Friday, 24 April 2015
Friday, 17 April 2015
News Representation
News Representation
Germanwings Plane Crash
This is the report on the BBC News YouTube channel for the Germanwings plane crash. The video starts off with a voiceover report talking about how the scientist crews have been out salvaging pieces of information from the crash that could solve the case.
Thursday, 26 March 2015
Audience Analysis
Audience Analysis
Target Audience - Early teens to 30s/Predominantly male - We know this because of an existing fan base of the original film. Also the action genre can be identified due to the explosions, giant monster attacking the city and the halo jumpers coming from above.
PIES
- Personal: Actors names at the top of the poster so the audience can identify to them as they may have seen them in something else before.
- Information: Information about the subject can be acquired from the poster, someone who is interested in the film.
- Entertainment: A teaser for the film attracts the audience as they want to see what the film is about due to the enigma codes such as why there are HALO jumpers, what happens to Godzille and what happens to the city.
- Social: This is a well known film and due to the famous actors in it such as Bryan Cranston who is famous for his performance in Breaking Bad. People could feel left out if they didn't watch this as it can appear as a conversation topic.
PON
- Preferred:
- Personal: Actors names at the top of the poster so the audience can identify to them as they may have seen them in something else before.
- Information: Information about the subject can be acquired from the poster, someone who is interested in the film.
- Entertainment: A teaser for the film attracts the audience as they want to see what the film is about due to the enigma codes such as why there are HALO jumpers, what happens to Godzille and what happens to the city.
- Social: This is a well known film and due to the famous actors in it such as Bryan Cranston who is famous for his performance in Breaking Bad. People could feel left out if they didn't watch this as it can appear as a conversation topic.
PON
- Preferred:
Tuesday, 24 March 2015
Media Theories
Media Theories
Pick and Mix Theory
This theory suggests that audiences are sophisticated and use texts to satisfy their own particular needs. They pick bits out of the text that they can relate to and are appropriate to them and their lives and ignore the rest.
Values, Attitude and Lifestyle
If the producer knows which values the audience prioritise in their lives, what attitude they take on the topic and what lifestyle they lead, they will be able to address this. The use of certain themes and conventions throughout the text can gratify the audience by getting to grips with the audience's VALs (Values, Attitude and Lifestyle).
Innovator - These consumers are on the leading edge of change, have the highest incomes and such a high self-esteem and abundant resources that they can indulge in any or all self-orientations.
Thinkers - The high-resource group of those who are motivated by ideals. Mature, responsible and well-educated professionals. Practical consumers and rational decision makers.
Believers - Low-resource group of those who are motivated by ideals. Predictable consumers who favour local products and established brands.
Achievers - High-resource group that are motivated by achievement. Successful and work-oriented.
Strivers - Low-resource group of those who are motivated by achievements. Values similar to achievers but have fewer economical. social, and psychological resources.
Innovator - These consumers are on the leading edge of change, have the highest incomes and such a high self-esteem and abundant resources that they can indulge in any or all self-orientations.
Thinkers - The high-resource group of those who are motivated by ideals. Mature, responsible and well-educated professionals. Practical consumers and rational decision makers.
Believers - Low-resource group of those who are motivated by ideals. Predictable consumers who favour local products and established brands.
Achievers - High-resource group that are motivated by achievement. Successful and work-oriented.
Strivers - Low-resource group of those who are motivated by achievements. Values similar to achievers but have fewer economical. social, and psychological resources.
Audience - Key Words
Audience - Key Words
Target - The audience that is addressed by the text.
Appeal - How the audience's gratifications are addressed/met.
Attract - What elements are used to attract the audience, e.g. famous actors.
Position - The different perspective the audience take on the text due to the technical conventions. The producer would include conventions and common themes that run throughout the genre to ensure this response will be met.
Respond - Whether the audience's response is preferred, oppositional or negotiated.
Encode and Decode - The producers encode the messages within the text for the audience to decode them, therefore extracting the meaning
The example above demonstrates these elements in the following ways:
The example above demonstrates these elements in the following ways:
- The target audience could range from mid teens to early 30s as the stars in the video are also of this age and therefore a relation can be established.
- The excessive portrayal of money and an extravagant lifestyle can appeal to the audience and inspire them to live the same way or achieve this status. This could achieve the gratifications of the audience by almost fulfilling their dream virtually.
- The audience almost feels part of the event and within the party due to the handheld camera and rapid succession of shots with the use of straight cuts. The audience are addressed directly by the artists as they are looking into the camera and therefore a sense of involvement is established.
- The negotiated reading for this text would be the audience sympathising with the artists and addressing their lifestyle with a neutral mindset.
Tuesday, 17 March 2015
Case Studies - Age/Ethnicity/Gender
Case Studies
Age - Bad Education
- A young teacher is represented as a pushover and and awfully organised.
- An immediate comparison between him and an old teacher is made within the first minute of the show. The old teacher has her class under control.
- The main character, the young teacher, can be classed as the Geek stereotype. We know this from his awkward behaviour when he interacts with the students.
- Also the mise-en-scene can tell us he fits in to this stereotype. We know this from what he is wearing and his behaviour around the students. He is being blocked by the students who are taller than him.
- The first shot shows him pulling up in an old, dirty car. His attire is informal and messy, he is wearing a hoodie (with his hood up), a shirt that is untucked and grey jeans. Not an outfit of the stereotypical teacher.
