Week 4 Homework

 Hi guys, here is your next challenge:

Embedded below is an extract from The Bourne Identity.  You should watch it at least four times.  During the first screening, you should not make notes; during the second, third and fourth screenings you should make notes, as well as making additional notes between these subsequent viewings.  You should also compare and develop these notes using your class notes from our recent class screening, and compile them to answer the question below.

Discuss the ways in which the extract constructs meaning through the following:

• camera shots, angles, movement and composition
• editing
• sound
• mise-en-scene

Your answer should be approximately 3 page sides in length (no less than 2 1/2 sides, leaning towards 3 to 3 1/2).  Cover as many of the bulletpoints as you can, and refer also to representational theory specifically theories we will cover in class tomorrow. 

THEORY Slideshare

Remember the Key Topic areas of Representation, and remember that these are KEY areas but not the ONLY areas.  Still, most observations on social groups and social issues will eventually circle back to one of those seven topics.

This is due next Wednesday.


- T. Bianca

Mise-en-scene Video

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ueSh66xktkk

Week 3 - Fri- Preliminary Task Planning

 Hi everyone

Today for class we are meeting to discuss your Preliminary Task! You are going to work in partners to create an opening sequence.

Today's work is to brainstorm an idea with your partner. Scribble it on paper but create a neat version that will be uploaded to your blog. Then you are going to make your way through the list below for next week's classwork.

Your Preliminary Task brief is as follows;

BRIEF:

Create a short scene in an action-thriller that has the following elements;

- 180' Rule

- Shot-reverse-shot

- Match-on-action

- continuity editing

- at least 2 characters

- at least 2 lines of dialogue

-  a chase scene of some sort

- a character opening a door and coming into a room/ building to demonstrate your understanding of match-on-action. 

- iconography, codes and conventions that make your media text recognisable to the viewer as belonging to the genre you're creating.

Here's what you need to use as a checklist:

TASK PLANNING:

For now you should have started completing the following and have a list of these incorporated into your planning entry on your blog.

• Brainstorm
• Storyboard
• Script
• Location
• Props & Costumes - list them, source them, bring them in
• Possible Talent - choose and approach for willingness and availability on the day
• Filming day options - finalise and CONFIRM WITH TALENT
• Conventions you intend to employ, and rationale
• Callsheet for talent - make it simple for them so they know what they need to bring
• Shot list for yourselves - this helps you plan out how you will manage your time
• Group roles - who will do what on the day?  Who will act as timekeeper?  Director?  Cam-op?
• Equipment list - plan NOW what you'll need; don't be scrambling on the day
• Principles of continuity plan (180' Rule/ match on action and shot-reverse-shot) (p.33 coursebook)

Here is a good example of a previous student's planning work (this doesn't contain all that we require for planning but the content is definitely what you should be aiming for).

https://www.slideshare.net/Zackmv/as-media-studies-pitch-68207493

GROUP BLOG

Everyone needs to upload their delegated tasks to a post on the Group Blog. Work out who is responsible for what and this list also needs to be in your planning post on your blog and on your group blog.

All of this will feed your Creative Critical Reflection, which we will discuss more fully at a later time.  For now, get your planning ready and get filming!  :)

Have fun and please ask questions as you go.


- T. Bianca

Week 3 -Wed & Thurs - Media Theory

 Wednesday 17th Feb 

Watch this short clip on Stuart Hall's RECEPTION THEORY, read the notes in the link below and make some notes. 

You are going to create a slide share that explains each aspect of his theory. Include an example that illustrates each of the different 'readings', Stuart Hall explains and include pictures. What are some examples of where an audience may choose to adopt each of the 'readings'?  

Link to read through

Some notes;

Reception Theory 

Quick revise

Reception theory as developed by Stuart Hall asserts that media texts are encoded and decoded. The producer encodes messages and values into their media which are then decoded by the audience. However, different audience members will decode the media in different ways and possibly not in the way the producer originally intended.

Stuart Hall states that audience members adopt one of the following three positions when they decode the text:

Dominant, or Preferred Reading - how the producer wants the audience to view the media text. Audience members will take this position if the messages are clear and if the audience member is the same age and culture; if it has an easy to follow narrative and if it deals with themes that are relevant to the audience.

