A2 Media Studies
Coursework
Research and Planning
Name: Basil Abdelkariem
M.I.G.R.A.I.N – Meaning/Media
Language:
• Symbolism -the use of symbols to represent deeper meanings or
themes. Symbols are usually objects, which are easy to
understand, but they represent something more complex. We use
symbols every day for example a red rose is a symbol of love or
romance.
• Symbolic codes- symbolic codes are social in nature meaning that
these codes live outside the media product themselves but would
be understood in real life by the audience.
• Technical Codes- codes that are specific to a media form and do
not live outside of them, these include camerawork editing sound
and lighting
• Stuart Hall-Stuart halls reception theory states that media texts
are encoded by producers meaning that whoever produces the
text fills the product with values and messages.
Technical Codes: Camera
• Technical codes are codes that are specific to a
media form and do not live outside of them. For
instance, our understanding of different camera
shots and their connotations make sense when we
look and films and photographs but mean nothing
to us outside of those forms. Technical codes in
media
include Camerawork, Editing, Audio and Lighting.
shot example description
Establishing shot
establishes the context for a scene by showing the
relationship between its important figures and
objects
Extreme-close up
a type of shot that tightly frames a person or
object.
Close up
frames the head, neck, and sometimes the
shoulders of the subject.
Medium Close up
halfway between a medium shot and a close-up
shot, capturing the subject from the waist up.
Medium Shot
In a movie a medium shot, mid shot, or waist shot
is a camera angle shot from a medium distance.
Medium Long Shot
somewhere between a medium shot and a full
shot, showing the subject from the knees up. Also
called a ¾ shot.
Long Shot A long shot is essentially the same as a wide shot. When
referring to a person, a long shot means they take up almost the
full frame height.
Extreme Long Shot
An extreme long shot (ELS) is used to portray a vast area from
an apparently very long distance.
pan
A pan shot or panning shot is when you turn the camera on a fixed head. It is a technique where you
follow a moving subject, and you can shoot this with a slower shutter speed to create a feeling
of speed or action.
tilt
A tilt shot is shot that uses a cinematographic technique called tilting in which the camera stays fixed
but rotates up and down on a vertical plane.
track a shot in which the camera is mounted on a cart which travels along tracks.
dolly
In many circles a dolly shot is also known as a tracking shot or trucking
shot. However some professionals prefer the more rigid terminology which defines dolly as in-and-out
movement, while tracking means side-to-side movement.
crane
a crane shot is a shot taken by a camera on a moving crane or jib. Most cranes accommodate both the
camera and an operator, but some can be moved by remote control.
Deep
focus Deep focus is a photographic and cinematographic technique using a large depth of field.
Shallow
Focus
Shallow focus is a photographic and cinematographic technique incorporating a small depth of field.
Aerial Shot
An aerial shot is a shot that's taken from an elevated
vantage point than what is framed in the shot.
Point of View Shot
shows the action through the eyes of a
specific character, essentially letting the audience become
that character.
Over the Shoulder shot
the camera is positioned behind or over the shoulder
of one subject while the other subject is still visible
on screen, emphasizing the connection between the characters.
High angle shot
Used to indicate the balance of power between
characters. In high-angle shots, the audience looks down on the
subject, giving the audience a sense of superiority.
Low angle shot
Used to indicate the balance of power between
characters. In low-angle shots, the audience looks up at
the subject, giving the audience a sense of inferiority.
Technical Codes: Editing
• Editing is the process of choosing, manipulating
and arranging images and sound. Editing is
generally done for four different reasons:
• Graphic edits
• Rhythmic edits
• Spacial edits
• Temporal edits
Match on Action
• The match on action is a very valuable technique in
continuity editing, a style of film editing that
emphasizes clear spatial relationships between
objects in a scene. By seeing the same movement
beginning and ending in two consecutive,
differently framed shots, spectators will easily
interpret the space around the action as a
continuous whole. For a real match on action, the
action should begin in the first shot and end in the
second shot. It's difficult to visualize this without a
real film in front of you, but a diagram may still be
useful.
Shot Reverse Shot
• Shot/reverse shot is a film technique where one
character is shown looking at another character,
and then the other character is shown looking back
at the first character. Since the characters are
shown facing in opposite directions, the viewer
assumes that they are looking at each other.
Shot/reverse shot is a feature of the "classical"
Hollywood style of continuity editing, which
deemphasizes transitions between shots such that
the spectator perceives one continuous action that
develops linearly, chronologically, and logically. It is
an example of an eyeline match.
Continuous Editing
• Continuity editing is the process, in film and video
creation, of combining more-or-less related shots,
or different components cut from a single shot, into
a sequence to direct the viewer's attention to a
pre-existing consistency of story across both time
and physical location. The purpose of continuity
editing is to smooth over the inherent discontinuity
of the editing process and to establish a logical
coherence between shots. Through the information
provided below and your own research you will
prepare a report on Continuity Editing and define
and explore the different techniques it involves.
Invisible Editing (Cuts)
• Invisible cuts are frequently used in feature-film editing to
provide consistency and believability, the building blocks to
creating an emotional connection with the viewer. In film
theory, there are basically two types of cuts: visible and
invisible. The visible cut is highly noticeable, while invisible
cuts are all about smoothly transitioning from one scene to
the next, so as not to distract from the story.
• Invisible cuts are frequently used in feature-film editing to
provide consistency and believability, the building blocks to
creating an emotional connection with the viewer. In this
article, we present four essential tips for crafting invisible
cuts, offering some useful tools for telling a convincing story
without distracting the viewer’s attention.
Technical Codes: Sound
• Audio is the expressive or naturalistic use of sound.
Audio can be diegetic or non diegetic. The three
aspects of audio are:
• dialogue
• sound effects
• music
Symbolic Codes - Symbolism
• Symbolic codes are social in nature. What this
means is that these codes live outside the media
product themselves but would be understood in
similar ways in the ‘real life’ of the audience. For
instance, if you saw somebody receive a red rose in
a film, you would assume there is a romantic
relationship between the two characters. If you
gave somebody a red rose in real life, you might be
hoping the same. Symbolic codes in media
include setting, mise en scene, acting and colour.
