Media genre analysis

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Genre Analysis Notes on 6 different documentaries

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Transcript of Media genre analysis

Page 1: Media genre analysis

Genre Analysis

Notes on 6 different documentaries

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Documentary One: The Music Biz- Meatloaf Edition

Type of Documentary: Mixed

Themes: • The Music Business, • The Cost of the Music Industry• Celebrities• The Music Charts

Narrative Structure Linear Narrative with circular elements. Kept revisiting points in time, eg: The Music Video set. Interjection, wider context of music competitors, balanced view on both musical artists: eg Meatloaf and The Village People

CameraworkTalking head shot for most interviews. Sometimes use of green screen in background with interviewee placed to either left of right of frame, keeping in the rule of thirds. Sometimes use mid shot, sometimes use of close up for interview, mix between the two. Fast, long tracking shot, 360 degree tracking shots used whenshooting in music office/around tables and over head shots used when on computer. A lot of handheld footage through most of the documentary, especially when on location.

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Mise-En-SceneConstructed: Green screen footage relevant to interviee, eg: when virgin manager was being interviewed, the Virgin Media logo was on the screen in the back. Meatloaf was sometimes interiviewed in music office. Cut away shots involved discussions in a office room, working on computers Natural: On set of the Music video, majority of interviews done on set of video, not structured nor thought about.

SoundDiegetic - Meatloads music (when he was performing and when on set of video) Non Diegetic - Dark music during display of Meatloafs album, Meatloafs music (when not being performed), YMCA music played during there self promotion radio interviews. Christmas no.1 tracks (when music video was not displayed)

EditingStraightforward cuts. Slow motion during showing album art.Green screen during interviews.Transition between two interwee'sfast editing when talking about the album being released and news report about it. Cuts between each news presenter as they discussed album.

Archive materialred carpet footage at The Brits and The grammy awardsThe Brits footage itself (when artists received awards)music video footage from Meatloafs music and The Village People, as well as other pieces during the section about the Christmas No. 1News footage about discussion of Meatloaf's album

Graphicsmagazine image on title sequence

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Documentary Two: The Devil Made Me Do It

Type of Documentary: Mixed•

Themes: • Murder• Crime• Punishment• Parental Responsibility

Narrative Structure Linear Structure, told the story of the crime and how it was solvedconcluded on an equilibrium, justice was given to girls whom committed crime'cliffhanger' as Marilyn is still out there, he snit arrested.Two narratives running side by side. A. After the incident B. Before/during the incident

CameraworkInterview - close ups or medium shot, talking head shot, kept to the rule of thirds. Most on eye level however, during Mansons interview, low angle was used, making him appear Powerful. Scenery shots - artisctic, long takes, slow editing to set the calm atmosphere the town was known for having before incident. During concert - POV shots, low angle of stage close ups of fans faces, reaction shots were used to present the real feel of the concert to the audience.

• Death• Music and its influence• Satanism

• Teenagers• Religion• Idols

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Mise-En-SceneWhen the documentary was focusing on the teenagers involved in the crime, often settings such as arcades and pubs were used. They were seen wearing all black whilst smoking anddrinking reflecting a negative image. When the documentary focused on the nun involved, settings included the church and graveyard reflecting the religious aspect. SoundDiegetic - songs being performed during concert clipsNon Diegetic - during the funeral of the nun, holy music played to reflect the religious views and add to the nuns innocenceheartbeat played during descirption of murder along side voice over during confession, to increase tension to darken the atmosphere to reflect horror of their crimeEditing Simple cuts, long cuts used with cut away shots such as when filming location of rome, contrasts to fast editing when Manson is on screen

Archive materialMusic video material from Manson news footage of day of incident, day of court case and during the investigation

Graphicsbasic

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Documentary Three: Rock and Roll Exposed - Picturing Punk

Type of Documentary: Self reflective

Themes: • Music in the early 80's • Rock and Roll• Photography• Iconography• Punk and Alternative life style

Narrative Structure Linear structure, charts the journey of photographer Bob Gruen and creates an 'ending' to story at end of documentary. Other perspectivesare fitted into the story such as Blondie, Alice Cooper and Billy Joelwhom all give their own opinions to add to the story Bob is telling.

CameraworkInterviews - Rule of thirds. Use of both mid long shot and medium close up, and a constant change between the two to break up the interview and add variety and emphasis. Shallow depth of field was also used in most interviews except Alice Cooper.

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Mise-En-SceneIn interviews scenes such as an empty club, a small bar and a music studio were used to interview people such as Bob, Blondie. For others such as a member of the Slash he was seen in his own home, with photos of the band in visible sight. The clothing worn reflected both the stories being told within and also reflected the person being interviewed. SoundNon Diegetic - synchronous music of bands being played. A mix of punk rock music, mostly from the Ramones and the Sex Pistols to associate with the bands being discussed. A lot of us of music bridges between scenes and photo transitions.

