media #1

  Magazines: Introduction to Representation 1) Write a definition of  representation   in media studies - how groups/events/people are presented in the media 2) Now look at the cover of Closer magazine above.  List   all different types of people and groups represented on the front cover. E.g. women, celebrities, race/ethnicity etc. -Mainly women, female celebrities are presented like Katie Price, Cheryl, with the exception of two men if the top corner of the magazine 3) What does the representation of  women  on this front cover suggest female audiences are mainly interested in? - The slogans/heading of the women are very informative of the celebrities. They create images on these women whether its negative or positive, most of the time negative. They are suggestions that female audiences love to read about gossip, people's personal information, celebrity quotes. 4) Are there any  stereotypes   you can identify? E.g. women and motherhood; celebrities etc. - The magazine does conta

  Intertextuality:  When one media text refers to or suggests another media text Semiotic codes:  The media language choices (‘signs’) that create connotations for the audience 1) Why is the advert set in the 1950s? What audience pleasure does this provide?  -  This creates a nostalgia for the audience, it's based in the 1900s 2) Which of Propp's character types are represented in the advert? (Note: just choose two or three character types that are definitely used in the advert - it does not use them all).  There is a Heroine- Audrey Hepburn There is a Hero- The  chauffeur 3) How does the advert's narrative (story) follow Todorov's theory of equilibrium? It starts off with everyone in the bus travelling in the Southern part of Italy. -  equilibrium Then that equilibrium is then disrupted because of the man in the stall, he was arguing with the bus driver because his stall was knocked over. Lastly the Chauffeur calls over Audrey and she enters his car and they drive into

  1) List the  t hree   most important magazine cover conventions in your opinion and explain  why  for each one. 2) Identify as many of the magazine cover conventions as you can and write a list of where they appear on this cover of Closer. As an extension, you could also write about the preferred reading for the convention - what the magazine is trying to communicate to the audience. 1) What does this GQ magazine cover suggest about masculinity in Britain - in other words, what does GQ suggest British men are interested in?  - GQ bases the topics on shoes, watches and football suggesting that stereo typically  the magazine is made for men.   2) Why do you think GQ chose David Beckham as the cover star for GQ?  - David Beckham is very well-known celebrity so this brings the audience's attention and it interests the audience. One of the parts talk about football and David Beckham was a British footballer. Also GQ is seen as a very 'masculine' magazine so they used David Bec

  1) What is independent cinema and how is it different to Hollywood blockbusters?  The style of ‘indie’ films is very different to Hollywood blockbusters, as the directors and producers have more creative input – it’s being made in their vision, not in the vision of studio bosses. 2) What is I, Daniel Blake about? Daniel Blake 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.  He crosses paths with a single mother Katie and her two young children. Katie’s only chance to escape a one roomed homeless hostel in London is to accept a flat some 300 miles away.  Daniel  stands up and fights for his dignity, leading a one-man crusade for compassion that will transform the lives Katie and her two children. It is a drama that has a strong political message about Britain in an age of government austerity 3) Who directed I, Daniel Blake and why is this important? Ken Loach directed 'I, Daniel Blake'. H

Narrative (storyline) Mise-en-Scene (CLAMPS) Editing (fast-paced, slow-paced, juxtaposition) Camera shots (& their effect) Sound (music, dialogue/voiceover, sound effects) Logo & slogan ‘Call to action’ – how audience can buy/support/take part Broadcast advertising - notes The internet may grab all the attention these days, but television advertising is still a significant media platform for advertisers to reach their target audiences. Broadcast advertising is a powerful and persuasive tool for reaching consumers. It allows producers to target specific individuals or groups who are likely to be watching certain channels at certain times (e.g families tend to watch ITV and other mainstream channels at 7pm on Saturdays). Television adverts also reach a wide audience.  To create an effective television advert, you must have a good script or concept and a strong offer or message.  Advertising campaigns Some adverts are produced in a series as a campaign. An advertising campaign is

Conglomerate Most major media companies are conglomerates that own a range of smaller companies (called subsidiaries). An example of this is Disney owning Marvel. Vertical integration Vertical integration is when one conglomerate owns different companies in the same chain of production. E.g Disney owns film studios, CGI specialists, film distributors and TV channels such as the Disney Channel. This gives Disney the chance to make money at every stage of production. Complete ownership = more profit. Horizontal integration Horizontal integration is when one company buys other companies at the same level of distribution. E.g Facebook acquired Instagram in 2012 (at a cost of $1 billion) so that they could cancel out the competition by making money from both. Horizontal integration allows companies to widen their audience and find other ways to make money. Synergy  Synergy is when a company creates a brand that can be used across different media products and platforms. E.g Disney makes movi

  Audience theory: key notes and terminology Passive & Active Passive: This is the view that audiences passively   take in information from the media and that these messages have the same effect on everyone. Active: This is the more modern and generally accepted view that audiences interact   with and make conscious choices regarding the media they consume. Hypodermic Needle Theory This is the suggestion that audiences are always passive   and therefore take the intended message from the producer as if it was injected into their minds. This assumes no individual difference in audience members.  Two-step flow theory This is the theory that consumers form their opinions based on opinion leaders like newspapers, politicians and, nowadays, celebrities. Uses and Gratifications - Blumler & Katz INFORMATION/SURVEILLANCE:  learning information that you did not already know or that is useful for living (e.g. documentaries; weather or traffic).  IDENTITY:  personally relating to somethin

Stuart Hall is a cultural theorist who looked at the relationship between the text and the audience. He suggested that meanings are fluid and open to interpretation depending on context and the consumer’s experiences as individuals as well as communities. Negotiated  reading: Somewhere between the preferred and op positional reading. The message is modified (partly accepted and partly rejected) depending on the individual experiences of the audience (e.g their age, gender or social class). 1) What is the preferred reading of a media text? The meaning the producers intend to communicate. This builds on the idea that producers can position the audience in a certain way and influence their reading so they accept the intended message by using recognised codes and conventions (such as stereotypes). 2) What is the op positional reading of a media text? The op positional reading goes against the meaning the producers are trying to create. The audience reject the intended message and construct

 OMO print advert 1) What year was the advert produced? - It was produced in 1955 2)  How were women represented in most adverts in the 1950s? - Women were mostly presented as housewives, they were shown to always be cleaning, cooking, washing etc. 3)  How does the heading message ('OMO makes whites bright') and typography promote the product? - This was a technique used to promote their products to customers, so more people would buy from them. The word "bright" to people indicates freshness, cleanliness etc. So people would go towards a brand that supposedly is making their clothes "brighter". 4)  Analyse the mise-en-scene in the advert (CLAMPS): how is costume, make-up and placement of the model used to suggest women's role in society? -The woman is dressed in a very old fashion ways, as this was normal in the 1950s. - She has red lipstick, which was common for producers to use on women in their adverts. Mainly to signal femininity in a woman and some