Key theory revision- HUMANS

First  3 scenes:

• Hermeneutic codes are also used
• proairetic code- at the beginning that we see one of the robots move out of all of them demonstrating that she will be significant

Cinematography of HUMANS:

• first shot of the warehouse full of people uses a dolly shot which shows the vastness and multitude of bodies in there

• crane shot/high angle of the people with only one movement gives the girl significance

• introduction to the characters by having establishing shot of the city, shots within the house and mid shots of eat characters

• low key lighting within the warehouse makes it seem secretive

• contrast and binary opposition using colour and lighting of the green and bright with natural light where the real people are and where the synths showing the two very difference situations. demonstrates the theme of conflict between the synths and the 'real' people

• low angle of the moon shinning through the ceiling of the synth factory demonstrating the importance of the moon to the codes and conventions of the episode

• long shot of the Hawkins family living room, showing various family members sprawled out on their phones- stereotypes of teenagers and technology

• high long shot of all the synths emphasising how lonely it is 

•  cold, blue colour artificial led lighting connoting unnaturalness and creating a creepy atmosphere, emphasised by the low key lighting 

• over the shoulder shots/ close ups  of Anita/nude male and female bodies, with the camera tracking slowing down on female bodies. Assumes a heterosexual male audience. However forces the audience in a voyeuristic position, where the synths are cold and creepy

SOUND AND MISE-EN-SCENE:

• theme tune is heavily synthetic 

• use of pan pipes is a bit creepy

• uses high pitched noises

• electronic/ 'techno music' plays as Anita is powered on - Non-diegetic sound emphasises Anita is not only the protagonist but also unique- this is an example of Leitmotif 

• In the opening credits all sounds made using digital, synthetic music, artificial, establishes key themes to the audience 

• intertextuality reference- opening theme tune sounds like electronic music produced by bands like Daft Punk or especially Kraftwerk- gives the show vital context - this demonstrates the show takes place in a very different world to ours

• assorted news footage and articles (montage) which is called stock footage which has had a digital distortion over laid- conforming to the key message of the show- what is real?

• GENRE FLUIDITY: 

• referential codes relating to numerous sci-fi films such as, 2001 (1969) and Blade runner (1982)- the extreme close up of the eye- demonstrating themes of emotions and humanity 

Camera work:

• low angle shot
• establishing shots
• Tracking shot- dolly
• low key lighting - when its dark/ less intense 
• Artificial lighting

Humans episode 1- component 2

• Find on channel 4- All 4
• Component 2
• Genre- sciencefiction (sci-fi)

Matilda

Laura

Sophie

Anita 

Joe 

Toby

• What science fiction codes and conventions are evidenced? Are these utilised in a typical or atypical way?

Science labs- stereotypical sci-fi

sound track- computer generated 

robots 

• What groups are represented? What ideological perspective

men

women

family- middle class

humans

robot

east asian women

• Who is the primary target audience for this show?

middle class people

• All science fiction holds a mirror to society. What real world allegorical themes are dealt with here?

ethics 
families 
roles of women in society
references to slavery, prostitution and holocaust 
capitalism- they went and brought her- i really hope she's pretty 

• What character archetypes are utilised in this show? To what extent does the narrative rely on them?

• What intertextual references/referential codes did you notice? How do these potentially reward the viewing experience?

aspirational magazine covers

Mock revision

Component 1 A:

In what ways do music videos encode viewpoints and ideologies? Make reference to Formation by Beyoncé and Riptide by Jack Vance.  [30]

• Ideology- Thought, opinion or belief- constructed by media language- producer is who constructs the ideology, to try and get across their ideology to the audience, to manipulate 
• Use shot types, media language and theorists to get a grade 
• Maybe upset by the voyeuristic aspects of riptide 
• One ideology is that women are rebellious by singing the wrong words (riptide)
• Low key lightening is used which creates a dark, mysterious and miserable mood- looks like a horror film emphasised by the lightening and make up (riptide)
• The ideology being resented her is that she is weak as her make up (mise-en-scene)  is smeared and she is singing the wrong words - audience is positioned in a voyeuristic tracking shot (riptide)
• Beyonce represents black women in the south of America (Formation) 
• She is both independent yet isolated- complicating the ideology that back women can be weak yet powerful (Formation) Gauntlet 
• Fist in the air suggesting power
• Referential code of the statue of liberty when stood on top of the car  

