Class: Language and Representation blog tasks

1) Write and NCIS analysis for the episode - using notes from the screening in class . Make specific,detailed references to moments in the text using media terminology(e.g.media language- camera shots and movement,diegetic/non-diegetic sound,mise-en-scene etc.) 

Narrative:Shared heart,Relationships (Ram and April),Parent's evening,April's Dad ,little flower petals.April gets into a fight with her dad,April goes to fight Corakinus. 

Character: Corakinus,April,Ram,Ensemble cast-'previously on',New Headteacher, April's Mum-'don't let the chair fool you' 

Iconography: Costume-Corakinus/shadow kin ,Prop;sword,CGI effect - blue lights,cabinet of souls,little flower petals,dead squirrel 

Setting:Shadow realm,classroom,School,Car,Kitchen,Bedroom

2)How does Todorov's theory of equilibrium apply to Co-owner of a Lonely Heart? Try and use the expanded version of Todorov's theory : Equilibrium - Disruption - Recognition - Reparation - New Equilibrium 

Equilibrium - shared heart of April and Corakinus 

Disruption - April's dad is shown, April finds out that the aliens are coming and the introduction of the flower petals 

Recognition - Headteacher talks to Miss Quill about the flower petals 

Reparation - Opens/jumps into the portal 

New Equilibrium - "Next time" scene as there is a part 2

3) Applying Propp's character theory, what character roles do each of the main characters in Class fit into? Alternatively, you may wish to discuss how characters do not fit Propp's character types.

It demonstrates that the hero could be April because she seeks freedom from Corakinus, she could also be the princess because she has the heart of Corakinus and needs to be free. The False hero is Ram Singh because he helps April but couldn't. The helper is Tanya as she doesn't play a huge role in the episode but tries and helps them because of her intelligence. The villain is Corakinus because he kills people and is part of the Shadow World.Quill helps the hero and therefore is the donor.

4) What enigma and action codes (Barthes) can you find in Co-owner of a Lonely Heart? Make specific, detailed reference to the text using media terminology (e.g. media language - camera shots, diegetic/non-diegetic sound, mise-en-scene etc.)

The action codes of April having Corakinus heart and Ram Singh's leg getting cut off makes the audience intrigued and wonder what happens next. The use of Corakinus and the makeup he wears in order to look abnormal makes us want to know what role he plays in the episode and how much of evil he truly is.

5) What examples of binary opposition (Levi-Strauss) can you find in Co-owner of a Lonely Heart? How do these create narrative or drama for the audience?

Light vs Dark - Shadow world and earth Good 

Evil vs Good April who wants freedom and done nothing wrong contrasts to Corakinus who kills innocent people like Ram's girlfriend 

Parent vs Child - April's dad and April are not on good terms because he paralysed her mother

Representations

1) How is gender represented in Class - Co-owner of a Lonely Heart? Are gender stereotypes reinforced or subverted?
April goes on a quest to save her own heart with her newly obtained power of summoning swords on command without relying on the help of a man to help her. The stereotype of men is subverted by Ram and his dad's open and loving relationship

2) How is age (e.g. teenagers; older people like teachers or parents) represented in Class - Co-owner of a Lonely Heart? Does the show reinforce or challenge stereotypes about young people?

The representation of adults in the media is reinforced by Tanya's mum scolding her for talking to a Ram

3) How is race and ethnicity represented in Class - Co-owner of a Lonely Heart? Are stereotypes reinforced or subverted?

Co-owner of a lonely heart represent diversity with Asian (Ram) and black (Tanya) characters

4) How is sexuality represented in Class - Co-owner of a Lonely Heart? How does this reflect the BBC's remit to represent modern Britain?
They represent both heterosexual (April and Ram) and homosexual relationships (Charlie and Matteus)

5) How is disability represented in Class - Co-owner of a Lonely Heart? Why are disabled people generally under-represented in the media and how does Class try to address this?

April's mum has been paralysis and in a wheel chair  and is trying to prove the struggle of being disabled

Doctor Who: Audience and Industry: blog tasks

Audience

1) Who is the target audience for Doctor Who? Has it changed since 1963?

The target audience has has changed since 1963 as it may have targeted males due to the stereotype than men are interested in science. It got rebooted for a younger generation.

2) What audience psychographic groups might particularly enjoy Doctor Who?

The target audience for Doctor Who are form ages 12-40 as the reboot introduced new generations to the show. Both genders as they are represented in Doctor Who.

It is targeted towards young adults of both genders and of all classes.It is also mainstream so millions of people watch the BBC.

3) What audience pleasures are offered by An Unearthly Child? Apply Blumler and Katz's Uses and Gratifications theory to the episode. Make sure you provide specific examples from the episode to support your ideas.

Personal Identity:Doctor Who offers its audience an education about space travel, science and history. 

