Stuart Hall - looked at how media works, how it constructs representations. He said representation is 'mediated through language' (spoken or visual language).
'Reality is mediated through language' - I think that this means that the big corporations control what we think, what we see, what they want us to see. They want to paint their vision of the world and push their agenda about anything that exists. They have their own 'version' of truth of reality.
Whatever you get in the media isn't factual, the truth is filtered and the versions of the event you're being shown is from the eyes of the person making the piece of media content.
Media can influence us but the media corporations don't realize that not everyone is gullible and will believe everything they're told, we have our own minds, we can think for ourselves (constructionist view)
The Guardian: reaction to Trump's victory.
There were a variety of reactions following Donald Trump's victory in the US presidential election.
Some news outlets were horrified by the news with the Daily Mirror using a photo of the Statue of Liberty with its head in its hands. The Statue of Liberty is a famous American landmark, and the metaphor could be that the Statue of Liberty having its head in its hands is a representation of what the world as a whole thinks of the news of Trump's election. It's joined with the headline 'What have they done?' which is a rhetorical question asking the American population what they were thinking when they elected this man, the Daily Mirror are clear in their political views, they are quite clearly anti-Trump and their cover only backs this theory.
However, some outlets took a more neutral stance, not showing their political beliefs in their front cover. Most newspapers focused on the victory itself, and how much of a shock it genuinely was, because regardless of who you supported in the US election, nobody genuinely thought Trump was going to win, and most newspapers were shocked with the outcome as it seemed that Hillary Clinton would've came out of the election with an easy victory, the focus was on how this was possible, how a reality TV star managed to become president of the US, more analytical rather than opinionated. Some outlets also seemed like they were waiting to see what happens next, because this news created a lot of suspense to the general public as many are unsure what to expect of Trump, given he had no prior political experience before getting the biggest political position in the world. Nobody knows what to expect, even the media themselves aren't sure what'll happen.
Richard Dyer - stereotypes are reduced/limited to a few characteristics.
Stereotypes exaggerate difference, which may cause conflict between certain groups.
The media don't create stereotypes, they reinforce them.
Stereotyping are a way of quickly conveying info
Identities can be constructed and communicated via stereotypes.
Those with power stereotype the less powerful.
Wednesday, 27 March 2019
Sunday, 10 March 2019
Unit 8 - Responding to a Commission.
Client: Box Clever Events/Harton & Westoe Boxing and Fitness Club
Campaign plans
1. Firstly, I will make a video on YouTube to promote Box Clever Events and more specifically letting the audience know about the white collar boxing matches that can allow normal people like you and me to raise money for a charity of their own choosing. It will also include videos from the fitness club itself so any potential new members can get a feel as to what it'd be like.
Why a YouTube video?
I have chosen a YouTube video as YouTube is one of the most recognizable applications in the modern world today. Everybody of all ages and genders watches YouTube,
Campaign plans
1. Firstly, I will make a video on YouTube to promote Box Clever Events and more specifically letting the audience know about the white collar boxing matches that can allow normal people like you and me to raise money for a charity of their own choosing. It will also include videos from the fitness club itself so any potential new members can get a feel as to what it'd be like.
Why a YouTube video?
I have chosen a YouTube video as YouTube is one of the most recognizable applications in the modern world today. Everybody of all ages and genders watches YouTube,
Wednesday, 6 March 2019
Unit 1 - video games.
Modern day video games are way more technically advanced than the games of the past. Video games have many different scenarios for the same scene in the game. We as the consumers like video games because it gives us a sense of control, we're in charge of what happens to the characters.
Playing games is a lot different now. Social media has made video games a massive industry, with there now being e-sports teams and the e-sport industry is a booming business.
Social interaction: the traditional old fashioned way of playing video games was where you play with your neighbor. Now, you can play games with people from all over the world, I could play a game of FIFA against someone in America for example. People who play video games seem to isolate themselves from the real world, they see no need to go out that often because they have everything at their fingertips. If you're interested in a certain game, you'll go and subscribe to a YouTube channel which plays that specific game and interact, posting comments, etcetera. You can discuss said game with other people on forums as well.