Oppositional Reading - when the audience rejects the preferred reading, and creates their own meaning for the text. This can happen if the media contains controversial themes that the audience member disagrees with. It can also arise when the media has a complex narrative structure perhaps not dealing with themes in modern society. Oppositional reading can also occur if the audience member has different beliefs or is of a different age or a different culture.

Negotiated Reading - a compromise between the dominant and oppositional readings, where the audience accepts parts of the producer's views, but has their own views on parts as well. This can occur if there is a combination of some of the above e.g. audience member likes the media, is of the same age as you and understands some of the messages, but the narrative is complex and this inhibits full understanding.

Many factors could affect whether the audience take the dominant, oppositional or negotiated reading.

• Age

• Beliefs

• Culture

• Gender

• Life experience

• Mood at the time of viewing

Thursday 18th Feb

- This is Todorov's theory we covered briefly in class. I want you to watch the video and create a blog post with the main notes from this theory. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f7AfnJd55PI

- This is Laura Mulvey's theory. Write some notes in a blog post explaining what her view is and give some examples of where you see this theory playing out in modern media. In your opinion, has the portrayal of women changed much over the years in light of the feminist movement? 

https://medium.com/engl411final-group1/laura-mulvey-the-male-gaze-51ce98b979c3

Week 3 HOMEWORK - Thriller sub-genre

 

Hi everyone

Your next blog assignment, create a SLIDESHARE for the following research project;

Thriller sub-genres-

• Research 6 thriller sub-genres.
• You will define the core content, themes, techniques and conventions that are characteristic to each sub-genre.
• You will also give examples of common methods used to achieve the desired effects.
• List 1-5 appropriate movies that land in the category of the sub-genre you are discussing.

Here are some examples of similar research projects (although not the same brief, yours needs to have the requirements above but good to get some info from all the same).

Thriller Sub-Genre Slideshare 1

Psychological thriller slideshare

Crime thriller slideshare

Here is a good article to use for research on some thriller sub-genres.

Here is another good article for research that breaks down thriller sub- genres.

I would suggest looking at previous students work on this to get a good gage as to what grade they got for the amount of work they put in. Remember, this is for marks and is research for your preliminary task 1 which we will begin work on next week!

T-Bianca 

Week 2 - Class Work (Reception Theory)

Hi class

Today I want you to watch this short clip on Stuart Hall's RECEPTION THEORY, read the notes in the link below and make some notes. 

You are going to create a slide share that explains each aspect of his theory. Include an example that illustrates each of the different 'readings', Stuart Hall explains and include pictures. What are some examples of where an audience may choose to adopt each of the 'readings'?  

Link to read through

Some notes;

Reception Theory 

Quick revise

Reception theory as developed by Stuart Hall asserts that media texts are encoded and decoded. The producer encodes messages and values into their media which are then decoded by the audience. However, different audience members will decode the media in different ways and possibly not in the way the producer originally intended.

Stuart Hall states that audience members adopt one of the following three positions when they decode the text:

Dominant, or Preferred Reading - how the producer wants the audience to view the media text. Audience members will take this position if the messages are clear and if the audience member is the same age and culture; if it has an easy to follow narrative and if it deals with themes that are relevant to the audience.

Oppositional Reading - when the audience rejects the preferred reading, and creates their own meaning for the text. This can happen if the media contains controversial themes that the audience member disagrees with. It can also arise when the media has a complex narrative structure perhaps not dealing with themes in modern society. Oppositional reading can also occur if the audience member has different beliefs or is of a different age or a different culture.

Negotiated Reading - a compromise between the dominant and oppositional readings, where the audience accepts parts of the producer's views, but has their own views on parts as well. This can occur if there is a combination of some of the above e.g. audience member likes the media, is of the same age as you and understands some of the messages, but the narrative is complex and this inhibits full understanding.

Many factors could affect whether the audience take the dominant, oppositional or negotiated reading.

