Representations and responses

Disney is a defining feature of childhood, they contain important moral messages for children to pick up. Older flms have been criticised for being politically incorrect or having dated messages; context of social, political and cultural ideas. Recent products have also come under fire as of gender issues and the portrayal of women, Disney is doing very little to combat stereotyping.

 

Represetations in TV drama

Sterotypes- Media institutuions use sterotypes beacuse the audience will instantly understand them (negative).

Archetypes- This is the ‘ultimate’ sterotype. For example, the white stiletto wearing, big busted, brainless blonde bimbo.

Countertype- A representation that challenges the traditional stertypical associations of groups, people or places (positive).

Representation- The way in whihc people, events and ideas are presented to the audience.

• To break it down, the media akes something that is already there and re-presents it to us in the way that they choose.
• These representations are created by the producers(anyone who makes media text).

Who, What Why, Where

• Who or what is being represented? who is preferred audience for this representation.
• What are they doing? is their activity presented as typical, or atypical? Are they conforming to genre expecations or other conventions?
• Why are they present? What purpose do they serve? What are they communicating by their presence? What’s the prefered reading?
• Where are they? How are they framed? Are they represented as natural or atificial? What, surrounds them? What is in the foreground and what is in the background?

Encoding: The messages and ideas that are packed into a media text by the producers of that text.

Decoding: The ways in which any audience ‘unpackages’ or reads meaning into that text influenced by a range of factors.

Richard Dyer’s Typography of representation:

What?How?Who?What?

• What is represented?
• How is this representative of social groups?
• Who is responsible for the representation?
• What does the audience make of it?

Cuffs (BBC) -2013

• A police/crime tv drama by the use of the costumes, props (the police car).
• Brighton and the South East is being represented through the deck chairs, the pier, the pier sign, the south downs, the beach and the segulls.
• Social groups- different genders, through male and female police officers, different ethnicitys- white, muslim (hijab), black and different ages- youth and older people.
• Audience- broad target audience, different actors with different backgrounds (identify with), the genre is loved by many.

Countertypes in Cuffs- Black police officer, ususally seen to be the criminals.

Binarys opposites-

• Deck chairs and graffiti = rich and poor
• Housing estates and rolling hills = rich and poor

Stereotypes-

• Media representations often use sterotypes as a cultural shorthand
• Dyer argues sterotypes are a way of reinforcing differences between people, and representing these differences as natural
• Stereotypes reinforce the idea that there are big differences between different types of people
• Stereotypes legitimise inequality

The representation project

Stereotypes of old people:

• rich
• fake teeth
• burden
• bad drivers
• Forgetful
• religious
• racist
• hates the youth
• stories
• good at cooking

Decoding theory- Stuart Hall’s reception theory (positioning)

• He is a cultural theorist and Professor of sociology

Different audiences respond to representations in deifferent way, for different reasons.

Demographics-Age, Ethnicity, Class and Personal experiences (the way we respond to things)

• oppositonal – the audience strongly dislikes it/ opposes it
• negotiated- the audience is undecided, they see all the different sides
• preferred- the audience strongly excepts what you see and doesn’t question it

Skins responses:

• male and female
• older teenagers
• mixed race characters

Preferred: Some young men and women may be able to relate to this representation as they may have had similar experiences.

Negociated: Some men and women may find the sterotyping inaccurate but enjoy the show for its dark humour.

Oppositional: Some parents, OAP’S and religious groups will find this subject matter offensive as it challenges their beliefs and values.

 

 

 

 

TV Dramas

;TV drama and real life

Eastenders-(BBC)

• Grief, Jacks wife and sister in law died
• Adpotion, Denise is giving her baby up for adoption

The fall-(BBC)

• Gender inequality in the work place

Sherlock- (BBC)

• Family issues

Taboo-

• Mental illness
• Culture/religion

Broadchurch-(ITV)

• Stress/ struggles in the workplace

Luther-(BBC)

• Relationships
• Adultery

Jane the virgin- (E4)

• Family issues
• Love triangle

Pretty little lairs- (USA)

• Trust issues

 

Iconography

= Visual and audio codes that you associate with the genre.

conventions of the genre:

• objects
• costumes
• actors
• backgrounds

Iconography in the opening sequence

True blood:

