Media Studies Revision

Media Key Concept GRANITE Every media text belongs to a Genre (e.g. a horror film, dance

track, teen magazine) Within that text, a person, place or object is

being Represented in some way, shape or form. The Audience for that media text will make sense of it using

their personal and shared experiences. The text also contains a Narrative, be it a photograph of war

or some bad gangsta lyrics about pimping your uncle The text is constructed by the Ideology embedded within the

text. It was produced using some Technology, be it a Desk Top

Publishing software or hardware The Evidence is the product itself which you can then

reference against other Experiences you've had with similar Media

Genre Genres are defined by filmmakers and understood by audiences

through shared conventions and codes. Genre which is easily identified by audiences who have expectations about what a particular film are called generic codes and conventions. But films are also a good at illustrating how genres can evolve into hybrids.Generic Feature

ExplanationLink to other Key

Concepts

CharacterisationA character who is presented in a media text we sometimes call them stereotypes, it can refer to stars/actors who play a particular type of role, personal qualities of main characters

Representation and Narrative

Setting (Diegesis)

The geographical (place) and historical (context) of the text might help identify genre.

Representation (cultural ref)

ExpectationsAudiences will have an understanding of similar/comparable texts to help identify the genre.  Previous knowledge of the genre also allows audiences to predict narrative patterns. 

Audience

StoryOften predictable plot lines and narrative structures allow us to identify genre. 

Narrative

ThemesThe way in which ideas are explored, ideology is presented and subject matter dealt with.  Different genres will deal with these in different ways.

 Narrative

 Mise-en-scene (iconography)

 A range of props/stock images and symbols which have fixed connotations with a certain type of genre (Western - desert, hats, guns.)

 Media Language

Production techniques

 Creative use of camera techniques, lighting and sound. Can also be linked to editing and use of colour.

 Media Language

Representation

This is when an idea is re-presented by the media texts

Despite the media being false or true, we still accept it

Common factors that represent media: Age, Ethnicity, Gender,& Disability

We need to think about: Who produced it? What/who is represented in the text? How is that thing represented? Why was this particular representation selected? What might the alternatives have been? What frame of reference does the audience use

when understanding the representation?

Audience People who consume any media text Without audience there will be no media, no profit

Mass audience (broadcast audience): Mainstream, large group

Niche audience: smaller but influential with unique interest

Categories: Group A: Well paid professionals, doctors, lawyers Group B: Fairly well paid professionals, teacher Group C1: ‘white collar’ nurses, junior jobs Group C2: ‘blue collar’ electricians ,plumbers Group D: manual workers, drivers, post sorters Group E: students, unemployed, pensioners

Narrative Essentially, narrative is examining the story and

organisation of a media text. A story that is created in a constructed format, that

describes a series of fictional or non-fictional events

Gender Character Form Time

Joseph Campbell had a theory called The Hero’s Journey. Which has three acts

Departure Initiation Return

Ideology Dominant Ideology refers to the set of values,

beliefs and ideas held by an Institution, organisation or audience

Hegemony fits in with the beliefs to ‘fit in’ & keep their objections quiet

Examples: Power Education Gender Sexuality Racism Feminism Nationality Ownership Stereotypes Identity Youth & politics Crime

Institution Creates & distributes media products Logos: to establish what they are Brand: Symbolises what it is Conglomerates: a company that owns other

large company's ASA: Advertising Standard Agency which make

sure all ads are legal, decent honest & truthful Regulation: monitors ads, protects people from

inappropriateness & unsuitable ads. Censorship: where media text cause harmful/

sensitive to the audience Its more about the Institutions care about

branding and recognition rather than audience pleasures and satisfactions.

Technology Technology has changed the way that

we consume traditional media products and it is worth examining for ideas and inspiration. 

TV is now being produced in HD and films are experimenting with new technologies all the time, driving industries forward. 

Audiences also drive demand for new technologies, and this illustrates the reliance upon audience and producer co-working together to satisfy demands.

The olden Titanic is now being released in 3D!

Audio Codes Sound Diegetic Non-Diegetic

Diegetic Sound – sound that can be heard by the characters within a scene

Non-diegetic Sound – sound that the characters cannot hear and is not part of the imaginary world of the story

Score – The musical component of a programme’s soundtrack

Sound Effects – sounds that are added to a film during the post-production stage.

Sound

Technical Codes Camera Angles Lighting Editing

Editing: sound and images are organised into an overall narrative Continuity Editing: create a sense of reality and time moving forward Jump Cut: cut between two similar shots Credits: the information at the beginning and end of a film, which gives details

of cast and crew Cross Cutting: the editing technique of altering one narrative with another

usually in different locations or places Cutaways: a shot that interrupts a scene & goes back Freeze Frame: stopping a film in order to focus in on one event Eye-line Match: shot of what the character has been looking at Flashback: an event that happened earlier in the film’s narrative. Graphic Match: two different objects of the same shape are dissolved from one

into the other Juxtaposition: the placement of images on either side of an edit Linear Narrative: a style of storytelling in which events happen

chronologically. Montage Editing: the juxtaposition of seemingly unconnected images in order

to create meaning. Parallel Editing: two locations are cut together Visual Effects: alter previously-filmed elements by adding, removing or

enhancing objects Match on Action: A shot that emphasises continuity of space and time by

