MIGRAIN: Index

1) Media Consumption Audit

2) Language - reading an image - advert analysis

3) Reception Theory

4) Semiotics - icons, indexes and symbols

5) Genre: factsheets and genre study questions

6) Narrative: factsheet questions

Narrative

Factsheet 14 - Telling Stories: The media's use of narrative

1) An example of a film that uses Todorov's narrative structure of equilibrium is Finding Nemo as it starts off with the equilibrium where Nemo lives happily with his dad, followed by the disequilibrium when Nemo is captured by a human after being dared to swim out and touch a boat. The new equilibrium is when Marvin and Dory find him and get him back home and harmony is restored

2) In the first episode of the vampire diaries, the geographical markers of the dark, eerie lighting makes it clear that the first scene is set at night. The generic marker in this clip would be the two people in the beginning running over the man, then being murdered as it suggests that the genre of the series is drama/thriller. The character markers in the clip would be during the scene in the kitchen when the two teenagers' aunt is trying to help them get ready before school, which lets the audience know that they are students.

3) Examples of characters that fit into Propp's hero role:

  

4) A binary opposition is a pair of related terms that are opposite in meaning, for example, black and white are binary opposites.

Binary oppositions can be very useful to help identify the ideology of a text. The conflict between opposites in a conventional text will usually culminate in one force winning. The winner often represents the dominant ideas and values of our culture. When the policeman captures the criminal in a crime drama– the ideology of the value of law and order is emphasised.

 

6)Barthes narrative theory of action and enigma codes offer gratification for audiences as creating tension and holding back information creates an element of mystery, intriguing the audience as they are curious to see the outcomes, and how events will be resolved.


Episodic Narrative – The Series: These are fictions which have many parts but where the narrative arc is usually resolved at the end of each episode. This is a common structure within the sit com.


Overarching Narrative - The Serial: The serial uses the conventional narrative arc over a number of episodes. Individual episodes do not tend to have a resolution; this comes at the end of the serial.

 Mixed Narrative (episodic and overarching): Some texts use both structures. Friends is an example of this. Each episode of Friends can be watched on its own as the episodes usually deal with a number of small conflicts which resolve at the end of the episode. However, there are a also some overarching narratives.

 Multi strand overlapping narrative – the soap narrative: These have a continuous narrative and they tell a number of different stories at the same time. This is sometimes called an open narrative as there is no final resolution for the text. Each narrative strand involves different characters.

8) The media factsheet sugests that adverts use narrative by creating a problem and immediately coming up with a resolution

Genre

Factsheet 3 - Categorising texts

1) An example provided to show that visual iconographies are important would be the section about star trek and star wars, as they share characteristics and key conventions that are associated with sci-fi movies, despite the fact that some aspects may be used differently.

2) The examples given to show the importance of narrative would be the comparison of a soap opera to a sit-com, as it explains how although they might have similar storylines, they are structured differently and the way situations and characters are portrayed comes from a different point of view.

3) In action movies the character/hero is portrayed as more isolated;a 'lone wolf', who may be considered as immoral and unconventional at times. This is different to how the hero is typically represented in disaster movies, as instead of placing the heroic role within one single character, it is often given to a group of people, who each have their own particular strengths, who collaborate together to overcome the situation.

4) Bordwell came up with 6 categories to put movies into:

• period or country - eg: US films of the 1930's
• director/star - eg: Ben stiller films
• technical process - eg: animation
• style - eg: german expressionism
• series - eg: the Bond movies
• audience - eg: family films

5) Genre is used in a number of different ways by an audience, such as to compare a text through its shared characteristics with another. Audiences may also use genre to decide whether they reject or accept a text, for example if they dislike horror, they are likely to avoid texts with those characteristics. They may also use their prior knowledge of a genre to anticipate whether they are likely to enjoy a text.

6) Genre is used not only by audiences, but is also used by institutions and producers. One way they use genre is as a paradigms/templates. For example if a media producer wanted to produce a new sit-com, there are 'rules' that must be followed (key conventions), which makes it easier for them as they don't have to constantly be inventing things from scratch. Producers and institutions may also use genre to attract an audience as some genres have loyal fan-bases, which can help minimise the risk of failure when releasing a new media text. Another way they use genre is when they are marketing texts, for example movie trailers attempt to clearly indicate what genre the film is by showing many of the codes and conventions, attracting fans of the genre. 

7) The genre of gangster movies was given as an example to show how genres evolve. The conventional and modern equivalents of gangster movies have similar codes and conventions such as violence and romanticising the gangster lifestyle and focusing on conflict between the police and criminals.