Augmented and virtual reality: VR 'blurs' reality, as VR allows us to enter into our favorite video game worlds and allows us to live in the world we've spent so many hours playing in.
Players as developers: Kickstarter is used by independent film/game makers where you can get funding for a certain project, it 'kickstarts' the project. With kickstarting projects you have more creative control, as you aren't under a studio who tell you what to do, you can make whatever you want too.
Stereotypical gamer: male, white, teenagers, anti social, nerds, glasses, virgin.
However, studies show that 50% of gamers are female and older people are playing more games, on mobile.
Who makes games: white heterosexual males. Creators make games based on their experiences.
Male character: Vito Scaletta (below) from the game trilogy Mafia is a character who is based on a popular stereotype. Scaletta is Italian and he immigrated to New York from Italy when he was a young child, and the stereotype with Italian-Americans is that every one of them are involved with the mafia.
And this game portrays that no different, Vito quickly ventures into a life of a crime and first gets involved with the mafia via his friend Joe Barbaro. Who gets Vito involved with the mafia and the two first do work for the Clemente crime family, this fuels the stereotype that all Italian men are gangsters. However, he gets involved with the mob because he is poor and has no other opportunities, which is the motivation for a lot of future mobsters (both real and fictional)
He is portrayed as young man who only ventures into crime because he has no choice, the legal system hasn't helped him so he feels that the only way to make it in the world, is to venture into the criminal underworld, the thing that attracts him to the mafia is the supposed respect that the mob commands, mobsters are men of honor and respect, and to a young man, really attracts you to that life.
In real life the character received criticism for the reasons I mentioned above. This game didn't help with the stereotype association of Italy and the mafia. This stereotype harms normal hard working Italians because as soon as someone hears the word 'Italy' they think of the mafia and that is a harmful reputation to have, despite the mafia being so culturally imbrued in our society.
Playing games is a lot different now. Social media has made video games a massive industry, with there now being e-sports teams and the e-sport industry is a booming business.
Social interaction: the traditional old fashioned way of playing video games was where you play with your neighbor. Now, you can play games with people from all over the world, I could play a game of FIFA against someone in America for example. People who play video games seem to isolate themselves from the real world, they see no need to go out that often because they have everything at their fingertips. If you're interested in a certain game, you'll go and subscribe to a YouTube channel which plays that specific game and interact, posting comments, etcetera. You can discuss said game with other people on forums as well.
Augmented and virtual reality: VR 'blurs' reality, as VR allows us to enter into our favorite video game worlds and allows us to live in the world we've spent so many hours playing in.
Players as developers: Kickstarter is used by independent film/game makers where you can get funding for a certain project, it 'kickstarts' the project. With kickstarting projects you have more creative control, as you aren't under a studio who tell you what to do, you can make whatever you want too.
Stereotypical gamer: male, white, teenagers, anti social, nerds, glasses, virgin.
However, studies show that 50% of gamers are female and older people are playing more games, on mobile.
Who makes games: white heterosexual males. Creators make games based on their experiences.
Male character: Vito Scaletta (below) from the game trilogy Mafia is a character who is based on a popular stereotype. Scaletta is Italian and he immigrated to New York from Italy when he was a young child, and the stereotype with Italian-Americans is that every one of them are involved with the mafia.
And this game portrays that no different, Vito quickly ventures into a life of a crime and first gets involved with the mafia via his friend Joe Barbaro. Who gets Vito involved with the mafia and the two first do work for the Clemente crime family, this fuels the stereotype that all Italian men are gangsters. However, he gets involved with the mob because he is poor and has no other opportunities, which is the motivation for a lot of future mobsters (both real and fictional)
He is portrayed as young man who only ventures into crime because he has no choice, the legal system hasn't helped him so he feels that the only way to make it in the world, is to venture into the criminal underworld, the thing that attracts him to the mafia is the supposed respect that the mob commands, mobsters are men of honor and respect, and to a young man, really attracts you to that life.
In real life the character received criticism for the reasons I mentioned above. This game didn't help with the stereotype association of Italy and the mafia. This stereotype harms normal hard working Italians because as soon as someone hears the word 'Italy' they think of the mafia and that is a harmful reputation to have, despite the mafia being so culturally imbrued in our society.