Colour Symbolism
• Color symbolism in art and anthropology refers to the use of
color as a symbol in various cultures. There is great diversity in
the use of colors and their associations between cultures and
even within the same culture in different time periods. The same
color may have very different associations within the same
culture at any time. Diversity in color symbolism occurs because
color meanings and symbolism occur on an individual, cultural
and universal basis. Color symbolism is also context-dependent
and influenced by changes over time. Symbolic representations
of religious concepts or articles may include a specific color with
which the concept or object is associated. There is evidence to
suggest that colors have been used for this purpose as early as
90,000 BC. Color symbolism has changed over time. Between the
5th and 17th centuries, color was largely related to in a religious
context. Blue was symbolic of heaven and white of purity. Today,
purity is still symbolized by white in Australia and the USA but by
blue in other countries like India. Similarly, the church influenced
the perception of colors like crimson and purple. Largely because
the dyes for these colors could only be sourced from precious
pigments, religious figures like Madonna, Cardinals, and the
Virgin were seen in scarlet and purple.
Symbolic Codes - Settings
• Setting is the time and place of the
narrative. When discussing setting, you can
describe the setting of the whole story or
just a specific scene. A setting can be as big
as the outback or space, or as small as a
specific room. Setting can even be a
created atmosphere or frame of mind.
Symbolic Codes - Costumes
• Costume includes the wardrobe
choices and make-up that is used to
convey a character’s status or
personality.
• Costume can have a wide variety of
other functions. They can help signify
the setting or era of the narrative, can
play important roles in the plot of the
film, draw the eye to a specific
character or help point out the
difference between characters or the
setting.
Symbolic Codes - Props
• Prop is short for property, another term
borrowed from the theatre. When an
object in the setting has a function within
the ongoing action, it is then called a prop.
Props are often closely linked to the plot of
the narrative, or a cause-and-effect
relationship. If a prop is repeated
throughout the narrative, it may become
a motif, and connected to
a theme or moral of the story.
• A prop that is used to drive a plot forward
is sometimes called a McGuffin. This is a
term that was created by Alfred Hitchcock
to describe a prop that only serves the
purpose to create motivation. It is usually
of great worth to someone.
Symbolic Codes – Facial
Expressions
• An actor’s facial expression is a
powerful way of expressing emotion
when even small movements can
have strong symbolic connotations.
• Eyebrows are important signifiers in
facial expressions and is often a
good place to start when doing a
description.
• Gaze is also an important part of
facial expression — it’s a term used
to describe the focus of a person’s
look. Is the person looking at the
camera, at someone else or outside
the frame? When two people’s gaze
meet, this is called eye contact.
Symbolic Codes – Body Language
• Body language is about the way an
actor controls their body through
gestures, posture and body contact.
• A gesture is a kind of visible
expression made by the actor, a type
of movement. It could be a wave, a
slap of the forehead, a shake of the
head.
• Posture is the general way that the
body is held, it’s the attitude of the
body. Arms crossed suggest someone
might be defensive, a rigid posture
might suggest someone is tense,
slouching might suggest someone is
depressed.
• Body contact is a very powerful
symbolic code that suggests intimacy
and is highly dependent on cultural
norms.
M.I.G.R.A.I.N –
Meaning/Media Language:
M.I.G.R.A.I.N- Meaning/Media
Language
• Example essay: The extract begins with a medium close up of a woman on the verge of tears setting an
unhappy mood using the woman's facial expression. The music used is slow which sets the tone for the
audience using sound mixed with the woman's facial expressions. After we see there is a long shot which
reveals the Lincoln memorial destroyed which we could simply means that this is symbolism trying to show a
broken America as the place they live have a very hollow vibe of despair. Another source of symbolism would
be that the president Abraham Lincoln freed the slaves, so we know that he stands for freedom and the fact
that his memorial has been destroyed is maybe saying that there is none and all hope is lost.
• The woman seems like she has suffered something tragic or maybe has been through a tragic event and that
could be why there is a dark tone to this scene. When the woman gets up, she puts a mask over her face,
which could be referring to her freedom being taken away as she is being silenced. We can tell she is the main
character as the shallow focus continues and all the attention is on her now and when the camera tracks her as
she walks out of the memorial, you assume that she is lonely but when the camera cuts to an over the
shoulder shot, there are more woman dressed in red just like her symbolizing that there are many just like her.
• Another hint that symbolizes loss of freedom and oppression is that these are the only women with their
mouths covered, this is a clear sign of a hiarchy system where woman is looked down on. Further evidence of
this is shown by the men in black standing at the end of each line. The woman is wearing red possibly
symbolizing a warning to the oppressed while the men are wearing black which often is used to symbolize
power.
• This is a very religious place as the women are all covered. However there seems to be tension between the
man and the woman in red, when he looks at her the music becomes drawn out to show to the audience that
things have become more intense., a further argument for this becomes clearer as the camera cuts to one of
the women in front and zooms closer to her and shows her facial expression to be a bit worried. When the
woman in red drops to her knees the hierchy in this society becomes clearer as she is showing
her oppressiveness. When The camera cuts to an extreme close up of the woman in reds eye showing her
focusing on the crucifix in front of her, giving the impression she is seeing past the authoritarian world, but
looking straight to the symbol of hope.
M.I.G.R.A.I.N – Institutions:
• Keywords
• Conglomerate- A media conglomerate is a company that owns numerous companies involved in
mass media enterprises, such as television, radio, publishing, motion pictures, theme parks, or
the Internet.
• Oligopoly-Oligopoly is a market structure with a small number of firms, none of which can keep
the others from having significant influence.
• 360 degree status- 360 degrees is a relationship cycle that consists of many touchpoints where a
customer meets the brand. Be it through purchases or marketing communications, via customer
service or on social media.
• Gatekeepers- Gatekeeping is a process by which information is filtered to the public by the
media. According to Pamela Shoemaker and Tim Vos, gatekeeping is the "process of culling and
crafting countless bits of information into the limited number of messages that reach people
every day, and it is the center of the media's role in modern public life.
• Horizontal Integration- is a Media Company’s Ownership of several businesses of the same
value. A Media Company can own a Magazine, Radio, Newspaper, Television and Books. Almost
all Media companies have horizontal integration.
• Vertical intergration-Vertical Integration is when a Media Company owns different businesses in
the same chain of production and distribution.