Personal Relationships:Audience many gain connections with Susan, the teachers or the Doctor.

Diversion (Escapism):As Doctor Who is a sci-fi drama so it would allow the audience to escape

Surveillance (Information / Facts):Doctor Who offers its audience an education about space travel, science and history.  

4) What additional Uses and Gratifications would this episode provide to a modern 2020 audience?

Diversion because it allows the audience to escape out of realism

5) Thinking of the 3 Vs audience pleasures (Visceral, Vicarious and Voyeuristic pleasures), which of these can be applied to An Unearthly Child?

Visceral pleasure some scenes could race someones's heart beat due to cliff hangers.


Industries

1) What was the television industry like in 1963? How many channels were there?

The only 3 channels were ITV,BBC1 and BBC2 so there was less opposition and competition 

2) Why is Doctor Who such an important franchise for the BBC? 

It’s the longest running sci-fi show and brings in a huge amount of revenue for the BBC.

3) How does Doctor Who meet the BBC's mission statement to 'inform, educate and entertain'?
It has a lot of science information and provides action, drama and suspense for audiences.

4) How is the BBC funded?
The BBC is funded through TV licenses and shows no adverts.

5) Who regulates the BBC and what is the watershed?

The BBC is regulated by OfCOM  (OfCOM oversees all media channels and produces a code of conduct that all media channels must follow or have their licence to make content removed and/or be fined heavily)  and the watershed is at 9 pm and it states shows of a high rating are only to be shown after 9 pm.

Doctor Who: Language and Representation blog tasks

Language and Representation: blog tasks

Create a new blogpost called Doctor Who: Language and Representation blog tasks and complete the following questions on your blog:

Language and close-textual analysis

1) Choose three key moments in the episode and write an NCIS analysis for those clips. You can use your notes from the screening in class. Make specific, detailed references using media terminology (e.g. media language - camera shots, diegetic/non-diegetic sound, mise-en-scene etc.)

An Unearthly Child scene analysis
Narrative: In a school 2 teacher, Ian and Barbara are worried about the welfare of one of their student, Susan. They cant uncover where she live she the go to her address. They discover it is a junkyard and meet the doctor who is being aggressive and stubborn.They enter a police phone box and find Susan and the doctor takes them to a new world. 

Character:

Susan-subverts the stereotype of girls as submissive and weak 

Doctor-potential false hero, no sympathy, grumpy old man

Ian- Stubborn, Annoyed, Very logical and doesn’t panic Barbara-Conventional fearful woman, caring, scared and confused

  

Iconography:

TARDIS is has very bright white lights with a lot of spaceship sounds. Also has smoke and alarms

Setting:

Set in school, a junkyard and TARDIS

2) How does Todorov's theory of equilibrium apply to Co-owner of a Lonely Heart? Try and use the expanded version of Todorov's theory: Equilibrium - Disruption - Recognition - Reparation - New equilibrium.

Equilibrium: Ian and Barbara are discussing Susan wellbeing.

Disruption: They decide to follow her home and arrive at a junkyard

Recognition: They meet the doctor acting suspicious.

Reparation: They enter the TARDIS and find Susan who begins talking of time travel and other dimensions.

New equilibrium: The Doctor takes  to a new time.

3) Applying Propp's character theory, what character roles do each of the main characters in An Unearthly Child fit into? Alternatively, you may wish to discuss how characters do not fit Propp's character types.
The doctor is seen as a villain as he kidnappes the teachers and doesn't let them leave

Susan plays the role of princess/damsel in distress as she the teachers want to help her

Ian plays the role of hero as he want to save Susan

Barbara plays the role of helper as she assist Ian.

4) What enigma and action codes (Barthes) can you find in An Unearthly Child? Make specific, detailed reference to the text using media terminology (e.g. media language - camera shots, diegetic/non-diegetic sound, mise-en-scene etc.)

When Susan is given a book about the french revolution she states that it wasn't correct inferring that she has been to that period of time and could come in future episodes

5) What examples of binary opposition (Levi-Strauss) can you find in An Unearthly Child? How do these create narrative or drama for the audience?

Entails that the majority of narratives in media forms such as books and film contain opposing main characters. These binary opposites help to thicken the plot and further the narrative; and introduce contrast.

Representations

1) What stereotypes of men are reinforced and subverted in Doctor Who: An Unearthly Child? How?

One stereotype that is being reinforced is that doctor is a male. 

2) What stereotypes of women/girls are reinforced and subverted in Doctor Who: An Unearthly Child? How?

Stereotypes that are being reinforced is that Susan is being saved by the teacher as she is the damsel in distress and they both appear quite frantic and worried about the situation. However, the stereotype is subverted as Susan seems quite intelligent and ready to save her teachers.