Wednesday, 27 February 2019
Unit 1 - advertising
What ways are you exposed to advertising?
Product placement - products are purposely placed in TV shows/films as a mini advert. Sometimes the characters of the shows/films use these products. Heineken's beer was featured in the James Bond film, Skyfall. It caused controversy though as people didn't think James Bond would drink Heineken. Source below:
https://www.theguardian.com/film/2012/apr/17/bond-taste-for-beer-skyfall
Advertisements for new products/apps on television. And on big sporting events there's an advertising period, for example many new ads appeared during the Super Bowl (A massive event in the American Football calendar)
Content creators on YouTube are sponsored (and now on YouTube you might get ads on a video you watch), often doing collaborations with the certain company and on Instagram big accounts do sponsored posts. Mobile apps/software, some apps remove ads if you buy the 'premium' version, encouraging you to buy. Often these ads will come often and it will irritating, it's the apps way of getting you to purchase it.
Print based advertising, in the past you'd find ads in: newspapers, magazines (depending on the genre of magazine it'll affect what ads you'll get, if you get a football magazine there'll be more football related ads). Print advertising is limited as it's a 'right place, right time' moment, for example if you don't turn a page on a newspaper you may have missed an ad in it.
Billboards/bus stops/vehicles can advertise things as well, you can have those bus stops that flick through ads every few seconds.
Merchandising, for example football teams have sponsors on their shirts, for example Sunderland are sponsored by BETDAQ so each time you buy a Sunderland shirt you're advertising both the football team and the company that is on the front.
Conventions of advertising:
Brand logos McDonalds golden arches are recognized all over the world. Slogans - I'm Lovin It from McDonalds again is very recognizable too. Aim of being striking or memorable, emphasis on image over words, reliance on symbols and stereotypes.
Analysis of advertisements: https://www.slideshare.net/JamesGMedia/analysis-of-poster-video-and-merchandising-advertisement
Product placement - products are purposely placed in TV shows/films as a mini advert. Sometimes the characters of the shows/films use these products. Heineken's beer was featured in the James Bond film, Skyfall. It caused controversy though as people didn't think James Bond would drink Heineken. Source below:
https://www.theguardian.com/film/2012/apr/17/bond-taste-for-beer-skyfall
Advertisements for new products/apps on television. And on big sporting events there's an advertising period, for example many new ads appeared during the Super Bowl (A massive event in the American Football calendar)
Content creators on YouTube are sponsored (and now on YouTube you might get ads on a video you watch), often doing collaborations with the certain company and on Instagram big accounts do sponsored posts. Mobile apps/software, some apps remove ads if you buy the 'premium' version, encouraging you to buy. Often these ads will come often and it will irritating, it's the apps way of getting you to purchase it.
Print based advertising, in the past you'd find ads in: newspapers, magazines (depending on the genre of magazine it'll affect what ads you'll get, if you get a football magazine there'll be more football related ads). Print advertising is limited as it's a 'right place, right time' moment, for example if you don't turn a page on a newspaper you may have missed an ad in it.
Billboards/bus stops/vehicles can advertise things as well, you can have those bus stops that flick through ads every few seconds.
Merchandising, for example football teams have sponsors on their shirts, for example Sunderland are sponsored by BETDAQ so each time you buy a Sunderland shirt you're advertising both the football team and the company that is on the front.
Conventions of advertising:
Brand logos McDonalds golden arches are recognized all over the world. Slogans - I'm Lovin It from McDonalds again is very recognizable too. Aim of being striking or memorable, emphasis on image over words, reliance on symbols and stereotypes.
Analysis of advertisements: https://www.slideshare.net/JamesGMedia/analysis-of-poster-video-and-merchandising-advertisement
Tuesday, 26 February 2019
Unit 10, Film Production - post production.
Editing: below is the screenshot of what Premiere Pro looked like for the finished film:
https://www.slideshare.net/JamesGMedia/editing-analysis-135872967
Also in this slide share document is an analysis of what I did while editing this film together.