M.I.G.R.A.I.N – Institutions:
• Institutional research – Production Labels- In 2002, Beauty and the Beast was added to the
United States National film Registry as being deemed "culturally, historically, or aesthetically
significant." In June 2008, the American Film Institut revealed its "Ten Top Ten" lists of the best
ten films in ten "classic" American film genres, based on polls of over 1,500 people from the
creative community. Beauty and the Beast was acknowledged as the seventh-best film in the
animation genre.] In previous lists, it ranked number 22 on the institute's list of best
musicals and number 34 on its list of the best romantic American films.On the list of the greatest
songs from American films, Beauty and the Beast ranked number 62.
• BBFC
• The British Board of Film Classification is a non-governmental organisation founded by the film
industry in 1912 and responsible for the national classification and censorship of films exhibited
at cinemas and video works released on physical media within the United Kingdom. It has a
statutory requirement to classify all video works released on VHS, DVD, Blu-ray, and, to a lesser
extent, some video games under the Video Recordings Act 1984. The BBFC was also the
designated regulator for the UK age-verification scheme which was abandoned before being
implemented.
M.I.G.R.A.I.N – Genre:
Genre Theorists (who, what, examples): :
Steve Neale – Genre as Repetition and Difference: “Genre is
familiar to audiences through the repetition of conventions like a
physically strong, dynamic, violent, male hero in Action
Adventure Video Games like Assassin’s Creed and GTAV but is
challenged by a female lead character in Tomb Raider and
Beyond: Two Souls. Other conventions are the same however,
despite this key difference and serve to maintain interest in an
apparently evolving genre”.
M.I.G.R.A.I.N – Genre:
• Rick Altman and Genre theory Rick Altman, in his book
‘Film/Genre’ proposed what he called a
semantic/syntactic approach Semantic – this is
concerned with the conventions of the genre that
communicate to the audience such as characters,
locations, props, music, shooting style, and other
signifiers. Rick Altman and Genre theory.
• Rick Altman, in his book ‘Film/Genre’ proposed what
he called a semantic/syntactic approach. Semantic –
this is concerned with the conventions of the genre
that communicate to the audience such as characters,
locations, props, music, shooting style, and other
signifiers.
Rick Altman's Semantics and
Syntactics
Horror Action Science Fiction Romance
Semantics
(physical things
you expect to
see)
• Isolated
house
• Dolls
• Graveyards
Guns
Running
Bad guys
Leather jackets
cars
Aliens
Space
Creatures
Snazzy suits
Evil lords in
space
Flowers
Rings
Kissing
Sweets
Dates
Restaurants
candles
Syntactics
(plotlines/emoti
ons/atmosphere
you expect)
• Paranormal
activity
Heroes
Good over bad
always
Fear
Revenge
Love
War
Love
Hate
Lust
Explain what Rick Altman's theory is...
Horror Mood board (pictures)
Action Mood board (pictures)
Sci Fi Mood board (pictures)
:
M.I.G.R.A.I.N – Representation:
• Representation Theorists (who, what, examples):Levi-Strauss – Binary
Oppositions and Subordinate Groups: “Levi-Strauss’ theory (see
narrative theorists), like Dyer is a way of understanding how
representation are deliberately placed in binary opposition to ensure
the dominant culture is maintained and the minority representations is
seen as subordinate and marginalized. In Game of Thrones southern
regional identity is often seen as the preferred culture through
representation within the mise-en-scene – there is more money in the
south, the southern King speaks with an elaborated language code, the
buildings have cleaner lines, dress code is smarter and there is
significant daytime shooting. In the North the scenes are often shot at
night, characters are rougher, have long hair and beards and are often
seen heavy drinking and shouting, talking in an aggressive way about
battles and conflict”.
• Colour representations- In Christianity, the color red symbolizes
the blood of Jesus Christ and of sacrifice. White represents the body of
Christ. Black represents sin in Catholic liturgy. Gray is the color
of ash and this represents repentance in Catholicism.
M.I.G.R.A.I.N – Audience:
• Audience Theorists (who, what, examples): Adorno – Passive Consumption,
Hypodermic Model (Frankfurt School): “A strong argument suggests that
audiences may be passively affected by the sexist, violent representations in
GTAV as it is a more realist text than other shoot em’ up action-adventure
games. Young audiences ultimately may begin to view women differently and
think that the aspirational violence is acceptable to an end”.
M.I.G.R.A.I.N – Ideology:
• Media texts always reflect certain values or ideologies though
sometimes we may not be aware of this. An example might be that in
some texts, such as action films like the Die Hard or the Lethal Weapon
series, solving problems with force is seen as an acceptable value and
reflects a certain ideology.
• The media is a successful carrier of ideology because it reaches such a
huge audience. The study of the media allows us to consider and
question dominant ideologies and look for the implications of different
ideology and value systems.
• When studying a media text you may look for the dominant ideology
present and question whose world view is represented and which
group(s) and their associated world view(s) have not been represented.
• Some studies of the media concentrate on viewing texts from particular
ideological perspectives, for example a feminist perspective.
• Narrative Theorists (who, what, examples): : Goodwin –
Useful for Analysing Music Videos if relevant for MS2 or
MS3 internal assessment – 5 key features: “Using
Andrew Goodwin’s theory of music videos (from
‘Dancing in the Distraction Factory’), in Lady Gaga’s
‘Telephone’ music video (with Beyoncé) the hybridized
genre conventions of glam rock and pop are
immediately established. As in Mylie Cyrus’s ‘Wrecking
Ball’ video, Gaga is fetishized for voyeuristic pleasure
and notions of ‘the look’. There is a direct relationship
between the music and narrative development while
Gaga is frequently seen in close up wearing quirky
clothes (audience identification and the myth she is
‘singing to us’). Finally intertextuality is crucial with
references to films Kill Bill and Thelma and Louise”.
Linear/closed/open narratives
Multi-Strand narrative
Closed Narrative
many different works are made up of several different strands, for example, the film 'Love actually' has around 8
different story strands that link in the end. "By juxta-positioning the strands the audience will not only be
concerned about the action, but also the outcome of each strand and how they're related to each other"
(classroom.synonym.com)
Closed narrative films usually have a 'tight' reading, they're usually 2 hours and have a 'The End' to complete the
story. The time is usually compressed, fitting many years into 2 hours. There is usually a soundtrack, a lot of
non-diegetic music backing the story. A good example of this, is the film 'About Time' (2013) it compresses
around 20 years into just over 2 hours and has an end to the story. (scribd.com)
Linear and non-linear
Open, Closed, Multi-strand, Linear and Non-linear narratives.
