Representation is the way in which people, groups, cultures and ideas are shown or indeed reflected through media. Moreover, it is paramount to understand the fact that media, such as television or radio, can never be 'live'. For instance, a 'live' concert broadcast claiming to be 'live' doesn't give an impression of the gig's atmosphere in it's entirety. It is simply the production teams impression of the event, and it's important to differentiate between being there in the flesh, or just watching a 'reflection' of the truth.
Three Key Terms:-
Macro Analysis is a broad analysis and covers perceptions on a wider scale.
Micro Analysis is looking in more detail, and how it was created.
Mediation is the process where media institutions are the go between; they select and organise material for their audience.
Semiotics Glossary:-
Signifier: Any material thing that signifies.
Signified: The concept a signifier refers to.
So therefore:
Indexical Sign: Signs where the signifier is caused by the signified.
Symbolic Sign: The relation between sinfier and signified is purely conventional and culturally specific.
Iconic Sign: Signs where the signifier resembles the signified.
Binary Opposition:-
A concept developed by Strauss and Barthes whereby if you cannot experience the opposite of an emotion (eg. Sadness), you cannot feel the emotion itself.
Wednesday 19 September 2012
Sunday 16 September 2012
Slumdog Millionaire Binary Opposites...
I've analysed the trailer for Danny Olympic Ceremony Director Boyle's undisputed master piece Slumdog Millionaire, set in the slums of Mumbai, looking for Binary Opposites:
Here are my findings:-
1) Light - Darkness (The darkness back stage before the blinding light on stage)- Literal opposites OR (The darkness in Jamal's life before he see's the light and finds hope as he grows older)-Metaphorical opposites.
2) Wealthy - Poor (The poverty he grows up in as a child contrasted to the piles of money seen later)- Literal Opposites
3) Old - Young (The progression of youth to age we see in Jamal)-Literal opposites
4) Isolated - Amongst Crowds (The mysterious blue-painted child at 00:48)- This could be seen as a Metaphorical Opposite OR quite literally a physical opposite
5) Despair - Joy (The hardships of living within poverty are contrasted with the joy's of romance etc)- Metaphorical opposites.
6) Innocence - Experience (The childish youth of the boy juxtaposes the more mature man sat in the hotseat on the game show)- Metaphorical opposites
7) Luxury - Poverty (Living in the Mumbai slums is paralleled by the winning of the money)- Physical opposites
The Binary Opposites Theory suggests that one can only understand something by experiencing it's opposite. I think this is true for Jamal, the central character, who has to experience poverty and the hashness of life before discovering his money and fame...
1) Light - Darkness (The darkness back stage before the blinding light on stage)- Literal opposites OR (The darkness in Jamal's life before he see's the light and finds hope as he grows older)-Metaphorical opposites.
2) Wealthy - Poor (The poverty he grows up in as a child contrasted to the piles of money seen later)- Literal Opposites
3) Old - Young (The progression of youth to age we see in Jamal)-Literal opposites
4) Isolated - Amongst Crowds (The mysterious blue-painted child at 00:48)- This could be seen as a Metaphorical Opposite OR quite literally a physical opposite
5) Despair - Joy (The hardships of living within poverty are contrasted with the joy's of romance etc)- Metaphorical opposites.
6) Innocence - Experience (The childish youth of the boy juxtaposes the more mature man sat in the hotseat on the game show)- Metaphorical opposites
7) Luxury - Poverty (Living in the Mumbai slums is paralleled by the winning of the money)- Physical opposites
The Binary Opposites Theory suggests that one can only understand something by experiencing it's opposite. I think this is true for Jamal, the central character, who has to experience poverty and the hashness of life before discovering his money and fame...
A Trip Into The Depths Of Cinematic History...
The Hollywood studio system was set in motion in the 1930's. It consisted of the five renowned production giants, most of whom still exist today. They include:-
1) Warner Brothers
2) RKM
3) MGM
4) Paramount
5) 20th Century Fox
The industry was vertically integrated, meaning that studios had complete power of every aspect of the industry, including distribution as well as the running of theatres. In other words, it was an oligopoly, where studios controlled, quite literally, everything. As well as this, studios built up reputations for certain types of film, and actors could be tied down to lengthy contracts, thus ensuring that actors (see left) could become synonymous with a specific genre.
