Media Lang

Question 1 (b)

“Discuss how you used Media Languages in one of your coursework productions to create meaning for the audience”

For my A2 coursework production, I was in a group of 3 and we made a music video in the genre of ‘alternative’ genre. For example, Woodkid, Nirvana and Red hot chilli peppers. For my AS coursework production, I worked in a group of 2 and made an opening sequence of a film in the genre of “Coming of Age”. For example, Angus Thongs and Perfect Snogging, and The Vowl. 

To create out Music Video, we had to plan and research typical elements which the genre of “alternative” music video includes. This may be the mies-en-scene, the camera movement and lighting. I have watched 3 music videos in the genre of alternative and we had included what I had witnessed in the music video. This will allow our music video to be more believable that it is in the genre of alternative. So the first music video I have watched was “Iron” from a band called Woodkid. This is because Iron is the song we used in our Music Video. The Music video is edited in black and white, this makes the video footage more vintage, so to match their editing, we have done the same in our music video, and edited the footage in black and white. This editing or using the black and white filter is also used in Red Hot Chilli Peppers - Give it Away music video and Woodkid Run Boy Run, so the filter was a must in our music video. Also, in the music video, “iron” it included shots of animals such as dogs, owls and horses, again to include something similar in to our music video, we decided to burn a pigs head and include the footage where appropriate. The method of including an animal in your music video, reflects the genre of alternative as they’re usually odd and it is very rare to find close up shots of a pigs head burning in other professional music videos. Final things that we have included in our music video, inspired from the Iron music video is the editing. Matching to the beat of the drums, there will be a cut, which creates a fast pace feeling. Audiences who has watched the Iron music video will not the 3 things we have included taken from the Iron Music video because they will notice the black and white editing that we made in our music video, and the uses of animals and also how we have made cuts to each drum beats. 

Also, the music video is set in a location of a forest which is a very odd choice, this shows that the music video is not ordinary pop music videos or rap music videos because usually, in pop music videos such as Katy Perry’s her music video includes very colourful backgrounds and pretty objects. In a rap music video, it is like that you will se rappers its gold chains and holding money. However, in our music video, there are cults wearing a black cape, in the woods, a pigs head burning and the main guy looking “lost” which the audience will understand, it is weird and only audience who enjoys alternative music will understand why we have included certain things that are not in other types of genre. 

Our Music Video goes against the Goodwin’s quote “Music Videos ignore common narrative as they are essentially advertisements” because our music video is made narratively, where a group of cults are commanded to find the main guy to join their group and you can see throughout the music video, the cults are trying to find this main guy and when they finally do, he is welcomed to their group and joins. 

To create our film, I have watched 3 films to understand typical connotations made in Coming of Age genre films. In the film Angus Thongs and Perfect Snogging, it is film about a boy and a girl getting together, and when they finally do, it includes scenes of the couple holding hands, going on dates and doing things couples usually does to express their love. These scenes are shown in our film during the flash backs. Also as the characters are teenagers/young adults, it meets the genre of coming of age films. Our film also uses the same shot as shown in Angus Thongs and Perfect Snogging, for example, when the couple are holding their hands, their arm overlaps the camera, this is done exactly the same in our film. This helps the audience to understand that it is coming of age film as it includes teenage characters and couplely behaviour.

Analyse the ways in which the media represent groups of people.

There is numerous of ways in which the media represent groups of people. It can be through TV programmes, Films, and the News/Magazines. It portrays certain category in a specific way which can cause an affect on the society and sometimes separation. 