• strawberries smeared on face which look like blood on the child
• snake (people tend to be scared of them)
• grave stones which represent death

 

 

Title sequences

Pretty little liars-

• extreme close up of girl applying mascara and lipstick, doing up her shoes and painting her nails, this suggests the ‘girly’ nature of the program and characters and presents contrasts to which the show is about.
• Girl lying in coffin, this suggests the mysterious nature of the show and creates suspense.
• The 4 girls standing behind the coffin represents the idea of friendship and creates realism for the teenage audience, however it also creates an enigma.
• The theme music creates lots of suspense, as well as it being catchy making it easily recognizable to the audience.
• The black outfits that the liars are wearing is suggesting death, as well as the coffin in the sequence this is suggesting to the audience that it is full of drama and suspense.

Happy Valley-

• Police costume, represents the theme of the show and creates a sense of security and trust.
• Everyday props in the sequence for example a kids bike and a cat this creates realism for the audience as they can relate to seeing these.
• Location =the houses, the bridge and the countryside creates a realistic setting in which the audience can relate to.
• The theme music (the lyrics ‘in this troubled town’) suggests the idea that there is crime in the town as well as the police officer present throughout the title sequence.
• The use of montage to create the title sequence shows time changing, this is also evident from the clouds which move as the sequence progresses.

Equilibrium film theory analysis

Love Rosie

Equilibrium- Rosie and Alex are best friends(happy).

Disruption- Rosie falls in love with Alex but he doesn’t know.

Disequilibrium- Alex moves away to America, Rosie becomes pregnant but not with Alex’s baby and Alex gets engaged.

Climax- Alex realizes hes in love with Rosie.

New equilibrium- Alex and Rosie get together eventually (happy again).

Editing

Continuity editing- 

• Smooth flow from shot to shot
• creates realism
• verisimilitude

Non continuity editing-

• montage (not in real time)
•  construction is more apparent than continuity

Transitions- 

• fade to black
• wipe
• dissolve/cross fade
• time change
• change in location
• character reminiscing/thinking

Order of shots- 

• The meaning of the clip can change depending on the order of the shots.
• Screen time = main characters
• Putting 2 shots together can suggest a connection or emphasize contrast.
• Who motivates the edit – producer?

Camera shot types

Extreme long shot- In an extreme long shot the main focus is a person however the person is not recognizable, the person is appeared to be dominant but lonely. 

Establishing shot- An establishing shot is where the environment dominates and the people who may potentially be in the shot seem insignificant.

Long shot- The person within the shot can be seen in context, the mise-en-scene shows characters context.

Close up (the face)- This shot type shows the characters facial expressions and conveys emotions, this creates emotional engagement with the audience. 

Extreme close up- An extreme close up isolates small details from within the shot. 

Medium close up (shoulders and head)- This shows the characters emotions, also its hard to see whats in the background of the shot. 

Medium shot (waist and head)- The focus of the shot is on the characters/character in the shot and not the environment. 

Glossary of keywords

Keywords:

Connotations- The extra linked meaning that goes with any sign, making the meaning personal to the audience

Denotations- The literal meaning of something

Encoding- Meanings are encoded by the producer into the media text and audiences decode the meaning from the text

Mise-en-scene – Everything within the scene such as the costume, lighting,actors,make up, props, setting (CLAMPS)

Realism- A person or thing which represents true life

Visual codes- This is the Mise-en-scene, colour and connotations

Technical codes- This is the lighting, editing and camera angles

Sound- There are two types of sound, diegetic and non diegetic. Diegetic is where the character can either hear the sounds or the music whereas non diegetic is where the character can’t and the sounds were added later, clearly for effect.

Medium- The media platform

Pathetic fallacy- The attribution of human feelings and responses to inanimate objects

Archetype- A type/ model of character which is found in many different types of media text

Polysemic- The association of one word with two meanings

Verisimilitude- The truth of the scene and its reality

Signs- A word or image which represents an object or idea, this can create realism for audiences

Semiotics- This is the study of meaning through the use of signs and symbols

 

 

Film review – Bridget Jones

Realism of everyday life is created throughout the film, Bridget Jones the edge of reason, the sequel to the British classic Bridget Jones Diary. Firstly, the idea of going to family occasions/events that you don’t want to, in this film we see Bridget being forced to go to her mother’s annual turkey curry buffet at Christmas. But yet she was soon glad she went because she met the wonder that is Mr Darcy, Mark Darcy the love of Bridget’s life. I can relate to being made to go to Family celebrations much like many people I know can too.