The Demise of the Studio System:-
However, despite the successes of these studios, it was to collapse due to the rising power of television, bring entertainment into the home itself. This meant that actors were now the main players; they could work freelance, unbound by studio contracts. In other words, it was the actors who now had the bargaining power.
Classic Narrative Structures:-
Unlike nowadays, genres were very much wholly static and rigid, following a very basic structure; lets use the example of a Western:
Genre Recognition:
Conventions for genres during this period-
-Iconography (the cowboy hats and the saloon bar)
-Plot (see above)
-Character (the addition of heroes, villains etc)
-Setting (Sweeping, dusty landscape)
- Music and Stars (John Wayne)
Summary:
Social, cultural, economic, political changes all affected the studio system and thus the development of genre.
1) Warner Brothers
2) RKM
3) MGM
4) Paramount
5) 20th Century Fox
 |
| John Wayne, Universally renowned Cowboy |
The Demise of the Studio System:-
However, despite the successes of these studios, it was to collapse due to the rising power of television, bring entertainment into the home itself. This meant that actors were now the main players; they could work freelance, unbound by studio contracts. In other words, it was the actors who now had the bargaining power.
Classic Narrative Structures:-
Unlike nowadays, genres were very much wholly static and rigid, following a very basic structure; lets use the example of a Western:
- Equilibrium: John Wayne takes a swig of whisky at the saloon on the Western frontier with his fellow cowboys, engrossed in a game of cards.
- Disruption: Clint Eastwood bursts through the swing doors, clasping a pistol, taking a damsel in distress hostage.
- Re- Equilibrium: John Wayne defeats Eastwood in a shootout and peace is restored.
Genre Recognition:
Conventions for genres during this period-
-Iconography (the cowboy hats and the saloon bar)
-Plot (see above)
-Character (the addition of heroes, villains etc)
-Setting (Sweeping, dusty landscape)
- Music and Stars (John Wayne)
Summary:
Social, cultural, economic, political changes all affected the studio system and thus the development of genre.
The Concept Of Genre:-
Genre is a set of conventions that define and categorise different forms of media, defined by a number of things such as the sources iconography, it's mise-en-scene, the actors, the representation of the piece as well as a familiar plot narrative. Genre allows audiences to identify with the film's they love, thus ensuring that cinema-goers have a preconceived notion of what the film will be like, therefore fulfilling the audiences expectations.
The Evolution Of Genre:-
It is important to note that genre is never static; constantly evolving, genre is determined by both audiences and the industry itself. Whilst the familiarity of the genre is reassuring, the lure of new and innovative twists keep audiences coming back for more.
Genre's use to movie-makers:-
Genre is often described as a creative strategy used by Hollywood executives to focus their films around a core target audience, and to ensure audience identification with a film, a means of determining what storyline we expect to see during the duration of a film. For instance, Comic-Con, a mass gathering of fan-boys and 'geeks' in the US is a prime example of how important genre can be and, indeed, shows how much a money-spinner genre is. It shows how fans of Sci-Fi and Superhero films can come together, united by a love of a specific genre, and shows how much audiences can become attached to genre's.
Genre's use to Cinema-goers:-
Genre almost sub-consciously comforts the audience, stereotyping and categorising the complexities of life. The predictabilities of genre are akin to a procedural drama, where the audience knows the gist of what is to happen, yet it's only really the content within that genre is what makes the film interesting and unique.It is important to remember that genre can never be too predictable; whilst the foundations of the genre can be laid down, it is only really the novelty of the film's concept that determines whether it will be a success at the box office or not.