Focusing on young adults and teenagers, during the 1960s’, when the Mods and the Rockers fought on Brighton Beach, the Daily Mirror’s head line was ‘Wild Ones’ indicating that all teenagers were wild and violent. There is a possibility that adult readers will now try to avoid teenagers and think that all teenagers are dangerous. This is cause a separation between the youth and the adults and form an identity for the youths that we are dangerous, violent, rude and have no manners. A film called Quadrophenia supports the stereotype of youths being malicious as there are scenes of teenagers being involved in gang crimes, and also drinking, smoking and having sex. Again, adult watchers of the film will then think that all youths are careless and hardly thinks of consequences due to their actions through the hypodermic needle, which causes a moral panic and a further separation and judgement from the adults to the teenagers. However it can be argued that the separation is not only caused by teen behaviour. It can be argues that because teen has seen the adults reacting this way and not think that the tabloids can be over-exggarating to sell their papers and that films are only storylines, and that they believe the stereotypes, the teen will try to avoid any contact with adults as being afraid of being judged and not having any faith. The two examples of how media has portrayed teens in the 60’s goes against the historical representation of youths, as in the 60’s, teen boys were commonly known for being polite, gentlemanly, helpful and well-mannered, and teen girls were commonly known as respectful, kind, caring and obedient. There are films such as …… and …… which supports the historical stereotypes of teens in a positive way as there are scenes where …………………., yet, when adults sees whats on the news and films like quadrophenia, they forget all about the positives due to the hypodermic needle and cultivation theory. 

The hypodermic needle is an idea that the mass media injects thoughts, values and beliefs into the audience. This influences and change their opinions on what they have been injected. This means your opinions of teens may have changed to a negative after reading the article of mods and rockers on the Daily Mirror newspaper, and assume that all teenagers are uncalimg. It is argued that the media is controlling and powerful. This theory came form a media theorist who discovered the theory during world war 1 and how they have used propaganda. 

The cultivation theory was developed by George Gerbner. The theory argues that television has gradual long-term effects but they are small and over time. So if you have seen a teen helping and elderly but watch Quadrophenia, although there are teens who are kind, you will have a negative thought about teens under the influence of media. Also another argument is that if have read the article about the mods and rockers then a day after you have watched Quodrophenia, your negative opinions about teenagers may become stronger and want to avoid them even further. 

The media still represent groups of people in different ways possible, today.

However, due to the build up of representations of teens, representation of teenagers has changed gradually. The contemporary representation is now anti-social, rude, disrespectful and lazy.

The media uses TV programmes and Films which supports this stereotypes. Through out TV programmes such as “Skins” and films such as “Attack The Block”, teenagers are still being portrayed as doing drugs, getting drunk, parties, against school, and are involved in gangs and crime. For example, on the TV programme; “Skins”, there are scenes which includes teenagers doing drugs and partying, which supports the contemporary stereotype. Adult viewers will watch the scenes and assume all teenagers do this in their spare time. However, in Skins there are scenes where the teen attends to their lessons and achieve good grades which goes against their typical stereotypes, however the adults will forget about that and only remember the negatives. Again, this is done under the influence of the hypodermic needle.

Then, in the film “attack the block”, you can see a separation which has been created in the first 30 minutes when a women is walking her self home, she sees the group of teen boys looking at her and immediately crosses to avoid them. This shows that adults are afraid of teens and adults who watched the scene, will think that they must do that as well to be safer. Even though the group leader saves the world from monsters. 

I feel that because of the way media has portrayed teenagers, it has changed them. When new technologies like the television came out, there was only a separation between the adults and the teens, however I feel today, there is a separation between teenagers also, under the influence of media. This my be because of different interests and how we identify ourselves, however teenagers are scared of each other. Some teenagers says they would avoid other teenagers wearing tracksuits with caps because on films like “attack the block”, they carried weapons such as knives and immediately will rob you. It has also shown in a documentary called ……. when a reporter asks few teens how many percentage of crimes are commented by teens, it was a high percentage which says a lot as they are teenagers themselevs. 

Although media does try and embrace teen’s bravery from articles such as “Man thanks heroic teenagjrwho saved his fiancés’ life after dragging her from burning house” - Watford Observer, it does not get out there more than it should. Also the media uses the advantages of negative stereotypes of teens as they know negative stories will profit better. 

Overall, I feel that media creates the separation between adults and teenagers and instead of enjoying the TV programmes and films, it ends up affective for the society which bring us far apart. 

Sirs' Question

An identity is defined as "identity is the conception, qualities, beliefs, and expressions that make a person (self-identity) or group (such as national identity and cultural identity) different from others" on Wikipedia, we can argue what identity means and how is it created for the individuals. 

