Gabi's Media Blog

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Blank Space planning

Chosen one minute of the video to recreate and am planning the individual shots and locations as to where to shoot them 

[femfreq]

This is a problem the industry itself has created by selling to young straight men (the idea) that gaming is their exclusive domain, and now the industry has a responsibility to address that problem and undo the damage. The silence from most publishers and games media sites in the weeks after GamerGate started viciously harassing women was deafening. Even when faced with such stark and horrifying evidence of the problems inherent in making straight men feel entitled to video games for decades, these companies didn’t want to risk hurting their bottom line by upsetting some of the people they’ve catered to and profited from.

Anita Sarkeesian interview with Women in the World (via femfreq)

[femfreq]

But while getting significantly more women involved in designing games is absolutely necessary, the male-centered (and hetero-normative) culture of game design has been so deeply entrenched for so long throughout the industry that the current situation also calls for very conscious, very deliberate efforts by men and women alike to reflect on the creative decisions they’re making and to stop perpetuating sexism in the design and advertising of games. Game publishers and studios need to be deliberate and intentional within their company environments to move away from the high-school boys locker room atmosphere that has dominated game development for far too long.

Anita Sarkeesian interview with Women in the World (via femfreq)

[gabismediablog]

Body image- Lillian Bustle ted talk

http://mic.com/articles/114748/this-burlesque-dancer-nails-everything-wrong-with-the-way-we-talk-about-body-image

[gabismediablog]

Sci-Fi TV Analysis 2

Star Trek (the original series) http://youtu.be/hdjL8WXjlGI

Technical and Audio codes- In the opening to this show, we here a monologue spoken by the shows main character Captain Kirk. The monologue uses language associated with journeys and space “Space, the final frontier” and “Explore strange new worlds and to seek out new life, new civilisations”. This gives the audience a brief insight to the show before the episode has begun while keeping genre specific. The music featured in the opening is minimal during the monologue and consists of few notes played on a synthesiser. The texture then thickens to include brass instruments and a theramin creating the signature theme tune. The instrumentation is stereotypical of music used in sci-fi. It’s mysterious feel created by high pitched instruments and space themed foley sound effects create an atmospheric space feel. The visuals in the opening are minimal (due to the technology of the time) and include few special effects. Durning the monologue we are presented with a plain, black, star filled background which presents the audience with the shows space setting. We briefly see the starship enterprise ship fly past revealing the shows main flagship setting. The sans serif font of the title card presented in blue connotes a futuristic feel and is a key convention is presentation of sci-fi genres

Representation- The show features two main characters of Ethnic minority. Lieutenant Uhura (a black female) and Sulu (an asian male) are both central characters that are crucial to the show. These two characters are neither tokenistic or used to make ethnicity based humour. It could be argued that these characters disprove the Alvarado theory as their ethnicity does not stand in the way of their character development or rely on racial stereotypes in their audience presentation Genre Conventions- The show follows several key genres specific to sci-fi. -Alien characters and planet exploration -Space and time travel -High tech machinery that gives the audience a feel of the future -Futuristic setting -Conflict between good and evil -Dystopian and utopian societies foreign to the audience

[gabismediablog]

Sci-Fi TV analysis

Dr Who (opening) http://youtu.be/Rmsldy5lbUw

Technical and Audio codes- The opening of Dr Who features the shows key symbol, the TARDIS, traveling through different dimensions of space and time. We see this through the use of the monochrome swirling clock face which could connote time travel. The cogs seen during the first seconds of the opening give the feeling of a mechanical sense which could also link to the clockwork and time travel seen in later shots. Once the TARDIS enters the clock face, we see a transition to more spacial elements. A galaxy pattern provides the background for the credits while planets swirl around the names of actors. This suggests that the show will be set in space and also provides key genre conventions of sci-fi. The audio included in the trailer features the show’s signature theme tune which is instantly recognisable to the show. It uses high, pitchy strings with studio effects applied to create a mysterious and eerie atmosphere. The opening also features foley sound effects typical of the sci-fi genre such as laser gun shots and high pitched squeaks when the titles disappear at the end of the opening.

