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"To what extent are digital technologies important to your chosen texts?" [30]
Introduction
This is a 'to what extent' question, and as such it is inviting the opinion of the student. There's no sitting on the fence here.
You can answer this question in 3 ways. Firstly, you can suggest that digital technologies are sort of important. The issue with this response is that it's not a strong opinion, and jumping back and forth can get a bit dull.
The second response is that digital technologies are absolutely not important. In this case you will be arguing that the texts you have studies are popular and successful as they have expert editing, are expertly scripted, and rely on celebrities, talking points and so on. The issue with this response is it's not very convincing. All three of these texts use digital technologies and to a great degree, and social media and digital editing techniques contribute a lot to this.
So our argument will be that digital technologies are very important. And because we are trying to demonstrate a strong point of view, we're going to argue that digital technologies are essential.
Definition - Digital technologies refer to any technology that relies on computers to function. This is a vast and complex concept, as digital technologies can refer to CG special effects, digital online streaming including catch-up services, social media, digital distribution and digital editing techniques.
Argument - Digital technologies are absolutely essential to the television industry for a number of ways, as digital technologies are essential for all modern media texts. This is referred to as media convergence, where different industries are combined to create new opportunities for producers. Audiences now increasingly using devices such as phones and laptops to access TV texts, and therefore the convergence of digital technologies allow producers to target ever larger and more diverse audiences.
Context - I will be exploring the examples of True Detective, a Southern Gothic crime drama released in 2013 by HBO, Made in Chelsea, a docusoap released by E4 initially in 2011, and The Hunt, a British nature documentary produced by the BBC and narrated by David Attenborough, and broadcast November 2015.
Main body of text
Here are some examples of how you can explore the use of digital technology in the TV industry.Made in Chelsea - Key scene - "It's Fran from uni!"
Editing - use of on screen text. Allows audience to identify with the characters. Post production digital editing technique. Font is white, clean and classy, to establish characters effectively. Font iconographic of Made in Chelsea, creating a distinct identity for the show.
Cinematography - use of close ups, allowing audience to focus on the face and expression of the main characters, establishing a sense of intimacy for the audience. Only possible through the use of high definition digital camera technology.
Sound - Non-diegetic soundtrack, indie/pop allows producer to establish the youth and social status of the main characters, which is coupled with a variety of establishing montages which set the luxurious scene. Digital editing makes this process simple and efficient.
Cinematography/editing - Editing is used to manipulate the narrative by selecting reaction that construct a particular ideology for the audience. This allows the producer to manipulate the audience in to a particular ideology.
Colour palette - Pastel colours are emphasised, creating a luxurious, dreamy lifestyle, providing the audience with a utopian solution to the issues of their lives.
Social media - use of hashtags allow audience to interact, and audiences are able to follow twitter accounts for each character. This creates synergy between the two different industries, allowing the producer to attract ever bigger audiences
True Detective - Key scene - Rust's hallucination
Music - Non -diegetic - Country rock/instrumental, which segues in to dramatic, orchestral music. Such a technique is only possible through digital technology. Allows producers to play with the diegesis of the sound in an experimental way.
Setting - rural louisiana, unconventional of the detective drama. Intricate mise en scene, muted colours, extreme long shots deep focus/depth of field. HBO typically distribute their shows on subscription channels in high definition, 1080p. Additionally, HBO distribute their shows on high quality Blu-Rays sold at high RRP, insinuates high quality of shows to audience.
Use of special effects - Flock of birds, curling around in the dead, orange sky, iconic of the show and the themes within it. Subtle use of CG, enigma code, establishes more of Rust's drug related past, which is explored fully two episode, emphasisng how essential digital technology.
The Hunt - Key scene - wildebeest hunt
Cinematography - equipment is high definition, compact, and more resilient than analogue equipment
A variety of editing techniques are used to constructed to create an elaborate and manipulative narrative, VERY SIMILAR TO MADE IN CHELSEA!!!
Narrative - character types established through use of close-ups, anchorage, and use of personification/anthropomorphisation, and David Attenborough's authoritative and recognisable voice.
Non-diegetic soundtrack, increases tension, reinforces genre typicality, allowing the audience to identify the show as a nature documentary.
Super slow motion, used as a selling point for the show, and used extensively in marketing and promotional trailers
Distribution - BBC iPlayer allows audiences to watch at any point, show under licence to Netflix to allow a large audience, and encouraging audiences to explore the BBC brand, and to target young audiences, and to allow huge numbers of US Netflix subscribers to watch the British show. DVDs and Blu Rays sold around the world, Amazon.co.jp etc