According to David Gauntlett, for modern society “Having an identity is a known requirement”. One of the ways we can create identity is through the media. People has always created their identity through media as being fans of a band or a YouTuber. Gauntlett agrees that media has a role to play in this process of creating an identity. 

Identity can be created by our selves or imposed by outsiders.  For example, identity can be created by ourselves on the internet by posting various things such as images or videos that help towards creating a certain identity. For example, if you define yourself as being healthy and fit, you may post images or fitness videos created by yourself so others who will witness these posts will see you as a healthy, well-being person. How healthy and fit you want to portrait yourself is up to how much of posts you create. This can be shown via YouTube videos and regular updated blogs.

Also identity can be imposed by the outsiders through media, such as newspapers, if they print off an article about teenagers being anti-social, this creates an identity for all teenagers, as being anti-social and a negative stereotype. This has occurred millions of times, for example, during the 60's, when the Mods and the Rockers had fought on the coast of Brighton Beach, the Daily Mirror titled the event as "Wild Ones 'Beat Up' Margate". This heading creates an identity for the men involved as "Wild Ones".

Another example can be an article which was titled "Teenagers caught with large hunting knives and drugs" by Manchester Evening News. Which creates an identity for teen being violent and most do drugs.

Another way how you can create an identity through media text is when you are making an account for a social app. For example, when you are creating an account with Instagram, you have to have your own username, pass word and also a profile picture. Now, you have the choice of what kind of username to create. Given as an example, if you are vegan and have an interest in animal equality, you may create your username as being "AnnaTheVeganGirl" which will create an identity as you being "vegan", because it is in your user name. Also, what you post through this account will have similarites, linked with your username, so may posts vegan food and spending time with animal. 

Thomas De Zengotita says that almost everything we experience or learn in via the media in some way. For example, with the film "Attack the Block" I have watched recently, the film includes teenage boys who all lives in a council estate and fights off aliens. Throughout the film, we see a women who is firigtened by the boys behaviour as at first, she was a victim of being robbed by the boys. The boys use "slang" language such as "innit" and "doe" instead of though which we all experince every know and then. However, we later discover that the boys are not as how they seem, they become heroic characters.

Essay

copy and paste the essay you've done from my laptop

Research and Planning Exam

Explain how your research and planning skills developed over time and contributed to your media production outcomes. Refer to a range of examples in tour answer

For my AS production I worked in a group of 2 to make the opening of a film in the genre of 'Coming of Age' where as for my A2 coursework piece I am working in a group of 3 to make a music video for a band/artist in the genre of 'Alternative' music. 

After experiencing the chaos of making a film without enough research and planning last year, this year top make sure I am 100% committed and know what is exactly going to happen, my group and I made group chats and spoke honestly and updated each other with new ideas and changes. This includes if one was absent in a practical lesson, we will tell each other if any thing was discussed. 

For both productions I analysed existing texts to understand the key codes and conventions of the genres involved. I feel I have improved over the last two years in a number of ways regarding this aspect of research.  (which texts did you analyse last year? 2 films - say what they are - and a tv show opening sequence for how to do the titles)  How many?  What did you analyse them for?  Have you analysed more this year?  How did you analyse them this year?  How has this made you better?)

Last year, I have analysed media texts which were:

2 films - 'Angus Thongs and Perfect Snogging" and "The Vow" and TV shows for the opening sequence, - The Wendy Williams Show, The Ellen Show and The Norton Graham Show. 
I have researched the TV shows to expand my knowldge of props and costume it uses in the actual shows to make our TV show, The Nicole Show look more realistic. 
The 2 films were used to analyse their filming shots and editing to express the couples love they have for each other and looking closely on their relationship. Also, for mies-en-scene, mostly focusing on props and costume, that they had wore or carried which represented that they were in a relationship. 

