Lesson Discussion.

1.  What representations of class do we see daily in the Media?

Lower Class, E-Lower C. Reported in the news, London Riots.
New presenters, usually white, middle class in order to be relatable to a larger audience, however, well presented, and well-spoken etc.
Ethnic Minotrities, shown in two contrasting lights: Immigration, terrorism, crime etc. & Equality
-Shown in the news and in TV Dramas.

2.  Which programmes represent the lower classes?
Georgie Shaw
The Valleys- sterrotypical view on Welsh
Police Dramas- view on crime, the perportrators of crime.
X-Factor- Sob story 'Rags to Riches'. Homeless, work in a supermarket etc.

3.  What stereotypes are created by the Media of class?

Yes, shown in 'Made in Chelsea' 'The only way is essex' etc.
How the government is shown- I'm a celebrity get me out of here featured the first mp.
David Cameron, shown as middle class.
Ed Milliband- talks of his public schooling, how this makes him relatable.   (squewed vision within government, not relevant to lower classes, or everyday people)
(Social mobility)

4.  What's the difference between North and South in terms of class?
North Vs South

Eastenders is South (London, Cornwall etc) - more arty and cultural
(Manchester, Leeds, Liverpool etc) - seen as more labour workforce

5.  What are the main interests of people in TOWIE?  What idologies does it create?  How are these ideologies different from Made in Chelsea?

TOWIE:  Go have beauty treatments, gossip between relationships and friends, go partying, drinking, have sexual relations etc.
Percieved as trying to be upper class with a pride in their appearance, however, unachieved due to lack of education.
- Want a certain look, (fakery)- Ideology
- To have an attractive partner
- To socialise, have a good social life that others are jealous of.

6.  What marketing have you seen for any of these sorts of shows and what does it tell us about them?

Adverts are shown in a humorous light, informal relationship, the audience are laughing at them and not with them.
They think we are laughing with them?
Percieved as being stupid- audience are unaware of the degree of reality.

Lesson 1- Looking at Reality TV and its effect. Analysis of Trailers and reading of article in media magazine.

Analysis of Big Brother Trailer-

"Big Brother" is a reality TV show in which a group of 12 celebrities- or normal people are put into a house to live together for a series of weeks. I have chosen to analyse the trailer for celebrity Big Brother 2011, UK.

From watching the trailer I would judge that someone would watch this programme in order for diversion, social interaction and surviellance. Diversion is because of the time Big Brother is shown on television- 9pm/10pm, depending on the content, this is the time most adults, or students are sat watching television in order to relax. Social Interation is also highly important, as the show often includeds 'Twitter Hashtags' so people can voice their opinions online, and interact between one-another about the show. Surviellance is often if a celebrity is feautered whom a member of the audience may be particular interested in finding out information about, and what they are like as a person and not how they are percieved by the media. Surviellance is also what the 'Big Brother' idea is about, watching people go about normal activites because of the curiosity within most humans about others.
I believe the audience of this programme to be mostly E-lower C, this is down to the celebrity's that feature often being aimed towards the audience of soaps on televsision, or a page 3 model that features in the Sun, and using this knowledge I can determine the audience of Big Brother.

The colours used in this trailer, in the clothing of those featured- (mise-en-scene) are bright and eye catching, for example the first woman featured in the trailer is wearing a yellow dress, this immediately draws in the audiences attention, as it has the connotations of sunshine, linked in to happy emotions, so therefore it gives you a postive feeling about the show. The men shown in the trailer are dressed in greys, blacks with a hint of red, these colours are less intimidating to the audience, suggesting a more relaxed tone to the show, the red however has the connotations of danger and lust, giving the idea that there are certain dramas to happen within the show, thus intriging the audience into watching it. Two women are then featured wearing white dresses, this shows a goddess like stature with the two men either side of them, the white connotatates purity, showing an innocence to the show, contrasting with the red of the mens outfits.
You then have the street scene, with the cheerleaders- this links back to audience when considering the idea of a soap style advertand whom their audience would be, also the cheerleaders have the connotations of happy, highschool and good spirit, as well as the more provocative ideas about cheerleaders. This is again a contrast of the innocence, with the racy connotations behind them. The colours continue to be bright and eye-catching, this combined with the featured celebrities facial expressions of smiles, and their dance-like movements, with high speed skips instead of walks suggests a light tone to the programme, with happy ideas, and excitement set within the audience intriging them to watch it.