Component 1 B:

Explore the ways in which production, distribution and circulation have shaped the newspapers you have studied. Make reference to The Daily Mirror and The Times. [15]

• Print base news and online news
• Ones a tabloid and ones a broad sheet 
• David Hesmondhalgh
• Trinity mirror - doesn't exist anymore did own daily mirror and mirror on sunday- rebranded to 'reach'
• Horizontal integration- allows newspaper manufactura to reach more audiences
• Distribution  
• Production 
• Circulation- print more newspapers, the number of copies printed- Mirror- 626,000- the times- 400,000 
• The Daily mirror- tabloid- informal- quick and easy to read- working class- headlines are alot larger- costs 50p- left leading newspaper following the labour party  
• The times- broad sheet- formal mode of address- middle class- uses jargon- makes the assumption that the audience knows what they are referring to- costs £1- right winged following the conservatives- owned by Rupert Murdock who is very right winged 
• 71% of national newspaper circulation is controlled by 3 main companies 
• conglomeration- when a newspaper company buys another 
• Most UK newspapers are very right winged 
• print newspaper circulation has decreased by 4% overall 
• Technological change: Newspaper companies have gone online and circulation of print is decreasing constantly. 
• Disadvantages of print based media: Inconveniences, generational changes, news becomes old fast
• Advantages of online: instant access, always up to date 
• Advantages of print base media: allows you to have the experience of impulse buying employs a lot more people than online
• Disadvantages of online: less jobs are needed, people get made redundant when they no longer print the paper 
• IPSO regulate newspapers

Component 2:

To what extent has sociohistorical context influenced representations in the magazines you have studied? Make reference to both Adbusters and Woman.

[30]

• question is asking for an opinion- a lot - both magazines have been heavily influenced by the time that they were written 
• Woman magazine isnt modern in the representation of women. for example needing the men to do things for you- assumes she has a boyfriend of husband and that she is straight reinforces patriarcal hegemony 
• Remember to plan:
• Stereotypes 
• hegemony 
• context of the time- woman- 1950's just after the war 2016- Donald Trump had just been elected 
• cultivation theory 
• objectification 
• 'Red soles are always in season'  
• Adbusters meaning are always fixed
• semiotics 
• binary oppositions
• sexualised 
• Adbusters make depreivated jokes- use dark satire comedy
• Need 3 examples 
• Between 2/3 paragraphs not including intro and conclusion 
• Male gaze- Van Zoonen 
• Adbusters subverts the representation of women 

intro:

• DAC
• Definiton- representation 
• Argument- i am going to argue that  sociohistorical has a massive effect in the way certain groups are presented
• Context- facts about the magazine eg genre, when it was started, when the edition came out 

Theorists:

Media language:

Barthes- Semiotic codes- to demonstrate meanings , hermeneutic- mystery code, proairetic, symbolic 

Levi- Strauss- Binary oppositions- narrative is constructed through two ideas being in conflict with one another

Representation:

Hall- representation theory- representation is a representation of a group in society through media codes- and stereotypes

Gauntlett- audience theory/identity- pick n mix theory- audience can pick n mix an ideology to suit them best

Van Zoonen- Feminist, Male gaze- women's bodies are used to sell media products to a heterosexual male audience 

hooks- feminist, believes in equality, men and women - feminism is for everyone- and the ways in which men are represented have negative impact on men also 

Gilroy- Post-colonialism- media products still follow colonial ideologies, and enforce racial hierarchies 

Industry:

Sonia Livingstone and Peter Lunt- Regulation- global media corporations are changing the way things previously used to be regulated 

Curran and Seaton- media is controlled by a small number of companies primarily driven by the profit and power- media concentration limits variety, creativity and quality - audience can be manipulated by certain individuals 

David Hesmondhalgh- Media producers try in minimise risk and maximise audience through vertical and horizontal integration, by forming their cultural products 

Pratical project

Regulations:

• Must complete an individual cross-media production, applying your knowledge and understanding of the theoretical framework (media language, representation, media industries, audiences)
• Unassessed participants may act in,or appear in the media production, or operant lighting, sound, recording and other equipment under your direction if required.  