This year, I have researched 10 music videos. 2 to analyse location/setting, from this research I have noticed that usually in a music video, they all have more than 3 location/settings they've filmed in. (e.g. Tori Kelly - Should've of been us (8), Traphik ft Tori Kelly - MAGNETIC (6), 3 to analyse how many costume changes a music video roughly has (Lady Gaga - Bad Romance (15),  Lady Gaga - Paparazzi (9), Beyonce - 7/11 (8), 2 to analyse camera shots and angles Woodkid - Iron had 21 close up shots, 25 mid shots, 11 long shots, 10 extreme close ups, 12 zoom in shots, 2 zoom out shots, 2 wide shots, 8 full lenth body shots, 2 tilt shots, 2 low angle shots. 
Another music video I have watched to analyse camera shots and angle is from the same artist Woodkid - Run Boy Run. In this music video, it had 20 close up shots, 27 mid shots, 23 long shots, 2 extreme close up shots, 3 zoom in shots, 1 zoom out shot, 4 wide shots, 10 pan shots, 5 tilt shots, 4 low angle shots and 1 high angle shot.
Finally, I have watched 3 music videos to analyse editing. Of Monsters and Men - Little talks had 22 cuts, 4 fades and 2 wipes. Gotye - Somebody that I used to know had 50 cuts and Lana Del Rey - Born To Die had 70 cuts and 5 fades.
This has made me better because I'm much more focused when I do research, Im not looking just for storylines, I am looking into fitted genre. 

For one example with my storyboard,  I  have tried to be more creative and stand out. I have improved by instead of creating a storyboard just hand down on a paper template like I have done last year, this year it has been decided to make a animatic storyboard so we know which shot is meant to be in the timing of the music so it will flow perfectly in time. 

Secondly, I have been more in depth in researching the shot sizes and when different shot sizes has been used to express different atmosphere and how they can be affective, in music videos and especially in films. 

Last year, to investigate the shot sizes, I had only watched 2 films, which were "Angus Thongs and Perfect Snogging" and "The Vow". The 2 films includes different characters and there was an age difference, which will affect how our film will turn out because our film that we have made is being concentrated with teenage characters. However, by watching the 2 films, I learnt that they use extreme close up on their faces when shown emotion after scripted something sweet or if the two characters share a loving body language, which we have used in our film when Melodie and Harry were holding hands and also a zoom when they share a kiss. For my A2 Music Video, I have researched 10 music videos. Therefore, I have gained a far greater knowledge of codes and conventions of my chosen genre which is alternative. By analysing and researching the 10 music videos, I have done a lyric analysis where I learnt about the theorist Andrew Goodwin where for example, in the music video of Bruno Mars - Beautiful Girls, where the lyrics sings "beautiful girls" there are many differenct background attractive women surrounding Bruno, so my group and I have discussed to include that in our music video, where the lyrics sings "where innocence is burned, in flames" so we have decided to use a pigs head, burning in flames, to contrast the Goodwin's theory. 

Thirdly, with in improving my planning, there are 3 points which has been improved. My first improvement this year from last year is planning the location. Last year, we have filmed so many times so in the end we ran out of time. So there were limited time to film and wasn't much of time when everyone was free to act and film. As we had no idea when to film which part, we decided just to film in a park and in a local restaurant. However, this year, before we started filming, one from the group actually travelled to the location we were thinking to film and took some photographs to discuss if the location and the setting is appropriate for our music video, and if not we still have time and do more researching on the internet. 

My second improved point in planning is audience. To receive audience's opinion and their interest, I have used SurveyMonkey.com for both AS and A2 course, however in my AS course, I had only created 5 question and 3 options to answer from. Which was not enough opinions to see how we could improve the film in the ways of entertaining the audience. So this year, we have created at least 10 questions and 10 answers to choose from, also an "other" option just in case none of the answering option did not fit in your interest. 

Finally , as I was chosen to mainly of designing the dig park and do some research, this year, instead of only researching 1 or 2 films of 'Coming of Age' genre, I thought to research 3 to 5 album covers and digipak of 'alternative' genre so there will be many ideas and more similarities and differences to investigate. Also not just leaving as to research what was given, I have researched why in particular the band's album cover/digipak has used certain images or  colour. From this improved research skill, I have found that for example in .... album, that they have used an image of missiles dropped from an aircraft, as their album is about peace and how war destroys society. If I had done the same researching technique as for last year, I may of found out that the genre film of 'Coming of Age' may include certain character and what they look like. 

