Representation Reminder - Genius vs Moron

People,

Want to sound like a genius rather than a moron when writing about representation?

You've come to the right blog post!

Please find below a 'hall of shame' and a 'hall of fame' for comments about representation - Hopefully the 'hall-of-shame' will not look too familiar!

Check out the Wolf of Wall Street halls of shame and fame...

Wolf of Wall Street - Hall of Fame

Throughout the trailer for the Wolf of Wall Street, rich, white, young-American financiers are represented as being stereotypically wasteful with money and as people who have no regard for anyone but themselves. Di Caprio, who plays the lead-role in the film, is depicted throwing $100 bills in to the bin, hosting lavish and wild parties, and using a number of women as sex objects, purely to be exploited for his own pleasure. It suggests that the American Dream, which the film is all about, actually only makes a few people very wealthy and leaves them with no morals, and no long-term relationships. During the trailer, a number of the 'victims' of the American Dream are also represented deliberately pathetically by the director, Martin Scorcese. A drawrf is thrown towards a cash target in order to entertain the wealthy bankers, a black man can be seen waiting on others - reinforcing the stereotype that during times of great wealth, vulnerable people in society often do not access any of the wealth, and remain vulnerable...

WWW:

Sophisticated vocabulary where appropriate (financiers, stereotypically, reinforces, lavish, vulnerable)

Specific examples from the trailer (throwing dollars away)

Full sentences (NOT BULLET POINTS)

A wide range of points fully explained

Hall of Shame

White people are represented as party animals. they like to party and spend money. Stereotypically, white people are rich. Di Caprio is represented as a man who likes women. He wastes money. White people are shown to waste money. Women are represented as sexy. They are all going to parties and not wearing many clothes.

Students - ask yourself this...are you a hall of famer, or a hall of shamer?

Narrative theory: blog task

Your blog task is to apply the three narrative theories to the film trailer you are analysing for your essay.

You need to analyse the trailer on your blog using the three theories we learned this morning:

Todorov: equilibrium
Propp: character types
Barthes: enigma and action codes

Embed the trailer in your blog and then write your analysis in full sentences and paragraphs making specific reference to moments in the trailer.

Word count: 200 words.

Example: Silver Linings Playbook

The trailer for Silver Linings Playbook uses many narrative techniques typical of Hollywood romantic comedies. Applying Propp's character theory, we have a clear protagonist or hero in Bradley Cooper's character Patrick - although Jennifer Lawrence's character Tiffany is also a major character so doesn't quite fit the role of Propp's Heroine. In many ways, she is shown to be the stronger character and it is her quest (to compete in the dance competition) that drives the narrative. Robert De Niro offers the classic Father character (and is actually Pat's father) while Chris Tucker plays the Helper role as Pat's friend. These well known character types quickly help establish the romantic comedy narrative and allow audiences to understand the main relationships within the two-minute running time of the trailer.

The film's narrative is clearly introduced in the trailer and follows Todorov's theory of equilibrium. The state of balance is the character of Pat trying to get his life back together following his spell in a psychiatric institution. The introduction of Tiffany creates the disequilibrium - along with the request to compete in the dance competition. The new equilibrium is not shown in the trailer - this is critical because even though a standard Hollywood romantic comedy narrative would suggest the couple get together in the end, the audience have to watch the whole film to enjoy this resolution.

The trailer is full of Barthes' enigma and action codes. These are designed to draw the audience in and encourage them to watch the whole film to resolve their questions. The major enigma codes the audience will ask would revolve around whether the couple get together and whether they win the dance competition. However, there are other enigma codes such as what has happened in each character's past to cause psychiatric problems - particularly concerning Pat's stay in the psychiatric hospital. Although action codes are less important in the genre of romantic comedy, there are still plenty of dramatic scenes such as the book being thrown out of the window. This suggests there will be moments of drama and tension in the film and the only way to see these resolved is to watch the whole movie.

Narrative theory: key notes

The key notes from today's lesson:

Narrative definition: (Noun) A spoken or written account of connected events; a story

Todorov: equilibrium

Tzvetan Todorov is a Franco-Bulgarian philosopher. He suggests that all narratives follow a three part structure.