matching the action of the preceding shot with the continuation of the action

Editing

Other Terms Artificial Light: A source of light created by lighting

equipment, rather than from natural sources Convention: a frequently used element which becomes

standard Disequilibrium: the period of instability and insecurity in

a film’s narrative Enigma: the question or mystery that is posed within a

film’s narrative. Equilibrium: a state of peace and calm, which often

exists at the beginning of a film’s narrative Framing: the selection of elements such as characters,

setting and iconography that appear within a shot Genre: a film identification Iconography: the objects within a film that are used to

evoke particular meanings Intertextuality: reference within a film to another film,

media product, work of literature or piece of artwork

Camera Shot

Ariel Shot: shot taken from an overhead position Close Up: object is shown on a large scale Extreme Close Up: frame the scale very large, to

show part of body Medium Shot: scale of object is in moderate size,

waist up Two Shot: shot of 2 characters, usually to

establish a sort of relationship POV Shot: camera placed in the characters eyes Over the Shoulder Shot: looking behind a

characters shoulder Overhead Shot: over the head shot Reaction Shot: a shot that cuts away from main

scene to show the reaction

Camera Angles Camera Angle: position of the camera High Angle: looking down Low Angle: looking up Canted Framing: frame is not levelled,

appearing tipped

Camera Movement

Pan: movement of the camera from left to right vice versa on a tripod, produces space horizontally

Track: camera follows the object

Crane Shot: moving through the air in any direction on a crane

Steadicam: smooth shot, when camera is moved very fast

Tilt: camera movement by swivelling upward or downward, Producing space vertically

Zoom lens: lens that change during a shot

Visual Codes Mise-En-Scene Colour Connotations

Denotation/Connotation

Denotation refers to the literal meaning of a word, the "dictionary definition.“

For example, if you look up the word snake in a dictionary, you will discover that it means "any of numerous scaly, legless, sometimes venomous." Connotation, on the other hand, refers to

the associations or the emotional suggestions related to that word.

The connotations for the word snake could include evil or danger.

Mise en scene: put into the frame

Props: object used

Costume: colour & style can have an impact on the character

Lighting: the harshness or softness represents the mood

Makeup: this can refer to masks, prosthetics and special effects.

Mise-En-Scene

Colour Psychology Black Authority, power & overpowering Makes people appear thinner & stylish Black also implies submission & Evil

White Innocence, purity, light, summer & neutral Doctors and nurses wear white to imply

sterility

Red Emotionally intense colour, love, noticeable, Red cars are popular targets for thieves Furniture gets attention

Pink Romantic & girly

Blue Popular & loyalty Opposite reaction as red. Peaceful, calm &productive Cold &depressing. Good in gyms

Green Improve vision Nature, calming, refreshing Dark green is masculine,

conservative, and implies wealth Could bring bad luck for fashion

Yellow Cheerful, attention, optimistic Overpowering if overused Concentration, metabolism

Purple Royalty, luxury, wealth &

sophistication Feminine & romantic Appear artificial

Brown Solid, reliable ,earth Light brown implies genuineness dark brown wood or leather. Sad, wistful

Audience Theory The Hypodermic Needle Model: From the 1920s this theory explained how the

mass audience react to mass media. Suggesting that the audience receive information without attempting to challenge the data. Governments have found ways to persuade audience and produced propaganda to try & change the way people think

The Two Step Flow: In 1940 it was suggested that the reaction from the media comes from an ‘Opinion Leader’ and then onto the individual following that leader.

The Use & Gratification has been developed where in 1948 Lasswell suggested Surveillance, Correlation, Entertainment & Cultural transmission where the functions for an individual reacting towards media. Where Blumler & Katz expanded this theory in 1974 stating that the audience may use these the purpose:

Diversion: escape from everyday routine/problem Personal Relationships: emotional use/ subbing a character for yourself Personal Identity: reflecting yourself/ learning behaviours & values Surveillance: information that could be useful Reception Theory: The audiences circumstance (gender, class, age, ethnicity),

When text is encoded by the producer & decoded by the reader , where Stuart Hall had a theory of 3 where:

Dominant: audience agree with the values Negotiated: Audience agree with the values but disagree with certain aspects Oppositional: audience disagree with the values

Genres in films Action: high energy, big-budget physical stunts & chase,

rescues, battles, escapes, destruction, rhythm & paceSub-Genre: Disaster film e.g. Space Alien Invaders Attack Los Angeles: Battle Los Angeles 2011 Adventure: exciting, historical searches, expeditions,

lost continents Comedies: light hearted, amuse, exaggerated Crime: criminals, bank robbers, underworld, law Dramas: serious, plot, realistic, life stories Epics: historical, imagined event, mythic, legendary Horror: frighten, worst fears. Supernatural & fantasy Musicals: song & dance routines Sci-Fi: imaginative, heroes, aliens, planets, futuristic War: heartbreak of war, fight on land or sea

Has many Subs Westerns: American film industry, recognisable plot

Fonts

Institution & Audience Issues are raised by media ownerships Importance in media goes across production,

distribution & marketing Technologies have been introduced at the level

of production, distribution, marketing & exchange

The audience are changing Translations: old practises are kept intact Localization: take advantage of the

technology, making things more efficient

Film Industry