The genre of this trailer is clearly Reality TV, this is shown through certain codes and conventions such as a lively set atmosphere through diegetic and non diegetic sound, there's no story-line given to the audience, just the characters which shows the story is yet to be written- like in a reality show because nobody can determine what will happen, it's completely un-scripted. This is unlike that of a drama.

The institution of this trailer is Channel 5, they are presented as wealthy, however, not that of BBC 1 we know this because there are no graphics or special effects used in the trailer, it's a constant camera roll. There's also no exotic location used.

Ipod advert Exam Questions

What is communicated about the brand of Apple in this advert?

One of the main things that is communucated about the brand of Apple in this advert is that they are a well-known and wealthy institution, the audience know this because there is no narrative given in the advert, or specific information about the product- just the image of it. This indicates that the brand is extremely well-know, and that enough people are aware of the brand and their products that the added information is not neccesary. This also emphasizes the wealth of the brand/insitution because the advert is so simple yet uses hgih quality graphics and computer technology the audience know that they have highly skilled computer and graphics teams working on the creation of the advert. This is also highly relevant when knowing what the product is and more information about the brand, as Apple is the creator of technologically advance computers etc.( - This also indicates their connection to the digital age and therefore a large expanding audience.)The audience also know that the insitution is wealthy due to the fact that this is a television advert- we know that a television advert is expensive to run and the fact that this advert runs for a long period of time with only the Apple products simply 'bouncing' around the screen to a song indicates the wealth that the insitution posseses in order to do this.

What is also communicated to the audience about the brand of Apple is that they are completely user friendly, they do this by displaying a large variety of colours of their products, proving that it is adaptable to anyone's taste as the colour can be specific to someone's likes and personality. The brand are relating to the audience on a personal level by doing this. By using non-diegetic sound with the song playing on the advert that is seemingly unknown it shows how they are still intune with their audience, and still a very grounded institution. This also links to how well-known the insitution Apple is as they are able to promote a song in their advert, they don't need to promote an already well known song in order to engage their audience.

Podcast review of Taken

Kermode and Mayo Podcast of Taken

Poster analysis



I am going to analysise the above poster of the film 'The Dark Knight'.

Firstly I will analysise the layout of the poster and it's use of camera angles to create the desired impact. Although it doesn't follow the standard layout theory, instead both the caption, image and title is all centered in the poster this is to immediately draw the audiences eyes to the centre of the poster and keep them there so they are not moving around the outskirts of the poster where there is no information given about the film. They have chosen to feature the text caption at the top of the poster 'Welcome to a world without rules', the fact that this is in block capitals but the print is small creates a subtle impact, indicating it is not the most important feature in the poster but it interests the audience enough to want to know what it's talking about. Following the narrative theory and reading the page downwards the next thing the audience views is the centeral image; the main character Batman is in the centre of the entire poster showing his importance in the film, the camera angle is a low angled  long shot showing the superiority of Batman and indicating the power he posesses in the film. Above him is the iconic Batma logo of a bat, people relate to this and it usually has the connotations of a super hero, however this one is a flamed logo suggesting this time there may be a twist to the normal iconic film that is Batman. Fire also holds the connotations of anger and disaster which are what an audience expect from a typical Batman film.
The next feature in the poster following the narrative theory is the text list of actors, this is usually to interest the reader if they like a specific actor that features in the film, if they film features well-known hollywood actors it indicates that the insitution has a high budget so this will be a blockbuster film filled with high class special effects and action. The next part in the poster is the iconic Batman logo with the title 'The Dark Knight' this is where it is revealed to you properly as a Batman film, however Batman is being referred to by a different name, the connotations of dark suggests negative things such as crime and evil, this contrasts with the connotations you get with knight, someone in shining armour, a hero to save the day etc. This given contrast is what intices the audience to want to understand the hidden depth given in this film about Batman.
The colours used are all dark, with blacks, greys and the contrasting fire, the audience ...

The Dark Knight- question related evidence

Identify how media products from your case study make links with other media platforms. What are the reasons for these links?

In your answer you should:

• Consider possible links such as targeting audiences, promotion and revenue generation.
• Support your answer with reference to a range of examples from three media platforms.
  (32 marks)

My first product is The Dark Knight, the film.
Although film is a broadcast it makes strong links within e-media.
1. Official site - chat forums

2. This is through the use of twitter and facebook pages, (fan pages) hastag, twitter trend, twitter accounts.

3. Fan sites (fan made websites)
4. fan videos made on youtube. youtube trailers, reviews posted by people.   youtube trailer     spoof youtube video
5. film reviews- beneficial to A & I so they can give and view feedback. (magazines and imdb, rotten tomatoes etc) film review- rotten tomatoes  imdb
6. podcasts
7. merchandise  merch web

8. posters

9. Games
10. buy films soundtracks

Advert for Google Chrome analysis- Dear Hollie

How does the advert engage the audience?