Linear- The storyline has a beginning, middle and end. Very simple.
Non-Linear- The opposite to linear, uses Flashbacks, Rewinds, Re-Plays, non-chronological ordering and can also
have no ending to it, perhaps left on a cliff hanger.
Open narrative
open narratives usually have many characters and no foreseeable ending. a good example of Open narrative is
Soap Operas, such as EastEnders and Holly Oaks. They're usually multi-stranded and in Chronological order or
'Real-Time'. It is rare that shows that have this narrative have non-diegetic music or sound.
M.I.G.R.A.I.N – Narrative:
Narrative:
Todorov's narrative theory
Todorov's narrative theory helps the
viewer of a film understand the story
and plot. When a film has a distinct
narrative it becomes more organised
and structured. A main part of the
narrative theory is the structure of a
narrative. Todorov theorised that a
film is separated into five main
stages:
• A state of Equilibrium
• Disruption of the Equilibrium
• Recognition of the Disruption
• Attempt to Repair the Disruption
Narrative:
Propps character types
In the early Twentieth Century Russian writer Vladimir Propp
analyzed over a hundred fairy tales and from that identified eight
different character types:
• The villain is the antagonist who plots against the main
character. In the Harry Potter films this function is served
by Voldemort
• The dispatcher is a character who informs the hero or heroine of
some emergency or need and sends them on their quest. This
role is carried out by Dumbledore
• The helper, often literally magical, helps the main character
during their quest. In the Harry Potter universe, Ron
and Hermione fulfill this role
• The princess is the hero’s love interest, but they cannot be
married until the villain is defeated. In Harry Potter and The Half
Blood Prince (2009), this role is fulfilled by Ginny Weasley
• The princess’ father gives the hero his task and exposes the False
Hero. Ginny’s father Arthur fulfills this role
• The donor prepares the Hero for the challenges ahead. In the
Harry Potter stories this role is fulfilled by Hagrid
• The hero reacts and responds to the donor and gets married to
the Princess. This is Harry Potter himself
• The false hero is jealous of the hero, plots against them and takes
false credit for the hero’s achievements. Draco Malfoy is the
False Hero in the Harry Potter stories
Trailer Research:
• What is a trailer/teaser trailer? Why are they used?- a trailer is a commercial advertisement for a future movie
feuturing a brief visual explanation of what the movie is about, and they are often shown in movie theatres or as
advertisement on television. Trailers/teasers are used to create an audience for an upcoming film.
• How have trailers evolved over the years? - over the past 100 years movie trailers have evolved from
straightforward descriptions of films to ominously voiced over montages, to frentic and spoiler-phobic teasers.
• How have movie trailers become more contemporary? -trailers have adapted non-stop to keep up with the
demands from the audience and what they want to see. They also kept up to date with their own ideas and making
sure that they can still create the best going trailer to entice the audience into watching their movie instead of
another one. In earlier years, trailers used to give away everything, they lasted from 3-5 minutes and gave away all
the spoils and thrills and in the end, no one even bothered to watch the movie, causing many production
companies to fall financially. Fortunately, they smartened up and realised what’s the point of spending millions of
dollars on a movie just to release all the information within the trailer? So, they created shorter trailers, that thrilled
and intrigued the audience and got them excited and wanting to watch the film to find out more.
• What makes a good trailer? - a good trailer makes the audience inticed to see it and should capture the audience's
attention at around 3-5 minutes by describing a bit what the movie is about and giving some of the best scenes
from the movie to get the audience interested..
• Are independent films up to the same standard as Conglomerates? -No. Independent films are not up to the same
standard as conglomerate films, purely because of the money conglomerates have to pump into these films, making
them very good.
• Why do films include movie posters?-The aim of a movie poster is to lead the audience to the film’s main plot twist,
and then to leave them wanting more.
• Why is it important to include branding across movie promotional packs? -It communicates brand values. The core
purpose of a brand film? To share your brand values with the world, in a way that makes your audience feel
connected to what you do and why you do it. 2. It draw viewers in immediately and keeps them watching. There's a
lot of competition out there for your viewers' attention.
Trailer – 3 Act Structure:
The three act structure is a narrative model that divides stories into three parts —
Act One, Act Two, and Act Three, or rather, a beginning, middle, and end.
Screenwriter, Syd Field, made this ancient storytelling tool unique for
screenwriters in 1978 with the publishing of his book, Screenplay. He labels these
acts the Setup, Confrontation, and Resolution.
Some writers label these three acts the setup, build, and payoff. Both are correct.
But the basic point of each of these acts is that they have their own set of
guidelines to develop, build, and resolve a story.
On a basic level, Act One sets up the world, characters, the character’s goal, as
well as the conflicts or obstacles that are preventing them from achieving their
goal. Act Two raises the stakes for the character to achieve the goal, escalating the
conflict. Act Three resolves the story with either an achievement of that goal or a
failure.
This is not the same thing as story structure, it is an organizational tool to help
build your story.
WHAT DOES A 3 ACT STORY STRUCTURE CONSIST OF?
Act 1- setup
Act 2- confrontation
Act 3- Resolution
Analysis of Trailer 1:
KEY CONCEPTS:
Meaning
Institution
Genre
Representation
Audience
Ideology
Narrative
The camerawork used in this trailer is all
purposely used to create tension and to
entertain the audience. The intention of
the seventh day trailer is to make the
audience feel suspense and to make
them feel involved within the film. A two-
minute glimpse into this movie shows us
how well the actors and actress have
done their job in capturing our suspense
as the audience and making people want
to watch the movie to find out what
happened next. In this trailer enough of
the story is given away to let the
audience judge the whole movie based
on the storyline.
Analysis of Poster 1:
The poster higlights the fundamental parts of the
horror film using font, facial expression and even
certain affects from the movie such as the fire the
three characters appear to be emerging from as
they have serious expressions on there faces. The
words'the seventh day' appear in big gothic letters
on the poster with the letter t appearing as a cross
implying a religious text. Further proof is shown in
the title Aas God built the world in 7 days.
Analysis of Trailer 2:
• The young teacher Adam and his wife Lisa are waiting for
the completion of the family. In an instant, the idyll of a
happy couple collapses. They are faced with an unknown
evil that turns their lives into hell. In the hope of getting rid
of the horror that is pursuing them, Adam begs the help of
parapsychologist Clark. When he begins work, Clark realizes
that the ominous entity they encountered is much more
dangerous than he had imagined. And then the terrible
truth about this nightmare is revealed to the spouses.