Ethnicity - Stormzy - Not That Deep
- This music video for a British grime and rap artist called Stormzy. He is a 21 year old British, black male.
- The representation of these males is significant for the generalisation of the age range and race they represent.
- The majority of the males in the video are black and British. This is significant because it can generalise to the larger population that fit into this stereotype, age range and class grouping.
- The beginning of the video shows them riding bikes around an empty car park, the mise-en-scene tells us they are within the working class/underclass boundaries.
- Mise-en-scene including their clothing and performance.
Gender - Sun, Sex and Suspicious Parents
Thursday, 5 March 2015
Stereotypical Race Representation
Stereotypical Race Representation
In the show The Big Bang Theory, the main Indian character Raj is represented as a Geek. We know this by his performance and the mise-en-scene that is framed within the scene. His fashion sense is clearly randomised and we know he has very few social skills and experience because of his dialogue in this scene. His friend Leonard tells him he thinks it's good for him to get out of the apartment from time to time which tells us he rarely leaves the safety of his own home, therefore connoting few social skills and little experience with people. The conversation topic also tells us that they are classed under the Geek representation for males as they are talking about the Indiana Jones films. The manner in which they are talking about these films is significant as they are very enthusiastic and know the specialist knowledge and vocabulary from the show. They also sound educated and well mannered. Although the negative representation of the Geek side of Raj is present there is also a positive representation that he is a nice person, well mannered and also relatively positive. This representation can be seen as negative because it could represent the whole American Indian community can be classed under the Geek stereotype. An audience that has no experience with this group of people will assume this is the same for all people within that group.
In the music video All of Me - John Legend we can see a positive representation of a black male. We can see from the mise-en-scene that he is a well groomed and dressed man who clearly cares about his appearance. This could break the stereotype of most of the people that fall into this group as other forms of media such as films can represent the black male population as being thugs and gangstas. We can see from the mise-en-scene that he is a higher class, wealthy male. We know this from his big house and
In the music video All of Me - John Legend we can see a positive representation of a black male. We can see from the mise-en-scene that he is a well groomed and dressed man who clearly cares about his appearance. This could break the stereotype of most of the people that fall into this group as other forms of media such as films can represent the black male population as being thugs and gangstas. We can see from the mise-en-scene that he is a higher class, wealthy male. We know this from his big house and
Thursday, 26 February 2015
P.I.E.S Examples
P.I.E.S Examples
Personal Identity - Skins Season 1
I chose skins as an example for personal identity because I can identify to some of the characters in the show. I feel I can relate these characters and their attitudes to people I see in society. I feel the characters represented in this season can be associated with people's attitudes and behaviour in the community I live in.
Information - ISIS News Article - BBC News
Thursday, 5 February 2015
"This Girl Can" - Representation Analysis
"This Girl Can" - Representation Analysis
This video represents women in a positive way. The representation of the women in this video is more relatable to the target audience than in mainstream media such as magazines that feature models which are extremely glamoured up and photoshopped. I think this is significant because the audience will be able to relate to the women in the video. This is more accurate to society and therefore it will appeal to more of the population. The women starring in the video are not all slim, young models and therefore disagreeing with the common representation in media forms such as women's magazines targeted at the same audience.
By the use of snappy, witty slogans the advert relates with the audience and builds a connection with them. This way the target audience will feel more invited to engage with the stereotype that is portrayed in the video. The cultural references in the video relate to this common conception of the population. As a lot of women in the targeted age range in the population, around 20+, are overweight or trying to be healthy this ensures the video will appeal to them. Enjoying exercise is the main theme of the video and therefore if the women that are being targeted are also trying to stay fit this video may encourage them to do so.
This video represents women in a positive way. The representation of the women in this video is more relatable to the target audience than in mainstream media such as magazines that feature models which are extremely glamoured up and photoshopped. I think this is significant because the audience will be able to relate to the women in the video. This is more accurate to society and therefore it will appeal to more of the population. The women starring in the video are not all slim, young models and therefore disagreeing with the common representation in media forms such as women's magazines targeted at the same audience.
By the use of snappy, witty slogans the advert relates with the audience and builds a connection with them. This way the target audience will feel more invited to engage with the stereotype that is portrayed in the video. The cultural references in the video relate to this common conception of the population. As a lot of women in the targeted age range in the population, around 20+, are overweight or trying to be healthy this ensures the video will appeal to them. Enjoying exercise is the main theme of the video and therefore if the women that are being targeted are also trying to stay fit this video may encourage them to do so.
Friday, 23 January 2015
AS Media Report
AS Media Report
My research has helped me work on my pre-production in a variety of ways. The main feature I needed inspiration for was the layout of the magazine. I chose to base my magazine layout on the magazines I had researched (Total Film and Empire) as it provided me with adequate information on what audiences like. As I wanted to target an audience within the socio economic groups C1 and B. My research on Filmmaker magazine provided me with ideas of what different varieties of audiences like, for example a more neutral layout is preferred for a higher class audience; the upper class and upper-middle class. The main image was a struggle to replicate in my magazine covers as most of the films being showcased on the front of these magazines were extremely high budget, famous blockbuster films. I had to improvise on the main image and hint at what the film could be about with the colour scheme, appearance of the main image and the cover lines. The language used in the cover lines would also tell the audience about the film. I struggled to create short and snappy, yet informative cover lines. I wanted them to inform the audience about the film and the content of the magazine but also not take up too much space and aim to invite the reader.