3) What are common media stereotypes of young people and old people? Do any of the characters or scenarios reinforce or subvert these conventional stereotypes (consider this was 1963)? Has this changed in more recent series of Doctor Who?
One stereotype of old people that is they are wise as the doctor but also stubborn
One stereotype of young people that is Susan has short hair

4) What representations of race/ethnicity can be found in Doctor Who: An Earthly Child? Is this surprising or not? Give reasons for your answer and consider historical / cultural context (the 1960s). Has this changed in more recent series of Doctor Who?

Only British white people where represented as in the time Britain was dominated by white people and it wasn't racially diverse

5) How is social class represented in An Unearthly Child? Think about how education and knowledge is presented in the episode.

The middle class as two teachers seems knowledgeable and well educated.

Learner response - blog tasks

 1) Type up your feedback in full - WWW & EBI. You do not have to write your mark and grade if you don't want to.

Impressive responses for magazine section of your assessment. Lots of relevant focus for representation and social/cultural contexts for both CSPs

Need more detail when analysing the unseen media product. Remember connotations for how producers are creating meaning for audiences and why? 

2) Look at Question 3 in the assessment - the media analysis of the Under Armour advert.

Use CLAMPS to revise mise-en-scene and write about each element of CLAMPS for the Under Armour advert.

C - Costume: The player is wearing red and black rugby kit which has connotations of sports ware and link back to the logo also the red links to aggression 

L - Lighting: The stadium floodlights tell the audience has synergy to sports and it is a dark background

A - Actor placement and movement: The rugby player is the central image The player's face suggests. strength and power as he is enduring the weight

M - Make up: The player's face is shining under the lights which makes it look like sweat and show he has being working for a long time

P - Props: The tyre is significant because it is massive and should be a struggle to use in this way

S - Setting: the stadium setting suggests to the audience it is a high professional as it is in a stadium

3) Look at Question 4. What is Todorov's theory of equilibrium? How does it link to the Audrey Hepburn Galaxy advert? 

They begin with equilibrium, where everything is balanced, progress as something comes along to disrupt that equilibrium, and finally reach a resolution, when a new equilibrium is restored.

Equilibrium > Disequilibrium > New equilibrium

4) What social class is Reveal aimed at? (Extension - what do the cover lines on Reveal suggest about what working class people are interested in?)

Reveal is aimed for working class as it has cover lines about babies and diet ,aged 16-30 who are fans of gossip

5) Pick three cover lines from Tatler that reflect upper class British culture and society. Explain what they suggest about the lifestyle and beliefs of upper class British people.

Meet Georgina Bevan as she is a celebrate of high status

The one year gap year shows they may be going uni so they are of middle or high status

Also central image of the golds and jewellery

Introduction to Science-fiction TV drama: blog tasks

1 ) How does Class meet the conventions of a TV drama series?

Class has a dramatic narrative with an ensemble cast. Also has specific technical codes like realistic lighting and editing for social dramas to keep it gritty. Common use of flashback, point of view shots, dialogue and voice over, enigma and action codes throughout.

2) What conventions of the science-fiction genre can you find in the Class trailer? List as many as you can and use NCIS to help you.

Class has time travel and aliens. There is also space travel and scientific advancements with futuristic weapons. The tardis is a time-machine spaceship. It seems to be set in a new world that has lava and it looks contaminated or is an toxic environments. The colours are dark and stygian which creates suspense. 

3) What other genres are suggested by the trailer (e.g. horror)? Is Class an example of a modern hybrid-genre show?
Yes Class is a science fiction drama with hints of horror, thriller and action. Furthermore there is romance between the characters and covered in mystery.

4) Class is a spin-off from Doctor Who. At what point does the character of the Doctor appear in the trailer?
Near the ending the doctor appears at around 1:20

5) Who do you think the target audience for Class is? Is this a typical target audience for the science-fiction genre? Give reasons for your answer.

The target audience of class are teenager and middle aged adults of the working class as its a sci-fi drama which attracts them as they might find it fascinating.

Aside from the appearance of the Doctor, what other references or allusions are made to the Doctor Who universe?

The tardis makes an appearance in the tallier

Year 1 reflection - blog tasks

 1) Look at your tracker for Year 1 blogposts (this will have been emailed to you by your teacher either before the summer or this week). Make a list of any CSPs you haven't completed. We will cover these in lessons later in the year but you WILL need to complete the blog tasks before you take any exams.

2) Which CSPs from Year 1 are you most confident on?

Doctor Strange

Magazines - Reveal

Magazines - Tatler

3) Which CSPs from Year 1 are you least confident on?

I, Daniel Blake

4) Your upcoming assessment will only be on CSPs from the first half of the year leading up to lockdown. Write a brief summary of the following CSPs to start your revision (Reveal magazine is done for you as ):

Doctor Strange:Doctor Strange is a superhero film from the MCU (Marvel Cinematic Universe) which is part of the Marvel media franchise. A film franchise is a series of films film franchises are multi-picture stories, often including some of the same characters from film to film.