Production Diary 5th March 2019 - this is the completed production diary, in this I went over the key dates in my production, from when I shot certain scenes and the equipment that I used.
https://www.slideshare.net/JamesGMedia/editing-analysis-135872967
Also in this slide share document is an analysis of what I did while editing this film together.
Production Diary 5th March 2019 - this is the completed production diary, in this I went over the key dates in my production, from when I shot certain scenes and the equipment that I used.
Wednesday, 13 February 2019
Hotel Babylon - ethnicity
Hotel Babylon clip
Firstly we see the majority of the Caucasian cast are dressed smartly, in suits etcetera. (Although there is a black character in a suit so this point can't be used as a social class commentary)
We see the immigrants seem to be there illegally, as when the immigration service turn up the workers hurry all the other workers away, implying that they may not be in the country illegally. Almost stereotyping immigrants by saying they didn't come here legally.
The police seem to treat the immigrants like criminals, despite them not committing any violent crime, despite the fact they're there illegally (which is still wrong but the police are going over the top) they don't to be dragged away like they are criminals.
There seems to be a hidden message in this clip. What I believe the show is saying is that we treat immigrants too harshly, like I wrote above we seem to treat illegal immigrants like violent criminals yet companies are happy to exploit them for their cheaper labour, it shows the hypocrisy of the public, we don't like they're here illegally but we're happy to use them for our own benefit. The clip seems to use tense music, implying if they're caught then their life will change (and not in a good way), because most immigrants come to the UK for example to escape a horrible life back home. Lately in real life there's been a lot of immigrants from Syria escaping the civil war that is raging there.
The immigration service seem to have no care for the immigrants, they see trying to find illegals as a game almost.
We're on the immigrants' side in this clip: as the police have been portrayed as the antagonists and the performances from the actors make the police look like emotionless and cynical people. The immigration officer also flaunts his authority by tracking him and his 'goons'.
The shots show/imply that it's a race against of time, the workers are trying to hurry away the illegals before 'it's too late.' Too late meaning before the law gets you.
Firstly we see the majority of the Caucasian cast are dressed smartly, in suits etcetera. (Although there is a black character in a suit so this point can't be used as a social class commentary)
We see the immigrants seem to be there illegally, as when the immigration service turn up the workers hurry all the other workers away, implying that they may not be in the country illegally. Almost stereotyping immigrants by saying they didn't come here legally.
The police seem to treat the immigrants like criminals, despite them not committing any violent crime, despite the fact they're there illegally (which is still wrong but the police are going over the top) they don't to be dragged away like they are criminals.
There seems to be a hidden message in this clip. What I believe the show is saying is that we treat immigrants too harshly, like I wrote above we seem to treat illegal immigrants like violent criminals yet companies are happy to exploit them for their cheaper labour, it shows the hypocrisy of the public, we don't like they're here illegally but we're happy to use them for our own benefit. The clip seems to use tense music, implying if they're caught then their life will change (and not in a good way), because most immigrants come to the UK for example to escape a horrible life back home. Lately in real life there's been a lot of immigrants from Syria escaping the civil war that is raging there.
The immigration service seem to have no care for the immigrants, they see trying to find illegals as a game almost.
We're on the immigrants' side in this clip: as the police have been portrayed as the antagonists and the performances from the actors make the police look like emotionless and cynical people. The immigration officer also flaunts his authority by tracking him and his 'goons'.
The shots show/imply that it's a race against of time, the workers are trying to hurry away the illegals before 'it's too late.' Too late meaning before the law gets you.
Thursday, 31 January 2019
Unit 8 - rationale
Client issues a commission brief to potentially interested parties
Media pros research and develop their ideas to respond to the commission. They then pitch their ideas to the client presenting using: rationale, proposal and treatment (you'd use a storyboard to show how the product would work)
Client commissions the idea they feel meets what they're looking for.
Client feedbacks on progress.
Target audience (aims of the commission)
Platform - How to achieve said goal -
Theme
Message
Aim of the product
Additional features/content
Deadline
Budget
Rationale structure
State how the overall product will meet the key features of the commission
Explain how the product will address the needs of the target audience
Explain how the product will address the themes of the commission
Explain how the product will meet the intended aims of the product
State how your creative ideas will produce a successful and effective product
Conclude with convincing justifications for why your proposals should be accepted
(Social grade, psychographics, demographics)
Part 1
Outline who the product is aimed at
Why are you targeting these groups
What is the aim of the product? Why do we need this product
How will this target audience influence your ideas for the product?