Representation- Many of Dr Who’s episodes rely on the classic Hero and sidekick structure within the plot. The hero of the show is The Doctor while the sidekick is usually one of his female companions (Amy, Clara, Rose ect). At several points in the show, the female companion is placed in a ‘Damsel in distress’ situation where she relies on the Doctor to save her. At other points in the show, the female assistant shows a more emotionally vulnerable side when talking to other female minor characters in the show while the Doctor is busy dealing with fixing more technical aspects like a broken TARDIS. This shows that in some aspects, the show relies on traditional gender roles to progress the story.

Genre Conventions- As seen in the opening, the show uses elements of time travel and space voyage in it’s plot progression which are both key to the sci-fi genre. The TARDIS acts as a spaceship and time machine allowing for the Doctor and companion to travel anywhere in the universe.

[gabismediablog]

Representation theories

G235: CriticalPerspectives in MediaTheoretical Evaluation of Production 1b) Representation

[yeswalkingcat]

The Hero: Elsa because she eventually saves Anna with an act of true love

The false hero and the villain: Hans. He is the false hero and the villain because he starts off pretending to like Anna and then betrays her when she is dying.

The princess: Anna

The father: Anna and Elsa’s dad, the King

...

[gabismediablog]

Narrative theory application

Torodov’s theory states that each film follows five different stages of narrative: Equilibrium, disruption, recognition, repair and the new equilibrium. This theory can be applied to the 1985 film Back to the future. The film begins by introducing us to the equilibrium of Marty Mcfly’s everyday life where his family life isn’t as fore-filling as he hopes. The disruption phase begins when Doc Brown (Marty’s scientist friend) Introduces his time machine which sends Marty back to the year 1955 after a dispute with Libyan terrorists. The recognition phase begins when Marty meets his teenage parents and realises that he has to return to 1985 otherwise he threatens the existence of himself and his siblings. He attempts to repair this disruption by finding when he finds the past doc brown and helps him to fix the delorean allowing him to return to 1985. The new equilibrium is the result of Marty’s encounter with his parents which changes his family life. 

Vladimir Propp’s character theory states that each film has 8 main character types that aid the narrative. These types are- 

*The Hero- Anna

*The false hero-Hans

*The Princess-Elsa

*The father of the princess- The king 

*The helper-Olaf and Kristoff

*The villan-Hans and Duke of something 

*The donor- Kristoff 

*The dispatcher- Anna

Propp’s theory can be applied to the film Frozen through its main characters. The false hero and villan of the story is Hans, the prince who plans to marry Anna but leaves her for dead and tries to kill her sister Elsa. The Hero’s Of the story could be Anna as she goes on an adventure to find her sister. She is “helped” by the characters Olaf and Kristoff who help her find the “princess” Elsa. 

[gabismediablog]

Film extracts/trailers- Musical

Conventions- Contained singing/sung score and dancing in the narrative story telling in comparison to regular narrative of film trailers 

(completing at home)

[gabismediablog]

Representational theory homework

The alvarado theory states that ethnic minorities in the media are represented in four different ways, Exotic, Dangerous, Humorous or pittied. This can be applied to the tv show Scrubs where the two characters of ethnic minority (Turk and Carla) are represented in a tokenistic and humourus way which relies on traits stereotypical of their minority. Carla is a Latino woman with a firey temper and sexual nature- a stereotypical representation of many female Latino characters in media texts. This stereotype is a point of humour for many of the shows episodes. Laura Mulvey's "Male gaze therory" states that women are placed in media texts purely for male voyeistic purposes. This could be supported by the Batman film "The dark knight rises" Selina Kyle/Catwoman has little purpose in the films plot but is seen in a skin tight leather costume throughout several of the film's fight scenes. However, Mulvey's theory could be counteracted by Gamon and Marshment's "Female Gaze theory" in which Men are placed in media texts for the voyeristic purposes of women. Several Diet Coke adverts feature a man stripping his coke soaked shirt with an audience of attracted women objectifying the man for his looks.