Overall, my organisation has improved. I have used my blog much more efficiently this yearby tagging all my posts allowing me much easier access to my research. 

Collective Identity Question Exam

To what extent is human identity increasingly mediated?

An identity is defined as "identity is the conception, qualities, beliefs, and expressions that make a person (self-identity) or group (such as national identity and cultural identity) different from others" on Wikipedia, we can argue what identity means and how is it created for the individuals. 

According to David Gauntlett, for modern society “Having an identity is a known requirement”. One of the ways we can create identity is through the media. People has always created their identity through media as being fans of a band or a YouTuber. Gauntlett agrees that media has a role to play in this process of creating an identity. 

Identity can be created by our selves or imposed by outsiders.  For example, identity can be created by ourselves on the internet by posting various things such as images or videos that help towards creating a certain identity. For example, if you define your self as being healthy and fit, you may post images or fitness videos created by yourself so others who will witness these posts will see you as a healthy, well-being person. How healthy and fit you want to portrait yourself is up to how much of posts you create. This can be shown via YouTube videos and regular updated blogs.

Also identity can be imposed by the outsiders through media, such as newspapers, if they print off an article about teenagers being anti-social, this creates an identity for all teenagers, as being anti-social and a negative stereotype. This has occurred millions of times, for example, during the 60's, when the Mods and the Rockers had fought on the coast of Brighton Beach, the Daily Mirror titled the event as "Wild Ones 'Beat Up' Margate". This heading creates an identity for the men involved as "Wild Ones".

Another example can be an article which was titled "Teenagers caught with large hunting knives and drugs" by Manchester Evening News. Which creates an identity for teen being violent and most do drugs.

Another way how you can create an identity through media text is when you are making an account for a social app. For example, when you are creating an account with Instagram, you have to have your own username, pass word and also a profile picture. Now, you have the choice of what kind of username to create. Given as an example, if you are vegan and have an interest in animal equality, you may create your username as being "AnnaTheVeganGirl" which will create an identity as you being "vegan", because it is in your user name. Also, what you post through this account will have similarites, linked with your username, so may posts vegan food and spending time with animal. 

You can also argue that media creates identity now with the internet, we can create our own identity after being influenced by social media applications such as Facebook, YouTube, Instagram and Tumblr. We create our own identity with the power of media, as being controlled by what’s around you. You may watch a YouTube video of Zoella doing a "Haul" which is filming yourself showing what you have bought from shopping and  giving it a review. You may be inspired how she goes about shopping and film her self talking about what she has bought that day, from where and giving a review, and as by being inspired from Zoella, you might start to create your own YouTube channel, uploading and doing similar tasks as Zoella. This will create an identity for you as being a "Youtuber". Usually, these Youtubers who gained fame will have large amount of followers/subscribers and also an account with almost every single social app there are. Their instagram posts can be updated on a regular and typically posts about what their wearing using the #OOTD tag (Outfit Of The Day) and their make up look, and tag the brand they have used.

Thomas De Zengotita says that almost everything we experience or learn in via the media in some way. An example is with "Make Up Guru's". "NikkiTutorials" gained charisma as she created hundreds of make up looks and uploading how she created the "look". She mentions which cosmetic brand was used and how she applied them. Also tips and tricks on how to achieve the best outcome. Girls love her channel because she also talks about cheap dupes as she uses expensive cosmetic brands which not everyone can afford.

Later, the girls who has watched her make up tutorial, most of them will try it out and experience the application. You may enjoy this experience of application and be inspired to create your own make up tutorials. As for this experience, there are many up coming make up gurus who were inspired to start. This gives them an identity as loving make up and "dressing up". However, this can give a negative stereotype as some commentators say that make up is only used to impress boys. 

Jacques Lacan has a similar theory to De Zengotita. Jacques Lacan says that identity can be created via mirror staging. This means We like to and are drawn to looking at others who we think are like us, with whom we identify. For example, if you love ......

Narrative Theory Practise Exam

The film which my partner and I constructed for our AS coursework was in the genre of a 'coming of age' film.

