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Showing posts from October, 2017

Key assessment 1

Short answer questions Name three of Barthes's semiotic codes [1] Hermetic. Proairetic. Symbolic. Briefly  define 'modes of address' [1] The way the text communicates with an audience.  Briefly  define 'lexis' [1] text of media product  Which  two  theoretical perspectives have we studied that can be 'credited' to Stuart Hall? [2] Oppositional reading. Dominant reading. Media language How can media language communicate multiple meanings? Make reference to at least two of the following; the  Tide  print advertisement (1950's), the  WaterAid  audiovisual advertisement (2016) and the  Kiss of the Vampire  (1963) film poster. In this essay, I am going to explore the way media language communicates multiple meanings, using multiple adverts to make my point. I also going to consider how genre conventions create meaning as well as how the audience respond to media language and consider how media language incorporates different viewpoints and ideo
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Hegemony The money super market advert It goes agains the norms of society in terms of sexuality due to the men dressing up like women (in heels and hot pants). Theres a binary opposition between the mans top half of his outfit (a smart suit) and the bottom half of his outfit (the shorts and heels and the hairless legs, often associated with females). The adidas shoes advert The model " Arvida Byström" has hairy legs which goes against the norms of sexuality seeing as women are expected to have hairless legs. This woman didn't shave her legs therefore she got rape and death threats from men. Men threatened to rape her because they feel their manliness is threatened due to her hairy legs and feel like rape will allow them to regain their power.  (Key theory 17) Stuart Hall- Reception Different r eactions to water aid advert: Uplifting. Positive. Don't care. Feeling happy for the Zambian villagers. Annoyed because it only shows one place and the

Exam structure

Exam structure 1) Underline key terms 2) Plan 3) Introduction 4) Paragraphs 5) Conclusion Definitions- key terms. Context- background of advert. Argument- (need to have a point of view for high marks). Structure the introduction. Use P.E.E  Use media language (use textual analysis tool kit ). Conclusion sums up everything mentioned in the essay (only has to be a couple of lines). Spend around 45 minutes on the essay.

Audience and media effects

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Audience and media effects (Key theory 15) Albert Bandura- Media effects What happens if you watch too much TV/ YouTube/ play too many video games? Can make people anti social, lazy, change their personalities and become unhappy however, it could allow people to accept bias ideologies and expand their imagination. If people play too many video games, they might think that everything in this wold is a game and nothing should be taken seriously. The hypodermic needle model: It shows that the producers are brainwashing the audience. Mass media is media which can be spread to mass audiences quickly and easily (e.g: TV). Advantages of mass media: It can get important messages across quickly. Disadvantages of mass media: It can be used in the wrong ways (to create unnecessary panic and fear). It can send false messages to the audience, which will spread around to people quickly and they will end up receiving the wrong information. It is easier for a serial killer to bl

Key theories

Key  Theories (Key theory 2) Narrative and representation (Tzvetan Todorov) Theory of narrative  equilibrium :                           a state of balance   1) He believed narratives start with a state of balance  (Establishment of equilibrium). 2) Then the narrative becomes unbalanced around the middle or beginning  (disequilibrium). 3) Finally, at the end of the narrative, there is a  partial restoration of equilibrium  (things almost go back to normal but not exactly the same as at the beginning). Narrative of Todorov, moves from one state of equilibrium to another. (Key theory 3) Steve Neale: Theories around genre He believes that genre is essentially instances of "repetition and difference." He suggests that texts need to conform to some generic paradigms to be identified within a certain genre- but must also subvert there conventions in order to not feel identical. (Key theory 4)  Claude Levi- structuralism  Binary opposition: Where two co

Introduction to audience

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Component 1- Sections A and B Component 1, section A: Analysing media language and representation (Very broad anything can come up). Component 1, section B: Analysing media industries and audiences.