The data I got from my survey also helped me as I found out what the audience I am aiming at liked in a magazine and what they were interested in film. By asking the participants' age and a variety of questions about how much they are willing to spend on films I could take from this what socio economic grouping the audience will fit into. I can also find out how much the focussed audience enjoy films and how interested there are in them. I based my idea for my magazine covers mainly off Empire magazine. I used this magazine brand as I felt it portrays the showcased film the most clear out of the magazines I had studied. I also felt the information and colour schemes were all interlinked and I felt these were the most effective in persuading me to read the inside content. My choice of the colour scheme was basic and I thought this was significant as too complex colour schemes can come across as cluttered.
Due to the theme that I am following for my magazine I will be using these strict, bland colour schemes because I think anything more extreme will distract the reader and exclude it from the magazine theme. I also thought the imagery for these magazines could be simplified but still portray the same message. From researching these magazines and comparing what I had done to them I could find imperfections in my work and correct them. A deeper analysis of the magazines allowed me to pick out conventions in the main image as well as the cover lines and masthead. An example of this would be the main image in my first magazine cover, I took this image basing my ideas off magazines I researched. When shooting the image I had to take into account everything down to the stance and the facial expression of the subject. Many images were taken and the final one was the best out of the bunch.
This strict theme of boldness and strictness was carried through into the magazine double page spread I made. Due to the magazine continuation, the same target audience was addressed; therefore the same colour scheme and the same imagery to go along with it. I tried to ensure the colour schemes and layout remained similar because otherwise the two pieces would look as if they were from separate magazines. As there is no age set on my target audience specifically I thought using the colours red, white, black and red would ensure gender neutrality; therefore not restricting the audience. Comparing this to other magazines I have studied such as Empire, they use colour schemes that suit the theme of the week's magazine specifically. I have done the same with mine as the colours black and white represent the sharpness and boldness of the character shown in the magazine whereas the red can portray connotations of blood, danger and anger; which also ties in with the connotations of the Hitman theme.
As some of the language in the articles can be seen as more mature I think the target age range for this magazine will be set at around 13 and upwards. I don't think there is a specific cap on my age range because as long as the reader is interested in the topic of the article then they will be interested in the magazine. I tried to make the layout as clear as possible while also including enough information and images to fill out the page. I didn't want to leave any white spaces where information could have been included. The reuse of the image from the front cover deserves to be mentioned as I think it can be controversial. Through many magazines that I have researched, by the likes of Empire and Total Film, they have replicated the main image from the front cover of the magazine on the inside. Although some may feel this is a lazy feature I think it is good as it refreshes the audience's memory of the topic they are reading about but also gives them something to recognise. I think the idea of the image from the front cover appearing in an article gives that article a sense of significance also; if the image is good enough to be on the cover then the article must be good.
I included a lot of text on the two pages and by doing this I could have ended up repeating myself a lot. I took inspiration from various magazines and different sources to ensure I would keep variation in the content of the articles. The articles ranged from talking about the release of the film to personal opinions about the film. I think this is a significant feature because it allows people to get involved in the magazine and project their personal opinion. If I were toq compare my double page spread to the one I researched there would be similarities and differences between the two. I took inspiration from the magazine I studied but by using my own creative knowledge and other sources I combined the different features to make my magazine. I chose to change some things I didn't like from the original draft and I changed the layout a fair few times as I found different sources and what I thought I liked differed from time to time. I also needed to change certain aspects of the double page spread because it needed to suit both the magazine theme and the target audience.
The representation of the character in the images is specific to that character as he is playing a Hitman. Therefore the suit portrays the formality and the seriousness of his job. Also the colours schemes signify the sharpness that the Hitman has to ensue to do his job properly. I think the font used in the articles are significant as they also portray this clean-cut Hitman's nature. I think this representation doesn't suit any stereotypes in modern day society in terms of the audience reading it and this is because it is a movie character. Although we can't compare this to a real stereotype we can compare it to the stereotype of a Hitman in movies or other forms of media. I think the reasoning behind the consumption of this media would be for information but also out of personal interest. I feel people would read this magazine out of personal interest for the subject of the film or possibly to be social with their friends about the topic. Information about the movie can be found inside the articles so it could be read for information about the topic.
I think some of the strengths in my magazine are the layout, the articles and the colour scheme. I think this because it is what makes the magazine so easy to read and more aesthetically pleasing to look at. Also I think the layout is significant in attracting the reader because it provides them with a base idea of what the article's theme is, for example in my magazine the layout is sharp and clean; this relates to the connotations of the Hitman. Overall, these aesthetic features all combine to convey the connotations of the magazine and I think they do it well. I think the underlying message is portrayed well due to the layout and colour scheme among other features.
Due to the theme that I am following for my magazine I will be using these strict, bland colour schemes because I think anything more extreme will distract the reader and exclude it from the magazine theme. I also thought the imagery for these magazines could be simplified but still portray the same message. From researching these magazines and comparing what I had done to them I could find imperfections in my work and correct them. A deeper analysis of the magazines allowed me to pick out conventions in the main image as well as the cover lines and masthead. An example of this would be the main image in my first magazine cover, I took this image basing my ideas off magazines I researched. When shooting the image I had to take into account everything down to the stance and the facial expression of the subject. Many images were taken and the final one was the best out of the bunch.
