True Detective and audience question (R and S blocks)

Use the notes you made while watching the first episode of True Detective to answer one of the following questions:

With explicit reference to visual codes and technical codes, how are audiences positioned in the first episode of True Detective?

With explicit reference to visual codes and technical codes, in what ways can audiences use or take pleasure from the first episode of True Detective?

With explicit reference to visual codes and technical codes, discuss the different ways audiences can negotiate the first episode of True Detective?

Forgot the character's names? Check out the wiki.But watch out for spoilers...

It's very helpful to have the toolkit in front of you too!

How NOT to use theories

Applying theory: do's and don'ts

Using media theory accurately and appropriately is one of the most effective ways to write a sophisticated response and to push your grade to the highest possible level. However, there are a few pitfalls you have to be aware of.

Don’t refer to the theory simply by the name of the theorist

Eg “Alvarado theory” or “Todorov’s theory”

The issue here is that Media theorists tend to come up with more than one theory over their careers! Todorov in for example has written extensively on narrative structure in film and literature. So saying something like “the Todorov narrative structure” really isn’t very helpful!

A better way to phrase this could be “Alvarado’s investigation in to ethnic stereotypes is useful here, as…” or

“Todorov’s analysis of narrative equilibrium cannot be so easily applied to Skyfall, however.”

Don’t assume a theory is infallible

In order to push towards the higher grades, you will have to evaluate the effectiveness of a theory. You could even completely disagree with a teacher on how useful a theory is. As long as you can adequately back up your response, this can be your ticket to particularly high grades

Eg “though the male gaze has many applications, it becomes less useful when we realise that the primary audience for modern mainstream horror cinema is young women. Clearly, we need to consider different ways in which pleasure can be derived from such texts. One powerful example is…”

Don’t just add ‘theory’ to the end of words 

Though Richard Dyer wrote extensively on representation, there is really no such thing as ‘representation theory’. Likewise with the terms ideology, hegemony, sexualisation etc etc etc. If in doubt, try to leave out the word theory.

Eg “Dyer suggested that the ways in which groups are represented can effect how they are treated in every day life. This has implications for the representation of ethnic minorities in in LA Confidential”

Don't try and cram a theory in if you do not need it

Possibly the most important tip here is that it is not always appropriate to include a theory in every paragraph. Perhaps your textual analysis is so strong that trying desperately to include Gerbner's cultivation theory is not the best idea, even if you were up until 1am revising it. The last post before this one contains an excellent example of a paragraph plan than does not include a theory, and it really doesn't need one. Remember, especially in A2, the most important aspect of your response is the strength and conviction of your argument.

How to write about representation

Note - though this post is immediately useful to A2 students about to sit the MS4 mock exam, it will very soon become useful to AS students when they cover representation. Thank you to Tanya for submitting this guide!

Representation

Re-presentation

Re-presentation = the presentation of a version of reality.

A media text presents a group, place or issue in a particular way, for a particular reason.

The study of representation looks at:

1.     The group, place or issue on which a media text is focusing.

2.     The technical devices the media text uses in order to present these groups or issues.

3.     The message about the group or issue being created within the text.

4.     The impact of this message on the target audience.

So, any paragraph relating to representation in an essay should use these 4 points as guidance.

Example Paragraph

The film Skyfall represents youth and age (1) as ultimately mutually respectful. The diegetic dialogue (2) between Bond and Q in the museum, presents two characters who are questioning stereotypes (3) connected with certain ages.

“Q: Age is no guarantee of efficiency.

James Bond: And youth is no guarantee of innovation”

The film suggests to the audience (4) at this point that its treatment of age will be balanced and challenging; a suggestion that is somewhat contradicted by the systematic undermining of the character of M because of her age. 

Industry research: Brave and Disney Pixar

FILM INDUSTRY CONTEXT PART ONE: BRAVE (Disney/Pixar 2012) 

1. What year was Disney established?

2. What year was Pixar established?

3. Who was Pixar established by?

4. Who founded Disney?

5. How many films has Pixar produced?

6. How many films has Disney produced?

7. Which number Pixar film is Brave?

8. In 1986 who invested $10 milion in Pixar?

9. What other establishments does Disney own?

10. In which year did the The Walt Disney company buy Pixar?

11. For how much?

12. How many Oscars have Pixar films been awarded?

13. Which film won an Oscar for Pixar in 2004?

14. What is the name of Pixar’s most recent release? 

15. Name 5 Pixar films

16. Name 5 Disney Films

This industry contextual research can be used in your responses to show a deeper understanding of the film industry. In your introduction you could simply show this by saying “ Brave. Released in 2012 was Pixar’s 13th animated film.”

Simple facts to help support your answers are crucial to you gaining a good/excellent mark.

FILM INDUSTRY CONTEXT PART TWO: Justin Wyatt and High Concept

In the 1980’s, studios became more risk-averse, and began to produce more market-research lead films. High concept films can, according to Wyatt, be defined by the following criteria:

• A narrative that can be summarized in a single phrase

• An image or a song that audiences can associate with the film

• The ‘look’ of the style and cinematography, which is reflected in accompanying magazine articles and music videos

• The use of stars

• Using character archetypes rather than character exposition

• Merchandising tie-ins

• Marketed with a single phrase (Just when you thought it was safe to go in the water…)

This aggressive marketing style lead to the rise of the mega-blockbuster, where merchandising alone could gross millions!