Modern horror movie poster analysis

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"Sinister" movie poster The woman is this poster is represented differently from women in 1960's movie posters. This is because she is isn't shown as vulnerable or a "damsel in distress. " She is fully clothed, wearing night clothes. If this was a movie poster in the 1960's then her outfit would be considered sexual, however, this is a more recent movie poster and an outfit like this could make the audience believe that she is institutionalised. Night outfits like these are often worn by people in a mental hospital. So this could make us think that she is crazy.  The blood on the wall is part of a hermeneutic code because it makes the audience wonder who the blood belongs to, if the woman on the poster has killed anyone or if she is just a victim.  The colour red for the blood symbolises death but also romance. There is a mans face in the blood. This could make the audience wonder if he is romantically connected to the woman, or if he is

Narrative

Narrative-  Relates to plot/ story but is about the way a story is told. Narrator-   The person who tells the story. (Key theory 2) Narrative and representation (Tzvetan Todorov) Theory of narrative equilibrium :                         a state of balance 1) He believed narratives start with a state of balance (Establishment of equilibrium). 2) Then the narrative becomes unbalanced around the middle or beginning (disequilibrium). 3) Finally, at the end of the narrative, there is a partial restoration of equilibrium (things almost go back to normal but not exactly the same as at the beginning). Narrative of Todorov, moves from one state of equilibrium to another. Types of narrative Multi strand narrative: follows many isolated  narratives. Single strand narrative: follows one narrative. Non linear narrative: Non chronological narrative (order goes backwards and forwards). Linear narrative: Narrative goes in a particular order (its chronological).

Comparing Advertisement Genres

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 Gucci Advert This advert has a lot of dark colors, which make it look glamorous and classy. The model in the poster is good looking which could appeal to heterosexual men or homosexual women but it can also attract the audience to the product, making them believe that if they buy this bag, then they can look as good as the model.  The model is dressed in black, this could be to draw attention to the bag, which is a brighter color than everything else in the picture.  There isn't a lot of text in the poster only the word"Gucci" in big white letters. The lack of text adds classiness but also makes us want to know more about the brand. They do this to create mystery and makes the audience wonder what will happen next (hermeneutic code). "We save the children" advert Unlike the Gucci advert, this one has a lot of text. This could be used to show the audience that this advert is important and they should take the time to read it. The first line is the

Case study- "Kiss of the vampire" movie poster

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"Kiss of the vampire" movie poster The style of font and picture quality shows us that this movie poster is old.  It might have romantic relationships because of the two women and two men. The women are wearing night dresses (which isn't considered decent in the 1960's), this could appeal to heterosexual males because it could give them pleasure. The poster seems to show dominance in one of the male characters, this could mean that men are the target audience because they would enjoy watching something that represented them as strong and powerful.  The word "kiss",  is sinister due to everyone knowing that if a vampire tries to kiss someone then it probably means they want to bite them.  The word "kiss" also has connotations with love meaning there could be some romance in the movies however, because it is a vampire movie, it could show abusive relationships not "normal" ones. This poster clearly isn't from thi

Learning Conversation

Learning Conversation  What do you think has gone particularly well so far this year? What are your strengths?  I am able to analyse media in detail using the terms that we learnt in class. What is stopping you from achieving your goals? What threats might you face? Pressure from other subjects and stress. Identify 3 specific targets for yourself for the rest of this year. They can be both academic and organisational goals. 1) Try to be in every lesson. 2)Always get work done before deadlines. Revise everything that has been learnt in every lesson. 3)Watch more tv/movies. What grade do you want to achieve in media studies?           A-A* grade. Do you have any suggestions about the course? I would like to do more practical things like film making.

Genre and Intertextuality

Genre and intertextuality Genre- A type of media product, governed by implicit rules that are shared by the makers of the product and the audience for it. Music genres: Pop, Rock, Western/ Country, Punk, Punk-rock, Classical, K-pop, Hip-hop,R&B, Screamo, Alternative, Indie, Alternative pop, Alternative rock, Alternative hip-hop, grime, heavy metal. Hybrid Genres and Subgenres "Traditional" genres are both less import and less useful as a frame of reference. Hybrid genre:  A genre that combines two or more genres (E.g: Pop rock). Sub-genre:    A genre within a genre (E.g: Slasher and zombie films, sub-genres of horror). Generic paradigms, also known as genre conventions, are aspects of a media text, (for example editing, mise-en-scene, sound etc) that demonstrate to the audience what genre  media product is. Iconography: The familiar signs of genre. Utopia trailer Genre: A hybrid genre of comedy, action, crime/mystery and horror. Hermeneu