As some of the language in the articles can be seen as more mature I think the target age range for this magazine will be set at around 13 and upwards. I don't think there is a specific cap on my age range because as long as the reader is interested in the topic of the article then they will be interested in the magazine. I tried to make the layout as clear as possible while also including enough information and images to fill out the page. I didn't want to leave any white spaces where information could have been included. The reuse of the image from the front cover deserves to be mentioned as I think it can be controversial. Through many magazines that I have researched, by the likes of Empire and Total Film, they have replicated the main image from the front cover of the magazine on the inside. Although some may feel this is a lazy feature I think it is good as it refreshes the audience's memory of the topic they are reading about but also gives them something to recognise. I think the idea of the image from the front cover appearing in an article gives that article a sense of significance also; if the image is good enough to be on the cover then the article must be good.
I included a lot of text on the two pages and by doing this I could have ended up repeating myself a lot. I took inspiration from various magazines and different sources to ensure I would keep variation in the content of the articles. The articles ranged from talking about the release of the film to personal opinions about the film. I think this is a significant feature because it allows people to get involved in the magazine and project their personal opinion. If I were toq compare my double page spread to the one I researched there would be similarities and differences between the two. I took inspiration from the magazine I studied but by using my own creative knowledge and other sources I combined the different features to make my magazine. I chose to change some things I didn't like from the original draft and I changed the layout a fair few times as I found different sources and what I thought I liked differed from time to time. I also needed to change certain aspects of the double page spread because it needed to suit both the magazine theme and the target audience.
The representation of the character in the images is specific to that character as he is playing a Hitman. Therefore the suit portrays the formality and the seriousness of his job. Also the colours schemes signify the sharpness that the Hitman has to ensue to do his job properly. I think the font used in the articles are significant as they also portray this clean-cut Hitman's nature. I think this representation doesn't suit any stereotypes in modern day society in terms of the audience reading it and this is because it is a movie character. Although we can't compare this to a real stereotype we can compare it to the stereotype of a Hitman in movies or other forms of media. I think the reasoning behind the consumption of this media would be for information but also out of personal interest. I feel people would read this magazine out of personal interest for the subject of the film or possibly to be social with their friends about the topic. Information about the movie can be found inside the articles so it could be read for information about the topic.
I think some of the strengths in my magazine are the layout, the articles and the colour scheme. I think this because it is what makes the magazine so easy to read and more aesthetically pleasing to look at. Also I think the layout is significant in attracting the reader because it provides them with a base idea of what the article's theme is, for example in my magazine the layout is sharp and clean; this relates to the connotations of the Hitman. Overall, these aesthetic features all combine to convey the connotations of the magazine and I think they do it well. I think the underlying message is portrayed well due to the layout and colour scheme among other features.
Tuesday, 9 December 2014
Exam Representation Case Studies
Film Trailer - The Inbetweeners 2
- Comedy
- Characters represented as students who don't really fit into any social groups
- A negative representation of age as their main focus is sex, sun and booze
- Language used by the characters is simplified - representation of how young people talk (negative)
- The characters' behaviour can influence how their audience feel toward the subject of the film
- The film's target audience can also relate to this - the majority of the film's audience is within this age range so they will be able to relate to the things they are doing
- The characters have individual personalities which can represent age differently: a liar, the dumb one, the smart one and the loser. These individual personalities can be relatable to different people
- The idea that teenagers, or 'inbetweeners', just want to party abroad is massively portrayed throughout the whole film as it is the underlying theme.
- Majority of the jokes in the trailer are surrounding the topic of sex - represents young people negatively as this could mean this is all they talk about
TV Programme - Sun, Sex and Suspicious Parents
- Negative representation of teenagers on their first holiday with their mates and without their parents
- Parents are chosen specifically so a good programme is made - for example in season 2, episode 1, jehovah's witnesses are chosen as parents as it makes a more interesting reaction when they find out what their children have been doing.
- Introducing the lads - they are in a pub drinking, stereotypical place to be for 18-19 year old lads
- A scene where he asks for his mum to cut his toenails for him while he's in the bath, negative representation as it tells us he can't do anything by himself
- Packing his bags scene - his mum has already bought things for him that lads at this age are expected to get themselves, e.g. condoms
- Son seen playing around and taunting his dad, can show a negative representation of his relationship with his dad and this could be generalised to a wider representation of teenage boys in the country although it may not be true
- The boys doing shots at 4am in the morning - negative representation of lads as they feel the need to drink as soon as they depart
- Montage of teens going crazy, partying, drinking and generally being sexual with each other
- Girls group filmed doing laughing gas - negative representation of cheap thrills and highs
- One of the lads filmed getting nude in a club and getting kicked out - negative - lack of responsibility and maturity
- Constructed reactions between parents as they are so different
- Mid way through interview one of the girls is sick - this isn't cut out of the programme because the producers want to leave this negative representations of immaturity and informality
- A scene where he asks for his mum to cut his toenails for him while he's in the bath, negative representation as it tells us he can't do anything by himself
- Packing his bags scene - his mum has already bought things for him that lads at this age are expected to get themselves, e.g. condoms
- Son seen playing around and taunting his dad, can show a negative representation of his relationship with his dad and this could be generalised to a wider representation of teenage boys in the country although it may not be true
- The boys doing shots at 4am in the morning - negative representation of lads as they feel the need to drink as soon as they depart
- Montage of teens going crazy, partying, drinking and generally being sexual with each other
- Girls group filmed doing laughing gas - negative representation of cheap thrills and highs
- One of the lads filmed getting nude in a club and getting kicked out - negative - lack of responsibility and maturity
- Constructed reactions between parents as they are so different
- Mid way through interview one of the girls is sick - this isn't cut out of the programme because the producers want to leave this negative representations of immaturity and informality
Advert - Shreddies Cereal
- Old woman - key aspects: grey hair, glasses, cardigan, pearl necklace
- Representation that old women, particularly grandmas, can and do knit
Thursday, 27 November 2014
Production Research Analysis
Production Research Analysis
In this example of a double page spread an image of a main character of the film that is being showcased. This is significant as it stresses the importance of the character and his role in the film. As this film has a formal theme the connotations that the theme, the layout and the fonts portray need to fit this theme. The character's attire in the image also adds to this formal atmosphere.