RULES:

• Task one- Create an original music video to promote your new artist or band
• Length: 3 mins-3 mins 30 seconds
• Need two or more filming locations (e.g studio, rehearsal or live venue, or other locations)
• Wide range of camera shots, angles and movement to interpret the music and lyrics of the song
• Shots of artist or band to establish a clear identity/image
• Performance footage (rehearsal and/or live and/or lip synched)
• Representations of at least one social group
• Clear structure with an element of narrative 
• Every shot needs to be in focus/clear 
• Editing of original footage to the music track 
• Graphics depicting the original name of artist or band and title of the track 

How to get an A in the music video coursework:

• Use media language to demonstrate intertextuality and/or generic hybridity 
• Convey a complex representation of a social group using media language 
• Subvert and challenge typical representational stereotypes
• present an ideological context typical to an independent music labels 
• Create a magazine that demonstrates clear stylistic thematic and ideological links to your music video 

Formation- Beyonce

Binary Oppositions:

• Mise-en-scene of the police car with her sitting on it symbolising rebellion, which is further anchored by her carefree and powerful facial expressions
• Intertextual conflict- Police persecution of black people 
• Hanging out of the car, conflicts with B's facial expressions 
• Contrast between poor, dilapidated neighbourhood and rich  antebellum house- 
• B wears an antebellum dress (what a slave trade owners wife would wear) which creates a binary opposition as she is black (BME) - This signifies cultural appropriation, but also demonstrates B's power over the past 
• High key spotlight in empty swimming pool, shorts, crop tops and 70's loose afros and Librarian glasses 

Context:

• Formation is the lead single from the album Lemonade, was released the day before Beyonce performed at the super bowl final 2016
• The music video has won numerous awards including a Clio award for innovation and creative excellence  
• Formation is exclusive and aggressive 

Ideology might be that times haven't actually changed that much

Bricolage is a media product which combines lots of different elements of different time periods and styles.

MOVEMENT:

In general Beyonce's movements are powerful, quick, blunt and almost violent. 

Movement connotes power through the jerky movement 

Mise-en-scene suggests she is rich, wealthy but also could symbolise a tie to Africa.Middle fingers symbolises anger. She confronts the camera with a direct mode of address. The aggressive head movement could suggest resignation 








Long braided hair which is common with BME women. 







Beyonce takes clips from That B.E.A.T - a documentary and includes them in her music video:

• To reflect the culture of new orleans 
• To save time and money 
• Referential codes- intertextuality
• Representation of gay people has been left out  
• Allows B to explore an aspect of Black southern American culture 
• Actual footage used, but mainly "filler" footage and establishing shots 
• Formation is exclusive and aggressive 

Hyperreality/ Postmodernism:

• Term at least in part developed by Jean Baudrillard
• This refers to the idea that representations within media texts are more real than that which they represent 
• Some of these representations are simulacrum. This refers to a representation of something that no loner exists, or something that never exists 
• Representation is the new reality- what he believed 

Paul Gilroy- theories around ethnicity and post colonial theory:

Colonisation is what happens when one country takes over another country and forces their culture on them 

Linked to the hierarchies 

Racial hierarchies and othering - From Gilroy's perspective, is is another method of establishing hegemonic control 

Anaconda & lil pump music video/ How to discuss binary oppositions

How to discuss binary oppositions:
"In the video to Anaconda by Nikki Minaj, there is a binary opposition between Minaj's girlish appearance and the crude sexual lyrics of the song."


Representation: How the producer shows an issue, a group of people or a place. This is away of showing stereotypes and ideologies.
Stereotypes- Allows people a way of making sense of the world 
People care about representation because it has  an effect on how people are seen within society, because it cultivates a certain ideology.
Representation constructs reality. 



Anaconda:

Looking at black minority ethnic groups specifically black women. (BME)

Women are sexualised throughout the video 
There positions are sexualised along with their outfits
Jungle setting - Presenting the ideology that BME women as wild and uncivilised 
It is the representation of a stereotypical black body type 
In the video she adopts the stereotypical housewife role.
In the video is gives the ideology that black women are sexually promiscuous
The video is sub-vertices



Gucci Gang-Lil Pump:

Mise-en-scene of the tigger suggests that they are someone not to be messed with. Presenting BME american males as aggressive and powerful 
The binary opposition of the tiger walking down a school corridor connotes rebellion  
The amount of cannabis connotes he is a drug dealer 
Provides the audience of the gratification of escapism 
They are drinking lean- soft drinks mixed with drugs 
The use of jargon will appeal to the target audience 
Young girls rolling their eyes at the teacher shows no respect, and displays that they have attitude because they aren't doing/listening to what he is saying 
Many aspects of the video displaying tripping on drugs, for example the use of drugs and hallucinogenic imagery of the tiger and purple lights 