Factsheet 126 - Superheroes: A Genre Case Study

1) Films the factsheet discusses in regards to the superhero genre include:

• Scott Pilgrim (2010)
• Chronicle (2012)
• Super (2010)
• Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)
• X Men franchise (2000 - present)

2) In the 1940's Superman was shown needing to battle European villains who threatened the peace and security of the town, forcing him to become involved in conflict, despite wanting to live a quiet life. This reflects how in 1939 WW2 began and the US government realised that they might have to get involved even though much of the population didn't want to. 

Superman also battles against a wealthy businessman, who appears in the 1930's and in the 1978 film. Superman was raised in a rural community, which means he has attributes of 'greedy, city values'. In the 1930's the blame for the Great Depression was down to the greed of capitalists. 

In Spiderman 3, we see how he has to fight against 'Sandman'. Sandman was a man made of sand and venom, created by an oily substance which infects people, turning them into monsters. This reflects how wars had been fought in desert regions in the hopes of winning for oil. The feature of light and dark also links to the binary opposition between good and evil. 

3) Schatz's theory of genre cycles is about how he believed that genres are dynamic and go through 4 stages: innovation, classical, parody and deconstruction. This theory can be applied to the Superhero genre as it went through the innovation stage where codes were established, which were then repeated in other movies (this is the classical stage). Superhero movies then reached the parody stage as movies were created, that mocked the typical aspects and conventions in superhero movies as they had become cliched and predictable. Finally, the genre reached the deconstruction stage where modern values and ideologies were explored in movies, to make them more relatable to the audience.


General

1) I have chosen Eastenders as it is a popular, well-known tv series that i enjoy watching as it also has more than one storyline.
2) My mum and sister used to watch it when i was younger so i'd watch it with them sometimes.
3) I enjoyed the drama and anticipation at times and found the different storylines interesting.
4) Soap opera.
5) I think that because they have so many different storylines, and the fact that they are based on different families and their lives, it makes it easy for different audiences to relate to. The fact that it has also been around for so many years, and adapts to the way society and changes meets the audiences expectations attracts a lot more viewers.
6) Eastenders typically explores themes based around families and their struggles and how they react/overcome them.
7) It is a stereotypical soap opera as it includes a lot of drama and has a number of storylines - which are based on the day to day activities and personal relationships of its characters.
8) I would expect the show to be based around more than one character and their life events and relationships, and for characters to have links to eachother rather than having one central idea with focus on one single thing.
9) Some reviews brand the show as repetitive and dull
10) Some audiences feel that the show is overrated and is too similar to any other soap.
11) Scripts are based around topics such as financial struggles, love and relationships and general topics that 'ordinary' people can relate to/connect with.
12) This text doesn't really stray from the codes and conventions associated with this genre, and usually performs according to its stereotypes.
13) It doesn't.
14) n/a
15)

Mode of address

1) I think it is aimed at teenegers because of the drama and inclusion of many young characters as the storylines about them are relatable to this audience. I think it is also aimed at families who might have gone/be going through similar experiences.
2) The fact that there are a lot of relatable topics explored allows the reader to empathise with the characters, making the consumer feel as if they are part of the story.
3) This suggests that it assumes that you are an empathetic person who might enjoy watching dramas and have experienced similar events.
4) It also assumes that you are likely to be working class, and of any ethnicity - but most likely white British.
5)

Relationship between other texts

1)
2) It closely resembles other soaps, such as Coronation Street and Emerdale.
3) This is due the the structure of the shows and their storylines.
4) There aren't any major differences as they both follow the general guidelines and conventions of the soap opera genre.

Semiotics - icon, index, symbol blog task

Semiotics

Icon

 

Index

   

Symbol

    



Why are icons and indexes so important in media texts?

Icons and indexes are important features in media as they allow the audience to identify what is being shown, as well as make interpretations based on them. They also all represent a meaning, which some audiences might agree with, however others may not.

Why might global brands try and avoid symbols in their advertising and marketing?

Brands may avoid using symbols in their marketing and advertising as they may have different meanings to people of different audiences, as they may have different beliefs or norms and values. This means a symbol that may portray a hegemonic reading to one consumer, may offend another consumer who has an oppositional reading. Brands might also avoid the use of symbols as people from around the world might not actually know what it means.



In this print advert the producer has communicated the wrong meaning through the index of the hand with answers written on it as, instead of emphasising how good their pens are and how well they work, the consumer is being encouraged to cheat. The tagline 'helping students cheat since 1945' also reinforces this message, which could have a negative impact on Bic's brand image as their advert suggests they are endorsing bad habits/behaviour and may have poor values as a brand.

This print advert has successfully communicated their message to their audience. The producers use of the sign of the trainer along with the tagline 'because a soldier needs the right ammo' helps them communicate that they're products are the best for playing in. By creating the image of a 'soldier' it also suggests to the consumer that by wearing Adidas trainers, you show that you are strong and determined.  This advert is successful as it can be easily understood globally, as there are no symbols that relate to only a specific group/audience.