The fonts are clearly laid out and well presented to carry on the simple and uncomplicated theme. The character is set a distance apart from the car as it creates space for the page separation when printing. The rule of thirds has also been applied in order to make the layout more aesthetically pleasing to the audience. The empty space above the car is suitable as it allows space for the text. The colour scheme is neutral, the black suit synergises with the black text and it continues the formal theme. The main character being in focus also allows for him to be the focal point.
The text is separated cleanly and is all aligned where appropriate, therefore continuing the formal and clean theme. The slight italic font on the title can portray connotations of significance and therefore the audience will look at this immediately and think it portrays some sort of importance. The use of language can also be important as it can appeal to the audience. The repetition used in the title can also appeal to the audience, "something old, something new."
This is clearly a more detailed double page spread and this is because it is talking about the film in more in depth detail. The previous double page spread is simply showcasing the film whereas this one is talking about the plot and how the film was produced. The layout is less clear than the previous one as more information needs to be displayed. This issue contains a list of the top films, with Skyfall being number 1. The rest of the list continues on the side of the second page. They are all numbered but numbers 1, 2 and 3 are portrayed with some sort of significance as they are the focus of the list.
The second and third place films are briefly reviewed in proportion to their significance in the list. Brief evaluations and reviews of the films are displayed underneath their names and an image of the actors or a screenshot from the film. Skyfall has the number one place therefore it is showcased the most, the biggest image, the most text explaining the film and its production and therefore the most space on the page is taken up for this film.
Friday, 14 November 2014
Research Analysis
Research Analysis
My research has helped me work on my pre-production in a variety of ways. The main feature I needed inspiration for was the layout of the magazine. I chose to base my magazine layout on the magazines I had researched as it provided me with adequate information on what audiences like. As I wanted to target a an audience within the socio economic groups C1 and B. My research on filmmaker magazine provided me with ideas of what different varieties of audiences like, for example a more neutral layout is preferred for a higher class audience. The main image was a struggle to replicate in my magazine covers as most of the films being showcased on the front of these magazines were extremely high budget, famous blockbuster films. I had to improvise on the main image and hint at what the film could be about with the colour scheme, appearance of the main image and the cover lines. The language used in the cover lines would also tell the audience about the film. I struggled to create short and snappy, yet informative cover lines. I wanted them to inform the audience about the film and the content of the magazine but also not take up too much space and aim to invite the reader.
The data I got from my survey also helped me as I found out what the audience I am aiming at liked in a magazine and what they were interested in film. By asking the participants' age and a variety of questions about how much they are willing to spend on films I could take from this what socio economic grouping the audience will fit into. I can also find out how much the focussed audience enjoy films and how interested there are in them. I based my idea for my magazine covers mainly off Empire magazine. I used this magazine brand as I felt it portrays the showcased film the most clear out of the magazines I had studied. I also felt the information and colour schemes were all interlinked and I felt these were the most effective in persuading me to read the inside content. I also thought the imagery for these magazines could be simplified but still portray the same message. From researching these magazines and comparing what I had done to them I could find imperfections in my work and correct them. A deeper analysis of the magazines allowed me to pick out conventions in the main image as well as the cover lines and masthead. An example of this would be the main image in my first magazine cover, I took this image basing my ideas off magazines I researched. When shooting the image I had to take into account everything down to the stance and the facial expression of the subject. Many images were taken and the final one was the best out of the bunch.
Wednesday, 22 October 2014
Survey Data Analysis
Survey Data Analysis
Q1 - How old are you?
All of the participants of my survey were in my media class, this meant the results for this question would be the same as the age range doesn't exceed the boundaries of the question. In the future I may need to gather more results so I can depict what effect age has on the later questions. This question could also give me an idea of what socio-economic group the audience would be in and what that specific group likes. This means I can play to the strengths and focus on the most popular elements of film when producing my magazine.
Q2 - What is your preferred genre of film?
Each response was different for this question as people have varied opinions on their favourite genre of film. I think this is significant as it allows me to include a range of different films in my magazine. The problem I have with the amount of responses is I don't know which is the most popular genre so I don't know which to focus on when producing my magazine.
Q3 - How many times a month do you visit the cinema on average?
The responses for this question were varied. 66% of participants answered 1-3 and the other third told me they visited the cinema 0 times a month. This could give me an idea of how popular the cinema is and how I should focus on the aspect of cinema when producing my magazine.
Q4 - How many movies do you watch per week?