• Age

• Beliefs

• Culture

• Gender

• Life experience

• Mood at the time of viewing

Week 3 Homework - Thriller Brainstorm

Hi class 

This week, you'll be working on a thriller scene for homework. You will have class time to brainstorm and get initial ideas, then you'll complete the following for homework, due next Wednesday 17th Feb.

In pairs, I want you to take one of the following situations and work out a scene (either an opening or a scene in the movie) that will build the most suspense. Think about camera shots and movement, editing techniques, mise-en-scene what you will include in the shot) and what music you may put with it.

1. A ship strikes a rock and begins to sink. The waters are shark infested. Passengers fight for their lives in the open seas.


2. A Kidnapper watches a child at a fun-fair. The parent and child are separated. The kidnapper moves in for the abduction.

3. We are introduced to a deranged, mentally ill man who is stalking his victim although coming across as normal and an 'all round nice guy' to his neighbourhood.


4. The terrorist is boarding the plane. He has a bomb. The hero comes to a point of realisation and only has minutes to find it while keeping the passengers calm.


Questions for consideration:

1. Who do you introduce character-wise and why?
2. Where do you set your film scene, why?
3. What iconography and symbolism will you include?

Choose from the following conventions and include at least 3 of them in your scene:

1. isolation
2. small spaces
3.blood
4. mirror
5. canted angle
6. extreme close-up
7. shadows
8. eerie music
9. ironic music choice
10. internal voice narrative
11. heavy breathing diegetic sound
12. slow motion
13. zoom in
14. zoom out
15. point of view shot
16. dolly shot/ tracking shot
17. a vulnerable character
18. obstructed view

Your homework should include

1. A brainstorm (A4 mindmap of ideas you're implementing)
2. A rationale (explanation for what you're doing and why you're making the creative decisions - DETAILS) At least 500 words.
3. A storyboard

(watch the following link to up-skill in storyboarding)

Week 1 Homework Assignment

Hi,

We're kicking off with an analysis project, as follows below.

You may use the Sherlock clip in this post for our task.

Watch the extract several times and assess how the sequence manages the bridge between 'heavy' and 'light' moods.  (Focus particularly on finding the main / initial shift in tone)

By now we've produced a storyboard of the precise transition section - the last shot of the first sequence and the first shot of the second.  If we haven't already done so, finish your written notes on how the mood is set up in each case by the following micro elements:

• Camera: shots, angles, movement, composition.
• Editing: within each section and crucially, between them, to make the 'bridge'.
• Sound: dialogue, music, effects, atmospheric establishing sound, diegetic v non-diegetic contrasts.
• Mise-en-Scene: how is this different for the two contrasting storylines; how is mood and atmosphere created in each case through lighting, colour, performance and other aspects?

Remember that your notes need not be exhaustive; for example, you would only record types of camera shots and their resulting effects, rather than the number of times each shot type is used and their corresponding timecodes in the extract.

Finally, use your notes to write a short response about how the technical elements combine to construct mood and tone.  Responses should be one full side in length, so you will very likely not be able to cram in everything you've observed.  Select your best material for the task.

Let me know if you have any questions and have fun :)

- T Bianca

Welcome to AS Media Studies!

 Hi AS Media class!

Super exciting to have you joining us this year! Media Studies really is an exciting subject to tackle and I'm sure you're going to LOVE it!

This is our class blog. On here you will find a weekly homework assignment that you are expected to chip away at, at home. 

This blog also contains helpful information such as past pupil blogs and information you'll need in each topic we cover. 

This week your 'to-do' list is as follows;

 - Set up a Gmail account (a purely school one is great but feel free to use your personal one)

- Set up a Youtube account (this will be linked to your Gmail)

- Set up a blog using Blogger.com 

- email me a copy of your blog log in information AS WELL AS record this in your student handbook

- Check out some previous students blogs (links on our class blog) and have a look at some aspects you like / dislike 

- create a post on your blog with an 'about me' or 'welcome to my blog' post, with a photo and a quick description of who you are and what you're looking forward to this year. 

We will also be having a pop quiz on Friday, first period on;

-  the 7 core representations 

-  the 4 technical elements

- the types of TV dramas

 so make sure you've memorised them ;)