•
• v
Analysis of Poster 2:
Poster does a great job of
attracting the audience
who are fans of the horror
genre as there is a girl
infront of a crib in a dark
setting which is usually
very popular in the horror
genre. The font of the
words on the poster is very
gothic even having the
word hell in blood.

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Aya ks5 media assessment (3)

  • 1. A2 Media Studies Coursework Research and Planning Name: Basil Abdelkariem
  • 2. M.I.G.R.A.I.N – Meaning/Media Language: • Symbolism -the use of symbols to represent deeper meanings or themes. Symbols are usually objects, which are easy to understand, but they represent something more complex. We use symbols every day for example a red rose is a symbol of love or romance. • Symbolic codes- symbolic codes are social in nature meaning that these codes live outside the media product themselves but would be understood in real life by the audience. • Technical Codes- codes that are specific to a media form and do not live outside of them, these include camerawork editing sound and lighting • Stuart Hall-Stuart halls reception theory states that media texts are encoded by producers meaning that whoever produces the text fills the product with values and messages.
  • 3. Technical Codes: Camera • Technical codes are codes that are specific to a media form and do not live outside of them. For instance, our understanding of different camera shots and their connotations make sense when we look and films and photographs but mean nothing to us outside of those forms. Technical codes in media include Camerawork, Editing, Audio and Lighting.
  • 4. shot example description Establishing shot establishes the context for a scene by showing the relationship between its important figures and objects Extreme-close up a type of shot that tightly frames a person or object. Close up frames the head, neck, and sometimes the shoulders of the subject. Medium Close up halfway between a medium shot and a close-up shot, capturing the subject from the waist up. Medium Shot In a movie a medium shot, mid shot, or waist shot is a camera angle shot from a medium distance. Medium Long Shot somewhere between a medium shot and a full shot, showing the subject from the knees up. Also called a ¾ shot. Long Shot A long shot is essentially the same as a wide shot. When referring to a person, a long shot means they take up almost the full frame height. Extreme Long Shot An extreme long shot (ELS) is used to portray a vast area from an apparently very long distance.
  • 5. pan A pan shot or panning shot is when you turn the camera on a fixed head. It is a technique where you follow a moving subject, and you can shoot this with a slower shutter speed to create a feeling of speed or action. tilt A tilt shot is shot that uses a cinematographic technique called tilting in which the camera stays fixed but rotates up and down on a vertical plane. track a shot in which the camera is mounted on a cart which travels along tracks. dolly In many circles a dolly shot is also known as a tracking shot or trucking shot. However some professionals prefer the more rigid terminology which defines dolly as in-and-out movement, while tracking means side-to-side movement. crane a crane shot is a shot taken by a camera on a moving crane or jib. Most cranes accommodate both the camera and an operator, but some can be moved by remote control. Deep focus Deep focus is a photographic and cinematographic technique using a large depth of field. Shallow Focus Shallow focus is a photographic and cinematographic technique incorporating a small depth of field.
  • 6. Aerial Shot An aerial shot is a shot that's taken from an elevated vantage point than what is framed in the shot. Point of View Shot shows the action through the eyes of a specific character, essentially letting the audience become that character. Over the Shoulder shot the camera is positioned behind or over the shoulder of one subject while the other subject is still visible on screen, emphasizing the connection between the characters. High angle shot Used to indicate the balance of power between characters. In high-angle shots, the audience looks down on the subject, giving the audience a sense of superiority. Low angle shot Used to indicate the balance of power between characters. In low-angle shots, the audience looks up at the subject, giving the audience a sense of inferiority.
  • 7. Technical Codes: Editing • Editing is the process of choosing, manipulating and arranging images and sound. Editing is generally done for four different reasons: • Graphic edits • Rhythmic edits • Spacial edits • Temporal edits
  • 8. Match on Action • The match on action is a very valuable technique in continuity editing, a style of film editing that emphasizes clear spatial relationships between objects in a scene. By seeing the same movement beginning and ending in two consecutive, differently framed shots, spectators will easily interpret the space around the action as a continuous whole. For a real match on action, the action should begin in the first shot and end in the second shot. It's difficult to visualize this without a real film in front of you, but a diagram may still be useful.
  • 9. Shot Reverse Shot • Shot/reverse shot is a film technique where one character is shown looking at another character, and then the other character is shown looking back at the first character. Since the characters are shown facing in opposite directions, the viewer assumes that they are looking at each other. Shot/reverse shot is a feature of the "classical" Hollywood style of continuity editing, which deemphasizes transitions between shots such that the spectator perceives one continuous action that develops linearly, chronologically, and logically. It is an example of an eyeline match.
  • 10. Continuous Editing • Continuity editing is the process, in film and video creation, of combining more-or-less related shots, or different components cut from a single shot, into a sequence to direct the viewer's attention to a pre-existing consistency of story across both time and physical location. The purpose of continuity editing is to smooth over the inherent discontinuity of the editing process and to establish a logical coherence between shots. Through the information provided below and your own research you will prepare a report on Continuity Editing and define and explore the different techniques it involves.
  • 11. Invisible Editing (Cuts) • Invisible cuts are frequently used in feature-film editing to provide consistency and believability, the building blocks to creating an emotional connection with the viewer. In film theory, there are basically two types of cuts: visible and invisible. The visible cut is highly noticeable, while invisible cuts are all about smoothly transitioning from one scene to the next, so as not to distract from the story. • Invisible cuts are frequently used in feature-film editing to provide consistency and believability, the building blocks to creating an emotional connection with the viewer. In this article, we present four essential tips for crafting invisible cuts, offering some useful tools for telling a convincing story without distracting the viewer’s attention.
  • 12. Technical Codes: Sound • Audio is the expressive or naturalistic use of sound. Audio can be diegetic or non diegetic. The three aspects of audio are: • dialogue • sound effects • music
  • 13. Symbolic Codes - Symbolism • Symbolic codes are social in nature. What this means is that these codes live outside the media product themselves but would be understood in similar ways in the ‘real life’ of the audience. For instance, if you saw somebody receive a red rose in a film, you would assume there is a romantic relationship between the two characters. If you gave somebody a red rose in real life, you might be hoping the same. Symbolic codes in media include setting, mise en scene, acting and colour.