100% of people told me they watched from 1-3 films a week. This tells me people prefer to watch films at home rather than the cinema. This could mean including aspects of home cinema in my magazine as people may be more interested in this.
Q5 - What is your favourite film?
This question is to purely involve the reader in the questionnaire, inviting them to proceed. By including a personal response this gives me the option to include specialist films. The only problem with this is I don't have enough responses in order to find out if people have the same taste in films.
Q6 - On a scale from 1 to 10 (10 being the most) how interested are you in films?
This question provides a backbone to my production as it tells me how interested people are in films. If more people from varied age ranges were to answer this it would give me an idea on what age range to focus on and therefore how to structure my magazine. 100% of answers to this question were at the value 8 which tells me the people in this age range that answered this question were interested in films.
Q7 - What film magazine(s) do you read, if any?
The answers to this question provide adequate information on how popular film magazines are in different age ranges. This is effective in my research as it also tells me which age range to focus on, therefore how to structure my magazine. 100% of people answered 'None' for this question. This is significant because it tells me how big of an audience I would attract if I focused on that age range.
Q8 - How much on average do you spend on films per week?
As the responses for the cinema question were similar to this one, these answers could be predicted. Some answers may vary due to extraneous variables, for example people may buy DVDs to watch films or they may watch them online. 100% of people answered £0-£5. We know they don't visit the cinema so I expected these answers.
Q9 - Where would you rather watch a film?
This question may tell us why people don't like visiting the cinema. The results tell us two thirds of the participants prefer watching films at the cinema rather than at home. This could be significant because people may not want to spend money in order to go to the cinema, they may also not have the money to spend. These results may vary if varied age ranges took part in the questionnaire as people with jobs may visit the cinema more often as they will have money to spend. This also may be disproved as people with jobs may not have enough time to visit the cinema.
Q10 - Do you have a favourite director? If yes, please specify.
The issue stands with this question as there aren't enough responses to evaluate fully. A more mature audience may read film magazines as they may be interested in different things. If a more mature audience were to partake in the questionnaire then I think there would be more results. 100% of answers for this question were 'No.'
Q4 - How many movies do you watch per week?
100% of people told me they watched from 1-3 films a week. This tells me people prefer to watch films at home rather than the cinema. This could mean including aspects of home cinema in my magazine as people may be more interested in this.
Q5 - What is your favourite film?
This question is to purely involve the reader in the questionnaire, inviting them to proceed. By including a personal response this gives me the option to include specialist films. The only problem with this is I don't have enough responses in order to find out if people have the same taste in films.
Q6 - On a scale from 1 to 10 (10 being the most) how interested are you in films?
This question provides a backbone to my production as it tells me how interested people are in films. If more people from varied age ranges were to answer this it would give me an idea on what age range to focus on and therefore how to structure my magazine. 100% of answers to this question were at the value 8 which tells me the people in this age range that answered this question were interested in films.
Q7 - What film magazine(s) do you read, if any?
The answers to this question provide adequate information on how popular film magazines are in different age ranges. This is effective in my research as it also tells me which age range to focus on, therefore how to structure my magazine. 100% of people answered 'None' for this question. This is significant because it tells me how big of an audience I would attract if I focused on that age range.
Q8 - How much on average do you spend on films per week?
As the responses for the cinema question were similar to this one, these answers could be predicted. Some answers may vary due to extraneous variables, for example people may buy DVDs to watch films or they may watch them online. 100% of people answered £0-£5. We know they don't visit the cinema so I expected these answers.
Q9 - Where would you rather watch a film?
This question may tell us why people don't like visiting the cinema. The results tell us two thirds of the participants prefer watching films at the cinema rather than at home. This could be significant because people may not want to spend money in order to go to the cinema, they may also not have the money to spend. These results may vary if varied age ranges took part in the questionnaire as people with jobs may visit the cinema more often as they will have money to spend. This also may be disproved as people with jobs may not have enough time to visit the cinema.
Q10 - Do you have a favourite director? If yes, please specify.
The issue stands with this question as there aren't enough responses to evaluate fully. A more mature audience may read film magazines as they may be interested in different things. If a more mature audience were to partake in the questionnaire then I think there would be more results. 100% of answers for this question were 'No.'
Tuesday, 21 October 2014
Textual Analysis - Filmmaker Magazine
Textual Analysis - Filmmaker Magazine
This magazine cover can portray mixed connotations as, amongst other things, the colour scheme and the main image are relatively neutral. First of all, the main image is a photograph of actor James Franco. Franco's attire includes a checkered shirt and a simple, black shirt underneath. These items of clothing can portray simplicity and a neutral atmosphere. This may be because the producers of the magazine may want the audience to focus on the text. The facial expression of Franco in this image is also significant as he is smiling, suggesting the neutral theme once again.
The way Franco is looking can also have some significance as he could be looking toward the text, encouraging the audience to read it as it is clearly the focal point. On this occasion the person in the main image is not making eye contact with the audience as the cover lines are significant in explaining the main content of the magazine.
The masthead of the magazine can be seen as childlike as the font is clearly not formal but it could also portray connotations of creativity. The colour scheme also blends with the colours used in fonts further down the magazine in cover lines. These colours of the fonts stress significance of their meaning, for example the name "Danny Boyle" and "127 Hours" are in the same colour and font as they are linked. The word "inspiring" is in a different, less significant font as it is purely describing the film. The size of the font can also portray meaning as it can stress significance; the larger the font, the more significant the language.