1) To what extent is Brave a high concept film? Try to find an example for each of the above bullet points. Using solid examples in the exam will help you push your grade to a sophisticated level. 

2) Apply High Concept to Skyfall, once more finding an example for each

3) Finally, apply high concept to The Selfish Giant. To what extent is this film an aggressively marketed Hollywood film (hint: it's not)?

Thanks to Nick and Amanda for this post!

Recommended textbooks, websites and revision guides

The following is a list of books that students have found useful when revising Media Studies, or reading to expand their knowledge. It is not an exhaustive list. A good rule of thumb is if you find a book with 'Media Studies' in its title for a few pounds in a charity shop or online, you should consider buying it. Because there is significant overlap between Media and Film Studies, particularly when discussing codes/micro elements, you may find revision material intended for Film just as useful. Also remember that all the theory from AS gets reused in A2, so AS specific books make for good revision.

Do be careful when using books that are written for exam boards apart from WJEC. While the theory used in each specification is the same, the structure of each course can be radically different. If you have any questions about this, ask your teacher.

Many of these books should be readily available from larger booksellers. If you are willing to buy secondhand, you can save a lot of money. A certain massive online bookstore often sells beaten Media books for as little as a penny (plus P&P). While it might be great to have a shiny, up to date edition, the theory in a tattered textbook filled with highlighting and notes will be just the same, and for a fraction of the cost!

Finally, check out the LRC, as there are lots of excellent Media resources, including some of these books.

A Level

theory.org.uk  - More university-centric, but great fun nonetheless.

Mediaknowall - Clear and concise information on a range of Media theory. An effective online revision guide.

Abercrombie & Longhurst: Dictionary of Media Studies. (Penguin)

Buckland: Teach Yourself Film Studies. (Teach Yourself)

Branston and Stafford: The Media Student's Book. (Routledge)

Strinati: An Introduction to Studying Popular Culture. (Routledge)

Strinati: An Introduction to Theories of Popular Culture. (Routledge)

AS Level

Bateman et al: AS Media Studies: The Essential Introduction For WJEC. (Routledge)

Bell & Connel: WJEC Media Studies: Study and Revision Guide

A2 Level

Bateman et al: A2 Media Studies: The Essential Introduction For WJEC. (Routledge) - note that because the A2 Media Studies exam is base on 9 texts chosen by the teachers at the schools and colleges themselves, you may find it more useful to buy a more general Media textbook, like The Media Student's Book

Brave: wider reading

In recent years, there has been something of an explosion of theorists and online commentators exploring Disney films. This is obviously excellent news for A2 Media students currently studying Brave. The following articles are excellent examples of wider reading, not just for second years brushing up on their film industry revision, but also AS Media students who wish to explore genre, narrative and representation further.


Corine Purtill writes that while modern "[Disney] princesses are a sassier, pluckier bunch", in actuality female characters have less lines than they did in "vintage" era Disney.

Rebecca Hains critiques the idea that Merida in Brave subverts gender stereotypes, and also looks in to claims of how original the film actually is.

Jaclyn Friedman, on the other hand is excited about how the 'action princess' archetype has evolved over the last 80 odd years of Disney princess's, but is frustrated that while Merida is a step in the right direction, she is still essentially a "princessed-out action hero".

Liz Matsushita discuss on her blog about strong female characters in Disney specifically looking at Brave

The director of Brave criticizes the changes made to the Merida doll, saying it amounts to 'sexualisation' (great example for patriarchal hegemony!) 




Thanks Amanda and Emma for the links. If anybody has more examples of interesting articles on genre, narrative or representation in Brave or any featured Media text, please let us know, and you will be credited!

Revising audience theory: Grant Abbitt on audience

As part of your wider reading, both AS students preparing for your mock exam and A2 students looking to brush up on the basics could do a lot worse than to look at Grant Abbitt's YouTube channel, which looks at many aspects of Media theory and practice in a clear and insightful style.

Thanks to Emma for the link!

A2 Media task (S Block): Exploring Narrative in Brave

Apply the following narrative theories, concepts and structures as best as you possibly can to Brave. Remember, many of these narrative theories were designed with folklore and fairy tales in mind. Theoretically, it should be possible to apply these theories with relative ease to Brave. However, if a construct or concept cannot be applied, then that is an excellent excuse to critique it in your exam!

Todorov's equilibrium

Establishment of equilibrium
Disruption of equilibrium
Recognition of disruption
Attempt to repair
Partial restoration of equilibrium

Propp's morphology of folklore 

Hero
Princess
Helper
Dispatcher
Donor
False hero
Princess's father

Levi-Strauss's binary oppositions

Outline three binary oppositions within Brave and explain how they create conflict

Barthes five narrative codes

Navigate to this post and apply these five codes to Brave.