Part 2 - primary research
Create a questionnaire, minimum of 6 questions
Look at the exemplar for ideas on the sorts of questions to ask
Ask your target audience to complete your questionnaire
These responses will need to inform your ideas in some way, so make sure your questions are relevant/will help you come up with ideas that can be included in the product.
Before the assessment turn your results into pie charts and paste them onto your notes
Explain how this primary research will affect your ideas (Eg: However, no boys answered this questionnaire possibly suggesting that they need to become more aware. This has influenced decisions that will be made when making the final video to show that self-harming is not only carried out by girls but boys do it too)
Part 3 - secondary research
Existing products, what can you learn from them? How will your work follow 'repetition and difference' (Neale, Genre theory)
Explore further by sourcing at least 2 websites
The sort of information you are looking for - statistics, expert opinion, studies, individual stories etc
Make sure you explain how this research will influence your ideas, eg: this statistic heavily impacted my target audience as the commission needs to not only be fixated on girls but boys also, if not even more as boys are considered as more fearful to speak out about self-harm
Part 4 - understanding the client/commission
Who are they?
What is their key message?
What do they hope to achieve from this product?
Part 5 - ideas generation
Come up with 3 suitable ideas for your product. In the exam you will need to describe a plot synopsis in detail. Eg: one of the exemplar idea is 15 lines long.
Then explain how these 3 ideas will measure against the client's criteria
Then choose one of your ideas to pitch. Justify your choice
Then develop your idea
Justify the developments of your idea
Media pros research and develop their ideas to respond to the commission. They then pitch their ideas to the client presenting using: rationale, proposal and treatment (you'd use a storyboard to show how the product would work)
Client commissions the idea they feel meets what they're looking for.
Client feedbacks on progress.
Target audience (aims of the commission)
Platform - How to achieve said goal -
Theme
Message
Aim of the product
Additional features/content
Deadline
Budget
Rationale structure
State how the overall product will meet the key features of the commission
Explain how the product will address the needs of the target audience
Explain how the product will address the themes of the commission
Explain how the product will meet the intended aims of the product
State how your creative ideas will produce a successful and effective product
Conclude with convincing justifications for why your proposals should be accepted
(Social grade, psychographics, demographics)
Part 1
Outline who the product is aimed at
Why are you targeting these groups
What is the aim of the product? Why do we need this product
How will this target audience influence your ideas for the product?
Part 2 - primary research
Create a questionnaire, minimum of 6 questions
Look at the exemplar for ideas on the sorts of questions to ask
Ask your target audience to complete your questionnaire
These responses will need to inform your ideas in some way, so make sure your questions are relevant/will help you come up with ideas that can be included in the product.
Before the assessment turn your results into pie charts and paste them onto your notes
Explain how this primary research will affect your ideas (Eg: However, no boys answered this questionnaire possibly suggesting that they need to become more aware. This has influenced decisions that will be made when making the final video to show that self-harming is not only carried out by girls but boys do it too)
Part 3 - secondary research
Existing products, what can you learn from them? How will your work follow 'repetition and difference' (Neale, Genre theory)
Explore further by sourcing at least 2 websites
The sort of information you are looking for - statistics, expert opinion, studies, individual stories etc
Make sure you explain how this research will influence your ideas, eg: this statistic heavily impacted my target audience as the commission needs to not only be fixated on girls but boys also, if not even more as boys are considered as more fearful to speak out about self-harm
Part 4 - understanding the client/commission
Who are they?
What is their key message?
What do they hope to achieve from this product?
Part 5 - ideas generation
Come up with 3 suitable ideas for your product. In the exam you will need to describe a plot synopsis in detail. Eg: one of the exemplar idea is 15 lines long.
Then explain how these 3 ideas will measure against the client's criteria
Then choose one of your ideas to pitch. Justify your choice
Then develop your idea
Justify the developments of your idea
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