  • 14. Colour Symbolism • Color symbolism in art and anthropology refers to the use of color as a symbol in various cultures. There is great diversity in the use of colors and their associations between cultures and even within the same culture in different time periods. The same color may have very different associations within the same culture at any time. Diversity in color symbolism occurs because color meanings and symbolism occur on an individual, cultural and universal basis. Color symbolism is also context-dependent and influenced by changes over time. Symbolic representations of religious concepts or articles may include a specific color with which the concept or object is associated. There is evidence to suggest that colors have been used for this purpose as early as 90,000 BC. Color symbolism has changed over time. Between the 5th and 17th centuries, color was largely related to in a religious context. Blue was symbolic of heaven and white of purity. Today, purity is still symbolized by white in Australia and the USA but by blue in other countries like India. Similarly, the church influenced the perception of colors like crimson and purple. Largely because the dyes for these colors could only be sourced from precious pigments, religious figures like Madonna, Cardinals, and the Virgin were seen in scarlet and purple.
  • 15. Symbolic Codes - Settings • Setting is the time and place of the narrative. When discussing setting, you can describe the setting of the whole story or just a specific scene. A setting can be as big as the outback or space, or as small as a specific room. Setting can even be a created atmosphere or frame of mind.
  • 16. Symbolic Codes - Costumes • Costume includes the wardrobe choices and make-up that is used to convey a character’s status or personality. • Costume can have a wide variety of other functions. They can help signify the setting or era of the narrative, can play important roles in the plot of the film, draw the eye to a specific character or help point out the difference between characters or the setting.
  • 17. Symbolic Codes - Props • Prop is short for property, another term borrowed from the theatre. When an object in the setting has a function within the ongoing action, it is then called a prop. Props are often closely linked to the plot of the narrative, or a cause-and-effect relationship. If a prop is repeated throughout the narrative, it may become a motif, and connected to a theme or moral of the story. • A prop that is used to drive a plot forward is sometimes called a McGuffin. This is a term that was created by Alfred Hitchcock to describe a prop that only serves the purpose to create motivation. It is usually of great worth to someone.
  • 18. Symbolic Codes – Facial Expressions • An actor’s facial expression is a powerful way of expressing emotion when even small movements can have strong symbolic connotations. • Eyebrows are important signifiers in facial expressions and is often a good place to start when doing a description. • Gaze is also an important part of facial expression — it’s a term used to describe the focus of a person’s look. Is the person looking at the camera, at someone else or outside the frame? When two people’s gaze meet, this is called eye contact.
  • 19. Symbolic Codes – Body Language • Body language is about the way an actor controls their body through gestures, posture and body contact. • A gesture is a kind of visible expression made by the actor, a type of movement. It could be a wave, a slap of the forehead, a shake of the head. • Posture is the general way that the body is held, it’s the attitude of the body. Arms crossed suggest someone might be defensive, a rigid posture might suggest someone is tense, slouching might suggest someone is depressed. • Body contact is a very powerful symbolic code that suggests intimacy and is highly dependent on cultural norms.
  • 21. M.I.G.R.A.I.N- Meaning/Media Language • Example essay: The extract begins with a medium close up of a woman on the verge of tears setting an unhappy mood using the woman's facial expression. The music used is slow which sets the tone for the audience using sound mixed with the woman's facial expressions. After we see there is a long shot which reveals the Lincoln memorial destroyed which we could simply means that this is symbolism trying to show a broken America as the place they live have a very hollow vibe of despair. Another source of symbolism would be that the president Abraham Lincoln freed the slaves, so we know that he stands for freedom and the fact that his memorial has been destroyed is maybe saying that there is none and all hope is lost. • The woman seems like she has suffered something tragic or maybe has been through a tragic event and that could be why there is a dark tone to this scene. When the woman gets up, she puts a mask over her face, which could be referring to her freedom being taken away as she is being silenced. We can tell she is the main character as the shallow focus continues and all the attention is on her now and when the camera tracks her as she walks out of the memorial, you assume that she is lonely but when the camera cuts to an over the shoulder shot, there are more woman dressed in red just like her symbolizing that there are many just like her. • Another hint that symbolizes loss of freedom and oppression is that these are the only women with their mouths covered, this is a clear sign of a hiarchy system where woman is looked down on. Further evidence of this is shown by the men in black standing at the end of each line. The woman is wearing red possibly symbolizing a warning to the oppressed while the men are wearing black which often is used to symbolize power. • This is a very religious place as the women are all covered. However there seems to be tension between the man and the woman in red, when he looks at her the music becomes drawn out to show to the audience that things have become more intense., a further argument for this becomes clearer as the camera cuts to one of the women in front and zooms closer to her and shows her facial expression to be a bit worried. When the woman in red drops to her knees the hierchy in this society becomes clearer as she is showing her oppressiveness. When The camera cuts to an extreme close up of the woman in reds eye showing her focusing on the crucifix in front of her, giving the impression she is seeing past the authoritarian world, but looking straight to the symbol of hope.
  • 22. M.I.G.R.A.I.N – Institutions: • Keywords • Conglomerate- A media conglomerate is a company that owns numerous companies involved in mass media enterprises, such as television, radio, publishing, motion pictures, theme parks, or the Internet. • Oligopoly-Oligopoly is a market structure with a small number of firms, none of which can keep the others from having significant influence. • 360 degree status- 360 degrees is a relationship cycle that consists of many touchpoints where a customer meets the brand. Be it through purchases or marketing communications, via customer service or on social media. • Gatekeepers- Gatekeeping is a process by which information is filtered to the public by the media. According to Pamela Shoemaker and Tim Vos, gatekeeping is the "process of culling and crafting countless bits of information into the limited number of messages that reach people every day, and it is the center of the media's role in modern public life. • Horizontal Integration- is a Media Company’s Ownership of several businesses of the same value. A Media Company can own a Magazine, Radio, Newspaper, Television and Books. Almost all Media companies have horizontal integration. • Vertical intergration-Vertical Integration is when a Media Company owns different businesses in the same chain of production and distribution.