I, Daniel Blake: I, Daniel Blake is an award-winning independent British Drama film.  The main character, Daniel Blake, 59, who has worked as a joiner most of his life in the North East of England needs help from the State for the first time ever following an illness.

Magazines - Reveal: a celebrity magazine aimed mainly at working-class women focusing on gossip, celebrity and motherhood for just 99p. Offers quite a traditional, stereotypical representation of women.

Magazines - Tatler: Tatler is Britain’s oldest magazine (founded in 1901) targeted at upper classes and upper-middle classes.Lifestyle magazine with focus on fashion; high society events such as balls and celebrities such as the Royal family and members of the aristocracy (people with inherited wealth, titles and land.)

Advertising: OMO: OMO washing powder is an advertisement in the 1900s

Advertising: NHS Represent: Advertising and Marketing is the 2016 NHS Blood and Transplant online campaign video 'Represent' featuring Lady Leshurr.

Advertising: Galaxy chocolate:2016 Galaxy chocolate advert 'Chauffeur' featuring dead film star Audrey Hepburn.

5) List five things (e.g. CSPs/topics/terminology) that you will revise before your upcoming assessment.

Online, social and participatory case study 3: Zoella blog tasks

Language

Read this Marie Clare article on Zoella as an online phenomenon.

1) Who is Zoella and why is she famous? How many subscribers does Zoella's YouTube channel have currently?

Zoella is a YouTuber and internet vlogger who has been active since 2009 and she has 11.2 million subscribers

2) What is convergence?

When two or more media forms meet in one e.g Zoella’s website where you can buy her book, read her Twitter feed, see her Instagram photos and buy her beauty products. 

3) What are Zoella's videos about? Find five video titles and write them here:

Ultimate Pizza Taste Test With Mark

HUGE Summer Primark Haul 

Testing Weird Beauty Products With Mark 

Full Face Of Glossier Makeup

4) What are the codes and conventions of vlogging videos?

A Vlog name which gives information about what it contains.

Writing on the screen.

Speaker central to the screen and speaks directly to the camera.Some props to keep video engaging.

Lots of cuts (jump cuts – where the camera position is the same).

Different angles and shots for variety. Personal – this builds connection and trust with audience.

5) How does Zoella use media language choices to create her online identity? Write about Zoella's use of mise-en-scene (CLAMPS) - particularly costume and make-up.

Zoella uses makeup and costumes to make her audience know how to use it. She tries on different costumes and is mostly set in her house.

Industries

1) How does Zoella make money? (You might want to read this Heatworld feature for more on this.) 

Zoella makes an estimated £13 million

2) What is a digital influencer? Why is Zoella considered a digital influencer?
A digital influencer is someone with a social media following who encourages fans and followers. Zoella has a large following on social platforms. 

3) Why do companies want to place their products in Zoella's videos?
As she has a large fan base who are in the companies target audience

4) Why are YouTube collaborations so important for helping digital influencers like Zoella to grow?

It connects their viewer and they might go a watch the collaborations channel

5) How has Zoella moved into a more traditional media landscape in recent years?
She has been seen on TV, newspapers and magazines

Audience

1) Who is the target audience for Zoella's channel?

Her target audience are teenagers for escapism how like fashion

2) How are audiences encouraged to participate in or feel part of Zoella's brand? 
Zoella does make up tutorials and sell merch to make her audience feel apart of her brand

3) What audience pleasures are provided by Zoella's videos and associated products?

She makes tutorial and life hacks and builds her audience like a personal relationship

4) Applying Stuart Hall's Reception theory, what would a preferred and oppositional reading of Zoella?

Preferred (people who love Zoella): She make tutorials and helps others how dont know how to do something
Oppositional (people who hate Zoella): She promotes products that might not be safe for everyone

5) Why has Zoella been criticised by some people?
She films when she drives and creates a lot controversy by mocking gay people

Representations

Read this Independent article arguing Zoella is a bad role model for young women.

Next, read this Independent article arguing the opposite. 

1) What is your opinion on this debate - is Zoella a positive role model for young women?

She can be a positive role model for young women as she teach them life hacks and recommends products to them

2) What representations of women are provided by Zoella?

She provides beauty and how they can be independent

3) What representations of celebrity are provided by Zoella? Is a self-made YouTube celebrity more authentic or positive than a traditional music or TV star?

Makeup tutorials youtuber who helps others and promotes products. 

4) How does Zoella represent herself? Is this the real Zoe Suggs or a media construction designed to sell products?

Zoella represents herself as beautiful and inspirational

5) What criticisms could be levelled at the representation of Zoella? 

She has included more ‘adult’ themed photos