ‘Crack a Smile’ represents young people as a whole in a much better way. It is a very positive song with a very positive video. The main concept of the video is people holding up a card that says crack a smile. In this video he represents how young people have a hard time but they are still positive. This video has the effect of making people happy and when people see young people and hear about urban music they don’t always associate them with negativity.

In Conclusion Social groups are represented differently in all videos, depending on the type of song and the subject. The same social group can be represented differently in different music videos depending on the song. 

Sound Glossary

Sound Glossary

Diegitic Sound                                                                                                                     Any sound, voice or piece of music that comes from within the world of the narrative.

Non-Diegetic Sound                                                                                                       Sounds, such as music or a narrator’s voices that come from outside the space of the narrative.

Soundtrack                                                                                                                            1)A recording of the musical accompaniment to a movie                                                       2)A strip on the edge of a film on which the sound component is recorded

Theme                                                                                                                                    The subject of a talk, a piece of writing, a person's thoughts, or an exhibition; a topic

Tune                                                                                                                                                    A melody, esp. one that characterizes a certain piece of music

Incidental Music                                                                                                                                                   Music used in a film or play as a background to create or enhance a particular atmosphere                     

Sound Effects                                                                                                                                                               A sound other than speech or music made artificially for use in a play, movie, or other broadcast production

Ambient Sound                                                                                                                                        In atmospheric sounding and noise pollution, ambient noise level (sometimes called background noise level, reference sound level, or room noise level) is the sound pressure level at a given location, normally specified as a reference level to study a new intrusive sound source.

Dialogue                                                                                                                                 Conversation between two or more people as a feature of a book, play, or movie

Voice-over
A piece of narration in a movie or broadcast, not accompanied by an image of the speaker

 

TV Scheduling

Drama is generally shown on tv mainly throughout the evenings. This is done because people get home from work, have their dinner then sit down and watch the soaps and dramas for the rest of the night. If they were to show all the soaps and dramas on daytime television no one would watch them. Also they are mainly shown in the Autumn/Winter because that's when people dont really go out as much and tend to spend their evenings infront of the TV. Soaps are usually shown at the same time and the same days every week, that way the viewers get in the routine of watching it so they just expect to come home to find it on the TV

TV Drama

Today I will be talking about 3 different types of TV Drama:

- Soap Opera's
- Medical/Hospital Drama's
- Police/Crime Drama's



Soap Opera's
A good example of a soap opera is Eastenders.
A soap opera is a drama series dealing typically with the daily events in the lives of the same groups of characters













Medical/Hospital Drama

A good example of a hospital drama is Holby City.
A medical drama is a television drama in which events center upon a hospital, an ambulance staff, or any medical environment.










Police/Crime Drama

A good example of a crime drama is The Bill.
A crime drama can centre around a number of things, such as:
-Police
-Criminals
-lawyers