There are a variety of techniques used during this advert which immediately engage the audience. The first is through the use of music, it uses non-diegetic sound of a soft piano playing, this creates a harmonious and happy feeling within the viewer, combined with the use of the diegetic sound of both the keyboard typing and the voices heard in the video, is what gives it such a personal feel. This advert instantly engages through the emotive use of music.
The second way in which the advert engages the audience is through the story of a fathers relationship with -and his love for, his daughter. The first camera shot we see is a mid shot with a father holding his new born baby, this creates an immediate personal identification for anyone who is a parents and can identify with the feeling of holding their new born baby. It would be an advert suitable for a viewer with high family values, and someone who believes a strong relationship with their children, even when they are very young is important. We are shown various emails being typed throughout with the subjects relating to the next step in Hollie's childhood. With a photo of Hollie on her 1st birthday dressed in a costume is followed by the caption "Mum says I'm not allowed to dress you again." this tells the audience that the parents have strong bonds, both with their child and each other, with the element of comedy it creates a warm and loving feeling in the advert, it engages you by playing on your heart strings as it gives you an emotive story. It engages you because you want to see the story develop and what Hollie is up to next!
I believe the main way the audience is engaged in this advert is by creating a story and audience can personally identify with and by showing how the internet can be used by anyone in whichever way they choose.

What is communicated about Google Chrome in this advert?

A lot is communicated about Google Chrome in this one particular advert. Firstly, it is shown that Google Chrome can be used in a clever way to with-hold memories and store thoughts, the search engine is the aid in the fathers way to express his love for his daughter to then later show her, it's something they can share and is personal to them. This convinces the audience to also use Google Chrome to aid their own personal connection with others, it shows it's audience that Google Chrome has a lot more to offer than just being a search engine and how they have developed to provide their users with so much more. The fact that the advert has smooth changes within each scene and that every photo is added with ease and email is sent without a wait suggests the speed at which Google runs, how it has managed to keep up with the speed in which people want to do things when using the internet. We then see the father type into the email "One day we will look back on these together." this creates the idea that Google Chrome is the keeper of memories and that all of what we love is saved right there with Google Chrome, making access to the soon to be past will be ever more easier.

How is internet represented in this advert?

In this advert the internet is represented in many ways but the most important of these is the variety of ways in which you can use it, in many of the different shots different aspects of the internet are shown such as, Youtube, google maps and google albums, this shows how Google Chrome links all of these together, in the same way it links the past and the future, the father and his daughter. The internet is shown to be powerful in the unifying of lots of different factors, it creates a gateway that wasn't there before. The internet is represented that if used efficiently it can make what you thought you could never do, achievable. Not many people would have the time to sit and hand write notes with printed photographs, but the internet allows you to keep a personal written diary to someone with all the interlinks to videos and photographs without the fear of loosing them. It represents it to be being in-keeping with the transformation in digital media while maintaining all important values.

New and digital media offers media institutions different ways of reaching audiences. Consider how and why media institutions are using these techniques (48 Marks)

Due to the development of technology causing an expansion in the digital media means it is easier for media institutions to reach their audiences, and are able to gain a greater understanding of what their audience want in order to reach target their audience.
There are many ways in which this has been able to happen, firstly, the internet has allowed a gateway between media institutions and their audiences, allowing them to engage on a more personal level. An example of this would be how the use of twitter allows audience feedback on certain films and television programme's, such as the X-Factor. By using the symbol '#' twitter users are able to tag a phrase with their tweet so that if a person searches this phrase their tweet, along with many others, will appear. X-Factor used this, particularly during the auditions so that users could tweet their opinions and view what other's were also thinking, by allowing their viewers to interact it means they are gaining a lot more from the programme, by giving the audience a voice it makes them feel important to the show, and what this particular show feed's off is a large amount of viewers, because a large amount of opinionated viewers means a large amount of voters.
Following on from this point is the increase in other methods of social networking and how this has had a major impact. This is down to the amount of people using social networking sites, which is mostly favored by people between classes E-B and more often than not students and young people. By being having access to social networking the media institutions can see directly who their target audience are, they have a real life profile of someone to set their aims to. This also allows a greater range of advertising, for example down the side of someone's facebook page their is a featured number of ad's, these are cleverly based around what this person researches on the internet and the pages they have previously 'liked', this is cheap and smart way of advertising in both this and the above twitter example because they are getting their audiences to advertise for them, as well as gaining all important feedback.
Fan sites are another important aspect to the digital media as it allows fans of certain films or TV shows interact with one another making them feel apart of something more than what's on a screen. A user can subscribe to individual fan sites, 'like' facebook fan pages or follow twitter pages, in some cases they can even set up their own as the internet now gives you complete easy access to do so.
Websites have become increasingly high-tech and have allowed their users to have more interaction with the film, for example I looked up the website for 'The Dark Knight' and saw good computer graphics as well as links to social networking relating back to the points on the constantly growing social networking sites.
Through the use of smart phones and 'Apps' the audience are able to completely interact with the film and have easier access to review sites in order to give or receive information on a film they may wish to watch. With websites such as BBC iPlayer and 4OD it gives the users the option to watch shows where-ever and whenever they choose with a wide selection of what the channels provide, this also gives them the ability to advertise future shows to gain more viewers, for those who don't have time to watch the television.
The audience have much more control over what they want to watch and their opinion now is highly valued by media institution, because they are the money behind the profit.