Riptide- Vance Joy

Postmodernism- Cannot have a definition 

Example: Breaking the fourth wall- 

Deadpool 

The music video: Vance Joy- Riptide
2013

• To the beat editing
• Muted colour palette - mise-en-scene
• General theme and narrative- montage of shots suggests themes of drowning,dying and death
• Alternate theme and narrative- an unpredictable and deliberately misleading montage of shots
• Deliberately invites polysemic interpretations 
• Emotional response- cold, confusing 
• Montage consistently matches the themes of the lyrics e.g 'cowboy running' is matched with long shot, canted angle, symbolic of dual personalities, afraid of what he has become 
• Intertextuality-  the mise-en-scene suggests the conventions of a western film therefore functions as a referential code 
• Referential codes create audience appeal, as only certain audiences will understand the reference 
• Horror is also referenced in this video. The mid shot of the seance and the mise-en-scene of the ouija board is referential of horror cinema, in particular 70's horror films 

• The mid shot of the letter dated August 1974 anchors the audience in to a a particular time period, because it's cool 
• Mid/Long shot of feet being dragged under a bed,slightly low angled shot, low key blue/ purple lighting which connotes darkness, misery and threat -Italian horror film 
• Denies the audience a defiant conclusion/response 
• Voyeuristic mid shot high angled POV shot of young blonde woman removing in a one-piece yellow swimsuit, slow zoom on naked back, intertextual references to early bond films
• Image at the dentist looks as if it is from a horror film, being tortured instead of a trip to the dentist
• Desaturation is used to create the 1970's look 
• Uses discontinuity editing 

Context:

• He is Australian and is a singer, song writer 
• Signed to Atlantic records
• His genre of music is folk-pop 
• The video was directed by Dimitri Basil and Laura Gorun and has had nearly over 210 million views on youtube 
• Riptide was Vance Joy's first single to be released in the USA, following his debut EP(extended play)  " god loves you when you're dancing". It became a platinum selling single (needs to sell a million copies to be a platinum selling single)

Definitions:

Objectification- The process in which a human is represented as an object (process)

Male Gaze- The assumption that every media product is for a heterosexual audience 

Sexualisation- The process of only valuing someone for their sexual appeal 

Voyeurism- Taking pleasure of watching someone without them knowing 

Scopophillia- The love of watching

High angle mid-shot suggests voyeurism- implies she doesn't know she is being watched 

Looking out into the ocean is symbolic of adventure 

The costume is exotic and exciting setting 

Framed in the centre of the shot which emphasises the importance to the heterosexual male audience 

The shot is shallow depth of field- she is the only thing in focus 

Shot with a zoom lense 

Positions audience in a scopophillia position 

Stereotypically attractive with her long blonde hair 

mise-en-scene connotes luxury with the beach in front of her

Natural lighting is used in this shot 

Representation of women throughout the music video:

 

• One ideology that is presented is women are vonuerable 
• Very stereotypical representation 
• Intertextuality of films and other music videos
• Women are represented as being a stereotypical damsel of distress  
• Women are consistently shown as in distress
• Women are made to look powerful by doing stereotypical manly things such as smoking 
• An ideology is for women to be powerful they need to be like men 
• One argument is we live in a society dominated by men 
• Women are offended on close proximity or being comforted by men suggesting women cant be independent 
• There are consistent shots of feet and hands which objectifies women

Looks mature and glamorous
has propionate cheek bones 
Looks italian 
Hair style might make her look grumpy 
Has dark berry lips which suggests she's sultry and mysterious
Mid-shot/ close up 
Voyeuristic and an uncomfortable position
Creepy shot 
The shots are repeated (master shot)   
No explicit anchorage to this 



Feminist ideology encoded:

• Shown as confident - bright colours(yellow) , stripping in front of the camera 
• Presents a mocking parody of sexism in music videos ("how to photograph girls" which connotes that women are purely present to be looked at by heterosexual men)
• Many shots of women in stereotypical male clothing 
• Low angle mid shot of woman holding arms in a gesture that connotes power
• Mid shot of blonde women bound in mise-en-scene of tight ropes connotes the restrictions that women face in society, and is critical of the notion of women as a 'weaker sex'- connotes of 'being tied down' with maternal responsibilities etc
• Video lacks anchorage which forces audience to make own assumptions, simultaneously providing sexual gratification for male heterosexual audience, but also consistently informs the audience that schopophilia is creepy and NOT okay 
• Ironic representation of patriarchal hegemony
• Sexualised images utilised as referential codes  

