Narrative: blog task

 NARRATIVE

Read Media Factsheet 14 - Telling Stories: The Media's Use of Narrative and answer the following questions:

1) Give an example from film or television that uses Todorov's narrative structure of equilibrium, disequilibrium and new equilibrium. 

Wallace and Gromit in the Curse of the Were-Rabbit (Parks and Box: 2005) is an example of a new equilibrium since they overcame all the obstacles at the end with a resolution.;

2) Complete the activity on page 1 of the Factsheet: find a clip on YouTube of the opening of a new TV drama series (season 1, episode 1). Embed the clip in your blog and write an analysis of the narrative markers that help establish setting, character and plot.

https://youtu.be/vw1zSt_39-I  - DAHMER.

Temporal marker-We know that the scene has been taken during the night due to the lack of sunlight from the kitchen window, this is certain because the apartment is very dimly lit(low-key lighting)suggesting that it is very dark outside.

Geographical marker-We know that the series is filmed in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in the USfirstly because of the thick american accent and secondly because of the news which shows an reporter on the TV giving us information on what is going on.

Historical marker- The text is from the 1970s we know because during that time manyblack men were accused of crimes which they did not commit, also during that time serialkillers were a common issues people faced in America.

Character marker-We know that the character is a serial killer based on the utensils shown during the kitchen scene. We can see him wipe the blood of the knives acting like nothing has happened. We also know this from the neighbour who is listening to Dahmer through the vents which anunusual expression on her face.

Generic marker-The audience can know that they are watching a thriller/horror series fully based on the tag that comes up on the left corner of the screen if watching on Netflix which is the shows main source of income.

3) Provide three different examples from film or television of characters that fit Propp's hero character role.

FAST AND FURIOUS: Vin Diesel is probably more appropriate as a hero in an action film.

 SCRUBS: Whereas Zach Braff is more believable as a romantic/comedy hero.

LORD OF THE RINGS: Frodo is the hero, he seeks Mount Doom in order to destroy the                                                         ring.

4) Give an example of a binary opposition.

The winner often represents the dominant ideas and values of our culture. When the policeman captures the criminal in a crime drama– the ideology of the value of law and order is emphasised.

5) What example is provided in the Factsheet for the way narratives can emphasise dominant ideologies and values?

Depending on the genre, particular emotions are generated by the narrative. Audiences feel:

• Fear in a horror narrative

• Excitement in an Action narrative

• Empathy, sympathy and/or identification in a soap or drama

narrative

• Suspense and tension in a thriller narrative

The climax provides the emotional high spot. It is usually the most thrilling, funny or horrific moment in the text. 

The Resolutions provide comfort and reassurance especially when good wins over evil.The resolution is the reward the audience receives at the end of the emotional journey the narrative has taken them on.

6) Why do enigma and action codes (Barthes) offer gratifications for audiences?

 Enigma codes, this narrative technique is used by mystery writers who want the reader to keep on guessing who committed the crime until the final reveal at the end of the story.

Action codes,writers create a pleasing sort of tension by making the audience wonder how the event will be resolved. Will the criminal evade capture during the car chase, and will the protagonist defeat the boss and save the world?

7) Write a one-sentence summary of the four different types of TV narrative:

• Episodic narrative (the series)-These are fictions which have many parts but where the narrative arc is usually resolved at the end of each episode.
• Overarching narrative (the serial)-Each episode begins with a summary of what occurred in previous episodes in case the audience missed a part.
• Mixed narrative-Some texts use both structures;this structure rewards the loyal viewer as larger stories take time to be resolved but the casual viewer can enjoy the text’s individual episodes.
• Multi-strand overlapping narrative (soap narrative)-These have a continuous narrative and they tell a number of different stories at the same time.

8) How does the Factsheet suggest adverts use narrative?  

In advertising the idea of the problem and resolution is crucial.Often adverts set up a problem (bad breath) and then immediately offer the solution (buy their toothpaste) to create a swift resolution(fresh breath).

MIGRAIN: Genre

 Genre: blog tasks

Task 1: Genre factsheets

Read Media Factsheet 03 - Genre: Categorising texts and answer the following questions:

1) What example is provided of why visual iconographies are so important?

Both Star Wars and Star Trek use recognisable iconographies of Science Fiction (see below) but they do not use them the same way.

2) What examples are provided of the importance of narrative in identifying genre?

Soap opera it would not be unusual to see one of the story-lines follow a family having to deal with a domestic situation such as a member of the family having trouble with their boss at work. This type of story may also appear in a sit-com but the way the story develops and is dealt with will be different.