EditingCross dissolve between photos being displayed. Occasionally simple cuts were used but not often. Close up, slow motion pans and zooms of the photos being discussed to allow audience to really see the photo. Music levels changed to accommodate talking and give a manipulatory depth of image. Also the use of super impostition when a selection of photos were being displayed and not just one.

Archive materialPhotos of Bob Greun were used for majority. At the beginning there was footage from a Ramones music video and also live performance footage from some of the bands brought up in interviews.

GraphicsSimple ariel font, fit for purpose.

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Documentary Four: That Thing - Lara Croft

Type of Documentary: Mixed

Themes: • Video Games• Gender Sterotypes• Sexuality• Idolisation• Feminism

Narrative Structure Non linear/ closed narrative.

CameraworkInterviews - Kept to rule of thirds. Talking head shots ormid shots. Use of green screen in background During interview with the producer of Lara Croft, canted angle of computer screen to make it extra dynamic. During other scenes such as showing computer uses in a arcade, there were shots such as over the shoulder and POV to allow the audience to gather a real feel for playing the game

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Mise-En-SceneGreen screen footage of the game was playing in the background of nearly all interviews. When filming cut away shots scenes such as arcades and video game shops were used to reflect the theme of video gaming.

SoundDiegetic - game sound effects such as gun shots and thudswhilst the game being played was on screen, Lara's voice was sometimes heard also. Non diegetic - action music throughout most of the documentary to keep the theme upbeat and on going

EditingStraightforward cuts. Alot of fast editing to keep with quick pace of game to present the action and intensity of the game. Fast motion to reflect the content. Buffers to create a bridge between two scenes

Archive materialGame material from all games old to new, used through majority of documentary, either on its own, or displayed on green screen during interview. Movie footage from Lara Croft Tomb Raider film.Graphicsmagazine image on title sequence follows typical graphic conventions

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Documentary Five: Educating Yorkshire Episode 2

Type of Documentary: Mixed

Themes: • School • The Education System• Teenagers• Popularity• School cliques• Bullying

Narrative Structure Two linear narratives running side by side, they both begin at the same point, and end with different resolutions. They both begin with a fight at the start of the documentaryNarrative A - Follows student Georgia, as her behaviour drops, toward the end she receives the punishment she deserves.Narrative B - Follows student Jac, and how his anger grows worse due to tormenting he was recieiving, his anger management increases to the point where he punches a student like Narrative A, he also receives punishment he deserves.both narratives are resolved positively as its revealed both students go on to complete there GCSE's and continue their studies at college

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CameraworkInterviews - Kept to rule of thirds and talking head shot. Shallow focus was used so the face was only in focus. Cut away shots had a mix of angles from long shots to extremelylong shots. Occasional use of birds eye view in corridor and two shots to reflect the relationship between teachers and students and the idea of superiority. Close ups used to show students and teachers emotions and the occasional reaction shot to argument or announcement

Mise-En-SceneOn location of the school being documented. During interviews a whiteboard was used as prop to fill entire background, keeping the idea of the school as the main focus and fit to theme of documentary.School uniform, focused on neat and scruffy to show contrast between students. high key lighting in school main places filmed were headmasters office and isolation reflecting the idea of punishment and rebelliousness in the school and the importance of the education system

SoundDiegetic - discussions between students whilst teachers arent around but cameras are. Non Diegetic - ticking sounds in the beginning, building tension. Tense music used during arguments between students and teachers to reflect atmosphere. Calm music used during resolution of fights and students get punishment. Ends with positie music to reflect the happy resolution as students get to go to prom and students understand their in the wrong

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EditingStraightforward cuts.Fast editing at beginning of documentary to reflect busy school atmosphere at start of day. Long shots used during times when students are waiting to go into detention to build tension

Archive materialN/A

GraphicsN/A

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Documentary Six: Skin

Type of Documentary: Mixed

Themes: • Piercings• Tattoos• Individuality

Narrative Structure Linear - follows his story of his childhood being fascinated in piercings and tattoos to ending with the resolution that he has his own business In the tattoo/piercing industry

CameraworkInterviews - from low angle, made the tattoo artist appear powerful and strong, followed rule of thirds and changed from medium shot to close up 'talking head' shot. Other shots such as the begninning collection contained a mix of close ups and extreme close ups, focusing on tattoos and piercings to identify with the topic of the documentary and what he was discussing. Majority of camerawork was handheld.

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Mise-En-SceneDuring the interview, set in tattoo parlour with graffiti on the wall added to the 'punk' image being betrayed through the documentary. Low key lighting created quite a dark mysterious theme around the idea of tattoos. Other locations used were places such as other tattoo/piercing parlours.

SoundNon Diegetic - 'punk' rock music played throughout the documentary to link to the type of people they portrayed to be receiving the tattoos/piercings and kept the cool.

EditingStraightforward cuts. Slow motion during close ups of tattoos/piercings, as well as use of zoom/ tracking shots to allow audience to see full tattoo

Archive materialn/a

Graphicsn/a