Ownership and control: blog task

1) Why did Facebook buy Instagram for $1bn in 2012?

Facebook brought Instagram for $1bn in 2012 because to compete and even remove competition and create more profit.

2) What are the benefits for media companies of vertical integration?

Benefits for media companies of vertical integration is that they own all everything in the chain of production so they gain more profit.

3) What are the benefits for media companies of horizontal integration?

Benefits for media companies of horizontal integration is that it helps companies to grow and build in size and power by removing competition 

4) What is a subsidiary?

A subsidiary is a company that is owned or controlled by another bigger company

5) Give three examples of media companies that have used synergy to maximise the profit from a brand (there is one above to help you).

Disney as they make movies but also create theme parks, merchandise and events.

Warner Bros also as they make movies but also create theme parks, merchandise and events

Sony also make games and merchandise.

6) Read this BBC article on Disney buying 21st Century Fox. List 10 companies that are part of the Disney media empire. This graphic may help you: 

Marvel Entertainment

Lucusfilm

Pixar

Sky

ESPN

Hulu

National Geographic

ABC

Vice

GoPro

7) Why did Disney buy Fox - what are the benefits?

The benefits are that Disney reduce competition and also make more profit for all the companies Fox owns.

Audience Effects Theory

1) Write a definition of a passive audience:  
Audiences take in information from the media passively and the message is the same on everyone  


2) Write a definition of an active audience:
Is modern and that audiences interact with the information making choices regarding the media 

3) Write a definition of the hypodermic needle theory: 
The audiences are always passive and take in the intended meaning from the producer as it is injected in their minds

4) Write down a media product for each category of Blumler and Katz's Uses and Gratifications theory and WHY it fits that particular audience use/gratification: 

INFORMATION/SURVEILLANCE:  Documentary news
 > Why: It teach the audience about things they were unaware of and make them more knowledgeable

IDENTITY: Celebrities
 > Why:  Because people may connect with them and form relationships 

DIVERSION/ENTERTAINMENT: TV Shows 
 > Why: Take the audience in to a different world and is enjoyable to watch

RELATIONSHIPS: Reality TV Shows
 > Why: We interact with the characters caring about them and forming relationships. As they are long lasting these bonds make the audience feel sympathy for the characters

5) Re-watch the clip from Blue Planet above and write a paragraph analysing how elements of the clip offer the audience pleasures or gratifications (use media terminology from Uses and Gratifications theory and the 3 Vs - notes outlined above). 

The audience pleasure of Blue Planet 2 is information/surveillance. This is because it teachs us about the sea and marine life. It is also entertains as it makes the audience curious and many even question there understanding of the topic. The clip might create visceral pleasure as the fish hunting on the prey can create physical thrills.

Reception Theory

1) What is the preferred reading of a media text?

The preferred reading of the media text is that young adults and teenagers are dangerous and menacing and older people are vulnerable.

2) What is the oppositional reading of a media text?

The oppositional reading of the media text is that some young adults and teenagers are not involved with this activities and that not all older people are innocent and can be fierce.

3) How does the Harry Brown trailer position the audience to respond to the teenage characters in the film?

The Harry Brown trailer position the audience to respond to the teenage characters in the film as sinister antagonist who assault the elderly with no remorse or sympathy. 

4) Why might young people reject this reading and construct an oppositional reading of the trailer?

Young people might reject this reading and construct an oppositional reading of the trailer as they aren't all involved in this brutal activities. 

The preferred readings of this McDonald's advert is that this burger is very tantalising and mouth-watering and is for every day consumption as it say ' a meal disguised as a sandwich' which most people eat for their lunch.

The negotiated readings of this McDonald's advert is that the burger is for us to consume but it could be very unhealthy to eat everyday like a sandwich. This shows that it is an occasional meal.

The oppositional readings of this McDonald's advert is that this burger is that it supports animal cruelty as it has meat. This shows it shouldn't be consumed as it is inhumane and could also go against people's religions.

The preferred readings of this Lucozade advert is that it "hydrate and fuels you better than water". These show the audience that it has special proposes that are even better that water which is seen as pure. Also water has to be consumed everyday which denotes we should drink it daily like water.  

The negotiated readings of this Lucozade advert is that the drink could be good for sports but doesn't have better qualities than water. If used correctly it is good but drinking it on a daily bases is unhealthy.

The oppositional readings of this  Lucozade advert is that it is a unhealthy drink with chemicals that should be consumed. Also it use plastic which when littered cause global warming and damage marine life and the oceans.