Intertextuality-  where one media product makes reference to another media product - Allows audience a completely new way to relate to the product
- Allows audience satisfaction 
- Draws in a significantly larger audience   




Paradigmatic features of the horror film- Suspiria (intertextuality Riptide):

• The props- knives, noose, gloved hands, barbed wire
• Weak and vulnerable protagonist- damsel in distress archetype 
• Colour scheme- red, blue, white and green - vibrant primary colour scheme- red and blue filters, highly typical of 70's horror 
• Sound track builds suspenseful non-diegetic sounds. diegetic female screaming
• Violent male antagonist 
• Iconographic features such as cherry red blood 
• retro- fashion, muted colours 

Surrealism:

 Artistic movement which came about in the early 20TH century. It originated in France 

A text that follows the logic of dreams 

Allows the audience another way to relate to the music video- provides gratification of intertextuality- causing the audience to talk about the video with others after they have seen it - provides audiences of social interaction 

Eye line match or a match on action- when you cut from something happening to the reaction of something happening and generally they would make sense with the previous shot or image. Riptide has very little of these

Binary oppositions- Claude levi strauss 
Bart Simpson is naughty because Lisa is the complete opposite 
We know it's day because it isn't night 
They are used for comedy 

Metanarrative

Metanarrative- an overreaching narrative or system of belief which helps us make sense of the world.

Music videos

What is a music video?

A video that accompanies a song 
The visual aspects of the song
Often includes performance
Often with a band 
Provides the audience with another level of entertainment 
To make money 
*A music video needs to look how the song sounds*
A music video is an advert for the song  



Polysemy- Multiple meanings 

Conventions- performance, music in the background, people dancing in the background/setting, staged, dramatic lightening, 4 mins long

Construction- Where an ideology of the producer in constructed 

Intertextuality- When you make reference tho another media product

Social and cultural context- what is going on at the time(life,culture and politics)



People identify with music more than any other media product, fans tend to becomes obsessive, and relate to the artist.
people often listen to music while on there own to make them feel less alone 
Another reason we use music is for social interaction 
Music is also very personal for the audience 



France Gall Baby Pop Scopitone:

Scopitone- your own personal music video, similar to a small juke box 

The bright happy visuals form a binary opposition with the dark lyrics 

Starts with a mid-shot then zooms out, she is totally still, the setting is unconventional
She is seen as being awkward during the performance   
The setting is boring and bland making it unconventional 
The awkward use of dancing 
Costumers are conventual for the time, very fashionable 
Social ad cultural: the buildings in the back ground are cool at the time, and the hip thing 


Rebecca- Vanity Angel:  
Performance
Looking into the camera- direct mode of 
teen age girls audience- it is aspirational for the target audience 

Extreme low angle establishing shot 
mise-en-scene 
neon lights- very 80's 
intertextuality- looks like an american film 
exoticism  

How the Exams work

3 things you get assessed on/ 3 components: 

Component 1: Unseen texts 

Exam-

Advertising

Newspapers

Film industry

Radio 

Music videos

Video games 

Section A: Media language + representation

Section B: Audience and industry 

 

Component 2:  Media products in detail

Exam- 1 question about each of the 3 industries

• Television 
• Internet 
• Magazines

Language, representation, industry and audiences 

Component 3: The production 

Coursework- 

1. Statement of intent
2. Music video 
3. Magazine 

Uses and Gratifications- Kylie Minogue

Hand on your heart music video- Kylie Minogue 

• Primary target audience- Teenage females (12/13)
• The ideology of the song is about love 
• Mise-en-scene of her hair appeals to the target audience- it is aspirational 
• Mise-en-scene of the dresses encodes the ideology of the song 
• The audience are able to relate
• People might find the 80's appealing and want to watch it 
• She looks as if she is trying to appeal to heterosexual males 
• Constantly looks directly into the camera- direct mode of address- feels like a live concert 
• Narrative is encoded through symbolic codes such as the colours of the dresses
• Video doesn't anchor the audience