Teen Vogue 'copy' on Taken star Maggie Grace

Taken and Taken 2

Website Analysis- Tesco

Institutions

Film- Brave

Institution: Disney Pixar

The film 'Brave' created by Disney Pixar is a hybrid of animation, action and adventure, released in 2012 about a princess who is determined to create her own path in life and defeat a curse.
What sort of organisation is Disney Pixar? (Brand Identity) The brand identity of Disney Pixar is that they are a hugely successful, family orientated and international film company who create largely popular films that produce a huge profit for the company. We can see this from the website: Pixar Website, it's well finished, with pictures from well-known, popular animated films such as, Monters Inc and Finding Nemo. What we can tell from this is that they have a highly skilled web design team who work at keeping their image professional and modern. They present themselves as keeping relative to their audience, with an informal website giving the reader access to "Behind the scenes" and "careers" both of this selections are welcoming to the reader, bringing them to be a part of the Disney Pixar organisation.
Are they are a large or small comany? Disney Pixar are a large multi-national company whose films are released all over the world, in a number of different languages, producing billions of profit pur annuam. We know they are world-wide as they are connected to social networking sites Facebook and twitter, shown here: google search of disney pixar. We also know the size of the institution as Pixar was actually bought by Disney for $7.4 billion, showing a link up between two large institutions that are the most well know for family, - often animated films.

Television Programme- Grand Designs

Institution- Channel 4

Link to website: channel 4 website
Grand Designs is a property programme shown on Channel 4, often at around 7-8pm in the evening on a weekday. It shows everyday peopleand familes who decide to take on the project of building themselves the ideal home.
What sort of organisation is Channel 4? (Brand identity) Channel 4 is a large TV production company who show programmes ranging from drama's to documentries often to project genuine information and knowledge in a more dramatised way. They have different platforms such as their channel and their website, having the website shows that they are reaching their audience widely with the use of modern technology- produced by web design team. The website also provides the reader with an option for 4OD, a website created to view not only programmes you have missed, right back to the first series but for programmes that are no longer shown on Channel 4. This shows that they are looking to relate different generations of people.
Large or Small Company? Channel 4 is a large company, known throughout the UK, however, are not a transnational company and are only aired in the UK. This is due to Channel 4 hosting for a british audience, with 90% of the progammes or documentries being produced in the UK.
What else do they own?  Channel 4 are purely a television company.

Magazine- Cosmoplitan

Institution- Hearst Magazines

Link: Hearst Magazines Cosmoplitan magazine is a fashion, beauty and lifestlye magazine for women. It's owned by hearst magazines who describe themselves as 'one of the UK's leading magazine companies'.
What sort of organisation are they? (Brand Identity) Hearsts brand identity is that they are both a highly powerful and wealthy company, with a clean-cut professional image in their market. They own many large, well-known magazines, and are shown to the public as being modern and welcoming to new platforms of media, such as, websites, apps and social networking.
Are they a small or large company? By taking what we know from the website and the information shown above we can determine that they are a large company, who also operate in America as they are headquartered in New York City.
What other media products do they own or produce? Their website states that they own 24 magazine brands and 24 digital assests. As well as Cosmoplitan magazine, other magazines they also produce include: Best, Company, Country Living, ELLE, Good Housekeeping etc. Many of these titles are followed by digital assests with the websites, including others: digitalspy.co.uk, elledecoration.co.uk, netdoctor.co.uk, sugarscape.co.uk and menshealth.co.uk. 