October assessment learner response

1) Type up your feedback in full (you don't need to write the mark and grade if you want to keep this confidential).
I got 22/25 a grade 7

2) Read the mark scheme for this assessment carefully. Write down the mark you achieved for each question:

Q1: 0 Didn't achieve full marks as it says denotes
Q2: 1
Q3: 2
Q4: 2
Q5: 2
Q6: 3
Q7: 2
Q8: 4
Q9: 6 Didn't achieve full marks i didn't write more points

Where you didn't achieve full marks, write WHY you think you missed out on the extra marks. Use the indicative content suggestions in the mark scheme to help with this.

3) Did you get any media terminology wrong in the assessment? Make a note of it here for future revision: con notates

4) Identify one of your stronger questions. Why did you do better on this question?
Q4 as i stated the type of shot it is and showed the writers intention

5) Identify one of your weaker questions. Why did you score lower on this particular question?
i scored low on question 1 as i got confused by denotes and connotes

6) Re-draft your answer to Q9 and type it out in full. Use the mark scheme to identify anticipated content you can add to your response and make sure your typed re-draft is a top-level answer of at least three paragraphs. 

Charities use pictures of children in their advertising to show the struggle of their lives it is also controversial and the child is associated with innocence and vulnerability. This makes the consumer feel sympathy as the child is in this conditions.

The raindrop on the left could denote the child is thirsty and doesn't have basic need. It could also represent purity and how donating might make them happy and get this needs.Even the typography is white and bold which denotes purity and how it could please the children.

You can tell the target audience know what its about as its a global issue and associated with particular places in world.
  

Camerawork - photo storyboard

The establishing shot is used to set the scene and introduce the location.We used this to show the audience about where the story is set

We used an over-the-shoulder shot to show dominance as it is a high angle shot. Usually this shot is used to show a conversation. This creates tension as his eyes are closed.

A medium close up as we can see the head and shoulders. We can clearly see their emotions and is also at a low angle to see the power of the bully to the victim.

Another high angle shot to show dominance and superiority but we used a long shot to show a little bit more of the setting.

This extreme close up shot shows his eye and how it creates suspense and tension as it might show sadness or something more unpredictable

This medium close up is at a low angle to show how powerful he is and his dominance. We can see his expressions and emotions of fear.

Camerawork Analysis

https://youtu.be/CMbI7DmLCNI

1) Three camera shots:

The opening long shot shows the boy riding his bike in a corridor in a hospital. We are following the child and can confirm see his is young and see he is a child.

The extreme close-up we can see the child's expression and emotions. He is startled but also puzzled at the sight of the two twins in front of his face.   
We can see him breathing fast which make the audience feel that the twins are supernatural and unorthodox.

The over-the-shoulder shot at 0.44 shows the child looking at the twins and recognises who they are and how the were massacre in the same corridor it is also a medium close-up which allows the audience to see the monochromatic faces of the twins.

2) Two camera angles:

The unusual angle shows how they are supernatural and creates suspense and surprise the audience and show how fearful this twins must be.

Also it is low shot shows the power of the two twins and have dominance of the little boy. It also makes sense as the little boy is on a bike that is low.

3) Analyse the camera movement:

The camera movement in the beginning of the scene is slow, steady and getting further away from the child. The atmosphere is calm as the child is riding around the corner. The smooth track or dolly shot then becomes faster building tension (0.16-0.23) which makes the audience feel like he is riding faster.

Then the camera zooms in a out of the twins deceased on the floor and goes into the twin emotionless faces. The makes the audience feel sympathy for the little boy as he witness the the twins dying and reappearing out of no where.

Also the camera abruptly stops and becomes hand held and shaky so it creates a unnerving atmosphere and show the audience that it is extraordinary 

Mise-en-scene Stranger Things analysis

Setting:
There is a laboratory which detonates to experiments. Its also night time which can demonstrate that a nightmare is coming. After this we are set in a house in the suburbs which shows an causal neighbourhood. After we get to a gloomy and bare road which detonates a demonic atmosphere

Costume: 
In the first scene the man is wearing a lab coat conveys that he is a doctor, professor or science. Also he is wearing a tie which conveys professionalism. The children are wearing causal clothes which shows that they are ordinary children. The teenage girl is wearing a nightgown which links back to night time.

Lighting: 
The scarlet and vivid title at the start shows that the show could be a thriller as the colour red is linked to danger. The dim flashing lights in the warehouse detonates exigency and something has gone wrong like a supernatural power or electrical cut this create the effect on the audience of tension and suspense. Also the lights are rapid which creates even more tension. The use of street lights and bike light illustrates the time of day. 

Props:
There is a watch on the one of the children's hand which illustrates that he is productive. They are playing a board game which shows that they are children and they are bored in the 1980s as now we use technology. Riding bikes also indicates that they are youth. The coats of the children show it might be cold outside. His sister use of a phone signifies that she older and might be a teen.