They begin with equilibrium, where everything is balanced, progress as something comes along to disrupt that equilibrium, and finally reach a resolution, when a new equilibrium is restored.

Equilibrium > Disequilibrium > New equilibrium

This can be applied to almost all film narratives.

Propp: character types

Vladimir Propp was a Soviet scholar who analyzed the basic plot components of Russian folk tales to identify their narrative elements.

His theory states that there are only a certain number of characters, who crop up in most narratives.

Protagonist (or Hero) 

Leads the narrative, is usually looking for something (a quest) or trying to solve something (a mystery).

Antagonist (or Villain) 

Gets in the protagonist's way; rival or enemy.

Heroine 

Usually some sort of ‘prize’ or reward for the hero. (Note: if your hero is female, your heroine can be male)

Father 

An authority figure who offers a reward to the hero for completing their quest. That reward might be a prince or a princess or a new job or promotion.

Helper 

Helps the hero - often acts as a sidekick

Donor 

Gives the hero something - a clue, a talisman, a special power - which helps them complete their quest

Mentor 

Teaches and guides the hero

Barthes: enigma and action codes

Roland Barthes was a French literary theorist.

Barthes' Enigma Code is a theory that suggests a text (whether that be television, film, a poster etc) portrays a mystery to draw an audience in, pose questions and, as such, become intrigued in the piece. 

For instance, a murder mystery will often not reveal the identity of the murderer until the end of the story, which poses the question "Who is the murderer?"

Barthes' Action Code relates to tension: any action or event that suggests something else may happen – and therefore keep the audience engaged. A good example would be a gun being drawn - the audience know a dramatic scene will follow.

Action codes work alongside enigma codes to engage and maintain the interest of the audience.

Representation - questions to consider

Potential representations to consider:

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire
How are young white female represented (Katniss)?Why?  Are traditional female roles subverted?
How are young white men represented? Why?
How is the political hierarchy and those in power represented (President Snow and his army)? Why?
How is THG a satire on real life (reality TV, materialism etc)? Why?

Taken
How is the white middle-class male hero presented? Is this representation conforming to other representations of white men in action films? Why?
How are females represented? Are the women being rescued by men? Why?
How are eastern-Europeans represented? Why are the human-traffickers Albanian? Why?
How is Europe represented? Remember, the film involves an American girl visiting Europe for the first time - is Europe presented as safe? Why? Why?

The Perks of Being a Wallflower
How are teenagers represented? Why?
How are teenage boys represented? Are the boys traditional American teenage 'geeks' or does the film subvert this notion? Why?
How are females represented? Why?
How are white people represented? Why?
How is the gay character represented? Is he an outsider? Why?

The Wolf of Wall Street
How are American business men represented? Why?
How is the idea of the American Dream represented? Why?
How are the 1980s represented? Is the film critical of a certain mentality or way of life? Why?
How are black characters represented? Why?
How is the dwarf represented (person with a disability)? Why?
How is the USA represented?  Why?
How are women represented? Is the film sexist? Why?

Frozen
How are females represented? Why?
Does the film subvert tradition gender roles? How is the Princess different to princesses in other Disney films? Why?
How are males represented? Why?
How are fairy tales represented? Why?

Blues is the Warmest Colour
How are teenagers represented? Are they accepting of their gay friends? Why?
How are lesbians represented? Why?
How is French society represented? Why?

12 Years a Slave 
How are black people represented? Is this a fair and honest portrayal of slavery? Why?
How are women represented? Why?
How are white men represented? Why?
Is it as simple as saying black people are represented as good and white people as bad? Why?

Django Unchanined
How are black people represented? Is this a fair and honest portrayal of slavery? Why?
How are women represented? Why?
How are white non-American represented? Why?
How are white men represented? Why?
Is it as simple as saying black people are represented as good and white people as bad? Why?

Precious
How is the traditional dysfunctional American family represented? Why?
How are black people represented? Why?
How are obese people represented? Why
How are women represented? Why?
How is disability represented? Why?
How is American life represented? Why?

Pompeii
How is a famous historical event represented? Has it been 'Hollywood-ised'?
How are men represented? Why?
How are women represented? Why?