An Example:-
As well as this, genre has now become the inevitable building blocks for franchises to appease audience members and to ensure consistent box office takings. Franchises in turn spawn multiple sequels, prequels and remakes. Lets put this into practice; 'A Nightmare on Elm Street' came under the sub-genre bracket of Horror-Slasher upon it's release in the 80's. It wasn't especially innovative because it followed the conventions of similar films within this genre; however, audiences engaged with the films novelty, it's fantasy element and it's iconic villain. It created eight sequels and a remake; this example serves the point of showing that genre can find and indeed exploit it's target audience. Genre can recycle concepts, sets, actors and guarantee a consistent level of success like New Line Cinema with their horror slasher films. Genre remains today because it can almost be foolproof; audiences connect with iconography, find comfort with narratives and yet they are intrigued by new additions, constantly pushing and evolving the audiences expectations for that genre.
A Couple Of Extra Terms:
Sub-Genre: A more niche style of film that still comes under the bracket of a more broader genre. For instance, 'Paranormal Activity' is most certainly a Horror, but it is more specifically known as a found-footage horror, to create the effect of the film looking as though it was in fact real.
Hybrids: On the surface of it, films often just come under one genre. For instance, what genre does 'Star Wars' come under? 'Sc-Fi' I hear you say. But no, not just that. Chewbacca provides comic relief so we could say its a 'comedy'. The relationship between Han Solo and Leia gives a 'Romance' element. The journey the central characters go on could be classed as an 'adventure'. And so you see films do not have to be bound by one central genre. They could be a mixture of many. And so we call them hybrids...
The Evolution Of Genre:-
It is important to note that genre is never static; constantly evolving, genre is determined by both audiences and the industry itself. Whilst the familiarity of the genre is reassuring, the lure of new and innovative twists keep audiences coming back for more.
Genre's use to movie-makers:-
Genre is often described as a creative strategy used by Hollywood executives to focus their films around a core target audience, and to ensure audience identification with a film, a means of determining what storyline we expect to see during the duration of a film. For instance, Comic-Con, a mass gathering of fan-boys and 'geeks' in the US is a prime example of how important genre can be and, indeed, shows how much a money-spinner genre is. It shows how fans of Sci-Fi and Superhero films can come together, united by a love of a specific genre, and shows how much audiences can become attached to genre's.
Genre's use to Cinema-goers:-
Genre almost sub-consciously comforts the audience, stereotyping and categorising the complexities of life. The predictabilities of genre are akin to a procedural drama, where the audience knows the gist of what is to happen, yet it's only really the content within that genre is what makes the film interesting and unique.It is important to remember that genre can never be too predictable; whilst the foundations of the genre can be laid down, it is only really the novelty of the film's concept that determines whether it will be a success at the box office or not.
 |
| Genres can create fanbases, and steady box-office takings |
An Example:-
As well as this, genre has now become the inevitable building blocks for franchises to appease audience members and to ensure consistent box office takings. Franchises in turn spawn multiple sequels, prequels and remakes. Lets put this into practice; 'A Nightmare on Elm Street' came under the sub-genre bracket of Horror-Slasher upon it's release in the 80's. It wasn't especially innovative because it followed the conventions of similar films within this genre; however, audiences engaged with the films novelty, it's fantasy element and it's iconic villain. It created eight sequels and a remake; this example serves the point of showing that genre can find and indeed exploit it's target audience. Genre can recycle concepts, sets, actors and guarantee a consistent level of success like New Line Cinema with their horror slasher films. Genre remains today because it can almost be foolproof; audiences connect with iconography, find comfort with narratives and yet they are intrigued by new additions, constantly pushing and evolving the audiences expectations for that genre.
A Couple Of Extra Terms:
Sub-Genre: A more niche style of film that still comes under the bracket of a more broader genre. For instance, 'Paranormal Activity' is most certainly a Horror, but it is more specifically known as a found-footage horror, to create the effect of the film looking as though it was in fact real.
| Sci Fi? Thriller? Romance? All of the Above? |
Wednesday 12 September 2012
Media Studies Main Task:-
Main task: The titles and opening of a new fiction film, to last a maximum of two minutes. All video and audio material must be original, produced by the candidate(s), with the exception of music or audio effects from a copyright-free source.
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