Magazine Splash

Check it out!

So I bought the lastest copy of Cosmo magazine in order to fill up my days free periods (an intended distraction) and it achieved that of what I wanted it to. I was a little upset at the price of £3.50 for something I can cover back to front in about an hour and a half, however I do know I will probably read through it again! I love the buzz I get when talking about the articles with friends, admiring the clothes, laughing at the funny stories and making our own wishlists of the contents (Including the gorgeous Ryan Gosling!).
Due to recently starting my AS media course I now find myself analysing everything! From the articles themselves, to the fashion spreads and advertisements.
Now it's just the anticipation for the next edition to fill the shelves.

x2 product x2 platform analysis

Herbal Essences Magazine Advertisement:

The advert for Herbal Essences shampoo and conditioner published in cosmopolitan magazine is aimed towards beauty conscious women, who's values involve being clean and attractive to both men and other females. We can gain this information from knowing where the advert is being featured and what we are shown in the advert. The connotations of this advert are a young, attractive woman with long thick, healthy looking hair who is smiling and the product to the bottom left of the advert. We can denote from this is that the product provides the woman with happiness through the appearance of her hair. The woman is shown wearing a head-dress made from flowers, the denotations of this is that she is natural and pure with the iconography of the head-dress linking it to Greek mythology. Using the Kress and Van Leevwon theory of layout where we have our main image- what we can see, to the left followed by what we are being told to the right of the page. We are told by the advert- "You crowned us with glory. Now we'd like to return the favor" , this gives the audience a sense of friendship between them and the product, they are thanking their consumers and offering to return the favor. This is followed by the revealing of the "Product of the year award 2012" at the bottom left of the advert. This advert creates and animus image of women, however, also presents women with an image of how men want to view an attractive view- male gaze. 

Glamour Webpage analysis:

The first thing we are shown on the website is the title, which is a bold pink font to the top left of the website, this immediately gives the reader a strong feminine appeal followed by an image of the latest edition of Glamour at the top right of the website, this is to interest the reader to the product, known as sub-marketing. The navigation bar appears directly below this with options such as "Love, Sex & Relationships" and "Fashion and Beauty" this suggests a target audience of fashion conscious women that have an interest in articles about a certain lifestyle depicted by this magazine, being presented in both a sexual and classy way.
The photos used on this website are all perfect looking, attractive men and women, although this gives us a false image, the women that view this accept it. Using the Kress and Van leevwon theory we can view what we are being given to our left, which is an animated (letting us know they have a wealthy institution as this and the website would require a website design team) showing a variety of articles that would interest the view for different reasons, for example celebrity, fashion and men. 

-Social Networking, different platforms, personal tailoring (navigation)  

Boogie Nights opening scene analysis

Analysis of Narrative:

The narrative engages the audience during the first 5 minutes of 'Boogie Nights' with a range of media techniques and theory's. The first method used is a constantly moving/running camera shot that follows the intro as the action unfolds to the audience. This helps the audience pick out main characters as the camera follows them for a longer length of time rather than just scanning past them, for example the waitress on roller skates is followed on her way to the bathroom, this suggests to the audience that she will play a main role in the film. Using propp's theory we can assume that she will be the 'Princess' as she is young and appears vulnerable, as she needs to receive permission in order to go to the bathroom. 

Other uses of camera include the camera shots, such as over the shoulder, this engages the audience by giving them the ability to view the scene as though they are there. Developing the use of mise-en-scene, and combining with the use of camera shots, from how certain characters are dressed we can determine the role which they will play in the film; the lady and gentleman that first enter the club are dressed both smart and glamorous  suggesting a powerful and respectful role. If we use this idea with the focus and mid-shots of both the smartly dressed gentleman and the younger man towards the end gives the audience a sense of a 'hero' and 'donor' character being created.

Representation of Women:

Women are shown in the opening scene of Boogie Nights through 'the male gaze', having them dressed in revealing clothes and with the one woman having her arm linked through with her male partner. The first woman shown is both sexy and feminine whereas the second woman shown is younger and more vulnerable.  The women are slightly objectified in this opening shown by how the owner of the club refers to her as the "sexiest b**ch" in the club, however, she still holds a power over the men by how dismissive she is of his comment as though she didn't need to be told- or at least not in that way. Another main example of how women are represented is that the woman orders her own drink, this is a clear indication at how the roles of women had changed in the 70's.
To view click:  Link to opening scene