[gabismediablog]

Radio 4 Women’s hour

The show is a presenter led programme with the presenter asking the guest questions based on her new sitcom. As the show is speech based aimed at an older audience, there are no sound effects used. The programme is aimed at an older female audience as it is scheduled mid morning drive time when most children have been dropped off at school. This allows parents who are driving home or to work to listen to the show. Radio 4 is also known for having an older demographic with more mature content than radio 1. The show is constructed to discuss and promote content created by women as well as discussing personal life experiences sometimes for comedic effect   

[fancycyclebasement]

Geordie Shore Regional Portrayal 

-drunk ‘mortal’

-’smashing’ (sex)

-aggressive behaviour from the men: Gary pushes Dan and intimidates him by looking down at him

-men tanned and muscular 

-women have a lot of make up on (glamorous)- Holly has bright red hair and false eyelashes

-men are dominant and protective- ‘Do not mention you and smashing Charlotte in the same sentence’ (Gary)

-From the beginning audience is warned: ‘This programme contains strong language, sexual scenes and references from the outset and throughout.’

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Regional representation Jimmy Car-

In the video clip, Jimmy Carr represents regional dialects in a stereotypical and negative way for comedic effect. He conforms to several stereotypes of different parts of Britain including Scotland having a drink and drugs problem and being “Unemployed and relying on benefits” He also uses the same stereotype when talking about Liverpudlians calling them “Scousers” and saying “Dont worry, we wont take your benefits away” This conforms to the stereotype of Liverpudlians being presented as chavvy, uncultured and lazy. This Chavvy stereotype presented by Carr is also conformed in BBC’s Little Britain through the character of Vicky Pollard. In the clip, it is clear that Vicky is being presented as an uncultured, chavvy and rude teenager. A stereotype which many people have come to believe. https://youtu.be/bVjKVBf-AxI (Walliams and Lucas discuss inspiration for Vicky’s character)

These stereotypes that Carr presents are accurate to a certain degree however they cannot be applied to everyone from each area. Many stereotypes are becoming overused and trite which can be unappealing to audience as stereotypes rely on the same jokes and unoriginal material. In ITV’s recent Biopic Cilla (Based on the life of Cilla Black) Cilla is presented as a strong and independent woman subverting the typical “benefits” and “chavvy” stereotype presented by Carr in his accents skit. The biopic’s representation of Cilla still uses a stereotypical Scouse accent however her actions in the program are somewhat admirable and interesting compared to the usual stereotypical “scouse bird”. Being a biopic, the program explores the life of Cilla Black, a real woman who’s life is a true story contrasting Carr’s jokes based on negative stereotypes presented in the media.   https://youtu.be/6gfvaRJ3JY0 (Cilla Trailer)

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Radio- Genres and conventions

This lesson I listened to Ferne Cotton’s Radio 1 show (Music genre) As the show is of Music genre, it featured many songs with talking inbetween the tracks. The show had frequent adverts advertising other radio 1 shows. The language used was colloquial as Ferne was chatting to Annie Mac about her take over of Zain Lowe's radio show

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Miley Cyrus- We can’t stop- Gender

In this video, we see Miley in many sexually provocative positions and revealing clothing as an attempt to break her link to disney. Ariel Leyv’s “Raunch Culture” Theory can be applied here as it can be argued that Miley is objectifying herself to sell records. However, Miley herself says  ”I’m just about equality, period. It’s not like, I’m a woman, women should be in charge! I just want there to be equality for everybody,”

Stating that she doesn't see what she is doing as being objectified.

[pr1ceclash123]

This Girl Can advert