  • 23. M.I.G.R.A.I.N – Institutions: • Institutional research – Production Labels- In 2002, Beauty and the Beast was added to the United States National film Registry as being deemed "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant." In June 2008, the American Film Institut revealed its "Ten Top Ten" lists of the best ten films in ten "classic" American film genres, based on polls of over 1,500 people from the creative community. Beauty and the Beast was acknowledged as the seventh-best film in the animation genre.] In previous lists, it ranked number 22 on the institute's list of best musicals and number 34 on its list of the best romantic American films.On the list of the greatest songs from American films, Beauty and the Beast ranked number 62. • BBFC • The British Board of Film Classification is a non-governmental organisation founded by the film industry in 1912 and responsible for the national classification and censorship of films exhibited at cinemas and video works released on physical media within the United Kingdom. It has a statutory requirement to classify all video works released on VHS, DVD, Blu-ray, and, to a lesser extent, some video games under the Video Recordings Act 1984. The BBFC was also the designated regulator for the UK age-verification scheme which was abandoned before being implemented.
  • 24. M.I.G.R.A.I.N – Genre: Genre Theorists (who, what, examples): : Steve Neale – Genre as Repetition and Difference: “Genre is familiar to audiences through the repetition of conventions like a physically strong, dynamic, violent, male hero in Action Adventure Video Games like Assassin’s Creed and GTAV but is challenged by a female lead character in Tomb Raider and Beyond: Two Souls. Other conventions are the same however, despite this key difference and serve to maintain interest in an apparently evolving genre”.
  • 25. M.I.G.R.A.I.N – Genre: • Rick Altman and Genre theory Rick Altman, in his book ‘Film/Genre’ proposed what he called a semantic/syntactic approach Semantic – this is concerned with the conventions of the genre that communicate to the audience such as characters, locations, props, music, shooting style, and other signifiers. Rick Altman and Genre theory. • Rick Altman, in his book ‘Film/Genre’ proposed what he called a semantic/syntactic approach. Semantic – this is concerned with the conventions of the genre that communicate to the audience such as characters, locations, props, music, shooting style, and other signifiers.
  • 26. Rick Altman's Semantics and Syntactics Horror Action Science Fiction Romance Semantics (physical things you expect to see) • Isolated house • Dolls • Graveyards Guns Running Bad guys Leather jackets cars Aliens Space Creatures Snazzy suits Evil lords in space Flowers Rings Kissing Sweets Dates Restaurants candles Syntactics (plotlines/emoti ons/atmosphere you expect) • Paranormal activity Heroes Good over bad always Fear Revenge Love War Love Hate Lust Explain what Rick Altman's theory is...
  • 27. Horror Mood board (pictures)
  • 28. Action Mood board (pictures)
  • 29. Sci Fi Mood board (pictures)
  • 30. : M.I.G.R.A.I.N – Representation: • Representation Theorists (who, what, examples):Levi-Strauss – Binary Oppositions and Subordinate Groups: “Levi-Strauss’ theory (see narrative theorists), like Dyer is a way of understanding how representation are deliberately placed in binary opposition to ensure the dominant culture is maintained and the minority representations is seen as subordinate and marginalized. In Game of Thrones southern regional identity is often seen as the preferred culture through representation within the mise-en-scene – there is more money in the south, the southern King speaks with an elaborated language code, the buildings have cleaner lines, dress code is smarter and there is significant daytime shooting. In the North the scenes are often shot at night, characters are rougher, have long hair and beards and are often seen heavy drinking and shouting, talking in an aggressive way about battles and conflict”. • Colour representations- In Christianity, the color red symbolizes the blood of Jesus Christ and of sacrifice. White represents the body of Christ. Black represents sin in Catholic liturgy. Gray is the color of ash and this represents repentance in Catholicism.
  • 31. M.I.G.R.A.I.N – Audience: • Audience Theorists (who, what, examples): Adorno – Passive Consumption, Hypodermic Model (Frankfurt School): “A strong argument suggests that audiences may be passively affected by the sexist, violent representations in GTAV as it is a more realist text than other shoot em’ up action-adventure games. Young audiences ultimately may begin to view women differently and think that the aspirational violence is acceptable to an end”.
  • 32. M.I.G.R.A.I.N – Ideology: • Media texts always reflect certain values or ideologies though sometimes we may not be aware of this. An example might be that in some texts, such as action films like the Die Hard or the Lethal Weapon series, solving problems with force is seen as an acceptable value and reflects a certain ideology. • The media is a successful carrier of ideology because it reaches such a huge audience. The study of the media allows us to consider and question dominant ideologies and look for the implications of different ideology and value systems. • When studying a media text you may look for the dominant ideology present and question whose world view is represented and which group(s) and their associated world view(s) have not been represented. • Some studies of the media concentrate on viewing texts from particular ideological perspectives, for example a feminist perspective.
  • 33. • Narrative Theorists (who, what, examples): : Goodwin – Useful for Analysing Music Videos if relevant for MS2 or MS3 internal assessment – 5 key features: “Using Andrew Goodwin’s theory of music videos (from ‘Dancing in the Distraction Factory’), in Lady Gaga’s ‘Telephone’ music video (with Beyoncé) the hybridized genre conventions of glam rock and pop are immediately established. As in Mylie Cyrus’s ‘Wrecking Ball’ video, Gaga is fetishized for voyeuristic pleasure and notions of ‘the look’. There is a direct relationship between the music and narrative development while Gaga is frequently seen in close up wearing quirky clothes (audience identification and the myth she is ‘singing to us’). Finally intertextuality is crucial with references to films Kill Bill and Thelma and Louise”.