The storyline of our film is about how a couple (famous band member Harry and his girlfriend Melody) goes through a tough phase (due to Melody's terminal illness) and how Harry reacts to it, rebuilding his life. For our opening sequence we decided to set this up by showing Harry walking out of a television interview due to a question about his girlfriend and then we used flashbacks of their early relationship and Melody's final moments.

Valdimir Propp is a theorist who discusses narrative purely in terms of character and actions. Valdimir Propp's theory has been applied when the characters can be labeled as his 7 characters. Harry Ward, one of the main character as being the boyfriend to Melodie will fit in the category of 'Hero' as he is by Melodies side at all times and even leaves his important interview. 

Melodie Harris who is the other main character, is a victim and fighting a disease. She fits in the category of being  a 'Princess' as she is vulnerable and is being victimised by her illness.

The rest of the band which Harry is in will be fitted in the category of 'The (magical) helper' as during the interview, when Harry walked off the stage, they all stopped and focused on what was wrong with Harry. They all supported him by caring and understanding he is experience a trauma and is very sensitive. 

Tvzetan Todorov's theory can also be applied to the narrative of our film.  He divided stories into 5 clear stages: equilibrium, disruption, recognition, repair and new equilibrium.

With our film, as it starts off with a flash back, so instead of an equilibrium, the disruption occurs at first and then the equilibrium, recognition, and repair. Unfortunately, there is not a repair in our film as later on, Melodie dies. Which means the pattern of the narrative in Nostalgia is:

Disruption - Equilibrium - Recognition - Disruption 

The 1st disruption is when Harry and the rest of the band members are being interviewed on the 'Nicole Show' and Harry walks off the stage when he has been asked about his meaning of their new single, which is about Melodie as she is fighting for her life. 

The equilibrium is when the flashback of Harry and Melodie's early relationship was like, as we included more than 3 shots/location such as the couple at a dinner, buying each other presents, going on dates to the park, and we also included the couple holding hands and kissing to show as much loving emotions to be shown so the audience can understand their positive relationship. To make the shots/scenes look like a "flashback" shot, we used Final Cut Pro and used an effect called fade which surrounds the frame with smokey black effect that fades in with the footage so it looks like flashback. 

The recognition is where Melodie is in the hospital, from including the shot of Melodie in the hospital, it shows she is vunderable, weak human being, and also shows why Harry is so worried and is anxious about her illness because he loves her, which is shown through the flashback with how he treats her. 

The 2nd disruption is when Harry walks in Melodie's hospital room and she dies moments later. 

Roland Barthes also discussed a film in terms of Action codes. These threads are Narrative Codes, Action, Enigma, Semantic, Symbolic and Referential. 

In our film, Nostalgia, we included the Enigma, Semantic and Symbolic codes. 

The Enigma code is how the audience questions about the film later. 

Enigma code has been applied to our film as audience questioned 'why did Melodie die?', 'what happened to Harry after Melodies death? A new girlfriend ', 'what happened to the band? Did they split?', 'how did the bands fan react to Harry newly being single and the death of Melodie?'

The Semantic code is when there is an edit or a sound or a props which clearly indicates the storyline. We have applied many Semantic codes in Nostalgia with the use of props and soundtracks. By using the breathing machine tube up Melodie's nose and the beeping noise in the background indicated Melodie was close to death and that she was going to die. 

The Referential Code is when a text includes a reference which is understood by society and culture as having a further connotation.  Part of our sequence was shot in a television studio (which people understand as part of our celebrity culture and links to Harry being a famous band member and therefore a typical hero) and part was filmed in a hospital (indicating that something bad will happen).

Finally, Claude Levi Strauss defined narrative as requiring the constant creation of conflict and opposition. He summarised this in terms of visual oppression (such as light verses darkness) or conceptual (e.g. love versus hate, control versus panic). We included a number of binary oppositions in our opening sequence, such as life versus death (in that we see Melody take her last breath but also see Harry coping with it), and celebrity versus real life (we included scenes of Harry on television and then cut to the reality of Melody's final moments.