The cover lines are all placed around the main image; none of them invade the image as it can disrupt the effect the image is trying to portray. The image is aligned using the rule of thirds as it is the most effective way of displaying an image that is most aesthetically pleasing to the audience. This also allows room for the cover lines in the empty space. The barcode is also situated at the bottom right corner of the cover as this way it is positioned out of the way and therefore it doesn't disrupt the main image or the cover lines.
The socio-economic group for this magazine may be placed at around C1-A as the magazine is priced higher than the rest I have analysed and can be seen as formal compared to them. The price of this magazine can be as high as £5. This suggests the magazine is designed to attract a more formal and sophisticated audience.
Friday, 17 October 2014
Textual Analysis - Total Film
Textual Analysis - Total Film
This Total Film magazine cover showcases the film "X-Men: Days of Future Past." This is evident not only because it states it in the cover lines but more obviously the main image. In this case the masthead of the magazine is behind the main image. This is usually the case but in the last analysis the magazine was a special edition so it was different. The key theme to this cover is that everything is central. The masthead, the main image and all of the cover lines are central; portraying connotations of formality and seriousness.
The use of dark colours also stresses this dignified theme. The facial expressions of the actors in the main image also express this as they are all looking toward the audience; with the exception of one on the left. This has some significance because it briefly explains how the characters will behave in the film. We can take from this that the character on the left has some significance as he is different to the others.
The cover lines are all situated at the bottom of the cover, this is due to the fact all of the characters in the main image are important and therefore we need to see their attire and body language. The cover lines are used to persuade the reader to read the magazine and question what is inside. The font scales with level of language importance.
A good example of this on this magazine would be "Future 100" as it ensures the audience will see it and therefore they will question it. The use of the enigma code will ensure the reader is invited to read it. The bright white font is bold and clear to ensure it can be red with ease. If it wasn't that clear people would be put off and wouldn't be as intrigued.
The language used is also significant because of the affect it has on the audience. An example of this on this cover would be "your essential preview to everything that matters in movies." If someone who is interested in film reads this they will feel the need to read it as they believe it is "essential" and they will want to know "everything that matters in movies." This clever use of persuasive language encourages the reader to purchase the magazine.
The colour scheme for this cover is significant because it is consistent throughout and it can portray connotations of clarity but also high ranking. It also blends with the characters' attire. Four of the five characters are wearing black clothing. The reason for the fifth character, the one on the left, not wearing black relates to his role in the film. He is the different character, he acts differently and we can extract this from the front cover.
The socio-economic grouping for this magazine may be placed at C1 up to B as the price can be set around £3-£4 for this magazine on average. We know this range in the socio-economic grouping would be suited for this magazine as these are the people that would be willing to spend this amount on a magazine. We can also tell this as the language used could be quite advanced. The only problem with this summarisation would be some of the audience may fit into the C2 - D grouping range as the magazine may be bought for them but they may have an interest in it.
The colour scheme for this cover is significant because it is consistent throughout and it can portray connotations of clarity but also high ranking. It also blends with the characters' attire. Four of the five characters are wearing black clothing. The reason for the fifth character, the one on the left, not wearing black relates to his role in the film. He is the different character, he acts differently and we can extract this from the front cover.
The socio-economic grouping for this magazine may be placed at C1 up to B as the price can be set around £3-£4 for this magazine on average. We know this range in the socio-economic grouping would be suited for this magazine as these are the people that would be willing to spend this amount on a magazine. We can also tell this as the language used could be quite advanced. The only problem with this summarisation would be some of the audience may fit into the C2 - D grouping range as the magazine may be bought for them but they may have an interest in it.
Thursday, 16 October 2014
Textual Analysis - Empire Magazine
Textual Analysis - Empire Magazine
This magazine cover is a prime example of a magazine that captivates and invites it's audience. The masthead for this magazine differs from others as it covers the main image; mastheads usually sit behind the main image. This could be because title isn't as well known as others such as GQ or Vogue but it could also be because the magazine needs the promotion as it is not as popular as others. The striking, bold red font portrays connotations of importance of the magazine. The font is not formal but it also isn't informal, it is a neutral medium in-between. The theme of this magazine is set by the content; the film "Tron Legacy" is being showcased. This has resulted in a change in font at the top of the magazine. The colour and style of the font suits the film and this could promote the film further.
This brings me to the main image; in this case it is one of the main characters in the film. The character is played by actor Jeff Bridges. The image is central and eye contact is created with the audience. This could create a bond between the audience and the character in the main image; therefore inviting them to buy the magazine. The facial expression of the character in the image could also portray the message of the film so we have a slight idea of the genre without having any prior knowledge to the film.
We can clearly see the film is not a comedy due to the formality and the colour scheme; the colours could suggest sci-fi. The choice of actor to put on the magazine cover is significant as it could suggest the level of formality for the film; an older figure could portray connotations of wiseness and knowledge. We can also take from this the character's role in the film. The enigma code is used here to ask the audience questions about the film, they will question what is going on and therefore they will either want to buy the magazine or watch the film.
We can clearly see the film is not a comedy due to the formality and the colour scheme; the colours could suggest sci-fi. The choice of actor to put on the magazine cover is significant as it could suggest the level of formality for the film; an older figure could portray connotations of wiseness and knowledge. We can also take from this the character's role in the film. The enigma code is used here to ask the audience questions about the film, they will question what is going on and therefore they will either want to buy the magazine or watch the film.