  • 34. Linear/closed/open narratives Multi-Strand narrative Closed Narrative many different works are made up of several different strands, for example, the film 'Love actually' has around 8 different story strands that link in the end. "By juxta-positioning the strands the audience will not only be concerned about the action, but also the outcome of each strand and how they're related to each other" (classroom.synonym.com) Closed narrative films usually have a 'tight' reading, they're usually 2 hours and have a 'The End' to complete the story. The time is usually compressed, fitting many years into 2 hours. There is usually a soundtrack, a lot of non-diegetic music backing the story. A good example of this, is the film 'About Time' (2013) it compresses around 20 years into just over 2 hours and has an end to the story. (scribd.com) Linear and non-linear Open, Closed, Multi-strand, Linear and Non-linear narratives. Linear- The storyline has a beginning, middle and end. Very simple. Non-Linear- The opposite to linear, uses Flashbacks, Rewinds, Re-Plays, non-chronological ordering and can also have no ending to it, perhaps left on a cliff hanger. Open narrative open narratives usually have many characters and no foreseeable ending. a good example of Open narrative is Soap Operas, such as EastEnders and Holly Oaks. They're usually multi-stranded and in Chronological order or 'Real-Time'. It is rare that shows that have this narrative have non-diegetic music or sound. M.I.G.R.A.I.N – Narrative:
  • 35. Narrative: Todorov's narrative theory Todorov's narrative theory helps the viewer of a film understand the story and plot. When a film has a distinct narrative it becomes more organised and structured. A main part of the narrative theory is the structure of a narrative. Todorov theorised that a film is separated into five main stages: • A state of Equilibrium • Disruption of the Equilibrium • Recognition of the Disruption • Attempt to Repair the Disruption
  • 36. Narrative: Propps character types In the early Twentieth Century Russian writer Vladimir Propp analyzed over a hundred fairy tales and from that identified eight different character types: • The villain is the antagonist who plots against the main character. In the Harry Potter films this function is served by Voldemort • The dispatcher is a character who informs the hero or heroine of some emergency or need and sends them on their quest. This role is carried out by Dumbledore • The helper, often literally magical, helps the main character during their quest. In the Harry Potter universe, Ron and Hermione fulfill this role • The princess is the hero’s love interest, but they cannot be married until the villain is defeated. In Harry Potter and The Half Blood Prince (2009), this role is fulfilled by Ginny Weasley • The princess’ father gives the hero his task and exposes the False Hero. Ginny’s father Arthur fulfills this role • The donor prepares the Hero for the challenges ahead. In the Harry Potter stories this role is fulfilled by Hagrid • The hero reacts and responds to the donor and gets married to the Princess. This is Harry Potter himself • The false hero is jealous of the hero, plots against them and takes false credit for the hero’s achievements. Draco Malfoy is the False Hero in the Harry Potter stories
  • 37. Trailer Research: • What is a trailer/teaser trailer? Why are they used?- a trailer is a commercial advertisement for a future movie feuturing a brief visual explanation of what the movie is about, and they are often shown in movie theatres or as advertisement on television. Trailers/teasers are used to create an audience for an upcoming film. • How have trailers evolved over the years? - over the past 100 years movie trailers have evolved from straightforward descriptions of films to ominously voiced over montages, to frentic and spoiler-phobic teasers. • How have movie trailers become more contemporary? -trailers have adapted non-stop to keep up with the demands from the audience and what they want to see. They also kept up to date with their own ideas and making sure that they can still create the best going trailer to entice the audience into watching their movie instead of another one. In earlier years, trailers used to give away everything, they lasted from 3-5 minutes and gave away all the spoils and thrills and in the end, no one even bothered to watch the movie, causing many production companies to fall financially. Fortunately, they smartened up and realised what’s the point of spending millions of dollars on a movie just to release all the information within the trailer? So, they created shorter trailers, that thrilled and intrigued the audience and got them excited and wanting to watch the film to find out more. • What makes a good trailer? - a good trailer makes the audience inticed to see it and should capture the audience's attention at around 3-5 minutes by describing a bit what the movie is about and giving some of the best scenes from the movie to get the audience interested.. • Are independent films up to the same standard as Conglomerates? -No. Independent films are not up to the same standard as conglomerate films, purely because of the money conglomerates have to pump into these films, making them very good. • Why do films include movie posters?-The aim of a movie poster is to lead the audience to the film’s main plot twist, and then to leave them wanting more. • Why is it important to include branding across movie promotional packs? -It communicates brand values. The core purpose of a brand film? To share your brand values with the world, in a way that makes your audience feel connected to what you do and why you do it. 2. It draw viewers in immediately and keeps them watching. There's a lot of competition out there for your viewers' attention.
  • 38. Trailer – 3 Act Structure: The three act structure is a narrative model that divides stories into three parts — Act One, Act Two, and Act Three, or rather, a beginning, middle, and end. Screenwriter, Syd Field, made this ancient storytelling tool unique for screenwriters in 1978 with the publishing of his book, Screenplay. He labels these acts the Setup, Confrontation, and Resolution. Some writers label these three acts the setup, build, and payoff. Both are correct. But the basic point of each of these acts is that they have their own set of guidelines to develop, build, and resolve a story. On a basic level, Act One sets up the world, characters, the character’s goal, as well as the conflicts or obstacles that are preventing them from achieving their goal. Act Two raises the stakes for the character to achieve the goal, escalating the conflict. Act Three resolves the story with either an achievement of that goal or a failure. This is not the same thing as story structure, it is an organizational tool to help build your story. WHAT DOES A 3 ACT STORY STRUCTURE CONSIST OF? Act 1- setup Act 2- confrontation Act 3- Resolution
  • 39. Analysis of Trailer 1: KEY CONCEPTS: Meaning Institution Genre Representation Audience Ideology Narrative The camerawork used in this trailer is all purposely used to create tension and to entertain the audience. The intention of the seventh day trailer is to make the audience feel suspense and to make them feel involved within the film. A two- minute glimpse into this movie shows us how well the actors and actress have done their job in capturing our suspense as the audience and making people want to watch the movie to find out what happened next. In this trailer enough of the story is given away to let the audience judge the whole movie based on the storyline.
  • 40. Analysis of Poster 1: The poster higlights the fundamental parts of the horror film using font, facial expression and even certain affects from the movie such as the fire the three characters appear to be emerging from as they have serious expressions on there faces. The words'the seventh day' appear in big gothic letters on the poster with the letter t appearing as a cross implying a religious text. Further proof is shown in the title Aas God built the world in 7 days.
  • 41. Analysis of Trailer 2: • The young teacher Adam and his wife Lisa are waiting for the completion of the family. In an instant, the idyll of a happy couple collapses. They are faced with an unknown evil that turns their lives into hell. In the hope of getting rid of the horror that is pursuing them, Adam begs the help of parapsychologist Clark. When he begins work, Clark realizes that the ominous entity they encountered is much more dangerous than he had imagined. And then the terrible truth about this nightmare is revealed to the spouses. • • v
  • 42. Analysis of Poster 2: Poster does a great job of attracting the audience who are fans of the horror genre as there is a girl infront of a crib in a dark setting which is usually very popular in the horror genre. The font of the words on the poster is very gothic even having the word hell in blood.