Representation

Key notes: what influences representation?

1. The media text itself
2. The opinions of the person making the representation
3. The reaction of the audience to the representation
4. The society in which the representation is taking place

Analysing representation in film or TV

When we analyse representation in film or TV, we are interested in how certain people or groups are portrayed.

Key word: stereotypes

Stereotype: A widely held but fixed and oversimplified image or idea of a particular type of person or thing.

Representation blog task

1) Go back to the film you chose at the start of the unit for your essay. Here's a reminder of the original case study task.

2) Embed the trailer in a new blog post. 

3) Write a 250 word analysis of the representation of different people or groups in the trailer.

Example of representation analysis

Remember the short clip from Die Hard 3 we analysed in the lesson:

The representation of gender in Die Hard 3 reinforces traditional gender stereotypes. Bruce Willis plays the stereotypical male American action hero. He is aggressive, brave, intelligent and heroic in trying to find the “school bomb” that is discussed in the phone conversation. When the bomb is about to detonate, he refuses to run or throw it away and instead solves the riddle under extreme pressure. These are typical qualities associated with men in action films. Similarly, the lack of female representation in the clip also reinforces stereotypes. This creates the suggestion that dangerous situations such as a terrorist threat are no place for a woman. This is an old fashioned (and possibly sexist) representation of women but is typical of Hollywood action cinema.

Mr Halsey cover work: Tuesday 16 December

Classes A2 and B2: Assignment 2 Production

I'm sorry, I won't be in our lessons on Tuesday because I'm taking Year 13 Media students to a Media conference. I'll be back on Thursday for the Assignment 2 Production Deadline and that's what you need to be working towards today. The cover work is simple:

1) Complete your film poster on Photoshop

2) Complete your 10-frame storyboard for a film trailer that shows synergy with your film poster

The deadline for this work is Thursday. 

If you have any questions or concerns we can address them on Thursday. For now, make sure you have two high quality pieces of work for your folder ready for the deadline.

Thanks for getting on with things while I'm out at the conference - we have a fantastic reputation in Media for working brilliantly in cover lessons and I'm absolutely confident you will keep that reputation up. Good luck!

Exam topic: TV News

Your PPE Media Studies exam is on Friday 12 December at 08.30am.

The preliminary material that gives you the brief you need to follow in the exam is available here. You will also be given a printed copy in class.

You MUST complete the following research and planning tasks before the exam on Friday 12 December.


Research 

1) Choose two TV News programmes to research.

2) Watch your two different TV News programmes on three different nights. Watch the whole bulletin each time and make notes on the following:

• Title, date and time of bulletin
• Presenters
• News stories covered
• Use of graphics, animation, video packages, interviews and live links (key conventions of TV News)
• Use of modern or digital technology (cameraphone footage, audience tweets, hashtags, website links etc.)
• Anything that encourages the audience to keep watching (dramatic video, animated graphics, previews of news or features later in the programme etc.)

3) Research the institutions behind your two TV News programmes. Find out the following for each:

• Who owns or controls the institution
• How the institution is funded or makes money
• Any controversial issues or complaints that the institution has had to deal with in recent years

4) Find out the target audience for your two TV News programmes. You should be able to find a detailed breakdown online if you search intelligently. If you cannot find anything, write what you think the target audience for the programme would be and why.


Planning

1) Brainstorm ideas for a new TV News programme aimed at young people. Plan out the following:

• Title
• Channel, day and time broadcast
• The length and structure of the programme
• The presenter or presenters
• The types of news the programme will cover
• The brand identity for the show - title, logo, slogan, colour scheme etc.
• How you will package the news - video, images, graphics, live links, interviews etc.

2) Plan how you will make your TV News programme interactive with opportunities for the audience to submit photos and video and comment on the issues covered.

3) Prepare for the creative task in the exam. Plan, sketch and draw the following:

• Logo and graphic identity for your TV News programme
• Website homepage for your TV News programme
• Storyboard for the opening 30 seconds of your TV News programme
• A storyboard for a TV advert for your TV News programme

All tasks MUST be completed before Friday 12 December