The cover lines are evenly spread around the main image so that information about the content of the magazine is addressed but the main image is not covered to the point that it cannot be seen properly. The font used is the same as the masthead as this continues the formal yet creative theme of the magazine. The colours of the fonts are significant as they capture the reader's attention as they are bright and vivid but they also fit the colour scheme of the film. The yellow font could alarm the reader and invite them to read the heading and therefore encouraging them to continue reading. The language of the cover lines needs to be concise but it also needs to persuade the audience to read on.
Certain information is given but it is used in a way that it ensures the reader questions it. An example of this on this magazine cover would be "How was your 2010?" By addressing the audience directly in a way that ensues conversation can make them think about the question in hand. This creates a bond between the audience and the magazine as it is almost like they are having conversation. Language like "The ultimate guide" and "magazine of the year" can promote the magazine and once again persuade the audience to read on. The inclusion of well-known celebrities names such as Johnny Depp and Angelina Jolie can motivate people to read about them as they are interested in the films that they star in.
The socio-economic grouping of this magazine can be difficult to analyse as there is a wide age range that could be targeted. The price of the magazine is not displayed but the average price for Empire magazines is around £3.59. This could put the socio-economic grouping for this magazine at groups C1 and above; up to B as group A may be interested in higher quality magazines.
Certain information is given but it is used in a way that it ensures the reader questions it. An example of this on this magazine cover would be "How was your 2010?" By addressing the audience directly in a way that ensues conversation can make them think about the question in hand. This creates a bond between the audience and the magazine as it is almost like they are having conversation. Language like "The ultimate guide" and "magazine of the year" can promote the magazine and once again persuade the audience to read on. The inclusion of well-known celebrities names such as Johnny Depp and Angelina Jolie can motivate people to read about them as they are interested in the films that they star in.
The socio-economic grouping of this magazine can be difficult to analyse as there is a wide age range that could be targeted. The price of the magazine is not displayed but the average price for Empire magazines is around £3.59. This could put the socio-economic grouping for this magazine at groups C1 and above; up to B as group A may be interested in higher quality magazines.
Survey Monkey - Film Magazine Survey
Survey Monkey - Film Magazine Survey
https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/2BJMD2R
Friday, 10 October 2014
Examples of Representation in the Media
Examples of Representation in the Media
This is an example of the upper class in the media. In the image we can see the UK leaders being portrayed and represented as being powerful. In the image we can see they are well dressed and well groomed. This gives connotations of responsibility and formality. This was found on the homepage of BBC News, meaning this is one of the most important topics at the time in this country. The facial expressions of the men in the image gives the reader an idea of what the topic is about; issues in the governing of the country. This is a positive representation of men in the media.
This is one representation of men in the media, the programme Insane Fight Club. Found in the category TV on the BBC website, the image shows 3 men who are involved in a fighting club and subculture. The image shown gives connotations of crazy and mad men. The clothing they are wearing in the image is all black and the men can be seen wearing tattoos. These features also give connotations of insanity. The programme represents the men in a negative way. They are portrayed as crazy and the people involved are portrayed as crazy and mental. Warnings are displayed before the show telling the audience that there is strong language and scenes "you may find upsetting." This is then followed by a sarcastic comment about the fighter's sanity, this is used because it amuses the audience but it also gives them an idea of how the men behave in the show.
The film Lucy includes actors Scarlett Johansson and Morgan Freeman. This is significant because they are two contrasting people. Morgan Freeman is a black, older male and Scarlett Johansson is a young, white female. In the film. The scientists are all male and they are all older, this could be a stereotype towards scientists. Johansson is portrayed as a white, blonde woman in her mid twenties at the beginning of the film, her dress sense is casual throughout the film. This is important because people may connect and relate with this; making the film more believable. Another reason why Johansson may have been selected for this role is because she has been voted sexiest woman alive for the second time by Esquire. This could also be another marketing technique as there could be shots in the film that could be revealing; this would encourage people to go and see the film. Another that Morgan Freeman was chosen to play the part of the scientist could be how he is older and this could have connotations of being wise.
South Park stereotypes race very much so. Comments are made by the characters in the show that could be deemed racist but manage to remain in the boundaries of social acceptance. Strong stereotypes are made in the show, especially those toward race. None of the main characters are black and few other characters in the show are black but when they are shown in an episode they are scripted to make comments which could offend. An episode titled "Chef Goes Nanners" includes the black character Chef and his protest against the South Park flag because he thinks it is racist. This episode could have deeper meaning and could be in response to the audience of the show complaining about racism. The message behind the episode is that by pointing out racism it makes you racist yourself.
The programme My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding highly sexualises women and girls. No matter the age of the girls doesn't appear to matter to the families involved. Although this is how the girls are represented in the programme it doesn't mean that this is how they act. The programme highlights the negative side of the families and how they act but it doesn't include the positive side of what they say. Just because the girls are dressed like this and the way they behave it doesn't mean they don't have morals. Some of the girls, for example, save themselves for their husband. Someone who watches the show would not think this due to the representation of the girls. The things they wear, the way they behave on camera and the language they use doesn't portray this message. There is no doubt, however, that the women in the programme are highly sexualised in a certain way to gain an audience; this could also be a marketing technique.
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