3) What is the difference between character representation in action movies and disaster movies?

The ’lone wolf’ hero, for example is a convention of an action text. Here the hero tends to be positioned outside a supportive group and he works alone to fight the villains or save the world.Where the action hero is isolated from other people, the disaster movie usually often places the heroic role within a group of people. Often they all have particular strengths which play a part in solving the problem through the collaboration of a group who works together.

4) What are the different ways films can be categorised according to Bordwell? 

• Period or Country, e.g. US films of the 1930s

• Director / Star, e.g. Ben Stiller Films

• Technical Process, e.g. Animation

• Style, e.g. German Expressionism;

• Series, e.g. Bond;

• Audience, e.g. Family Films

5) List three ways genre is used by audiences.

a) They use their prior knowledge of the genre to anticipate

whether or not they are likely to enjoy a text. This helps when

selecting a media text whether it is a lifestyle magazine, a film

or a television programme.

b) They are able to compare a text through its shared

characteristics with another. If you try to describe a TV

programme to someone who has not seen it, you are likely to

define its genre and then clarify what other text it is similar to.

c) They also use their knowledge of genre to reject a text. For

many of us there will be genres we actively dislike and therefore

will avoid accessing texts we assume to hold those

characteristics.

6) List three ways genre is used by institutions or producers.

a) Production

Genres are paradigms or templates media producers can follow.If a media producer wants to produce a  new sit-com, there are certain ’rules’ that must be followed. This actually makes life easier for writers and producers as they don’t have to invent things from scratch. They can also look to successful examples

of the genre and attempt to replicate what was popular and, of course, avoid the mistakes made by texts which have disappointed the audience.

b) Attracting an Audience

Some genres have loyal fan-bases. People will try out a new sit-com simply because it’s a new sit-com and this can help media producers minimise the potential for failure.

c) Marketing Texts

Good examples of this are film trailers which usually attempt to clearly define the genre of the film and then show as many of the codes and conventions in the trailer. This acts to attract fans of the genre and set up the expectations of the film.

7) What film genre is used as an example of how genres evolve? What films and conventions are mentioned?

The Gangster genre has altered over time. there are many similarities between conventional gangster films and the modern equivalents: the genre focuses on groups of criminals, often romanticises the gangster lifestyle and the texts within this genre are violent and deal with conflict between the police and the criminals. They also focus on conflicts within the gangster community such as rivalry between opposing gangs or internal power struggles. These themes are the same whether the text is Scarface, Reservoir Dogs or The Sopranos.

Read Media Factsheet 126 - Superheroes: A Genre Case Study and answer the following questions:

1) List five films the factsheet discusses with regards to the Superhero genre.

-The X Men Franchise (7 Films since 2000 – 4 more planned)

-Superman (2 Films since 2000; 5 films in the 70s/80s – 1 more planned)

-The Avengers and its franchise including: Iron Man, Thor, Captain America, The Hulk etc. (11 Films

since 2000 – 3 more planned)

-Batman (3 Films since 2000; 4 films in the 80s/90s – 2 more planned)

-Spiderman (5 Films since 2000) 

2) What examples are provided of how the Superhero genre has reflected the changing values, ideologies and world events of the last 70 years?

At each period of time we can see the superhero offers slightly different narratives. He faces different villains, has to overcome different obstacles and has different types of relationships with the women in his life. The superhero genre has to fit in with the dominant values of the day if audiences are going to be able to relate to such a fantastical story. Genres replicate cultural myths and fears and by addressing them within stories a culture is able to play out those fears and concerns. Genres offer ideological reassurance when the narratives offer a resolution that addresses these fears and especially when the fears are overcome. Conventional superhero texts tend to show the hero defeating the enemy so this is often seen as one of the more reassuring of genres.

3) How can Schatz's theory of genre cycles be applied to the Superhero genre?

The Theory Applied to the Superhero Genre

• Innovation: The visual codes for the superhero genre were largely established via the comic books. As soon as film and TV began to use the comic book characters other codes and conventions regarding the presentation of the genre in moving image were set. This can be seen in the early superhero shorts ofthe 1940s.

• Classical: By the 1950s the superhero genre could be seen to be in its classical stage with the codes and conventions being replicated in the film and TV programmes of the time.