In the scene where Bridget is arriving at work we see the receptionist and she says ‘morning Bridget, late again’ this comedic approach adds to the relatability of the film as many people in everyday life can picture themselves in this situation making it an effective use of realism. In the film we see Bridget relying heavily on her friends Shazzer, Jude and Tom for relationship advice even though they are all single themselves, why does she do it to herself we ask ourselves. This idea of her needing her friend’s opinions and advice constantly is in my opinion all most as if she can’t make her own decisions in life and feels that needs to be supported by the people around her , this is represented further by her characteristics in particular her childish nature. Bridget Jones is presented to us to be a naive and stupid person whereas I think she’s actually intelligent it’s just she’s belittled by the people around because of her by her gender. This is supported by when Daniel Cleaver comments on her outfit choices specifically her infamous skirt, this is evident from when he says ‘is that your most sensible skirt Jones’ this is as a reply from when Bridget states that she’s changed and that now she’s a sensible, career driven journalist. Cleaver mocks her new mature status and uses sex as a way in which to get the old and rather foolish Bridget back. Realism is created from this because Bridget is always drawn back to the stereotypical bad boy whereas on the other hand there’s Mark the polar opposite to Daniel. I feel that Bridget is drawn to Daniel Cleaver because he adds a sense of excitement to Bridget’s life; this is just like many women although even though they know that they are bad for them they still do it however in the end they always end up with the good guy in the end just like in fairy tales.

Throughout the film the will they won’t they plot conveys many aspects of realism. In the scene with the dreaded Janey (jellyfish), we see that Bridget is concerned by the fact that Mark might be cheating on her with Rebecca Gillies, I think this idea was forced upon her by not only Janey but her friends implanting these ideas into her head. However in the end it turns out that Rebecca was in fact a lesbian and was in love with Bridget, this just proves that don’t always believe gossip or what people tell you. This is a real life lesson that many people will discover not only women but men as well; this is creating realism and enables the audience to be able to relate. When we see Bridget and Mark split in the film we see her doing the stereotypical break up wallowing, this includes consuming large amounts of Ben and Jerry’s ice cream whilst binge watching TV in your pyjamas. This Scenario maybe hugely relatable for the audiences in particular the females, this adds humour and furthers the comedic nature of the film. The iconic Bridget Jones sound track adds to this effect of realism, the songs all by myself by Celine Dion and Sorry seems to be the hardest word by Elton John further the relatability of single life or break ups. This also adds comedy to the film making it very light hearted whilst also being very honest and real.

In the scene where we see Bridget and Shazzer on the plane to Bangkok, Thailand we hear the notorious sounds of a baby crying and screaming. As well them being split up on the plane and being cramped into a tiny and uncomfortable seat. This may bring back many memories for audiences either by having been in these situations themselves or by knowing what it’s like travelling with a small child. This is until Bridget’s metaphorical knight in shining armour Daniel Cleaver shows up and orders a flight attendant to get Bridget so she can be in first class. This in my opinion is another way in which Daniel tries to get her back, Bridget then fools for Daniel’s charms until he turns out to be the same lying, manipulative and sex obsessed man he always has been and Bridget no longer wants anything to do with him as she’s realised she’s made a terrible mistake by trusting Daniel again after all that he’s done in the past, we see this in the first film Bridget Jones Diary.

Lastly, the basis of an unconventional relationship is portrayed within in this narrative. When Bridget meets Mark Darcy a successful human rights lawyer they end up falling in love after a lot of messing around, seen in the first film.

This idea of two people who are completely different and the most unlikely couple being together shows that much like in life you can’t help you fall in love with. Mark and Bridget are just like any other couple in real life they argue but then they make up. I love how in this film they show that nobody’s perfect not just in the respect of love but also when Bridget say ‘and yes I will always be just a little bit fat’ this classic comical Bridget line makes her character so relatable for the female audience, which as a result makes the film a Box office hit.

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