• Parody: Batman (1966) was intentionally funny and camp and wouldn’t let its audience take the superhero too seriously. It had an ironic tone that flagged up the daft nature of the genre and allowed the audience to enjoy the awareness of that. After Batman, the classical and parodic versions of the genre were largely located in children’s animation, from Spider-Man whose animated adventures were on TV from the late 1960s, to the less than serious versions of the genre in Mighty Mouse (a perennially popular cartoon first made in the 1940s), Atom Ant (from the late 60s), Captain Caveman (from the late 70s) amongst many, many more. and etc.

Task 2: Genre analysis case study

Carry out your own genre analysis using the model provided by media theorist Daniel Chandler. Choose a film or TV text and answer the following questions - brief answers/bullet point responses are fine:

-HOW TO GET AWAY WITH MURDER-

General
1) Why did you choose the text you are analysing?

I chose this text for analysis because I believe it has a variety of different genres and it really sums them all up together in one version through the whole series.

2) In what context did you encounter it?

I really love watching crime related movies and films so when I was searching around to watch a new series I came across how to get away with murder. I was really intrigued by the title and I felt like I was solving the crimes with the characters in the show.

3) What influence do you think this context might have had on your interpretation of the text?

It was really direct once I started it, it wasn’t a lifer where you had to ease into, it was something that you instantly knew what was going on since it kept you in your toes the whole time.

4) To what genre did you initially assign the text?

I initially assigned the series to the thriller and crime genres.

5) What is your experience of this genre?

I believe thriller and crime are what makes a show worth watching since it captivates you and makes you want to binge watch the whole film/series.

6) What subject matter and basic themes is the text concerned with?

The series is mainly concerned with the idea that an issue comes along which refers to the main crime and in order to not be convicted of the main crime they go to any lengths to get rid of the minor issues which is seen through the whole series.

7) How typical of the genre is this text in terms of content?

I feel like it is pretty typical in the means regarding the content since you already know by the title that is going to be some sort of mystery or crime involved because of the word ‘murder’.

8) What expectations do you have about texts in this genre?

My main expectations is that it doesn’t get repetitive in the terms of the it being  mainline the same issue over and over again, also that I don’t get bored like it should keep me glued to the screen so that if I look away I don’t miss a major scene.

9) Have you found any formal generic labels for this particular text (where)?

I have found formal generics labels but I don’t really remember from where.

10) What generic labels have others given the same text?

Two of the generic labels given to crime has always been mystery or drama those are the main ones I have heard people refer thriller and crime too.

11) Which conventions of the genre do you recognize in the text?

The characters are always feeling guilty which you can see by their facial expressions which indicated to them being ‘guilty of a crime’. You also have the getting arrested and questioned trope through the end of the series.

12) To what extent does this text stretch the conventions of its genre?

I feel like it stretches to a variety of conventions of the crime genre since it varies around a lot of tropes you see come up in any crime related programme.

13) Where and why does the text depart from the conventions of the genre?

It departs towards the end when they have accepted defeat and know that they are not going to be able to live a life where all they feel is guilt.

14) Which conventions seem more like those of a different genre (and which genre(s))?

The conventions that seem more like those of a different genre such as drama  have to be costuming and soliloquy.

15) What familiar motifs or images are used?

Familiar motifs or images used are probably monologues.

Mode of address
1) What sort of audience did you feel that the text was aimed at (and how typical was this of the genre)?

The type of audience I feel the text was aimed at probably towards young adults which I feel is very typical of the thriller genre.

2) How does the text address you?

I feel like the text addresses everyday situations from the casework they did which gave me a point of view of different opinions on everyday issues.

3) What sort of person does it assume you are?

It probably assumes I am someone who feels as if the world needs change and a lot of it too meaning I am they believe I am the type of person to advocate issues on social media platforms.

4) What assumptions seem to be made about your class, age, gender and ethnicity?

The assumptions made about my class would be how much inequality is present. Age- people my age have no sense of power to change the world since we won’t be taken seriously.Gender- simply the oppression woman feel okay a daily basis.Ethnicity- you will be discriminated no matter your background.

5) What interests does it assume you have?

It assumes I have interests in crime solving and just being able to solve an issue formed.

Relationship to other texts

1) What intertextual references are there in the text you are analysing (and to what other texts)? Intertextuality is when a media product references another media text of some kind.

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2) In terms of genre, which other texts does the text you are analysing resemble most closely?

A text similar to this would be Dahmer if we are talking more recent since it has similar conventions such as crime, thriller and courtroom TV programmes.

3) What key features are shared by these texts?

The main key feature it has, has to be the idea of impact it has on the audience about real like situations which occur almost everyday.

4) What major differences do you notice between them?

One major difference I notice between them is that one is a documentary and the other is a series.